Driving Position Ergonomics - Anyone ever noticed??
Discussion
Most cars tend to either point the occupants towards the centre of the car (due to wheelarch intrusions) or point them ountwards from the centre (due to transmission tunnel intrusions).
I had an old Metro which was awful in the former and my current E39 is pretty bad in the latter. The best I've had so far was My Jag XJ40, although having such a large wheel also helps when bracing oneself against chronic cornering lean...
I had an old Metro which was awful in the former and my current E39 is pretty bad in the latter. The best I've had so far was My Jag XJ40, although having such a large wheel also helps when bracing oneself against chronic cornering lean...
The 928 is pretty good for this. Because it uses a torque tube and transaxle the centre console between the seats is very narrow.
This means the seats are closer to the centre of the car than usual, giving some shoulder space by the window as well as allowing more foot space than a non transaxle fr layout car.
The centre console is so narrow that the handbrake is mounted between the drivers seat and the door.
This means the seats are closer to the centre of the car than usual, giving some shoulder space by the window as well as allowing more foot space than a non transaxle fr layout car.
The centre console is so narrow that the handbrake is mounted between the drivers seat and the door.
The diagram in the OP was taken from this web-site - http://www.car-seat-data.co.uk/ . Lots of info. on the web-site, but the info. on individual cars is out of date. I posted the link to the web-site around a year ago.
Before test driving a car I always check the relationship between seat, wheel and pedals including any offset or angles. On a number of occassions after carrying out the checks I have declined to even drive the car as I know from experience that cars with large offsets/angles will give me back-ache on longer journeys. This isn't always picked up even on a one hour test drive.
Rather a generalisation I know but I have found cars that were originally designed as RHD to often have a driving position better orientated that cars that were designed as LHD. My 3 Nissans and 2 Hondas were much better than my Vauxhalls, BMWs and Renaults.
Before test driving a car I always check the relationship between seat, wheel and pedals including any offset or angles. On a number of occassions after carrying out the checks I have declined to even drive the car as I know from experience that cars with large offsets/angles will give me back-ache on longer journeys. This isn't always picked up even on a one hour test drive.
Rather a generalisation I know but I have found cars that were originally designed as RHD to often have a driving position better orientated that cars that were designed as LHD. My 3 Nissans and 2 Hondas were much better than my Vauxhalls, BMWs and Renaults.
Edited by Glosphil on Wednesday 20th October 01:00
I haven't driven too many cars, but one thing that seems consistent.
Taller people (6'+) find the driving position in my Astra absolutely perfect. Everything is in the right place. It's actually such a nice, easy car for me to drive, and my dad & a mate have echoed that. However, shorter people hate it. My mum, only 5'3, in particular calls it a "horrible, big plastic tank". Her slightly blue review isn't going to make for family reading at any time. Same with my gf. The pedals are too far forward for their legs and the steering wheel is on top of them, alledgedly
To my eye, it occasionally seems a bit far to the left, but I when I sit perfectly in line with the seat it is exactly in front of me, so I'm guessing that's more me than the car.
However, the Escort of a similar age fits the ladies absolutely perfectly. My dad is convinced when he had a mk4 Escort, it gave him back problems, and it did take me a hell of a lot of getting used to. A 2 hour journey in it would leave me broken.
A bit long winded, but I think the point I'm trying to make is that what'll be perfect for one person, will be awful for another. Although, I suppose now with moving steering wheels and pedals and whatnot it isn't as much as a problem
Late night musings
Taller people (6'+) find the driving position in my Astra absolutely perfect. Everything is in the right place. It's actually such a nice, easy car for me to drive, and my dad & a mate have echoed that. However, shorter people hate it. My mum, only 5'3, in particular calls it a "horrible, big plastic tank". Her slightly blue review isn't going to make for family reading at any time. Same with my gf. The pedals are too far forward for their legs and the steering wheel is on top of them, alledgedly
To my eye, it occasionally seems a bit far to the left, but I when I sit perfectly in line with the seat it is exactly in front of me, so I'm guessing that's more me than the car.However, the Escort of a similar age fits the ladies absolutely perfectly. My dad is convinced when he had a mk4 Escort, it gave him back problems, and it did take me a hell of a lot of getting used to. A 2 hour journey in it would leave me broken.
A bit long winded, but I think the point I'm trying to make is that what'll be perfect for one person, will be awful for another. Although, I suppose now with moving steering wheels and pedals and whatnot it isn't as much as a problem
Late night musings
The BMW 3 series is one of the most popular cars around today, and the driving position isn't great... So I'd hazard a guess that its one of the worst.
I always thought the Peugeot 206 has one of the worst driving positions with the adjustability in *just* the wrong place...
I've just bought a BMW 130i and although my feet don't quite line up with my arms, it is only a slight difference, and the car is comfy, adjustable and its all easy reach etc. yes, yes, the car does look like a shoe, but I can put up with that!
I always thought the Peugeot 206 has one of the worst driving positions with the adjustability in *just* the wrong place...
I've just bought a BMW 130i and although my feet don't quite line up with my arms, it is only a slight difference, and the car is comfy, adjustable and its all easy reach etc. yes, yes, the car does look like a shoe, but I can put up with that!
MarJay said:
I always thought the Peugeot 206 has one of the worst driving positions with the adjustability in *just* the wrong place...
Agreed, it's very hard to find a good, comfortable position. And funnily enough, many Pugs are the same, 205's and more-so 309's are massively off centre, and the pedals in 106's are abysmal!I've recently started doing a lot more miles in our MK1 Focus and it's giving me a bad back/sore right arm.
I also fidgit a lot as I can't seem to get/stay comfortable.
My parents had an Espace (1993 L reg) and that used to give me a sore knee on long journeys as the pedals seemed to be offset from the centre of the seat.
I also fidgit a lot as I can't seem to get/stay comfortable.
My parents had an Espace (1993 L reg) and that used to give me a sore knee on long journeys as the pedals seemed to be offset from the centre of the seat.
topless_mx5 said:
My MX5 is almost spot on but if anything even that is slightly to the left.
I always find pedals are too far to the right...in fact, whenever i get in to drive my other half's i often press the footrest instead of the clutch at first!Best i've ever experienced is my old mk2 mr2.....perfection
106 is bad. Offset pedals, and they're so close that you have to use the side of the brake pedal if you've got big feet.
I liked the Mk4 Astra, it was one of the best cars I've had for comfort, especially when fitted with the sport seats. The standard seats are bad, though.
No complaints with the Mondeo either, did 800 miles in 2 days and no problems.
I liked the Mk4 Astra, it was one of the best cars I've had for comfort, especially when fitted with the sport seats. The standard seats are bad, though.
No complaints with the Mondeo either, did 800 miles in 2 days and no problems.
my old metro used to give me an aching left knee on long journeys. was otherwise fine as long as you kept your back straight and held the wheel which was pretty much about 4" off centre to the left.
if you google the rover 100 ncap test you can see how far the steering wheel is offset - when the airbag deploys it simply deflects the drivers head into the A pillar!!!
if you google the rover 100 ncap test you can see how far the steering wheel is offset - when the airbag deploys it simply deflects the drivers head into the A pillar!!!
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