(G) Bravo ergonomics

I've been driving a Bravo 120 mjet dynamic for the last week. The car is a real surprise to me. Not only does it feel solid and well screwed together, it has a ride quality I've never before encountered in anything from Italy: it's more like a French car for it's absorbancy. Which is, in my book, A Good Thing.

It's also a handsome car. And the mjet is very refined for a diesel. Far better than our Audi PDI turbodiesel in this regard (although not quite as frugal!)

The motoring press tends to bang on about the allegedly low rent materials used in the Bravo. They certainly don't bother me (and I'm used to the "industry leading" quality of an Audi cabin.. all this really means is unnecessarily strong plastics with over-engineered grab handles and glovebox lid....). But sadly I'm not totally sold on Bravo: the reason for this lies in driver comfort. I cannot buy a car which forces me to suffer ankle and leg ache as a result of:
1. Cramped footwell with no space to put my size 10 next to the clutch pedal (as I can in an Alfa 156)
2. No footrest to compensate for (1), (as provided in my Panda!)
3. Insufficient underthigh support for my 6ft frame, even when seat at highest setting ....which is still not high enough for my 5ft wife to see where the car begins and ends.

I can't be alone in this: why has Fiat, having built possibly their highest quality car ever and got so much right, made such basic ergonomic mistakes? Or is this just another example of a lazy right hand drive conversion? The seats themselves are really not bad: all that is needed to rectify a comfort problem which presently makes it impossible for me to buy a Bravo is a seat base tilt control and a clutch rest.

That's interesting to hear. I was thinking about a new Bravo, I currently have a 156 and that's a very comfortable car. The Bravo has been critised for having an uncomfortable driving position which would seems to be a serious problem on a car. Hmmm time for a test drive I think

I think its more to do with the Italian Driver (short legs, long arms). But I get your point I picked this up on my test drive.

As you I was very impressed with the car (was a 150 T-jet Dynamic) brilliant build, very nice refined drive but after the test drive my right leg ache'd for a while. At least its got telescopic steering column like the GP.

I mentioned this to friend of mine (drives around 1000miles/week) who is 6ft 2" & well lets just say 'large' & he has had no problems....infact prefers it to his BMW.

I have done a few long journeys in the bravo & not noticed anything but I always have my right foot hovering over clutch pedal,just a 'habit' I have always done.

Just hook my feet under the pedals. Perfectly comfy there plus the cruise control takes out a lot of the effort on a long run.

I have the same car as which alfabarry has been driving and find the car is excellent and the driving possition in general is ok.
I'm 5' 7" and the only real gripe is the lack of a clutch foot rest and an achy right foot/ankle after a couple of hours driving.

Exactly what I get but effected me after an hour (was fast country test driving though ).

I don't even get this in my Mk2b Punto Sporting .

There was a discussion about this a little while ago about the lack of a footrest, they apparently have them on left hand drive but not on right side drive

http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/8742/116vd9.jpg

Another Half arsed Italian afterthought RHD conversion?

Yes,we have a very comfortable footrest on the left hand drive versions.

Georgee

LOL....rub it in Georgee

I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure the stilo didn't have a footrest either..have to have a look in my dads m/w in awhile. Hes collecting his new Bravo next week..but he nearly falls into the Italian Driver (short legs, long arms) category.

it doesnt, but it doesnt bother me

(some people often forget that most fords dont either ).

i usually drive with my leg upright anyway moving it about and tapping it to the beat of the music

I tried this, but it's not that safe. I think it depends on how wide your feet are... in my case I must first pull my leg back before I can lift it onto the pedal: if the gap between clutch pedal & centre console was literally one cm wider I could lift my foot up and down alongside the pedal.

I agree that the cruise control is great on the motorway.. but this is of little use in more intricate cross country or urban trips. My ankles go with ChrisUK: a very half-arsed RHD conversion...

This is a PITA because the car appeals to me in almost every other regard.

you can say this about any rcar converted to right hand drive.

fords also have this matter as well

and then theres the postioning of such things as the handbrake, certain buttons on the center console or transimision tunnel