Do you find that the MX5 pedals are based slightly to the right, resulting in you having to shift your legs slightly to the right to use clutch, brake and accelerator pedals.
I’m just curious , as I will be trading in my Fiesta plus cash for an MX5 later this month.
Thanks.
Kind regards,
Adam.
Yes I had problems getting used to the clutch on the mk3, kept pressing my left foot down and catching the foot rest. my Son does not have the same problems though so I have related it to having a lazy left foot as I was angling it to one side.
Yes, on the Mk3? They are way over as can be seen by the shape of the floor mats. I thought at first that would be as the space was optimised for left hand drive but Japan is RHD like us so why the drivers side is so narrow I don’t know. Certainly you need shoes without wide welts but you soon get used to it.
The bulge in the floor on the driver’s side of the transmission tunnel is to accommodate the catalyst.
It is typical of (smaller) rear wheel drive cars, as there has to be a transmission tunnel within the body structure, resulting in the pedals often being offset slightly. Obviously front wheel drive cars do not suffer from this.
The whole pedal area is quite narrow, especially when you consider the foot rest on the left. Wearing Doc Martens I find changing gear difficult, trainers OK, and dress shoes no problem. But then I have quite big feet. You’ll get used to it in a day or two, as I did. And the fun is worth it.
You should try driving a car with wellies on!
I find that choosing the right foot-gear is quite important. I use cheap, canvas, thin soled deck shoes. Sandals are a no-no for me as they tend to be too wide.
Interesting little article here :- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/road-safety/9517409/Choosing-the-right-driving-shoes.html
Gales.
Adidas samba blue suede training shoes for me. All I ever wear, unless you died got married or christened. Only worn them for thirty years now! Most comfortable thing I have ever found to wear. Helps being your own boss obviously! It’s not getting my feet on the pedals. I struggle with more getting my shoulders into the cabin and steering without opening the window for extra space…
I went from driving a 51reg Fiesta to an MX5 mk3 and yes, I too found the pedals to be offset to the right. However, I find this much more comfy than the pedals being directly in line with the steering wheel. I drive with my right foot turned out to the right when I drive, so the offset puts the accelerator in a better location to suit my (dodgey) driving style. In the fiesta, even with the seats right back, I still didn’t have enough leg room, so I found driving with my foot straight ahead quite uncomfortable.
In Mk1/2 the L and R leg room is pretty similar but in Mk3 it’s noticeably smaller on the RH (UK drivers) side.
This is what we mean, pic from our sponsors site MX5parts, the narrow mat is RH side, the passenger’s is luxurious in comparison!
(Some owners take the footrest off to give a bit more room but it leaves a stud sticking up. A very low footrest would be a good alternative but I’ve not seen any.)
Some details seem to favour the US market. In addition to the pedal area the position of the handbrake lever is wrong for RHD (for me anyway!).
I went from a mid engined MR2 to a MK3. The MR2 had a near perfect pedal layout. After a short period of time you will just get used to it. The fiesta will fade into the memory Very quickly.
For me, the major issue is that there is nowhere to put your right foot when using cruise control. A space to the right of the accelerator is what is needed but it isn’t there.
Haven’t even noticed if the pedals are very slightly off to one side. After a while you would never know unless someone points it out to you.
Mx5ski… +1 for Adidas Samba or Adidas Gazelle, they were the only casual footwear I used to buy too. I’ve had all sorts of colours… brown with cream stripes, black with red stripes, various blues with white stripes.
Same here no problems with the position of the pedals. I can’t really see it being an issue once you’ve got used to it.
The only problem I have is me, my body has to adapt to a high upright position in my other car, then getting in and out of the Mk3 presents problems at times. I am an old git though.
I must add once in the Mk3 I am comfortable and everything seems to be laid out fine, it’s just getting out sometimes
I did that often when I used to have Land Rovers. Each pedal with its own acre of space, luxury.
Same here. Once I’m in, I’m comfy, but getting there is sometimes a challenge. Remember Joan Collins’ advice - the older you get, the less sound you must make when getting out of a chair.
And yes it’s always handy having the missus with you too, I had her pulling me out of the car b–y sciatica.
I quite like the legs laid out position in MX-5s and find it quite comfortable, when I sit in vans at work it’s like sitting in a high chair with your legs dangling down.
When I had a leg injury, to get out my MX-5 I used to pivot on my ■■■■, legs together, to swing my legs out the door then right hand on the sill and left hand on something else and push myself up.
I’ve sat in a Lotus Exige in a showroom and that had a huge sill to climb over. I saw it on a tv program (think it was about DeLorean cars) that big sills on cars add a lot of structural rigidity, more so that the roof ! To demonstrate he cut out gulling doors with different size sills in cardboard boxes and twisted the box.