This may have been addressed previously, but a search hasn't turned much up. I've had my RX-8 GT for about a month now, and I've noticed that it's been hard to get comfortable in the seat sometimes. Maybe it's just me but the clutch pedal in this car seems to have an unusually long travel, which necessitates moving the seat close so that I can comfortably depress the pedal to the floor. Unfortunately, then the seat is a little to close for my right leg to operate the gas without unconsciously lifting my knee off the seat all time to compensate for the shorter distance. Subsequently, my leg and hip starts aching after awhile. Also, it seems like the space for the gas pedal is quite small and when I have larger shoes on, I'm always hitting something with my foot.

Neither of these issues are show stoppers, but has anyone else observed this?

 

Hey, you live in Ellicott City? I live bout 20 mins away. I never had that problem. I learned to get comfortable fast. Are you arm length - hand away from the steering wheel? Is the seat inclined comfortably? I think its a just a proper breaking into the car because it felt weird driving my car when i first got it since i was practicing on my friend's cavalier.

But I do not get how your hip could hurt. After having my car for months, sometimes my left leg aches too.

 

It's not really my hip, but my upper quad. I think I'm tensing my leg and kinda hovering my foot over the gas when I'm not actually accelerating, which means my leg is not relaxed much of the time. If I pull the seat back so that my leg rests comfortably on the seat while I'm operating the gas pedal, then the clutch seems to be too far when fully depressed. Hopefully I'll get used to it and it won't be an issue.

I guess most of the other cars I've driven have a much more upright seat, and the more reclined seating postion is what I have to get used to.

 

pretty normal, I find that I have to twist my right foot at an angle in order for it to fit comfortably against the pedal at low speeds.

or just drive faster, works for me

 

If you can't find a seat position that works (maybe tilt the seat bottom back all the way), there's a DIY on adjusting the height of the clutch pedal. I believe there are actually two: one on how to attach a block to it (remember your first tricycle, that you had to grow into?) and one on how to adjust the height and the stops.

Ken

 

I went from clutching trucks and SUV's to the 8. My Explorer (5-speed) gives me leg cramps. The 8 is effortless in comparison. I suppose everything is relative.

 

whats your body type?

also, are your legs shorter than your torso?

 

Yes, I do some foot twisting sometimes also.

 

Ah! I will look for this. If I could adjust the clutch pedal higher and not have it go so far down I think it might help.

 

It's not the effort, but the length of travel that's the problem for me. I also have a WRX and that pedal effort is like 2-3 times the one in the Mazda.

 

I'm not quite 5'8" on a good day, and I would venture a guess that my legs are somewhat shorter than average, since my inseam is only 29. I always have trouble finding pants that actually fit my 36 inch waist because the "standard" size length for that waist is always like 32 inches or more. Way longer than what I need.

 

I noticed the same thing. My chin would feel sore because I had to hold the ball of my foot off the gas pedal. Maybe am used to it. I like to sit somewhat close to the steering wheel. Good rule of thumb is that you should be able to place your hand at 12 o'clock with your shoulder blade firmly against the seat and have your arm slightly bent. It it is straight you are too far away to really control the steering wheel.

The clutch is fine. I would like to move the gas pedal an inch or so toward the firewall.

 

Yes, I like to sit near to the wheel also. I'm gonna have to try that rule of thumb you gave for determining distance to the wheel.

I assume when you said your "chin" gets sore that you actually meant shin.

 

Atleast the clutch itsn't like my friends mustang, that thing feels like your using a leg press at the gym lol.

 

5' 8" with a 36" waist? Time for you to switch to Dockers! I't not fat - it's physiology.

I've been wearing Dockers pretty much exclusively for some time. From when I was 34x30 until now, at 42x30. I see lots of 36x29's in the bin. I'm kind of surprised that you think your legs are short. I'd say they're long. I'm 6' tall, with a 30" inseam, and think I'm reasonably well proportioned. (Vertically, anyway.)

Another advantage of Dockers is that the waist is a little bigger than how they're labeled. Just as satisfying as grabbing a chinning bar when you weigh in, but nothing to install.

Ken

 

I've been up to the 38-40 waist region too and then it gets even harder to find pants for me. I just assumed my legs were short because almost all the jeans and pants I find are too long when they fit my waist.

 

Don't look for pants at the Gap or similar places - they cater to anorexics, not healthy guys like us. Bite the bullet and go to old people's stores like Macy's.

Did I mention Dockers?

I've had a little discomfort with my 8's seat, due to a combination of butt size and back problems. A foam wedge fixed the back problem, and either my seat or the car's seat finally broke in for the butt issue. Funniest thing with the tight bolsters was when a buddy a bit bigger than me went for a long ride. He said that the bolsters weren't really uncomfortable, but they squeezed his *** cheeks together so he was unable to fart.

From my standpoint, that was a great feature.

Ken

 

I love dockers. If I'm wearing dress pants, it's only dockers. Especially the pants that stretch so they don't feel tight. But I'm still young, jeans and shorts for me

 

I found the same problem when I first drove the 8, the clutch was too far away, somehow I've adjusted tho and it's easy now, I do wish that the steering wheel would telescope tho, the wheel is a bit far away when I'm comfortable with the clutch (and I don't have long legs) since I kinda hunker down and lay back a bit to make it easy to reach.

I never get leg cramps tho because I never drive in stop and go traffic.

A bug plugging seat does sound (or doesn't depending on which way you look at it) like a good idea for some ppl I know.

 

The "proper" driving position as taught to me by an Irish former F1 driver, is both hands on the wheel at 3 and 9 o'clock, elbows at 90 degree angle, and being capable of turning the wheel comfortably 180 without letting go of the wheel.

Leg position wise, it's being able to put the clutch all the way in, and have comfortable access to all three pedals without having to adjust yourself when switching pedals.

So said the former F1 driver. I've been driving like that ever since.

 

Could be worse, my friend. My little brother is restoring a Camaro, and is using a Muncie 4-speed gearbox without hydraulic assist.

When you push the clutch in, it feels like the entire engine is tilting forward in its mounts.

 

Most people have one leg shorter than the other.

I suppose the couple of cm's is causing you problems.

 

Yeah?? Well a band of grandmas taught me the REAL seating position. You slide your seat as far forward as possible. You put the seat as vertical as possible (if possible). And you put your hands on the 1 and 11 position.

This way you get the full impact from the airbag as it comes out at 200mph. And if you're positioned correctly, you should end up with whiplash, and a broken neck. Oh and don't forget the new facial features as the airbag forces your hands into your face.

 

I wasn't kidding. You meet insane drivers when you take defensive driving at Mid-Ohio Driving School. I mean, he beat all of us in a Honda Odyssey minivan around a slalom, and we were driving Civics.

I highly recommend that course to EVERYONE. I became a better and more aware driver because of it.

 

I know you weren't kidding, I was just being stupid