I'm a shortie struggling with reaching the clutch, help!

Charls

Charls

Member
I love my Audi A2 that I brought at the weekend. However I have failed so far to adjust the very adjustable drivers seat/wheel to a comfortable position. I'm a lady who is only 5 feet tall and although I seem to be fine with the depressing the accelerator and brake, I'm really struggling to press the clutch right down, even when I bring the seat as far forward as I can. My ankle is really hurting from all the reaching! I'm trying to find ways of modifying the car. Does anyone have any advice? Any other shorties out there? For example, is raising the seat up or lowering it down better? What about pedal extensions (I hate the idea of these!), or some kind of cushions? At the extreme end, has anyone heard of adjustments being made to seat rails so the seat can be brought further forward? I just don't know what to do! :confused:
 
My other half is only 5 feet tall too and she struggles with the A2 - it does have a very long-throw clutch pedal.

Don;t mod the seat rail as you need to be a safe distance from the airbag in case it triggers - too close and it can kill you (and no, I'm not being melodramatic).

A set of pedal extensions are probably the best way to go, but then you'll have the problem of not being able to rest your heel on the floor. There may be a way to adjust the clutch pedal height, but I don't know of a recommended way.

Cheers,

Mike
 
yeah, when your backrest is more straight up, you get more reach to the pedal. My wife is another shortie and she just about manager with the seat all the way forward and the backrest pretty straight.
 
I am 5ft 3 so have a couple of inches on you but I had the same problem to start with

I have my seat as far forward as it will go and we lowered it a little bit when we first got it. I soon got used to it and felt I was reaching it fine, and I usually wear flat shoes.

You may find it is something you adapt to and get used to over time, we had an MGF before the A2 and I also found it hard learning to drive upright again rather than practically lying down like I used to in the MG. A year on and until I read your post I had forgotten I used to have difficulty so there is hope!
 
Drive in high heels?
Maybe there's a way to affix a wedge to the clutch pedal to physically bring it forward a bit, although it would need to be detachable I guess for your partner to drive?

I'm 6ft 3 and I remember trying to drive my mum's MGF meant adopting the most lain back driving position imaginable in order to get my legs under the steering wheel and keep my head under the level of the windscreen! Even now in the A2 I do find it slightly difficult to get a position where my legs and arms are both the right distance from the pedals and the steering wheel. I often end up with my left knee jammed against the centre console, which can't be good.
 
Thanks for the advice! It's nice to get some reassurance it's not just me being silly :) I tried a cushion from the sofa today and that helped a bit so now I've decided to get a lumbar support cushion (usually for people with back problems) and see if that brings my bum forward a bit... Thanks for pointing out the issue with the airbag too - I had no idea I was at risk of death for being too close! I'll adjust my arm reach accordingly. No problems there, just the problem with my little legs.
 
As to airbags, the minimum distance between you and the steering wheel centre is around 25-30cm.

Any closer and if it goes off it can quite literally snap your neck with the force of the explosion - sorry to be graphic, but it's true.

Cheers,

Mike

PS Good on you for persevering with the driving position.
 
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