I thought I’d start this topic after posting in the bike fitting thread earlier. I figure this question is closely related.

I’m having trouble fitting my car, its a big thing (an Audi S6) and I’m only 5’3″ in my elevator shoes.

I’ve been struggling with reach to the pedals (short inside leg) whilst maintaining a clear view of the road above the steering wheel. I’ve found I can wake up during the night with severe pains in my right leg, presumably from over extending to reach the pedals. I’ve also noticed my hands and fingers can sometimes seize up (they look a bit like claws when this happens), presumably from gripping a steering wheel that’s too thick?

Now I know there’s a whole plethora of adjustments I can make with regards to my seating and steering wheel position, however I’m a bit nervous about going ahead with it as I don’t want to risk further injury – After a long stint on the motorway, I find myself having to stretch out for 10 minutes in service station car parks before I can get to the toilet.

I’d dsecribe my driving style as quite aggressive, I’m not afraid of the argy bargy and I have a good turn of pace when I need to. My weaknesses are steep uphills as I slide further back in my seat and struggle with my vision above the steering wheel.

Is it worth me getting a car fit? I’m a keen motorist and What Car subscriber, I don’t want to have to give it all up due to injury.

Small people shouldn’t be allowed to drive – you’re aggressive and yappy and yet we’re somehow meant to feel guilty and not beat the crap out of you in the inevitable altercation

Maybe between the hours of midnight and 5am, as a tester, like ?

Try a Smart car – that might suit

I suggest you engage the services of a professional car fitter who can do all the measurements and then adjust both the seat and steering wheel to suit. Don’t be afraid if he uses lasers to do this. It doesn’t mean he is a muslim.

I started driving a car in 1937 and after rebuilding the seating from the padding from a crashed Heinkel bomber I can assure you and everyone else that the only way you should consider changing the seating is by studying upholstery at night school.

Any attempt to engage the services of a ‘professional’ car fitter will leave you weak, under-resourced and probably a virgin.

Hold on a minute – I’m an experienced car fitter. I’ll charge you $50000000 for a 60 minute fitting – how does that sound?

You bought the wrong sized car. Go larger

I’m a small guy, but drive a big car due to my enormous e-penis.

Which I put in the boot.

Thanks for the advice so far folks.

A car fit sounds like a good option, I’m not sure about re-training at night school though – I’m not sure I’ll have the time since most of my evenings are spent watching Steve McQueen films or reading What Car magazine on my ipad.

I do have my fiftieth coming up soon, and I’ve been thinking more and more about a car for life. My wife has suggested she’ll pay for my flight over to Germany for a fit. I fully expect them to use lasers, but I’ll know it’s being done by some experienced Germans rather than Muslims.

As for the manufacturer, I’m not 100% decided, but for some reason I will only ever consider something that’s branded as German and uses at least two German words in it’s slogan

Make sure as well they video you so they can check elbow to arse movements, it’s a vital meaurement because if that’s wrong your satelite navigation will never work correctly.

…and uses at least two German words in it’s slogan

Deutsch Motors: Scheiße Fantasie

I have nothing to add , but this has made me smile no end

Are you looking for a flickable and playful feel, or something more planted – do you currently feel that you’re sat “on” the car rather than “in” it?

It definitely feels planted, whether this suits me, I’m not sure.

The only time I’ve ever felt sat “on” the car was when I went to watch the tractor pulling event at Great Eccleston show. Me and the kids had to sit on the roof so we could see over the row of people stood at the front.

If it feels planted I think I know the root cause of your problems. You need to check the bushes on the drivers seat.

oh, and make sure you wear your normal driving gloves if you go for a fitting – I’ve see terrible things happen with non-standard handwear

What you want to do is get down to the library and do some reading, try out a few things and you’ll soon get the right feel for it. This is the kind of knowledge that you can use again and again and will make you feel proud to call yourself a driver. When you see less experienced people looking for help you can feel smug and superior about their choices, especially if society might otherwise consider them more successful than you.

I think the wheel size could be the problem

can you post a photo of your cockpit. either with you in it or not.

I will have an opinion to share.

have you considered the gear lever, paddles, auto, or whether to go single speed electric. Or have
you considered rhd to compensate for any muscular imbalance between left and right arm?

I think its neccesary to seek specialist advice, the last thing anybody who drives such a luxurious vehicle wants is aches and pains,

I had a similar problem to yours and cured most of it by purchasing a flame retardant racing suit and a pair of suede racing pumps, you really get that racers edge when you can feel the loud peddle thro the waffer thin racing shoes.

I’m actually 7’5″ and drive an Austin allegro so my situation is completely reversed but I would still highly reccomend the proffesional advice an expert fitter will give !

You could try a helmet, I find that looking like the STIG and standing with my arms folded makes me feel important, you will get away with it in your can because your head is so small and your car is so big, I can only wear mine outside of the vehicle because my head is so big and my car is so small !

