Seriously...

[MKIVF]

Does anyone find that any keys hanging from their car key smack into their legs whilst driving? Also, is it just me or do people find their legs smacking into the bottom of their steering wheel as well?

Maybe my driving position is all wrong

On that note, what is a good driving position for control and comfort?

[neil]

Does anyone find that any keys hanging from their car key smack into their legs whilst driving? Also, is it just me or do people find their legs smacking into the bottom of their steering wheel as well?

Maybe my driving position is all wrong

On that note, what is a good driving position for control and comfort?

Have that problem in the Jetta, but mainly due to the dealers big keyring dangling off keys.
My biggest annoyance is no light on ignition on steering, so at night can't find the hole.

[T Go]

I always have trouble finding the hole....

T Go.

[neil]

I always have trouble finding the hole....

T Go.

Maybe I should have rephrased that better.

[VW GTI]

Legs almost straight (left leg should be about 150 degrees when on the clutch), vertical seat back. Set the seat height so your head is not far from the roof but far enough not to hit in on bumps.

[T Go]

I was always told that a good place to start is when you straighten your arm and place it on the top of the steering wheel, that your wrist should rest on the top of the steering wheel....

T Go.

[VW Convert]

Have that problem in the Jetta, but mainly due to the dealers big keyring dangling off keys.
My biggest annoyance is no light on ignition on steering, so at night can't find the hole.

Led with your chin there didn't you?


Cheers

George

[MKIVF]

Legs almost straight (left leg should be about 150 degrees when on the clutch), vertical seat back. Set the seat height so your head is not far from the roof but far enough not to hit in on bumps.

Vertical seat back eh?

With my legs nearly straight, my seat nearly touches my back seat. And I'm by all means not tall (5 foot 10 or there abouts)

[PeterHBne]

I find the most important thing is that your arms and shoulders be relaxed.

To this end I sit quite close to the wheel and have the seat up high - I'll often even have the wheel at the bottom of its up/down range and extened towards me. And I'm 6'3".

This way the wheel is sort of in your lap and arms very bent and relaxed. that way you are driving with your forearms and not your shoulders and torso.

Have a look at a V8 Supercar driver or Nascar driver next time.

This gives you the best control.

[gareth_oau]

I recently attended an advanced driver training day at AHG in Perth.

They advised that 90% of drivers sit too far from the steering wheel. The idea of placing yr wrists on the steering wheel is 'old school' thinking and is too far away. Also yr seat-back should be almost vertical and not laid back.

Have a look at racing drivers, they sit quite close to the wheel and vertical

The logic behind this is when yr arms are bent you get a lot more leverage and can react quicker than if yr arms are straighter.

so stage 1 is to make sure yr seat is almost vertical.
stage 2 is to slide the seat forward until your arms are quite bent.

For me, the wheel is now about 30cms from my chest.

(now if you have very long legs and short arms, this is going to be a bit tricky!!)

It felt weird making the change initially, having being taught the "wrists" method so many thousands of years ago, but I stuck with it and now it feels much better.

The instructors also advised that you should place yr hands on the wheel in the "quarter past three" position and not the "ten to two" position, again improving yr leverage.

you shouldnt remove yr hands from the wheel but cross yr arms over, unless you are doing a very tight turning circle.

The old push-pull steering routine was created for drivers of old buses and trucks with 24 inch steeering wheels and no power steering - it is no longer relavant in today's environment.

[Jarred]

... and no power steering - it is no longer relavant in today's environment.

not all of us are so lucky as to have power steering!

For me. well I probably sit completly wrong, but I sit where i find it comfortable. I tend to adjust if I'm going for a drive, generally bringing the back of the set up more.

But for daily driving, my seat is what man would regard as quite laid back. Infact you can see the headrest through the back drivers side passenger window very clearly! but of course I don't lean all the way back on it.

Anyways.

I generally have my seat where I'm comfortable to control the clutch properly, and my legs aren't too bent. ( I prefer my legs to be relatively straight) and the wheel in proper reach, where I can control it proper.My arms are hardly streching to reach the s/wheel but I'd hardly say they are bent either!

Thats just the way I do it. Comfort for daily driving is what I'm after.

[LoriJarrod]

I think you meant "Quarter past nine" gareth, but your point is still clear.

In dirt rally, you steer with one hand. The other maintains it's original position at either the "9" or "3" spot with a light grip. You basically push the steering wheel through hand. I adapt this for tarmac stuff and it works well.

The biggest problem with inexperienced drivers is not seating position, rather vision and line. Colin Mcrae, for example, sat almost the opposite way to textbook drivers.

[T Go]

On the topic of the Advanced Driving Course in Perth...
I've attended 1, and I didn't feel that I got much out of it, I'm by no means a great driver or anything like that, but I think its catered more for people who have NO understanding of physics and dynamics...

I was at a track day at Thruxton in England a couple of years ago, and they encouraged the wrist on the steering wheel approach, and also they emphasised that you must be comfortable... so I wouldnt place too many rules to think about when you drive...

I'm not saying any of the advice any1 here has given is wrong, I just think that you should just do what feels comfortable.

Also, in regards to McRae, Jensen Button was also like this... its interesting to see him in the car, sitting very upright and high so he can see the corners of the car, whereas most drivers sit lower to the ground to aid center of gravity...

T Go.

[gareth_oau]

I think you meant "Quarter past nine" gareth, but your point is still clear.

LOL see, I cant tell the time

Driving at quarter past three would put a bit of a strain on the old spine after a while

[RhysQ]

here, take this advanced senior driver for example.....she knows the V8 Supercar and Nascar ways (except for her 9:00 hand positioning) ....we should all follow suit.