New Cars getting lower and lower...

Poulgorm

Does it annoy anyone (apart from me) that the roofline of new cars is invariably lowered by 20 mm, every time a new version of the car comes on the market? It's true of the Golf, Auris, Civic etc

I am 6ft 2" and I find it increasingly difficult to find a hatchback that I find comfortable, due to the lower and lower roofs. I sat into a friend's brand new Volvo S60 a few weeks ago and banged the side of my head against the roof as I sat in. Lovely car, otherwise!

Probably has something to do with fuel economy / wind resistance, but it is being taken to extremes.

One car I find OK is the Nissan Pulsar, but I don't like other aspects of that car.

Looks like I will be forced into buying a crossover or SUV type thing...

Chippy01

But manufacturers compensate the low roof line by allowing the passengers to be able to lower the seats somewhat.

allthedoyles

And Nissan note its annoying all right .

goz83

I'm 6ft. TBH, I never noticed this....but then I have managed to comfortably enough get into pretty small cars. I drove FTOs from 2011 (I think) to to 2014. I bought and restored a classic mini in that time too....this was a 1990 version and was tight...so in my view, cars have got bigger and taller for the most part.

easygoing39

I disagree,and have noticed car roofs are getting higher.For example,my 1st car a 1988 Escort,when washing the roof I could easily reach over the midpoint of the roof with the washmitt.Now on my 2008 Focus I can just about reach the center of the roof when washing it.Same on my sister's 2016 Focus.And its not because the roofs are getting wider,as I was at a carshow last month and was looking at a 1986 XR3i and was shocked just how squat it was,you were looking down on the roof.New cars have higher rooflines for definite.

ianobrien

Newer cars are bigger all round. The bonnet line is much higher for pedestrian safety, they are wider with much higher roofline. I can reach over 3/4 of the Escort roof from the ground, but can just about reach half way across a Focus roof (it's modern replacement). I need to use crates to stand on when I'm detailing the roof of the Leon or the Octavia.

Inside, Ive only a finger or two clearance between the roof cloth and the head in the Escort but plenty in any modern car. I'm just under 6foot and always drop the seat to its lowest position.

OP, try a mk1 Golf for size and then try a mk7 Golf to see how much bigger modern cars are.

tl/dr, ah no modern cars are not getting lower, or smaller!

JamesM

Golf SV - Lots of headroom and space !

grogi

Poulgorm wrote: »

Does it annoy anyone (apart from me) that the roofline of new cars is invariably lowered by 20 mm, every time a new version of the car comes on the market? It's true of the Golf, Auris, Civic etc

I am 6ft 2" and I find it increasingly difficult to find a hatchback that I find comfortable, due to the lower and lower roofs.

I am 6'5" - it never bothered me... And if you are after the high roof, you'll always find a corresponding crossover...