Opinions on LH footrests

**Silver Ghia** · 30-06-2006, 11:14 PM

When I mentioned about the lack of a LH footrest in the recent thread about the Ghia disappearing, I got a surprise that some actually dont want a footrest.

I was taught that to get a good balanced, supported position in the drivers seat when driving, especially when doing laps on a track, you lean your left knee against the console, your right knee against the right hand trim, and your left foot on the footrest. Seated in this position both feet are then approximately the same distance away from the seat. Your body is then supported much better when subject to the inertia forces acting on your body when going around corners etc, whilst being able to maintain good control of the pedals.

In addition, the left foot can then counteract the loads on the right foot which is operating the pedals, assisting in controlling the RH foot travel when accelerating and braking.

Perhaps it doesnt matter so much these days to have good contol of the brake pedal, with ABS brakes enabling one to just slam on the brake pedal, but when doing this, your body still needs to be balanced and supported, to enable you to still control the car.

With no footrest, you cannot support your body as well. Therefore I believe the more serious driver would want a footrest.

When the BA Falcons/Fairmonts first came out, nearly all road testers commented on the lack of a footrest in these models.

I believe they were omitted to reduce costs, with the excuse that they caused foot injuries in accidents.

Most other cars still have footrests, the Golf even has one also for the RH foot.

What is your opinion on the footrest? Should they be re-introduced, or not?

smally289 · 30-06-2006, 11:37 PM

Im all for them, except on my AUII its too far away to use.

ClevlndStemer · 01-07-2006, 12:03 AM

Yes they should be, the apparent excuse by ford (in the Ghia thread) that it was for safety is a load of crock. It was just penny pinching on Fords part.

AnthonyQLD · 01-07-2006, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smally351

Im all for them.

+1 Im with you

S3SR · 01-07-2006, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silver Ghia

I was taught that to get a good balanced, supported position in the drivers seat when driving, especially when doing laps on a track, you lean your left knee against the console, your right knee against the right hand trim, and your left foot on the footrest. Seated in this position both feet are then approximately the same distance away from the seat. Your body is then supported much better when subject to the inertia forces acting on your body when going around corners etc, whilst being able to maintain good control of the pedals.

In addition, the left foot can then counteract the loads on the right foot which is operating the pedals, assisting in controlling the RH foot travel when accelerating and braking.

Perhaps it doesnt matter so much these days to have good contol of the brake pedal, with ABS brakes enabling one to just slam on the brake pedal, but when doing this, your body still needs to be balanced and supported, to enable you to still control the car.

With no footrest, you cannot support your body as well. Therefore I believe the more serious driver would want a footrest.

funny you should mention that i have a foot rest but my left foot seems to 'hover' over the clutch pedal - bad habit from learning how to drive..but now my left leg is slightly muscular then my right lol..because i use cruise a fair bit i dont really use my right foot.

but yes id like a foot rest..or if ford a gonna cut it out to save money then at least allow it as an extra/option or just include it in the price. thats my 2c

Pedro · 01-07-2006, 09:34 AM

First thing I noticed when I went from an AU 111 Ghia to a BF Typhoon auto was ... NO footrest. Damn the Ford beancounters. What a pathetic piece of penny pinching.
I can't fathom it ... when you're paying up to $70k for a car, the added cost of a footrest would be negligble. And as a side issue, it's a must for balance when you're doing track work as Silver Ghia says.

I'm going to investigate fitting one, it shouldn't be too hard.

macca_779 · 01-07-2006, 09:41 AM

its one of those small things that i find very usufull on long trips.

deesun · 01-07-2006, 10:04 AM

My 13 yr old Bluebird has a footrest but my 3yr old XR6 not. I miss it when I drive the XR. Just like the XR doesn't have rear electric windows but my Bluebird does. But my xr has something my Bluebird will never have POWERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.

1TUFFUTE · 01-07-2006, 10:28 AM

it seems so obvious that there should be one in there, so maybe it does have a good reason!!!

01-07-2006, 10:39 AM

Focus doesn't have it either

MoreHPformyXR6 · 01-07-2006, 10:42 AM

I wish my BA XR6 had a LH footrest my 2001 GLi lancer had one.

Xrsick · 01-07-2006, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoreHPformyXR6

I wish my BA XR6 had a LH footrest my 2001 GLi lancer had one.

I agree as the Ba xr6 has a Rubber pad where the footrest is normally located I find the actuall further travel of the my left foot to utilise the pad upsets my driving position! sounds strange but that extra 20mm makes a difference!
Frank

Ozfords · 01-07-2006, 09:23 PM

SAVE THE LH FOOT REST, and while we're at it I'll throw in another, in this modern age of Cruise Control, why isn't there a...

RIGHT HAND FOOT REST.

Driving to work I find my right foot getting tired of hovering over the pedals and difficult to place in a comfortable position. Sometimes I just cross it under me left leg, which I'm guessing is dangerous when I need it in a hurry.

It's a hard to decision lose the Cruise and the fuel savings or pump the accelerator to give the right foot some resistance and comfort.

By the way did anyone see the mammoth foot rests in the new Camry? Are they meant to be safer? They look gimpish and void the use of standard carpets, needing expensive custom cut carpets.

Dezza · 01-07-2006, 10:01 PM

I've driven BAs and the lack of footrest is a bit annoying. If they could put it in a 1990 EA, surely it wouldn't be to hard to put it in a late model BA.

FPV329 · 01-07-2006, 10:24 PM

I was gunna make one but have'nt as yet. God I'm lazy.
The woman has a new Camry and the FT is massive! I might pinch it!
Ford make you wonder sometimes.....

**Silver Ghia** · 02-07-2006, 08:22 PM

I really can't understand how an XR8, FPV or Typhoon doesnt have a footrest, since obviously they are designed for serious driving... ....or for showing off in Chapel St. etc. by those who shouldnt be driving them?

Would be interesting to know what professional drivers like John Bowe think of not having a LH footrest in these cars.

I looked at putting a footrest in my BA Ghia, but its not all that straight forward to do it properly. The bulkhead seems to have been changed with a bracket on the forward side, preventing bolts being put through. If its not secured properly, it would be dangerous having a loose item down there.

WILDTRAKPX2 · 02-07-2006, 08:33 PM

I've always found the absence of the footrest very annoying, particularly when I was on a skid pan recently... very uncomfortable. Hopefully they will be re-introduced in the next model.