[Cialug] OT: safe/reliable fuel-efficient cars.

[James Shoemaker]

David Champion wrote:
> The pedals are *supposed* to be close together. Otherwise you can't 
> heel-toe when you downshift. :)
> 
> The Honda S2000's pedals are so close together that you have to choose 
> which shoes you wear when you drive it, or you'll hit both the clutch 
> and the brake pedal at the same time. I've heard that the Lotus Elise 
> has even smaller pedals - a guy I know who's about 6'3" and probably 
> size 12 shoes said it was just about impossible for him to drive... and 
> he's owned both a S2000 and a Miata. I don't think either of those cars 
> would fit Nate's criteria, so no worries there.
> 
> If you want a performance car with a truck-like clutch pedal, try the 
> BMW M3. I couldn't believe how long the clutch pedal throw is on those.
> 
> James... as I mentioned, VW is going to the DSG transmission, which is a 
> computer controlled manual transmission. It's not the same as getting a 
> Pontiac conventional automatic with the paddle shifters... but as 
> someone mentioned, the passenger version has a "nerfed" program, and 
> people think it's pretty worthless to use it in the manual mode. The 
> sporty cars like the GTI and R32 have a performance mode that gives you 
> almost fully manual control, but it won't let you downshift to1st when 
> you're doing 80mph...
> 
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct-Shift_Gearbox
> 

   The day they make a GTI or R32 wagon I will look back at VW then.

James