You will also require gloves ! This will make you feel more connected with the whole experience, just be carefull when your stood on a stool in the Mtwy services having a piss because whipping it out of that suit “all in one” Onesy ! In gloves will see you cascading all over the place, and once the gloves get piss on them you will have to go back and get re fitted, that’s how exact the science is, it says so on the invoice !

I think the wheel size could be the problem

^^^^This see if audi do a 18.5″ wheel as we all know the extra 1.5″ will make the rollability over the potholes on our well maintained British roads somewhat smoother and you’ll probably require less suspension travel.

Also you will add extra niche to a already niche car. Ftw.

edit: maybe see if it’s available in single speed too. But be careful of a niche overload.

To be able to offer any helpful advice I’d need to know how often you take part in an Audiax.

You’re not allowed to waste money paying people, you must learn your craft from the elder statesmen of the road, and read every book with the word ‘car’ in the title from every library within a 50 mile radius.

Then you will be qualified not only to fit cars, but to judge.

What’s the German for dialled in?

<awaits flaming> my partner does car assessments from an ergonomic point of view, so I’ve txt’d her for any easy suggestions.</ 😉 >

(these are my comments, not her’s) The trouble is that usually you simply have the wrong type of car for your issue. I was recommended a ‘wedge‘ for my back issues (by some-one else) but it was of no use to me, as I’m tall enough to to be hitting the car roof without one. In all honesty I bought a Golf plus (not for the seat) and it simply has a much better (taller) seat for some-one my height. I can’t suggest it might be the best way for you to go (I’m not the expert) but a wedge might enable you to sit higher in the back of the seat, without raising your legs further.
Car seats are really a bit rubbish.

Ps: If you do any driving for work, it might be worth enquiring about a car assessment through them.

You need something like this:

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-SOtWSGOB4[/video]

That fella’s a shortarse too, and I hear he drives a German car now…

It’s amazing the number of people who sit WAY too far from the controls to begin with.

Look at in car footage from the WRC – see how close the driver is to the steering wheel?

There’s a good reason for this – when you get into a hazardous situation, you instictively sit forward. So why not put yourself in that position to start with?

I’ll put money on the fact that you’ve got the seat back at too shallow an angle and at the same time you have your arms stretched right out to the steering wheel. Yes?

Put the seat back more vertical; move the seat forwards until you can reach the pedals comfortably (move the steering wheel as far forward as it will go to start with) then adjust the steering wheel back until it’s closer to you than you would normally be comfortable with – your elbows need to have about a 90° bend in them.

As for the cramped hands – relax FFS! You barely need to grip the steering wheel at all!

I have a friend who has an Aston Martin Vantage – he’s 5′ 8″ and I’m 6 foot. When I’ve driven it, he complains bitterly when I return it that the driving seat is too far forward and close to the steering wheel. Yet when I get in it after he’s been driving, I can barely reach the pedals and I’m nearly flat on my back! Figure than one out!!

wooooosh 😆

PeeeeeepPeeeeeeeeeeeep !!!!!!!! 😉

^^ POTD wooooooooosh-tastic!! 😆

This is why I waste my day looking at my phone.
Carry on!

I apologise if I am pointing out the obvious, but you just need faster shoes.

And I bet you can cure the problems with your hands with some nice comfy gloves.

Have you tried cutting pictures of people of similar size driving cars out of magazines, then taking a ruler and a protractor to them to work out those vital measurements? You should easily be able to use this method to determine your optimum driving position if you have but an ounce of common sense.

I think you just need to get some tyres more suited to your local road conditions – that and go up two wheel sizes and then come back down one. You will be all good then!

Please please please don’t have your fitting done at NIssan, as a short arse they’ll have you in one do those bloody Mira things. Most likely a purple one! Next thing you know it’s a standard 22mph, Parking on blind corners, driving up a one way street the wrong way (and saying you are only going one way won’t cut it) and generally causing MAYHEM to other road users. If you are lucky they may even throw in a ‘prescription wind screen’ which prevents you actually seeing your cycling brothers and sisters going about their RAD daily commute 😀

😆

Well, I’ve had a change of heart. After much thought, I’m going to consolidate my current fleet into one “do it all” vehicle. Anyone else done this?

Most of my driving is around the South, with a few big days out in the Lakes and the annual trip to the Alps.

At the top of the list so far is the Subaru Outback. I watched a man in one in town. He looked very comfortable, strong, brave and tall. I was surprised when he got out, as he was a similar height to me. I assume you must sit slightly higher in these?

He was with his wife and they were both wearing Subaru fleeces, which interests me since Ive currently got several Audi branded items including a jacket and a wrist watch.

Turn your steering wheel upside down to change the height. Also, try fitting tractor wheels to even out the bumps. Though it may cause an unhealthy obsession with future car purchases and wheel sizes with the delusion that anything smaller than tractor wheels are just for kids.