I've used a manual steering wheel with some success. Wheel is a bit larger diameter and a not thinner in cross section, allowing me to see more of the speedo, or at to not scrunch my neck so much. 

Karl Wolz
Sent from my electronic umbilicus

On Aug 16, 2012, at 10:05 PM, David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET> wrote:

> At 08:54 PM 8/16/2012, Alistair Bell wrote:
>> PS I share Loren's problem of not seeing most of speedo. And that is
>> with no swivel seat on driver's side (I did install swivel base on
>> pass. side). I guess my height (6-2) and long torso is the cause.
>> Not seeing the dial bugs me a lot, especially because I am working
>> with others on new gauge illumination package.
> 
> I would find that supremely irritating, and it Wouldn't Go Away.  I'd
> have to work hard to turn that into a lovable quirk, like having to
> go stand outside to see whether the rear defrost is on.  It would
> either help or destroy me in my quest for dispassion.
> 
> You can see how they got pinched, though, between steering wheel
> angle and size.  How much would it help you to put on a
> manual-steering wheel?  They're 8 1/4" precisely between the inside
> of the rim at top and the horizontal bar in the middle of the VW medallion.
> 
> At least we can be thankful that The People's Auto A.G. didn't employ
> Procrustes Ltd. as their bespoke coach builder.
> 
> Yrs,
> d