[Aurel]

Hello all ...

I am back after a year of hiatus. Originally had a Cooper on order exactly a year ago here in NY but had to cancel due to some personal and financial problems.

I am ready to take the plunge but have a question for you tall lanky owners

Originally was going to order a CVT, but seeing the long wait for it and the fact that I am needing a car ASAP, would like to take a chance with a manual tranny version.

I have never driven a manual, and while I am not concerned with learning it quickly, what I am concerned about is the pedal placement.

Last year while I sat in a manual, felt that the pedals were a little close together for my size 13 (47) feet.

SO ... how do you tall drivers deal with this. Is this an issue? Is the car comfortable on long runs? How is it when wearing winter/larger shoes/boots?

This might seem silly but unfortunatelly my height has always been an issue with cars.

Any input would be largely appreciated.

Glad to be back ... I thought I would be bored with this car in a year and look at something else, but the bugger still gets my heart racing. I really have no other alternative but to get one

[Greatbear]

I have very wide size 13 feet. The pedals are too close together, but you get used to it after a while. I am 6' and 265 pounds of powerlifter and the car fits me great. Soon after getting my MCS I took it on a 2400 mile trip and it was very comfortable, even for my 6'2 partner.

[5280Motoring]

My father is 6', over 250 and jas disproportionately wide feet. He has had zero trouble on the occasions I've allowed him to drive. Myself, I'm 5'11" and 210, so I don't think I exactly fit the dimensions you are questioning. I fit fine.

[BigC]

I'm 6'6" with size 15 UK (I think that is 16 US) feet and have found the MINI one of the best cars I have ever driven (as long as I only think of it as a 3 seater as there is no space behind me). The pedals are a bit tight but no worse than any other car and the floor hinged accelerator certainly helps.
Obviously - all this only relates to Right Hand Drive cars - Left Hand Drive might be a bit different.

For long drives I'd recommend getting cruise control as although I don't use it much, it is great to put on for a few seconds while you stretch your right leg out a bit.

Having said that, I realised long ago that I can't drive any car properly in thick soled or winter shoes so have always kept a pair of narrow, thin soled shoes in the car for when I need them.

Sounds to me like a good excuse for a long test drive to make absolutely sure it is comfortable for you.

[Benny No.1]

im 6'5' and have size 13 feet and i find it no trouble to drive my man cooper! its all a matter of technique. but once youve learned the ways of the clutch you will have so much fun you'll start thinking why ant most cars got this little sticky shift thing!

[Ginger]

I'm over six ft tall and find my MINI very comfortable on long journeys. Much better than my last classic Mini!
G

I am 6ft 2inches with size 12 feet and I think that the pedals are a little close together. Sometimes I dab the brake when going for the clutch, but once you do that a few times and scare the **** out of yourself, you quickly learn just to be more careful.

-Andrew

[SoggyCornFlakes]

Blimey, I was going to reply to this but at 6' 0" I think I'm too short judging by some of the other replies. No problem for me though - push the seat right back and I can't reach the pedals

Welcome back Aurel

[davidac]

I am 6'5" and although I don't yet have my MCS on test drives of both models I didn't notice any problem with the pedal placement. I have size 13 feet. Didn't find the pedals to close together. Though you didn't ask, I also found it to be very spacious. First car I have ever driven in where I didn't need to push the seat all the way back. In fact, if I did push it all the way back, I couldn't reach the pedals.

[NordS]

I'm 6' 3" with size 11s and as long as my daughter sits crosslegged in the back behind me (for short journeys) it's fine. I have noticed that wearing gortex hiking boots makes the pedals slightly awkward but normal shoes are again fine.

Sounds like an excuse for an extended test drive!

[Jayden]

Just for the record...I am 5'6 ( and a shoe size of 8.5. And the spacing of the pedals i would say are quite spacious. The seating is more than enough. I have driven a Renault Twingo (Okay I owned it) and the pedals even for my shoe size was quite tight. It seems like I had to push the pedal with my big toe.

I know this is only for tall people. But I have to represent all the shortys out there.

[Keevan]

6 foot 2 here... no problems... try a caterham or an MGA, then you're talking problems for tall people and large feet owners..

[paulmon]

6'3" with size 11. At first I found the space between the side wall and the clutch tight, I don't even think about it now. The space between the gas and brake is tight but that makes it great for heel-and-toe. My biggest complain is the size of the seats, the back and bottom cusions aren't long enough, not enough support. Oh, and the lack of lumbar adjustment in the non-leather seats just plain sucks.

Paul

[gosharks]

I am 6'4 with size 13 shoes. The pedals are very close together, about like the BMW 3 Series. I have to be careful with what shoes I am wearing. I wouldn't drive this car with large boots on. I have hit the brake while putting the clutch in, it does scare the ssss out of you, especially at speed. So far as long trips go, I have the MCS, and the sport seats at least to me are very comfortable. Long drives are fun!

[Tonyt3]

You're all basketball playing freaks!!! My god, I feel like a dwarf at just 6ft tall!!!

[stryder]

My worst complaint about the pedal spacing is toe room. My size 12 feet (I'm 6'2" but that's sorta irrelevant) would catch the toes if you hit the pedals straight up, because the plastic got in the way.

I've just gotten used to hitting the pedals at angles, sometimes as much as 45 degrees, so my toes are pointing to either side of the car, not straight. I also will take off my shoes to drive long distances, which I didn't do before the MINI but is quite comfortable.

I second the reccomendation on getting cruise/MFSW, it'll help you a bunch, and congrats on being willing to learn manual, I know several people who have learned on a MINI (many with large feet) not many complaints once you get used to it.

[Dark Silver S]

Okay, 6'4", 10.5 shoe size - the pedals are fine, but they could be further away. Or the steering wheel and shift closer. I guess my legs are longer than my arms.

But I'm still quite comfortable, and it is possible for the seat to be too far back!

[RickB]

I'm with Dark Silver S on all counts, except I'm a size twelve.

[Aurel]

Wow .. lots of tall people. Good to know I am not alone.

I guess will have to take an extended test drive to fully check the feel of the pedals ... but first I have to learn manual.

Being in NY, manual is not the greatest thing, but somehow I cannot see myself having a MINI with an automatic, even though I have been driving Auto for 15 years.

Also the car is cheaper and readily available.

Thanks for the tips so far ... keep'em coming!

PS: As far as actual cabin room. With me behind the wheel, the car definetelly becomes a 3 seater, having to slide the seat all the way back, but it still has more room than any of the last 3 American cars I've owned.

[rocketsredglare]

6'6" and size 13 usually no problems. But some shoes are wider than normal and they do give my trouble, but most of my shoes are just fine.