I have a question for any 6'4"+ 996 owners. After a recent test drive of a 996 my wife made the observation that I did not seem to fit in the car. The car was equipped with the standard leather power seats, and I had the seat all the way back and all the way down. I really would like to get into a 996 but I'm afraid that I may not ever be comfortable in one.

My question is, are there any tall owners out there (6'4" or taller), and how did you make yourself fit? I had thought maybe a different seat, but which one?

Thanks in advance

For a little clarification I'm 6'5" 265lbs (I'm not fat, I'm festively plump!)

 

I am 6 3 and I just fit.... I am told that non powered seats give you another inch but can't confirm that.... I did test drive a 997 and they have substantially more legroom!

 

I'm 194cm (6''4' == 193), have a long back and "short" legs and just fit inside my 996 with a sunroof. If I stretch my back my head just touch the ceiling, but I sit very comfortably with no problems.

A few points worth noticeing are:
-I sit relatively close the steering wheel (armwrists rest on top of steering wheel when streching my arms in a normal driving position). If I move the seat further back my head will hit the ceiling as it is lower further back.
-if you can fit heightwise by moving the seat a little forwards, but feel you have too little legroom, it is possible to get a "center console delete kit" which allow moving the seat further forward without your right leg hitting the center console. Other tall 996 drivers have given their thumbs up to this kit. Try to search this forum.
-if your head still hits the ceiling you have a few other options:
a) Get a car without a sunroof. Gives a little more height, especially in the rear.
b) Its possible to order a Porsche comfort seat with reduced padding that is 1cm lower than the original seat.
c) Get a racing seat, these are usually even lower.

My guess would be that a 6''7' - 6''8'' can sit comfortable in a 996 when combining some of the options above.

Oh yeah, when George Karcher tested the new 996 for CAR Magazine in 1997 he gave it a raving review. From what I can remember he is over 6''7' and he tested a car with standard seats.

 

I like the delete kit idea. My right leg was up against that area and I ended up with the shifter hitting my leg in first, and the steering wheel pressing against it most of the time. I've been looking at the GT3 seats to see if those might work. I do have a little worry about fitting in those, as I'm not a skinny guy either.

Thanks for the feedback so far!

 

[quote=bjarne996;3070355]I'm
A few points worth noticing are:
-I sit relatively close the steering wheel (armwrists rest on top of steering wheel when streching my arms in a normal driving position). If I move the seat further back my head will hit the sealing as it is lower further back.
-if you can fit heightwise by moving the seat a little forwards, but feel you have too little legroom, it is possible to get a "center console delete kit" which allow moving the seat further forward without your right leg hitting the center console. Other tall 996 drivers have given their thumbs up to this kit. Try to search this forum.
-if your head still hits the sealing you have a few other options:
a) Get a car without a sunroof. Gives a little more height, especially in the rear.
b) Its possible to order a Porsche comfort seat with reduced padding that is 1cm lower than the original seat.
c) Get a racing seat, these are usually even lower.

Some good points here, the two main options you sould pursue are sunroof delete and maybe GT3 euro bucket seats with the lower Brey Kraus bracket.

I am not as tall as you, but at 6'1" and 165lbs I have ample romm in my 996 with sunroof delete and GT3 seats.

Best Regards, David

 

If you are less than an inch taller than me and your knees hit the gearstick with the standard seat all the way back, you have relatively long legs and should choose a seat that gives the most legroom.

I have standard seats on my car i.e. manual sliders and electrically adjustable seat back. If the seats with electrically operated sliders dont move as far back, I would start by trying a car with standard seats.

If the standard seats does not provide sufficient legroom, trying a GT3 seat seems like a good idea. They have a thinner seat back and might provide more legroom.

 

Anybody have any ideas where I can look at 996 GT3 style seats? Both OEM and replica?

 

I have a set for sale, black with silver stitching in new condition as they were taken out of the car hen new. They are heated as well.

 

I checked out the for sale thread I saw you'd started for seats, and they appeared to be the normal heated leather seats, very similar to the ones already in the cars I'm looking at. Did I miss something?

I've also looked at Recaro Speedsters, Recaro Sport, and the ROTtec CGT style reclining seats. I realized that I'd really like to have access to the back (necessitating the reclining seats), since my 1yo son will be coming along with me from time to time. Does anyone have any thoughts on these options?

 

I am 6'4" with 36" inseam. I have no issues in my car. I actully move the seat forward when on a track.

 

Have you tried more than just one 996?

As other drivers very close to your height such as funciton12 and myself have no issues with the standard seats, maybe the seat sliders in the 996 you tested had a coin or some other foreign object limiting full seat movement?

 

I've test driven about 3, sat in a couple others. I've been mulling this over for almost 2 years now. Honestly, with where prices for these cars are now, a slightly less comfortable seating situation won't stop me from getting one. I'm just a little spoiled by the Cayenne so I wanted to try and make the car a bit more comfortable.

 

Totally different seating position from a Cayenne to a 996. Bench to a bucket. It takes a little while to get use to the change but I have been on a lot of long drives and had no issues.

 

they are the stock GT3 seats otherwise referred to the "sport seats" as an option for the standard 996. I guess you are looking for the euro GT3 seats that do not recline. My bad. :-)
2 more solutions would be to buy a 996 without a sunroof as they have more headroom, but are somewhat rare... and you can also do a sunroof delete kit for a 996 w a sunroof to give you more space. I also PM'd you with a solution as well.

 

I'm 6.7 with 35 inseam. Regular seats on a 99 C2. It works fine. As a matter of fact, I bring the seat about 1.5" close when going fast in curves.