To ask for a car for tall DHs back

[DHsPoorBack]

Bit of a weird one.

DH is very tall and has to do a lot of driving for work. He needs a car big enough for him to sit in, so things Fiesta sized are way out, and we've slowly worked our way through various estates and 4x4s, all of which have given him terrible back ache.

He's essentially after a sofa on wheels, uber comfy. Debating a landcruiser, but they are pretty hard to come by and quite dear for what they are. So, can I ask, if you have an extra large DH, what is the comfiest thing they've driven?

On the tried and "no" list so far:
Audi Q7
Nissan Pathfinder
VW Amarok
Volvo XC90
Mitsubishi L200
BMW estates
VW Touraeg
Range Rover (all models, bar Velar)

He finds the seats too hard on everything, and lacking in any real support, and anything over a 2hr drive can render him quite seized up and immobile for the next few days. Not too fussed on whether it's a 2023 or a 2003 plate, comfort is the key.

Thank you in advance!

You’ll scoff I’m sure, but……

My Nissan Cube has INSANE headroom, I feel claustrophobic whenever I sit in any other car now.

I probably should have left his height out of it, as this seems to be the runaway focus...

The actual problem is his back. He doesn't drive frequently, but when he does, it's hours. I.e. WFH but has branches all over the country so a couple of times a month, is doing 2-4hrs there, a brief meeting then back again, that sort of thing. Also he has a hobby which means he drives for hours (10hr round trip a few days ago, and he's still wincing, hence this thread.)

Basically, for our other family requirements, we need a large car. So only 4x4 and estate car suggestions are viable. So, on that basis, "what is the comfiest vehicle of that type for someone with a bad back"

I'll Google the Berlingo, don't know what it is off the top of my head.

Someone else mentioned these. Have you personally tried? I googled them and I have to say, they look terribly uncomfortable, although do appreciate looks can be deceiving

In real life, hardly any men are that tall. In my world pretty much all,the men are 'that tall'. DH is 6ft6, DS1 is 6ft1, DS2 is 6ft4 (and still growing). My sons are not the tallest amongst their friends either. In one sixth form class of 8, when DS2 was 6ft2, he was the shortest person in the group. In contrast when DH was at school, he's now 70, he was the only person (and I include teachers) who was over 6ft3 when he was 14. People are definitely getting taller.

The parallel universe of mumsnet strikes again. Bet all of these VERY tall husbands are on £160K a year too, and have a 'long commute,' and the wives of the VERY TALL husbands (posting on this thread,) are teeny tiny size 6's.

Well I wish I was a petite teeny size 6 but sadly that's not the case 😂 I am short though at 5ft 3 and we never earned over 60k even between the two of us.

I bet their children are tall too, and sporty, and academic

My boys are tall as explained above, they play cricket, and went to uni so we definitely meet that criteria

Methinks there's a little bit of exaggeration of height, going on on this thread

Why? Just because you don't know any tall people?

My brother is 6 ft and 1 inch tall, and almost everyone he stands next to is shorter than him. Women AND men. Of all ages. From their late teens to their 90s.

Oh so it must be true then 😂. We know females who are taller than my shortest son.

A few men are almost the same height as him, but most of them are 3 to 6 inches shorter. No way are so many of these posters husbands 6 ft 5, and 6 ft 6 inches tall (and even taller!) like they are claiming on this thread.

Well you are just wrong. Living with 3 tall men I thought I couldn't really be surprised by height until I met a dad in the school playground who towered even over my 6ft6 husband at 6ft10!

Did he try adjusting the seat in the range rovers he's tried? My DH jokes that mine is like an armchair on wheels. I also found it comfortable when pregnant with DC3 and my back was in bits - once adjusted from my usual driving position.

I'v had a few BMWs too and found the back support very good.

Yeah he's tried allsorts of jigging the seats, but nothing seems to work. I thought the RR were really comfy as well, but that's just me. He did say they were comfier than some of the others, but when you factor in just how much continually goes wrong with them, and how much they cost, they'd need to be a veritable massage bed to justify having one again. In a separate category is the Evoque which was the biggest heap of junk I've ever owned, and I've had a Rover Metro

Interestingly, according to DH the worst was the Volvo XC90, which was a new ish one, decent model, and he found that like sitting on cardboard.

I'd look at luxury stuff, Lexus, Jaguar,
Mercedes S class or E class. Depending on budget of course

Skoda superb, I drive a lot of different cars and judge them on how tired I am after a decent journey and my Skoda is still my favourite, I've a L&K version, leather heated and cooled seats with good adjustable lumber support. I'm tiny but dh is tall and big but we both have comfortable driving positions in the Skoda superb.

