New and lookin'
 

Hey there. I am big guy looking for a small car :(

I am 6 feet 260 lbs.

I test drove a great lil' geo 4 door the other day ( the 1.3 - which was actually a lot peppier than I thought ) - but I felt too unsafe. The car is just too small for my liking.

I need some advice on possible cars to look for.
I realize manual transmission is better for MPG - but I am partial to Autos. I would happy with 35 real world HWY mpg..

if anyone can suggest some options - I'm all ears..

1.) Toyota Echo
2.) Toyota Corolla
3.) Saturn SC1 / SC2


Anymore guys?

ghostintheshell -

Some have complained that the Saturn coupe has a low sloping windshield that results in less headroom :

Short Test Drive Impressions: 2001 Saturn SC1
https://www.gassavers.org/showthread.php?t=3001
I would give the Pontiac Vibe/Matrix a look (Corolla drivetrain in both cases). Also, my wife's 2003 Civic Coupe EX seems pretty roomy. She has an automatic that is rated at 34 MPG (new EPA figures).

CarloSW2

I thought what I'd do was, I'd pretend I was one of those deaf-mutes

a civic coupe or hatchback would be pretty nice! i have a friend that seems to fit your description and he has a 96 civic coupe and is content with it!

I'm a hair or two shy of 6'1", I fit in my Ford Escort okay, there's still another notch on the seat rack I think. There's a Ford Tempo I drive a bit that I barely fit into, (and is a struggle to make EPA figures in with the auto never mind 35 hwy) also I've heard that first generation Neons are rather tight, I've only driven 2nd gens, which were kind of close but not as bad as the Tempo. Drove an Echo '05 model and was comfortable.

I'm 6' tall with some 6' 3" tall friends who all fit in my civic, including a friend who is 6'3 and 300 pounds who drove my car and thought that it had plenty of room, then tried the back seat and started to wonder why more cars don't have this much space, I've had simaler experience with the non SI models of Honda CRX.
not sure if the 4 door metros have a lower roof then the hatch backs, it seems like they have less head room in the back tho.

38.5 MPG at 83 MPH across Nebraska - proven mileage for hundreds of highway miles. I can get 40+ if I hypermile a known stretch.

If you want a gigantic car with an automatic, V6, tons of room, and high mileage (I can get 35+ easily and I'm 6'3" 220), get a Malibu Maxx without a sunroof. My wife has a Maxx LT without sunroof, which is hard to find. The LS is easy to find without, but has less amenities, more manual items, but gets better mileage, albeit not as quiet.

Test drive one and you'll wonder why anyone drives an SUV. (I know of zero people who go off-road in an SUV - they all use trucks for that.)

The SS has a bigger engine and worse mileage. Don't get the sunroof - it shaves another 5 MPG off. You can still smoke the tires with the LS or LT or LTZ with the smaller engine, so MORE than plenty of power to spare.

Also, the Maxx is engineered to go 8500 miles between oil changes safely with zero damage to the engine.