2004 9-5...no accellerator pedal space

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Tex - 05 Feb 2005 05:38 GMT

I'm considering purchasing a new Saab. I had been looking at the 9-3's when
I discovered a local dealer offering a brand new 2004 9-5 arc for only $26k
(5-speed manual).

So I took it for a test drive only to discover that there was barely any
room for my foot to hit the accelerator. What were the engineers thinking
when they allotted so little room for the gas pedal (between the brake pedal
and the console wall)? It seems like a stupid reason not to buy a car, but
I have to admit I found my foot literally getting stuck underneath the
brake. It was difficult to maneuvre my right foot past the brake pedal.
While my shoes may be _slightly_wider than normal, I don't think they are
unusually wide at 4 1/2 inches (at its widest point). My shoes fit just
fine on my current Ford Focus, an otherwise much smaller car.

Has anyone else noticed this? Is it requisite that I drive the car
barefoot?

- tex

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Peter Wilkins - 05 Feb 2005 07:37 GMT

>I'm considering purchasing a new Saab. I had been looking at the 9-3's when
>I discovered a local dealer offering a brand new 2004 9-5 arc for only $26k
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>Has anyone else noticed this? Is it requisite that I drive the car
>barefoot?

No!
If you really want the car, you can:

Take the rubber pad off the brake pedal - gets a few more mm space.
Don't use the gas pedal - use the cruise control instead.
Don't use the brake: downshift instead.
Only wear Italian (pointed toe) shoes or else cut off your little toe.

or do what I did - buy an automatic 9-5.

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Regards,
Peter Wilkins

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ma_twain - 10 Feb 2005 02:59 GMT

>>I'm considering purchasing a new Saab. I had been looking at the 9-3's when
>>I discovered a local dealer offering a brand new 2004 9-5 arc for only $26k
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
>
> or do what I did - buy an automatic 9-5.

It sounds like the spacing of the brake and accelerator was designed for
heel/toe downshifting. The idea is to synch up the wheel speed with the
engine speed for a downshift by applying brake and gas at the same time.
You need to be able step on the brake and accelerator pedals at the same
time with your right foot, while your left foot is on the clutch pedal.

After you have been learned to drive like this, driving an automatic is
boring . . .

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Peter Wilkins - 10 Feb 2005 11:38 GMT

>It sounds like the spacing of the brake and accelerator was designed for
>heel/toe downshifting. The idea is to synch up the wheel speed with the
>engine speed for a downshift by applying brake and gas at the same time.
>You need to be able step on the brake and accelerator pedals at the same
>time with your right foot, while your left foot is on the clutch pedal.

That's probably true, I'm pretty sure it was designed like that for
just that reason. I learned to do it many years ago, before
synchromesh, with double declutching as well! (I actually won a bet
in SVN changing down my landrover into (non-syncro) first gear at
40kmph without stripping or damaging anything!)

>After you have been learned to drive like this, driving an automatic is
>boring . . .

No, it's not boring, it's just safer. I do a lot of city driving here
in Sydney in Oz, and I much prefer an auto in heavy city traffic - one
less risk factor to think about. I usually drive my 9-5 like a manual
anyway if I need performance. Unfortunately, it's pretty difficult to
rent an automatic car anywhere in Europe, and driving in Paris or
Milan with a manual, and on the wrong side of the road as well, is
pretty scary.

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Regards,
Peter Wilkins

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