Can a Fat man fit in an SL?? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

McDiesel · #1 03-06-2003, 11:32 PM

any "BIG" guys like me 5'8" 325 Lbs fit behind the steering wheel of an SL? comfortably? I have never had the opportunity
to try.. not trying to offend anyone, but would like to purchase
a 1978 or older 2 top roadster but would like to know if anyone out there who is like me SFD < short Fat and dumpy as my wife always teases me!>

Thanks in Advance!!

jjrodger · #2 03-07-2003, 04:02 AM

They're built for fat men: check out the German physique!

tjohn · #3 03-07-2003, 07:05 AM

In all seriousness you need to sit in a couple and see. The seating pads on these suckers tend to collapse over time, new horsehair pads may be had. 560SL seats are supposed to be more comfortable, but I never had a problem with mine. My nephew, though, (around 6' 2" and 300 lbs.) could not buckle up b/c the seat belt actually was too short to get around him. I believe the newer cars (mine was a 77 450SL) are better in this regard.

Good Luck.

spinedoc · #4 03-07-2003, 08:21 AM

I'm 5'10" and about 180lbs and feel like Im squeezing in just a tad whenever I get into mine.

neileg · #5 03-07-2003, 10:11 AM

I had a 380SL when I was 275lbs. I'm six feet tall and never had a problem. There was loads of headroom when I took the top off!

McDiesel · #6 03-07-2003, 11:49 AM

thanks for everyones input.. My plan is to get an older like say 1978 or below and put classic tags on it and insurance wouls cost less than 200 bux a year thru haggerry ins.. but first i guess the best thing would be for me to see if i could and would be comfortable...

suginami · #7 03-07-2003, 02:17 PM

I'm sure you'll fit fine in any 1972-1989 R107 convertible.

I've driven several and there is plenty of room between the seat and the steering wheel. In fact, at 5'8" tall, with the seat all the way back, I don't think you're feet could touch the pedals.

In fact, there is a very, very large woman in my neighborhood who is maybe 5'6" tall and surely well over 300 lbs., maybe even 350 lbs., and she has a 2000 Mazda Miata convertible, and she fits in it. Her stomach is up against the steering wheel, but she still fits.

McDiesel · #8 03-07-2003, 05:36 PM

hope she is not deciding to have a baby!!!!

suginami · #9 03-07-2003, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by McDiesel
hope she is not deciding to have a baby!!!!

Yeah, no kidding! I don't think she'd know even if she was pregnant.

It's kinds sad she's so obese. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if she's over 400 lbs. She even has trouble walking.

4NDELIT · #10 03-07-2003, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by McDiesel
thanks for everyones input.. My plan is to get an older like say 1978 or below and put classic tags on it and insurance wouls cost less than 200 bux a year thru haggerry ins.. but first i guess the best thing would be for me to see if i could and would be comfortable...

wanna buy mine? it'd be a fun drive home!!!

kip Foss · #11 03-08-2003, 11:46 PM

jjrodger,

I lived and worked (not in the military) in Germany for a number of years, have been in and out of the country probably 75 times and spent 2 week there last summer. I don't know in which part of the country you saw all these fat German men you mentioned in your last post, but I can guarentee you that you will see more fat, and I mean really fat, people in any local Wal-Mart in the States than you will see in a year in Germany. Walk down any street in town big or small in Germany and you will see more better looking people on average than at any mall in the States. I spent 20 years living and working overseas in more than 80 countries and the fattest people without a doubt, esp. in the past few years, are in America. I came back in 1990 and was staggered by the amount of lard on the hoof that one can see on any day in any shop in any city in the States. If America could figure out how to run that fat in our cars we wouldn't need to import another barrel of oil.

4NDELIT · #12 03-09-2003, 02:18 AM

I have a german friend named dennis, and he is strong as anything, but I know if I lived in germany, I'd be uncontrollably obese (beer, sausage, beer, cheese, beer, beer, etc.)

jjrodger · #13 03-09-2003, 03:21 PM

I know the land of plenty can probably beat the Germans hands down on the size front. Georg Kacher is always joking about his size when he reviews cars for Car. Myself, I'm working on a good old British beer belly like you might see at Blackpool: I've put three inches on my waist in a year and there's no stopping it!

kip Foss · #14 03-09-2003, 04:48 PM

JJ,

Please be careful with your 'beer belly'. My father, and now more and more Americans, are suffering and dying from the effects of diabetes. I have had friends and relations with diabetes that have slowly lost bits of their legs until they finally die. Not a prety sight, and probably not a lot of fun for them. For a country like America that is so concerned about health the number of people, esp. youngsters, that are morbidly obease is staggering, and getting worse. No wonder Americans need suv's to haul their lard asses arpound. Hamburgers and fries are the best thing that ever happened to OPEC.

hill · #15 03-10-2003, 01:50 AM

My father is 6'3" 290-300 and he fits my sl fine. The seat belts have a couple of inches left.