2005 Outback: Cramped gas pedal?

[stan]

Is there anything especially cramped about the 2005 Outback's gas pedal
or is it typical of small cars with a transmission hump?

---

We just got a 2005 Subaru Outback wagon 2 weeks ago. (We had to replace
our 97 Corolla which was totaled by a 17-year-old talking on a cell
phone driving his grandfather's new Lexus. We're glad to be alive.)

We had been planning on getting a small wagon for years and we had the
Legacy at the top of our list. We moved up to the Outback because the
Mrs. couldn't find a color scheme she liked in the Legacy. (Those
marketing folks know their business!)

My wife had been driving it around town for about a week and was very
happy with it. We just took our first long trip, which was a 12 hour
drive up the east cost for Christmas.

The car runs great and rides great. However, both my wife and I felt
that our right foot was more cramped in the Outback than it had been in
our Corolla. It looks like the transmission hump (AWD) bows outward
just where you'd want to place your right heel. You have to twist your
foot a little bit to get at the gas pedal. I guess this wouldn't be a
problem in Japan with the driver in the right side of the car. (Cruise
control was not a viable choice on I-95 during Christmas pilgramage
mostly in the rain.)

After a few hours my right leg felt sore.

Admittedly, I don't go on long drives that often and regardless of the
car my right leg always felt sore afterwards. So I don't know if there
is something atypical about the gas pedal position on this new car or
if we had been spoiled by the extra space you get with front wheel
drive. Or does everyone get sore after several hours on the road?

I haven't driven many different cars and for the last 20-years we've
had small front-wheel drive cars (2 Tercels & 2 Corollas) I didn't
really expect the Subaru to be much different. But it definetly seems
like the transmission hump intrudes onto the gas pedal. I am 5'8" and
my wife is 5'9" so we are not unusually tall.

Just curious if this is just my imagination or if there is something
atypical about this car.

Is it practical to reposition the gas pedal an inch to the left? Could
we get a wider gas pedal and drive with our foot a little closer to the
break pedal?

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Stan

 

[Edward Hayes]

My 2000 Forester gas pedal gets uncomforable on 3-4 hour drives but, then so
did my Jeep GC and all others I can remember. I do use the cruse whenever
safe to do so. ed

 

[Ron Joiner]

Is there anything especially cramped about the 2005 Outback's gas pedal
or is it typical of small cars with a transmission hump?

---

We just got a 2005 Subaru Outback wagon 2 weeks ago. (We had to replace
our 97 Corolla which was totaled by a 17-year-old talking on a cell
phone driving his grandfather's new Lexus. We're glad to be alive.)

We had been planning on getting a small wagon for years and we had the
Legacy at the top of our list. We moved up to the Outback because the
Mrs. couldn't find a color scheme she liked in the Legacy. (Those
marketing folks know their business!)

My wife had been driving it around town for about a week and was very
happy with it. We just took our first long trip, which was a 12 hour
drive up the east cost for Christmas.

The car runs great and rides great. However, both my wife and I felt
that our right foot was more cramped in the Outback than it had been in
our Corolla. It looks like the transmission hump (AWD) bows outward
just where you'd want to place your right heel. You have to twist your
foot a little bit to get at the gas pedal. I guess this wouldn't be a
problem in Japan with the driver in the right side of the car. (Cruise
control was not a viable choice on I-95 during Christmas pilgramage
mostly in the rain.)

After a few hours my right leg felt sore.

Admittedly, I don't go on long drives that often and regardless of the
car my right leg always felt sore afterwards. So I don't know if there
is something atypical about the gas pedal position on this new car or
if we had been spoiled by the extra space you get with front wheel
drive. Or does everyone get sore after several hours on the road?

I haven't driven many different cars and for the last 20-years we've
had small front-wheel drive cars (2 Tercels & 2 Corollas) I didn't
really expect the Subaru to be much different. But it definetly seems
like the transmission hump intrudes onto the gas pedal. I am 5'8" and
my wife is 5'9" so we are not unusually tall.

Just curious if this is just my imagination or if there is something
atypical about this car.

Is it practical to reposition the gas pedal an inch to the left? Could
we get a wider gas pedal and drive with our foot a little closer to the
break pedal?

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Stan

I think a lot of it is due to the design of the boxer engine. It sits
low and to the back in the engine compartment. I am used to it having
had a 2000 OBW for 4 years.

My new 2005 Atlantic Blue OBW is a dream to drive and like another
poster said, I use cruise whenever I can but obviously in the poor
weather you described it is not always safe to do so.

Ron

 

[l.lichtman]

stan wrote: (clip) Is it practical to reposition the gas pedal an inch
to the left? Could we get a wider gas pedal and drive with our foot a
little closer to the break pedal?(clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I am only familiar with the model I drive, a '99 Outback. I have
trouble with the brake and gas pedal being too close together. I find
myself sometimes feeding gas when I want to brake, and vise versa. It
could be just my wide shoes, but I suggest you look carefully before
you move anything.

 

[Styx]

Is there anything especially cramped about the 2005 Outback's gas pedal
or is it typical of small cars with a transmission hump?

<snip>

It's funny you should mention it I just went from a '98 JGC 5.9L to a '05
Forester. My girlfriend and I took a drive from Philadelphia to Maryland a
few weeks back and my foot was really burning up while I was driving. I
reverted to cruise control to avoid it on the way home. The gas pedal angle
*is* a little strange and un-ergonomic (if I may make up a word).


- <dumbjaw> * <(e-mail address removed)>
- <http://www.dumbjaw.com/>
- <the game show network fan club>

 

[Guest]

Is it practical to reposition the gas pedal an inch to the left? Could
we get a wider gas pedal and drive with our foot a little closer to the
break pedal?

The gas pedal is indeed rather awkwardly placed particularly for those
of us with wide shoes, so I hope someone can come up with a suitable
mod and post it here.

 

[Cam Penner]

The gas pedal is indeed rather awkwardly placed particularly for those
of us with wide shoes, so I hope someone can come up with a suitable
mod and post it here.

Here's something to try that might help. It may take some
time to get used to though. Slide your seat a notch
FORWARD, and keep your knees a little farther apart to make
up for the shortened distance. This will tend to angle
your foot a bit more (moving the heel rest slightly more
towards the centre of the space). This will allow more
clearance over the hump.

 

[Edward Hayes]

Good idea: It's not my 14 EEEs that is the problem but the angle of my leg
to angle of the pedel.
"Cam Penner"