Re: 200 TQW headroom

[Brian Armstead <barmstea@ibb.gov>]

Brian:  My name is also Brian, and I have the same problem.  I stand
6'9", and my head - just - touches the ceiling, so I wonder why you are
having similar problems with 6" less height.  Look at the seat tracks
and make sure no spacers were added to the tracks.  I take it the car
had "comfort" seats instead of sport, but I also have an '86 with
"comfort" seats, and have the same amount of headroom, and I drive both
cars with the seatback very upright.  I know that Audi issued a TSB on
this matter, but it is not a viable option.  Carlsen Audi quoted prices
well north of one grand for a couple of seat frame rails that address
this.  I'm thinking of taking out my seat, and seeing if there is enough
frame metal to grind away a mm or two.  Every little bit helps!!!

Brian



bsullivan@pcconnection.com wrote:
> 
> After deciding that the 200 wagon was the ideal car for my family, I ran
> into a very unexpected problem (and a cruel letdown): even at a pretty
> reasonable height of 6'3" my head touches the ceiling. This isn't a
> problem I was expecting to encounter. So I gave up on the car.
> 
> Now, after a few months of wallowing in regret, I'm trying to figure out
> if there's a way to make it work for me. I have a few questions for the
> group, feel free to advise if you have any insights. I've been thinking
> about ways to get more vertical space between the seat and the ceiling.
> The vehicle I sat in had what were, I believe, the standard leather
> 8-way electric seats. Of course, it also had the sunroof. Between the
> two of them, the workings must eat up an inch or two of vertical space.
> I think the sunroof is pretty much a given, right? I mean, there weren't
> any made without it. But were there different seats? Is there some sort
> of sport seat that may sit lower in the car, or have less mechanical
> stuff under it? I currently have a Jetta and the seats have a large
> amount of adjustment in the tilt. I can drop the rear of the seat way
> down towards the floor, then wheel the back up to an upright position.
> The front of the seat stays pretty high but I don't mind the position,
> in fact, I like it. Would any Audi seat have this sort of range of
> movement? As a last resort, what are the chances of actually putting a
> set of VW seats in the 200? I'm thinking there's a good chance the Jetta
> seat mounting arrangement is identical...
> 
> Brian