Left Foot Braking

[mikey k]

I realised early in my test drives of 650's the brake pedal is very offset for left foot braking
I've only ever used it on track in a manual car and always "parked" my left foot in auto cars
So coming to and auto car that "encourages" left foot braking I was wondering how many owners actually do as intended by McLaren

[Geoff Stilwell]

Yep I drive left foot braking all the time.

[flemke]

Once you get used to it, in a car with no manual clutch, left is better.
If you started out driving with an auto 'box, or in a kart, why would you ever use your right foot to brake?

[isaldiri]

Always if the pedals are setup properly and it definitely is in the mclaren.

[mikey k]

flemke said:

Once you get used to it, in a car with no manual clutch, left is better.
If you started out driving with an auto 'box, or in a kart, why would you ever use your right foot to brake?

I was hoping you'd pitch in
Fair point I've driven manuals for >30 years doing large mileages
Only recently had a few "flappy paddle" boxes for low miles to I guess I need to you get used to it
You watch me prang the DD left foot braking in a manual

Edited by mikey k on Friday 19th June 11:23

[Anjum]

I am using Left Foot Braking in the Speciale - and it works well. Have been training - as I've had to increase the amount of pressure that my left foot can muster (in comparison to my right foot).

Not in the Lambo though - it doesn't like the accelerator and brake pressed at the same time.....

[mpbcs]

I always lefft foot brake in the 650S. It is set up perfectly for it and it is easy to modulate as the brakes are not overservoed. It also makes it easier to reverse park the car up a hill!

[mikey k]

mpbcs said:

I always lefft foot brake in the 650S. It is set up perfectly for it and it is easy to modulate as the brakes are not overservoed. It also makes it easier to reverse park the car up a hill!

That's going to make a smell!

[Hollowpockets]

Never bothered left foot braking, even in my race car I don't bother so I can't see why there's any point on the road.

[mpbcs]

mikey k said:

That's going to make a smell!

the car tends to roll forward a touch when you go into reverse and holding it on the left foot tends to help

[mikey k]

Hollowpockets said:

Never bothered left foot braking, even in my race car I don't bother so I can't see why there's any point on the road.

That was my initial impression
When I've done track days I've never felt the need even though I had some training on it and heel/toe
My other concern is teach an old dog new tricks!
My left foot has no idea what a brake is our how to correctly modulate it
I can envisage me stamping on them and nutting the steering wheel

Then I thought well McLaren ought to have a good reason for setting the pedals up like that (other than reversing up hills )

[trackdemon]

Always lfb in 2 pedal cars, anything else feels unnatural. I've been scolded at media events after climbing in and setting my seating position with feet on pedals, only to immediately switch once on the move (instructors, presumably, don't enjoy being suddenly thrust at the windscreen by first timers). It just gives more control, and it gives (imho) more finesse to the phase of bleeding from brakes back to the throttle where you can blend it a little - shame some cars are setup to cut the throttle soon as the brake is on (yes VAG, that's you). McLaren play ball.

[trackdemon]

mikey k said:

Hollowpockets said:

Never bothered left foot braking, even in my race car I don't bother so I can't see why there's any point on the road.

That was my initial impression
When I've done track days I've never felt the need even though I had some training on it and heel/toe
My other concern is teach an old dog new tricks!
My left foot has no idea what a brake is our how to correctly modulate it
I can envisage me stamping on them and nutting the steering wheel

Then I thought well McLaren ought to have a good reason for setting the pedals up like that (other than reversing up hills )

Do it often enough and your left foot will be as able to do it as the right - it's just muscle memory I suppose.

There is another small safety aspect - in traffic, or when making progress x country, I tend to hover left foot above the pedal. Should something untoward occur, you're fully on the brakes almost instantly, as opposed to the admittedly small delay moving right foot from one pedal to the other.

[mikey k]

good point!

[flemke]

Of anyone who says that left foot braking is too awkward or unnatural, I would ask, "What do you do when you're driving a kart?"

[trackdemon]

flemke said:

Of anyone who says that left foot braking is too awkward or unnatural, I would ask, "What do you do when you're driving a kart?"

I thought exactly that; what is it about having a steering column between your legs that recalibrates your left foot?

[br d]

Never tried it perhaps I'll give it a go, I should have trailed it on a recent to trip to France where I drove lots of fast empty roads.
Can't say I've noticed anything "wrong" with the brake pedal position on my 650S, feels very natural for the right foot. I do remember struggling for weeks to get it right in my LP560, the brake pedal felt really weird on that. Do Lambo drivers normally left foot brake?

[Ash MP4 12C]

Always left foot brake, bit of a shock though when I get back in the race car and have to stand on the brakes, went off at one point as I had forgotten to brake hard enough.

Its the way to go, perfectly laid out pedals

[RYH64E]

I only recently found out that my wife's long time dislike of automatic cars was due to her inability to left foot brake... It's taken her over 20 years to work out that you don't have to use your left foot at all in an auto.

Personally, I don't like left foot braking because I don't have the same degree of control as I do with my right, but that's probably due to a complete lack of practice rather than any inate inability to do so.

[br d]

RYH64E said:

I only recently found out that my wife's long time dislike of automatic cars was due to her inability to left foot brake... It's taken her over 20 years to work out that you don't have to use your left foot at all in an auto.

Personally, I don't like left foot braking because I don't have the same degree of control as I do with my right, but that's probably due to a complete lack of practice rather than any inate inability to do so.

I've tried a couple of times over the last few days, don't like it at all. It feels very unnatural which I realise would change with practice but I'm concerned that if an emergency braking moment was to occur my brain would go into panic mode and not remember which foot to brake with! Smash!