I have an automatic TSX and I was wondering if it makes a difference where I push on the pedal, in terms of at the bottom, middle, or top. Will it cause the car to accelerate differently? I haven't driven an automatic car in about 7 years. So I was just curious.

 

Not to mention this pedal being attached to the floor vs hanging from the top. Not sure. I use the mid to mid-high portion of the pedal because that's where it feels comfortable. Using the top might give more range and thus more feel, but it doesn't fit my foot right so I don't use it that way.

-r

 

I imagine we all have our "techniques" that we develop automatically, through experience. But for most of us, it probably becomes just instinctive, and we aren't even consciously aware of what we do.

My best guess about this particular question is that it makes no difference except that maybe the further out you "hit it," the greater the "mechanical advantage" for your foot -- i.e. the less force it takes to press the pedal -- BUT the further down you have to press it to get a certain result. But I'm guessing.

If my guess is right, it also means you have better "fine adjustment" control if you hit it further out.

 

I was kinda wondering about this too....I sat in a TSX in the showroom, and tried out my technique (plant heel directly in front of the brake, and then, with the heel as the axis, rotate foot towards the gas, and press at bottom of pedal).

The accelerator did feel harder to push than any other car I've driven (using that technique)...but it wasn't that bad.

I've been trying to train myself to drive in my current car with the heel planted in front of the accelerator, and then lift my whole foot up and over to the brake, but I've been unsuccessful in re-training my brain. Perhaps it'll come to me faster when I decide to get my TSX... we'll see.

 

Whoa. Deja vu. I thought the bottom-hinged pedal on the TSX was famiilar, so I went to check my other vehicles. Sure enough, my '63 Comet uses a mechanism that is *exactly* the same. The more things change...

I tend to keep my heel back a few inches and use the ball of my foot on the pedal, about mid point I guess. I really can't see that where you press on the pedal makes much difference. However, through much experimentation I have determined unequivically that how far you press the pedal has a direct positive correlation with how fast you accelerate. Now that's with the 6MT, but I assume the AT will work in a similar fashion.

 

Hey, MM -- I bet most of the listening audience out there won't think you're joshing.

 

But I used a smiley! Surely that will give it away...

 

Keep dreaming.

Just you wait and see.


BTW -- Are you sure there's really a correlation between how far you press the pedal and how fast you accelerate? Is this scientifically proven?

 

Oh Larch. I'm disappointed. You have so little faith in the collective brain trust. And I thought I was a cynic...

Scientifically proven. Well, no. I made that part up. But 82.5% of all statistics are made up anyway.

 

6/5th's of the general public cannot do fractions.

 

just do whatever makes your right foot happy and don't get caught by the cops

 

Don't forget that this is a drive-by-wire system. Other electrical components such as the radio can affect your acceleration. I've found that listening to Howard Stern at high volumes will help get your 0 -- 60 time under 7.0 seconds.

 

Is that scientifically proven?

 

Definitely. It is very reproducible. My just-started-kindergarten son is the official timekeeper. He does the "one Mississippi, two Mississippi, ..." countoff very well.

 

Maybe the car mags should start publishing stats with that system: "Car & Driver measured the '04 TSX doing 0-60 in 7.0 Mississippies with Stern on the radio. Best observed time with Dr. Laura is 7.8 Mississippies". There you have it folks.

 

How about those two for Celebrity Boxing? Or at least Celebrity Death Match.

 

I suggest we take into account mechanical engineering techniques to find out the optimal amount of pressure exerted from a force onto the pedal for maximum efficiency.

Okay, maybe my brain is beginning to melt from the thought.


<------nerd.