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IS 6'3 TOO TALL FOR A DELICA???

Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 1:22 pm
by adamski
I'm in the Vancouver area very interested in purchasing a Delica, but two issues have come up thus far:

1) I am 6 foot 3.......is this an issue, based on the fact that this IS a Japanese vehicle??

2) I have a 12 ft tent trailer (dry weight 910 KG) Is this going to be too heavy?

If anyone has some insight it would be very helpful!!! I think these vans are so cool, and It's the only vehicle that my wife and I can agree on purchasing!!!

Cheers.

Re: IS 6'3 TOO TALL FOR A DELICA???

Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 1:28 pm
by konadog
Nope - I'm 6'5 and have a low roof model - no problems. But go to a dealer and take a test drive to see for yourself. Do a search about towing capcity with the search function. Short answer is you should have no trouble towing your trailer :-D :M

Re: IS 6'3 TOO TALL FOR A DELICA???

Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 1:36 pm
by Golf Cart
Happy New Year Adamski and welcome to the forum.

I think we have a few 6'4" owners here. I'm 6 even and dont find driving it any different from any of my other vehicles.

I own the low roof model , but I think the crystal light (high roof) is a little more roomy.

There are a few guys towing trailers as well, and could answer the tent trailer question. Chances are it will end up being a little on the heavy side once you add in all the gear that you end up stashing on the trailer. Unless you have a family that can make up the Canucks 5th line, the Delica is a good candidate for conversion that eliminates the tent trailer.

Edit : Looks like Konadog has the skinny on towing. 8-)

Cheers

Re: IS 6'3 TOO TALL FOR A DELICA???

Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 5:08 pm
by robinimpey
6' 5" and no problem in my high roof.

Pull a trailer sometimes full of frozen food. Not sure of the weight, but between the trailer and the food it would be easily 2000 lbs, plus several hundred more that I put in the van.

I really think that my Delica is happier on the road when it has a load. Cruises and rides better......................until I have to pull a big hill, but that doesn't happen often for me out here on the prairies. Wind is my biggest enemy when cruising down the road.

Re: IS 6'3 TOO TALL FOR A DELICA???

Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 5:11 pm
by jwfchase
I'm 6'3", my wife is 6'. We both find it more comfortable with the foot rest removed, and I find I am looking at the world through the top couple inches of the windshield. I have to duck my head down to look at traffic lights up above the van when I am stopped waiting for the light to change. Other than that though, it's perfectly comfortable for leg room, more so than any Toyota or Honda I've ever sat in.

Re: IS 6'3 TOO TALL FOR A DELICA???

Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 5:41 pm
by Duke
No, I'm 6'0" and not a problem and I have a high roof exceed. But for those of you who are vertically inclined, it can be. Both my sons are 6'-10" tall :o :shock: and my oldest can get in the front seats but is bent over to miss the roof, my youngest has longer legs and cannot get his legs past the steering column. They both however have NO problem with the head room in the back and lots of leg room for both. So needless to say they won't be driving my van. Besides, they couldn't handle the DUKE! :o

Re: IS 6'3 TOO TALL FOR A DELICA???

Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 9:03 pm
by mararmeisto
I'm 6'2", but my height is in my trunk not my legs. I don't think I'd be comfortable in anything other than a high roof.

As for towing, I wouldn't go much over 1 tonne. It's only an 85hp engine, so although it might tow well on the level (probably right up to 2 tonnes no problem), it's the hills that are the kicker. The accessories pamphlet has a little motorcycle-sized trailer with a '250kg' sticker on the back of it, and the Strada has a sticker on the rear gate which indicates 500kg (which indicates how much the vehicle can tow, I think).

Still, we made it up Kootenay Pass this summer with a six of us in the van and a trailer loaded up to nearly 700kg - course we were only doing about 30km/h. I'm going to be intercooling my ride in order to get another 30hp, and that should make a real difference on the hills.

Re: IS 6'3 TOO TALL FOR A DELICA???

Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 9:58 pm
by FalcoColumbarius
Falco Columbarius: Height ~ 6'0"; Weight ~ 81.5 kilogrammes.
Miss Lil' Bitchi: Height ~ 6'5"; Weight ~ 2,350 kilogrammes (tank next to empty).

The Miss Lil' Bitchi is a "P25" (low roof). The difference between the P35 (high roof) and P25 is in the cabin (about five inches). I have not noticed any difference in the cockpit.

Falco.

Re: IS 6'3 TOO TALL FOR A DELICA???

Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 8:16 am
by mararmeisto
FalcoColumbarius wrote:...I have not noticed any difference in the cockpit.

Falco.
I noticed an immediate difference when I sat in Golf Cart's low roof: I had to hunch over. As it is, I'm already looking out the last 15-20cm at the top of the windshield - I don't even like it when my wife flips down the sunshade!

Re: IS 6'3 TOO TALL FOR A DELICA???

Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 8:33 am
by Golf Cart
mararmeisto wrote:I noticed an immediate difference when I sat in Golf Cart's low roof: I had to hunch over. As it is, I'm already looking out the last 15-20cm at the top of the windshield - I don't even like it when my wife flips down the sunshade!
Ya , what is it about the softer sex that insists on driving with the visor down.......even at night?

I have to stoop to see the lights if I'm the first in line. I always look over to the light on the left of the intersection. More oftern than not I bend over and while looking for the light to change, its a good a time as any to pull up yer socks. :-)

Re: IS 6'3 TOO TALL FOR A DELICA???

Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 4:33 pm
by marsgal42
I'm 185 cm tall and Gumdrop is a high roof. I have ample headroom, but could use a little more leg room. Like many, I have to crouch down to see some traffic lights.

...laura

Re: IS 6'3 TOO TALL FOR A DELICA???

Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 5:05 pm
by jwfchase
marsgal42 wrote:I'm 185 cm tall ...
Not quite short!

Re: IS 6'3 TOO TALL FOR A DELICA???

Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 11:25 pm
by FalcoColumbarius
I guess it all has to do with how one sets the seat up. I set my seat back, similar to how one would set up a race car seat, so my arms are comfortably extended to the wheel, which makes it more convenient for turning the wheel. As far as the windscreen is concerned: When at a light I often lean on my elbows on the steering wheel ~ kind of a lazy way of doing it. Although I must say that if I cannot see the overhead light from the upright position there are usually other lights to look at but I usually can see the overhead light because I have my seat set back (then again I am only six foot tall). I will also lean on my elbows when I am driving slow ~ like when looking for a parking space, or an address... that is more of an habitual thing... smiles.

Falco.

Re: IS 6'3 TOO TALL FOR A DELICA???

Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 11:32 pm
by konadog
OK, here's photographic evidence:
head room1.jpg
head room1.jpg (52.41 KiB) Viewed 4843 times
Again, I'm 6'5" and am behind the wheel of a low roof bus - just look at that vast space between my head and the roof :shock: I did remove that pesky foot-rest and can now fully extend my left leg while driving. I too found the seat a little higher than ideal for looking straight ahead, but have acclimatised to the point I don't notice it at all, except when Hazelnut lowers her visor!

Re: IS 6'3 TOO TALL FOR A DELICA???

Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 11:36 pm
by FalcoColumbarius
Nice shades, dude.