This thread is asking about cars for very tall people so obviously very tall people/partners of very tall people will respond. It's not a random selection of posters. But yeah. You sound weirdly resentful. What's damaged you?

@emptythelitterbox the average height of uk is nearer 5'10" now. It's not evenly distributed. Depending on where you live, 6ft 2" might seem like a giant. In other places it is not unusual.

Has he tried any cars - usually top of the range though - where you have computer adjustable seats ie where all sectors of the seat can be adjusted individually on a little computer screen and can change sector pressure on a scale of 1 to 5 - so you can change how much pressure is placed on each part of your back.

This has been wonderful with our Ford Galaxy as the height difference between DH who is 6 8 and me at 5 1. I need lumbar support on the lowest position on the seat whereas DH needs lumbar support higher up because of his very long spine. We can save our individual settings. There is also a massage function although it feels a bit odd

This thread took a weird turn! We're a tall family, I'm 5'10", husband 6'4", 9 year old daughter 5'2" (yes she's sporty and smart ). My Dad was 6'6" and my brother is 6'7"

As we are tall, I responded to a thread asking from recs from tall people

@DHsPoorBack unfortunately numerous children and a school run road that floods at lot left me with few car choices. Maintenance is something I try not to think about. I'm with you on the Evoque, a family member got one when they first came out. At first I thought it was cute but soon came to the conclusion it was useless, a small car pretending to be a big one!!

Common cars for men to drive on the school run are the large Porsche, Audi Q7 and Lamborghini Urus, haven't tried any of these because style wise they're not my favourite.

VW transporters are really popular round me as a van alternative.

Can I ask the pp who all put their heated seats on, does it make that much difference? He's always got the temp on low, one of those "t shirt in February" types.

Yes, we find it makes a difference on long journeys. As for back problems, DH has been told it’s common in tall men. Both his ex partners had epidurals for slipped discs. As one consultant told DH, about another joint problem

“You are a big chap, and there’s big forces on your joints.”

I’d suggest your DH goes to see an osteopath. DD has to stand up for her job, and she’s too tall for the worktops, which causes her pain in her shoulders. The osteopath told her, she’s heading for trouble, with her shoulders hunched all day. She was much better after a few sessions with him.

I had a Skoda Karoq that had excellent lumbar support. It really does depend on the spec of the car and the seat adjustment and steering wheel adjustment. Heated seats are a must.

A neighbour has a Lexus and it’s the most comfortable car I’ve been in, but mega money.

I think you need to get the highest spec you can afford, with the most adjustments available. There’s a big difference between basic and extras.

Has he looked at his driving position? Many men seem to have their seats reclined way too far and their arms very straight. It won't do his back any good if he is one of those.

Or on the other hand, lots of people with back pain have their backrest very straight as they think this will protect their back - whereas a 110-130 degree angle is better for backs. This video goes over some other tips:

s

Heated seats are great and make a massive difference to back comfort.

This thread has made me giggle this morning. I recommended the E class yesterday as being the most comfortable car but didn't actually mention that my DH is 6ft and my son is 6ft5 ( seems unbelievable until I tell you he's adopted) - ( I'm 5ft 4 from a family of shorties and have never ever been a size 6 )

If you share the car with a tall person make sure you get the electric seat position adjustment - we've just downgraded to an A class as we don't need a big car anymore and it doesn't have it and it's very annoying having to crank the seat up so I can see over the steering wheel.

Yes to the backfriend - my mum with long term back pain loves it, I quite like mine, husband likes his, in-laws introduced us to them. In fairness I think most people don't find car seats as uncomfortable as your husband does, so for a small outlay it might be worth a try for him.

My Dad said his Renault Mégane was the comfiest he's ever driven.

Some ideas, backing up a few that have been mentioned already. For a tall driver, comfy, and also good rear leg room for leggy teenagers - VW Passat, Mazda 6, Mercedes S class. As a short person I found the first 2 great as well.

Why would we lie about tall husbands and children. Just because you have not met tall people does not mean we do not exist!!! Here are my 3 children standing with a neighbour( note the doorframe behind) One daughter is 6'3 and wearing heels so she looks taller than her 6'6" brother! Unsurprisingly I am over 6' and DH is 6'7".
Weirdly, although my DH does not earn much, my youngest IS applying to go to Cambridge. However, I am secretly hoping she is unsuccessful as it will be very expensive!