Hi, I used to be a proud owner of a 96 Cavalier until my son needed it. So I ran out and bought a 2004 Cavalier assuming they were similar and I had no trouble with the 96. I notice on the 2004 that there is not hardly any head room, in fact my head touches the top of the car unless I squish down in the seat. I don't understand this, aren't they the same type body and seats? Is there anything, short of trading it off, to make myself a little more room? I'm only 6' 1" tall and I would think many other people have had this problem.

I honestly think it is the seats. I seemed to notice the same thing going from my 96 to my 03.. Seems like the seats have more cushion in them.. or are just newer and not worn down.. I'm 6ft maybe 6'1" as well and i remember getting in it the first time and my head was rubbing the headliner during the test drive. But once I tilted the seat back a bit I really haven't had any issues otherwise..

forgot to mention. MSN Autos, for 96 and 03 lists the same amount of headroom in both.. So like i mentioned.. I think its the seats

im 6'4"-6'5" and my head does not touch in my 02

they are the same im over 6 and never had a issue it just that u have broken in the 96s seats and the new ones are not broken in as much so they are thicker and firmer.give it time

You can grind off some spacers on the bottom of the seat to gain about 5/8"

I'm about 6' 1" as well and the first time i took a test drive in my 03 my head was about an inch off the ceiling. but i guess i just found the perfect spot for the seat and now i got 3 inches easy.

its your seats... if you want just swap the seats from the 96 over to the new cav.

ya, I'm 6'6 and some how manage to squeeze in mine if I tilt the seat enough...

Got a sunroof in that 04? That will lower the amount of headroom you have...

Yeah I'm about 6'3 and have no trouble in my 04..I have a sunroof in mine too..I even fit with a helmet when I did auto x

I sometimes drive around with my seat upright, with my head sticking out the sun roof just for fun...

Actually, I do have a sunroof. I guess that's where the extra space is taken up. I thought I might have to get some of those sport seats that sit right on the floor to give myself some room. I guess in the meantime I'll tilt the seat back a little. Thanks guys.

get the seat brackets from a 1st gen or 2nd gen cavalier or sunbird and notice how much lower they are!! I got the 3rd gen brackets in mine and it makes it higher so I would imagine it would be a ton lower in your car with the old brackets.

damn there are some tall ppl on the Org LOL!!

I never had a problem 'cept for when I used to have dredlocks, and I'd put them in a bun on top of my head. for sh*ts and giggles, I'd put them in a ponytail on top of my head and let them sprout up out of the sunroof. being that they were black, purple, blue and white, I got alot of strange looks



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TheBlackPearl,

I sent you a PM.


Jim

i am 6'3" and when i got my 02 with stock seats i had no problems. i also have a sunroof. with my racing seats i STILL have no problems.

HA HA!

"This was the largest automobile that I could afford."



I'm 6'1", with aftermarket racing seats. Headroom is no problem. The brackets I made let the seat slide back an extra 4" or so, which solves legroom.




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I ended up just tilting the seat back a notch...I guess the sunroof was the difference. Thanks

Mark Bassett wrote:get the seat brackets from a 1st gen or 2nd gen cavalier or sunbird and notice how much lower they are!! I got the 3rd gen brackets in mine and it makes it higher so I would imagine it would be a ton lower in your car with the old brackets.

Really?? the brackets are that much lower on the older models? I am looking for a way to lower my seats a bit and was toying with the idea of making new brackets, or chopping mine up a bit..... but if the older style is lower.... i may give that a try... what years should i look for? do the all have the same seat mounting holes and the same funky floor?

ken soggs wrote:

Mark Bassett wrote:get the seat brackets from a 1st gen or 2nd gen cavalier or sunbird and notice how much lower they are!! I got the 3rd gen brackets in mine and it makes it higher so I would imagine it would be a ton lower in your car with the old brackets.

Really?? the brackets are that much lower on the older models? I am looking for a way to lower my seats a bit and was toying with the idea of making new brackets, or chopping mine up a bit..... but if the older style is lower.... i may give that a try... what years should i look for? do the all have the same seat mounting holes and the same funky floor?

Its definitely a HUGE difference, and buy huge I am talking Inches LOL.
I gotta go get some old brackets myself, my seats are actually TOO high...

Mark Bassett wrote:

ken soggs wrote:

Mark Bassett wrote:get the seat brackets from a 1st gen or 2nd gen cavalier or sunbird and notice how much lower they are!! I got the 3rd gen brackets in mine and it makes it higher so I would imagine it would be a ton lower in your car with the old brackets.

Really?? the brackets are that much lower on the older models? I am looking for a way to lower my seats a bit and was toying with the idea of making new brackets, or chopping mine up a bit..... but if the older style is lower.... i may give that a try... what years should i look for? do the all have the same seat mounting holes and the same funky floor?

Its definitely a HUGE difference, and buy huge I am talking Inches LOL.
I gotta go get some old brackets myself, my seats are actually TOO high...

Sorry to burst everyones bubble... but was just at the junk yard... from what i can see the older brackets look IDENTICLE to the current ones... it appears to be the seats themself that are significantly different. on the older cavy's like 91... the seat hardly looks like it has a bottom cushion at all. you are almost sitting right on the seat brackets. the newer seats like my 02, it has a huge arse bottom cushion that acts like a booster seat.

Soooo... i dont think the solution is as easy as "swapping brackets"

If anyone finds differently, let me know... but also the junk yard is a bad place to get those brackets if you wanted to try anyway... 90% of all the brackets i found in the older style were rusted to tinfoil.... a few of them so badly that you could have torn them out by hand.

I think i may just cut my brackets down a bit, and weld them back together shorter. unless someone else has a great new idea for me.

get a choppin and a weldin

The Black Pearl wrote:damn there are some tall ppl on the Org LOL!!

LOL! How true is this! I'm 6' 5" myself and my 97 cav has some good headroom. I think the seats just need to be broken in a little and you'll be fine. I get a lot of people that see me drive by at my work and wonder who is driving that car. I have my seat all the way back with the seat tilted back to where the headrest is in line with the middle pillar on the side.

If it is the seats being too cushy, I so can't wait until they're broken in because I have my seat all the way back and I still feel my hair rubbing on the ceiling and I'm only 5'11.

Not to steal the thread but im 6'3 with an 02 cav with a sunroof, my seats tilted pretty decent and im still close to rubbing but it dosnt bother me however if i swap to rsx seats will i have to put on goggles and drive out of my sunroof?