[nouse4aname]

I'm 6'7 and have oodles of head room even with the sunroof in our 2009. Only modern car I've had headroom issues with is the CR-Z.

Legroom though is another matter. In the RAV my knee is jammed up against the center console. Not comfortable on long drives at all. Half way through our cross country drive I just wanted to cut a notch in it for my knee.

But the Rav is meant to be for my wife. Now that we're settled in after moving I'm doing my own shopping. I'm settling on a VW Golf primarily because it fits me so well.

One curious note. We moved from the flat cornfields of Ohio to the mountains of Washington/Oregon. Have been doing a lot more city and mountainous driving...but our gas mileage is going up. Can't really explain that. Most likely higher average speeds in Ohio since there's less traffic and you get everywhere with the highway.

 

[nouse4aname]

Yeah I need a 36" inseam or else I'm wearing highwaters. Though a 38 would have my heels walking on them.

How reclined are you in your normal sitting position? I do naturally tend to that 135 degree position. Especially so in sportier cars. The Rav seems more oriented at an upright position though. If I sat up 90 degrees I'd definitely have more headroom issues. Even though with my height and that recline it can mean I'm looking out a rear window rather than the driver's window when I turn my head heh.

How your commute is killing you: Infographic | MNN - Mother Nature Network

 

[nouse4aname]

Yeah there's no real good way to sit for hours at a time. But another benefit of more recline is more head room.
Slouching Back is Good For Your Back - Do Not Sit Up Straight! - MotleyHealth®

 

[nouse4aname]

CVTs are a cardinal sin against car enthusiast kind.

The Forester XT with a manual transmission is a fun drive though.

I loved my Legacy GT Spec B. It was an 07 and didn't burn a drop of oil between changes and needed nothing but regular maintenance. Kind of like an STI in more grown up clothing.

 

[nouse4aname]

They are more expensive to build and more difficult to service(i.e. spark plugs).

But there are definite advantages like the lower center of gravity.

 

[nouse4aname]

Yeah, when we picked out our 2009 last year(from the Cleveland area actually) the transmission replacement was listed on the carfax so we knew it had been done.

 

[nouse4aname]

It would have to exhibit the problem.

I would be targeting ones that already had the TSB done.

 

[nouse4aname]

Extended warranties are for VWs, Minis, BMWs, etc. CPO + Extended on a Toyota is all sorts of overkill/wasted money.

 

[nouse4aname]

If you bought it certified, why would you also buy an extra warranty? Or did I read that wrong?

Exactly why I'm going through so much trouble to find a good specimen, and the clock is ticking on the latest ones that fall under a warranty. One drive of the V6, and nothing compares.

^^ Up here in Canada, certified means safety checked, needed to change ownership and get license plates. Nothing to do with any extended warranty.
.

Looks like it includes a minimum 12month/20,000km warranty up there.

http://www.certifiedtoyota.ca/ToyotaCertified.aspx