hopefully this is the right forum.. and isn't too dumb of a question.

has anyone ever had trouble being comfortable driving these cars? i'm having a problem that i can't solve, where more than 10-15 minutes in the car causes a bunch of right leg discomfort in the ankle and hip, can't really find a good long trip postion for the leg.

just wondering if there are any seat or pedal adjustments (angling the seat, moving pedals, trans tunnel mods, something) that anyone has tried and had success with.

i've tried two different seats (4thgen firebird, and stock 3rdgen stuff) with same problem. sometimes it feels like I need to take a sledgehammer to the trans tunnel and beat it out where the right foot rests (by the gas pedal) to give more room! too bad there isn't any room to do so.

anyone had a similiar problem or know a solution?

 

Funny you mention that because I found my car the most comfortable of all cars I've driven. I just put the seat all the way back and stretch out a bit.

 

I also really like the seating in my Camaro...I am 6'4" so a lot of cars don't fit me very well. And when I bought this car a year ago, I was worried about that with it being such a short car and all. But I LOVE the italian driving style..being the type where you almost lie down flat to drive. I fit better into this car, than I do into my mother's Pacifica. The only time I have trouble is getting out sometimes...:P. Also an interesting side note, this seating position is also good for me since I messed up my tailbone falling down some stairs. The position takes all the pressure off the bone, and I don't feel a thing. LOVE IT.

 

Wow. Yes I realize this thread is from 2005 but I did a double take to see if I wasn't the original poster because I have the exact same sentiments...I recently bought an almost-show quality 89 T top trans am that doesn't need any paint or interior work, way nicer car than I ever expected to find, but no matter what seats I have tried in this car, including the current power 4th gen seats, I don't like the seating position, and I also wish I could pound down the trans tunnel so there is more room for my heel. I guess from the lack of replies to this thread me and the original poster are the only 2 people in the history of these cars that find them uncomfortable in this way. I guess that means I'm gettin old (28 years old!)

 

Hmm, never had a problem being comfortable in my camaro personally. It is one of the more comfortable cars I've driven, I won't say it's the most comfortable but better than a lot. I did switch to 4th gen power seats though, stock 3rd gen stuff was not as comfortable.

But I can't figure out what y'all are referring to with not enough room for your foot... no offense, but how big is your foot? I wear a size 12 shoe and I don't feel like there isn't enough room. In fact, with my cruise control not working atm, I find it more comfortable that I can wedge my foot against the transmission tunnel to keep my speed somewhat constant on long trips

 

LOL size 10. I don't like what you described, being able to wedge your foot on the tunnel, I don't have any other car where that would be even remotely possible. I like big cars (have a mercury marauder) but even my 79 Z28 has a much more comfortable seating and pedal position to me...I am finding my trans am is just sitting in the garage and looking nice because I'd rather drive any of the other 4 cars I have. I know it's gotta be me, GM sold like 10 million of these cars so apparently everyone else liked the seating and pedal position. I was at least slightly comforted to find at least one other person in the world had the same exact feelings I did (maybe it's my dopple-ganger?)

The car...



And the power seats I just put in it last week to try enticing me to like sitting in it better (didn't work)

 

I am super comfortable in mine. I cant imagine how or why you'd want to have more "Heel" room? Your heel shouldn't be spending a bunch of time on the transmission tunnel to begin with????

And I'm 6'2 with size 12 feets.

 

Yeah well you're talking to a guy who bought an RX7 and then went on the RX7 board and complained I felt too cramped in the car. Of course everyone that owned RX7s told me they fit just fine in it...they also told me I was using the car incorrectly lol. History repeats itself.

 

I just want to mention that I've heard of this happening when people put wallets in their right rear pockets. The wallet pushes against nerves and blood vessels going to the legs and feet. If you're carrying a wallet in your back pocket, try taking it out and then driving the car.

I just carry a money clip in my front pocket and I find my 91 Formy very comfortable.

 

Lol, the wedging foot against transmission tunnel probably sounds worse than it is. I have to consciously make an effort to do it. If I'm driving normally my foot never touches the transmission tunnel.

However InfernalVortex did give me a thought. Are you by chance flat footed? Or duck footed (sorry I don't know the medical term for this)? I imagine both of these could play a role especially if you are duck footed. Duck footed people's feet naturally point outward (to the left and right) instead of straight or only slightly outward like most people. I could see a condition such as this making you need to move your heel more to the right and having a transmission tunnel in your way to do so. Or possibly the opposite condition (called In-Toeing I believe) of your feet pointing inward just making it natural for you to want to hold your foot that way.

Oh and for the last post, I have had that happen before. I have my wallet in my right back pocket and I've had it happen not only in my camaro but in my ram 1500 as well. It has to be a 2 hour + trip though... so I just take my wallet out of my pocket on long trips

EDIT:
After posting and thinking about it, I think In-Toeing would be more likely cause than Out-Toeing (duck footed, looked it up hehe). In-Toeing would make it so that you feel most comfortable with your right foot pointing to the left, leaving you in a situation where you would want your heel where the transmission tunnel is.

 

Ha no, my feet are on straight. My achilles tendons are really crappy though so I do tend to sit a little closer to the pedals than I'd like just so I still have full range of motion without flexing too much, that probably does not help.

 

What about altering the pedals? Make custom footpads (or the whole assembly) and move them slightly to the left? I don't know how much room you have under there, but if you have an automatic car, there should be plenty of room to scoot things over a bit since you only have two pedals.

 

I've occasionally had the same problem... 6' with a between 10.5 and 12.5 (depending on what Chinese person made them) shoe size. Feels kind of like my right heel is almost on fire sometimes. One trip (that I can remember) to Connecticut, while I was going to school out there, I had to even take my shoe off to keep going and even that didn't help much.

I've learned to drive without my wallet in my pocket (my right leg falls asleep quick with it in my pocket in certain pants), and have the seat set for 3 notches forward from all the way back, 2-3 notches back from fully upright as far as it will go, and the tilt column completely straight (makes it hard to reach the radio sometimes). Didn't have this problem in my Grand Prix the one time I took it out there (fully power adjustable seat). I've been looking into 4th gen stuff to try to alleviate this, but haven't gotten anything yet.