......but I was still rubbing shoulders with the pilot......Anybody else feel cramped in an RV?
Almost all the responses have looked past one component of your question and addressed
headroom, a situation that is much easier to deal with than cockpit
width. Let's talk about width.
A few days ago, my neighbor expressed an interest in taking flying lessons and asked me how to get started. He seized on my offer to drive to the airport where my RV-6A is based and fly him to a nearby airport and introduce him to the owner of the flying school. It was a cold day. I weigh 195 lbs. and wore a leather jacket, he weighs 220+ lbs. and wore a coat. After climbing aboard, the only headroom issue he had was scrunching down briefly so I could close the slider canopy without bashing his head. I also had to increase the length of his shoulder harness and seat belt to the max limit so he could lock it all in place. Once settled in though, we were definitely
rubbing shoulders. The 25 NM mile flight lasted only 10 minutes or so and was no big deal. A 2 or 3 hour cross country enduring that same level of "intimacy" could for some pilots and/or passengers become a big deal.
After a lengthly chat and sizing up the prospective new student, the flying school owner suggested he take flying lessons in a Cessna 172 where he would be more comforable than in the school's C-150, Remos GX, or Evektor Sport Star. Now that's what I call "cutting to the chase."
In all honesty, I don't feel the -6 or -7 series has anymore
width advantage than my C-150 did. I often flew that old 150 with larger passengers aboard and you learn to "accomodate." Perhaps you may not be the type of person who wishes to accomodate. In that case opting for the -8 series will provide you with much less intimacy and much more shoulder room.