"Hey, Stompy, you wanna take a test drive? Nein, I'll just take the one in black, please."
So goes the imagined conversation between Michael Herzog, he of size 12 (UK) feet, and the Volvo dealer from whom he purchased a C70. Herzog says his feet are too large for the pedal box in his Volvo, precluding use of that most essential pedal, the accelerator. The issue went to court in Wiesloch, Germany, where a judge ruled that size 12 is not freakishly large, so Volvo should have designed a car to accommodate that size foot. Size 12 on UK size charts is about the same as a U.S. size 12, so it's not an incomprehensibly large foot. The dealer has been directed to refund five percent of the purchase price, a total of £1,350, to pay for a custom pair of shoes that allow the owner to drive his new car, as well as compensate him for time lost to shoe-changes. And we thought the U.S. was litigious.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
psu48187 @ May 7th 2008 4:47PM
Don't people test drive cars over there?
Seminole @ May 7th 2008 7:28PM
I have an S40, which is identical to the C70 from the front seats forward (minus the roof). The gas and brake pedal are extremely close. So close, that I can't even fit my foot between the brake pedal and the side of the console when I'm wearing my Nike Shox (I have a 10.5 foot btw). To drive I put my heel about under the brake pedal and angle it 45 degrees to the right so the toe of my shoe hits the gas pedal. I was so happy to be driving a new car during the test drive I barely noticed it. Small problems, or even large ones, can be very easy to overlook or make excuses for if someone is caught up in the moment of driving a new car. Other things don't come out until you have the car for a long time. A 20 minute test drive isn't always the best way to see if a car is for you.
Here are pictures of my gas pedal so you can see what I mean:
How close they are together:
http://bellsouthpwp.net/l/t/ltemcg/100_4699.JPG
How I have to have my foot to drive:
http://bellsouthpwp.net/l/t/ltemcg/100_4701.JPG
psu48187 @ May 7th 2008 7:33PM
I understand what you are getting at, and believe me I have similar issues (I wear a size 13 shoe).
I've noticed that some European cars don't have proper clearance, but those observations were made right away (i.e. during the test drive). So while I see what you're saying, someone with that large of a foot should have been able to make that decision almost immediately.
Seminole @ May 7th 2008 7:33PM
Doh! I mixed up the pictures with the captions.
k.w.a @ May 8th 2008 1:50PM
i didn't know the pedal/ brake distance was such a problem. I'm a size 12, and yes, in both my Volvos part of my foot would touch the brake as i pressed on the pedal, but never to the point where i would press one instead of the other. i suppose it would be more challenging with a Manual because of all the switching of pedals
psarhjinian @ May 7th 2008 4:48PM
Hmm..
I wonder if this would be my avenue to getting that Miata I've always wanted.
mk @ May 7th 2008 10:29PM
I wear a 13, and drive my wife's NB miata all the time.
It isn't exactly roomy, and boots make it worse than normal shoes, but it is do-able.
On topic,
This seems like something that should be "buyer beware", and let it go at that.
The buyer was not forced to buy, or even keep the car, he shouldn't be able to have a claim on Volvo's income from their other consumers.
Companies don't just have stacks of money that they aren't using, they sell products, and this settlement drives up their expenses that customers pay when they buy the products.
This isn't a case of Volvo defrauding anyone, or coercing them. This guy was not entitled to anything aside from being able to re-sell the car to get one that fits him.
Rocketboy @ May 8th 2008 9:25AM
My MINI can be tricky with my work boots on. Boo hoo.
bhtooefr @ May 8th 2008 10:40AM
I own an NA Miata, and don't have a problem at all with it. And I normally wear size 13 US shoes. (Oddly, the shoes I'm wearing now are size 12 US.)
Johnny @ May 7th 2008 4:48PM
Shaq paid 9 grand to have his 1994 E320 white convertible modified to accept his size 23 feet.
Cars should accomodate upto size 13 I believe.
Derek @ May 7th 2008 5:42PM
Yup, size 13 feet, 7'6" tall person weighing over 500#. Let's all drive Suburbans.
WTF?
Amber @ May 7th 2008 5:31PM
Is that the same 320 convertable in his "my biological father didnt bother" music video?
Brittni @ May 9th 2008 10:58AM
Yeah, they should. But some don't. I feel bad for my fiance, he is 6'7 with a size 15 shoe, and he can't drive any smaller cars.
I guess some tall people have disadvantages that little people do too.
PaulPaul @ May 7th 2008 4:52PM
hmmm, i am driving a c70 loaner right now and my size13 feet have no complaints
Paul P. @ May 7th 2008 4:55PM
I had to take my shoes off to drive my buddies Lotus Elise. Size 14 sneakers just don't fit.
gus @ May 7th 2008 6:02PM
My size is 11.5 and I had to do the same thing when I picked up the Elise from the dealer. Had to put on driving shoes to drive it now. Maybe I should sue Lotus.
User @ May 7th 2008 11:07PM
Dang! Size 11.5 doesn't fit? That's pretty ridiculous. Granted, Lotus doesn't sell enough volume of cars to sell. Europeans must have some skinny feet!
Yaroukh @ May 7th 2008 4:56PM
So now laws tell vendors what should they produce? Do they tell amounts too?
Kristina @ May 7th 2008 5:14PM
I'm on board with you here, I disagree that the dealer had to refund part of the money. You don't buy a shirt if it doesn't fit, right? Being able to use the gas pedal is kind of a sticking point, isn't it?
http://www.azautophile.com
Hamud @ May 7th 2008 5:07PM
My feet are 12 and there's a lot of cars I've issues with, but it's no reason to sue the company that made it...