Back Problems & Offset Pedals

[TobyW]

For the last decade i have been doing my job, doing in excess of 50k miles per year in a variety of VW Passats. 6 months ago I wanted a change and decided to go for the new Honda Accord. It's a great car, more fun than the VW with better kit. However, I have just been diagnosed with a prolapsed disc in my back and I think that it may be partly down to the fact that the pedals in the Accord are offset to the right. Compared to the Passat, the clutch pedal is almost 2 inches further to the right causing my torso to twist every time I operate the clutch.
Has anybody come across this before and is there a solution?

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

[mat205125]

I've certainly suffered short term discomfort whilst driving a new/borrowed/different car with a very different pedal and/or steering wheel offset. I recall occasions that needed me to use my mums old Mk1 106, and feeling like I'd been punched in the lower back after driving it side saddle with the wheel offset to the centre of the car, and the pedal towards the outside of the car.


....... Are we planning a call to the ambulance chasers to get some compo?

[geek_in_the_pink]

The new BMW manuals are the same. Especially the 5 series. I test drove one but couldn't buy it for that very reason, 45 minutes was enough to nearly cripple me. The 3 series wasn't as bad but still not good!

[Glosphil]

Numerous cars have seats, pedals and steering wheels that are not in-line.

The web-site below has data on the problem in general and measurements for a range of cars. Unfortunately it doesn't seem to have been updated for a while
http://www.car-seat-data.co.uk/

The latest data on the Accord is for the 1998 model which had a perfect score - I had a 2002 Accord and can confirm that seat, wheel and pedals were perfectly in line. My wife's 2000 Megane is terrible - the pedals are offset and the wheel is both offset and angled.

Over the years there has been a number of occassions where I have cancelled test drives after just sitting in the car. If the car is going to give me back-ache then I will always reject that car as a potential purchase. A driving seat can be changed but poorly aligned steering wheel and pedals are another matter.

[grumpyscot]

geek_in_the_pink said:

The new BMW manuals are the same. Especially the 5 series. I test drove one but couldn't buy it for that very reason, 45 minutes was enough to nearly cripple me. The 3 series wasn't as bad but still not good!

The old BMWs are not much better - this is one of the reasons I've never bought one - too uncomfortable - yet Left Hand drive are fine -must be something to do with converting their cars to RHD when based on a LHD design.