I kind of forgot about this, but after starting to drive my car again, I forgot how cramped the gas pedal was to the brake pedal and console. Even with tennis shoes, I can barely find room for my foot on the gas pedal, and removing it to use the brake takes a sideways twist to clear the console and brake. Doug (size 12 D)
I've seen this posted on this site a lot. But I've never had an issue owning a 9C foot. In fact, I find it comfortable. Long legs just force me to keep the seat all the way back but that's still no issue.
Doug, size 12 D is big feet and if you eel Ferrari pedal are close just wait until you drive a proper race car. Of course you can customize the spacing within a pedal box in a race car Instead of tennis shoes you might want to try using proper racing shoes (real ones, not the BS 'designer' pretty ones).
I have size 12 feet as well and notice a big difference when I am driving in my tennis shoes vs. my dress shoes for work. The tennis shoes are much wider and harder to clutch because of the dead pedal. It is so bad that the carpeting on the side of the dead pedal is coming unglued from the wall. I need to invest in some driving shoes but have been too lazy to do it as I am having too much fun driving my Mondial!
What types of driving shoes do you guys wear that looks reasonable (price and style)? I've had the same problem with the dead pedal and the clutch that I drive without shoes all the time. At least it keeps the carpet and the aluminum pedals clean. Ace
I tend to prefer somewhat soft soled moccasins, but that's not an optimal answer, as the pedals wear the soles pretty quickly.
+1 on the Runners. It's all down to the shoes. I have a couple of pairs of Diesels which have a very thin sole. Italians also must have short legs and long arms.
Curious how you make a connection with OP's 12D show size and being fat... If the OP drops 40 pounds, do his feet get shorter?
True fact -- when I dropped 100 lbs, I went from a size 10 to a 9. FWIW, I can drive my 328 in cowboy boots, and I know a local guy who drives his F512M in boots too. Personally, I love the fact the gorillas can't fit in these cars. Revenge of the normal size guy I can fit in just about anything, although I haven't tried an old Europa.
Piloti offers a bunch of styles all of which are designed for driving. I seem to be very hard on shoes but my Pilotis have proven comfortable and durable, and the added support in the heels and side areas do seem to make heel-toe shifting etc. easier. They're noticeably narrower than my tennis shoes too (10D) but every bit as comfortable if not more. FIWI Over the last three years I've had 5 pairs/styles now and wear them just about every day depending on the weather. I'll definitely own more. http://www.piloti.com/
FWIW, I am not fat at 195 pounds and 6' tall. I have no problem fitting in the car, but my feet are wide. I will have to look into the driving shoes. OTOH, you know what the girls say about shoe size.... Doug
This is definitely helped with getting driving shoes. I bought a pair of Pilotti driving shoes and they are great for driving. They are slim and don't get caught around the gas pedal area. You can find pairs on e-bay/ Griots and I'm sure just about everywhere else on-line.
10.5 C shoe size. I thought it was a bit tight in my 328 initially but now, after driving the car routinely, I don't have any trouble at all with whatever shoes I'm wearing. So for me it was just about getting use to it. Even if I had a problem I can't imagine being seen in public wearing "driving shoes" but I guess a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do!
Yeah, I know. Next I'll have to start wearing an ascot. One thing fer sure, my steel toes Belleville boots definitely don't work in this car! Doug
My size 14 feet fit easily with driving shoes. Actually, I don't have any problem with dress shoes but there is no way big clunky tennis shoes would work.
I think men's shoe sizes in the US were adjusted downward a bit, a while back. When I was in HS, I weighed 230 lb, and wore a size 12. After college, I was down to 180lb, and wore a size 11-1/2. I was up to 195 lb, a couple of years ago, but my shoe size dropped to 10-1/2. I'm back down to 180, and still wear 10-1/2.
I have about 2 dozen shoes, mostly Salvatore Ferragamo since they're what the Italian playboys wear. I do wear socks tho, even if they don't. I have routinely tried each pair for best fit in my car. None were perfect, but leather loafers are way better than any sports shoe as they are much narrower. And I learned my feet figure things out a few hours into a long trip. Also, when my thick cushy floor mat is used, my shoes tend to grab at the heel and when I have lifted quickly my shoe has come when catching on the underside of the brake pedal. Without the floor mat, the rubber are on the carpet allows my shoes to 'work' better. Without socks, they ARE indeed one size smaller. ________________________
Uh, huh. I can see it now, wheel up in front of some swank Scottsdale nightclub, and park right in front of the door where the VIPs park,and hop out in my best Italian chic wear and on my feet are those.... Probably not. Doug
I think your right. I went from a 9 down to an 8.5. I can wear anything when driving the car. Sneakers, Pumas, dress shoes, boat shoes. But I prefer tie dress shoes with leather soles. Oh, and somewhere on this site is a pic of me doing the "Run out East" & long white silk scarf fluttering out the window. It's part of the fun.
