Hi all,
I don’t actually owner an XJS but I often haunt this forum as it has information relevant to my Daimler Double Six.
An XJS has been my dream car since my twenties, when they were quite new. Sadly or foolishly I never quite took the plunge, drooling over dozens but never quite putting my money where my heart was. In retrospect it was probably good I did not get one when quite young as I certainly didn’t have the funds or know-how to keep it going properly.
To my eyes, they are still the best looking car ever built, a statement that will get the hackles up of many exotic car owners.
Now I find I’m reluctant to purchase one as I find I’m physically too big to fit into one comfortably. At 2m tall there just isn’t enough leg room. To the horror of XJS enthusiasts I must say that I can very comfortably drive my MGB, though I probably do look like a half shut pocket knife getting in and out.
So, the point is that such is my continuing love of the XJS that I am prepared to put up with some discomfort. Can the seat rails be moved reward or modified in some way to provide more leg room? Rear seat room is irrelevant.
Yes they are a triumph of form over function but I still want one
regards
al

 

Two metres? You'll definitely want the convertible, top down, I imagine....
Anyway, there are these Extender Rails for taller people. They are hideously over-priced for four aluminium bars with holes in them, however--probably easier to fabricate your own.
There's a few forum threads about the issue, such as HERE. One guy removed the rear seats entirely. But two metres? I'm 186 and find my coupé a very cosy fit indeed. I cannot imagine trying to get into one if I was your height. Jeremy Clarkson (6'5") managed it, I guess - but look where his knees are in this video of driving the XJR-S. I suppose it helps to not have a fat butt....

 

Hello Alan

Since you live in Oz, I believe you will need one of those Blue Plates to modify your seats, which can be problematic. The extender plates will move the seat backwards - but it also lifts the seats closer to the roof (which is not high in the first place)

I have looked at mine ( I am only 180cm) and have thought about lowering the seat, 3 of the mounting brackets could be done easily, the 4th would take a bit more, but is doable. Might be a future job

Like you - I saw my first XJS in the flesh at a Pub in Western Australia in 1994. It was red and up for sale for 5K. But since I was a drifter at the time - I got the $800 Kingswood instead.

Cheers
Steve

 

I re drilled my tracks. You can get 1.0" more with the factory tracks. Its not much but it helps.

 

How much of your 2 meters is legs ?

I’m only 184, but have long legs (90 cm inseam)
That means the seat fully moved back fits me perfectly and I actually have good headroom, but I think most 2 meter high is likely to have headroom issues.

 

Certain models have far more legroom that others. The best for tall people is the pre-facelift, pre-semi-upgrade cars which were built up to about 1987/88. Up to this time there were no electric seats, which also reduced legroom. The cars after this date had different seats which were more "Recaro" like, and this change significantly reduced legroom, headroom, and rear seat legroom. A pre-1987 car will be just do-able for a 6 foot 6 inch driver, and even then the seat mountings can be adjusted or even positionally re-welded, to give longer legroom and more headroom. It will be a bit of a chore, but nothing a decent welder cannot do for you.