sirrob11

Rockville, Liz or anyone in the know,

How is it that the Lexus.com website lists the headroom in the 2006 GS models as greater than the 2005 LS430 model? Errors on specs happen but the lack of headroom in the GS is a big problem for a number of potential customers which is compounded by the misguided specifications listed by Lexus. Having driven both cars, I can personally attest to the misguided listings as the LS430 has inches more headroom with the seats adjusted similarly.





Rob

Rockville

The GS has a lower roofline so it is harder to get into then the LS430. The LS430 is standard with a sunroof and the GS300/430 is not. The GS has slightly more headroom because of this. When you factor in the moonroof it has a third of an inch less in the front and an inch less in the backseat. The sides of the ceiling slope down sharply and are thick so the perception is that it has much less headroom when you turn your head toward the door. I would bet that the LS had 3 inches more headroom but it is only 3/10's of an inch difference. Pretty amazing, right? Definitely counterintuitive.

carminesc

i'm 6 ft tall and i have no headroom problems with my new gs. i simply use the power switch to lower my seat! i will say that entering the vehicle is slightly trickier than the 2nd gen gs since the car or roofline seems lower but once seated with the seat lowered i dont have a problem and i'm not small by any measurement.

sirrob11

Thanks Rockville. If the standard moonroof on the LS takes up extra inches compared to the non-moonroof GS per Lexus website specs then I understand.

That my hair grazes the border of the moonroof on the 2006GS with the seat bottom fully down and the seatback angled lower than I'd like is much more than a "perception" problem for me though. Comparing apples to apples the LS with moonroof and GS with moonroof are three inches different at least.

I am happy that you fit in and enjoy your new GS carmine, best of luck!

that_guy

Does the moonroof only lower the roof around the sunroof or is the entire ceiling lowered?

Rockville

Your hair touching and even your perception is real so I'm not saying that you are wrong Sirrob. I felt the same way you did. Almost as important as your headroom is the sightlines. The front ceiling meets the raked windshield at a fairly low point. The previously mentioned ceiling curvature to the door has an equally low and thick wrap around. It restricts your upward vision. This has been described by others as the "cocoon" effect. Do you like to sit fairly upright in your driving position? This could raise you further towards the ceiling. I remember getting into a Lambo Espada which even had a back seat and I felt like I was laying back when driving which was a good thing as the V12 wanted to push you back anyway. The seat frame rails have a downward slop as the seat travels backward. Maybe their specs are measured at the point furthest away from the steering wheel. The bottom line is fit in a car is as important as fit in a shoe. If you can not find a comfortable position and you force yourself then when you take a long trip you will have fatigue and aches etc. Some people don't like closed in spaces and the SC430 has a tight cabin feel but can open up and free your mind.....

sirrob11

Rock I apreciated your response(s), no offense was taken.

spwolf

heh, I think thats the problem... people raise their seat up high and then complain about headroom problems :-). Maybe Lexus should not have made them so adjustable, eh? :-).

06GS300

There are advantages to being 5'7"...

CK6Speed

iTrader: (1)

In this case I believe some tall people have no problem while other tall people will still have a problem even if the seat is all the way down. According to his post below, he had the seat fully bottomed out. Fortunately I will hever have a headroom problem since I'm short. I might have trouble seeing over the dash on large cars though

marcpitch

Not only is height an issue, but inseam. If 2 people are 6-3, and one (like me) has an inseam of 32 inches, and the other's inseam is 34 inches, then the latter will have more headroom.

Hey Spy, you really think tall potential Lexus buyers are morons. Tall people who can afford a $50,000 car know about seat adjustments.

For the record, the 2006 Lexus GS can be tight for those over 6 feet, if not in headroom, certainly in shoulder room.

jwaters

I'm the same height, w/ a 33-34" inseam. I didn't notice any headroom (or leg/hip room for that matter) issues up front. My only complaints regarding interior room/comfort is in regards to the relatively short bottom seat cushion and the cramped rear seat leg room.