It might change later, but as of this specific moment in human history, it is, officially, a slow automotive news day. While I'm sure this German court order will trigger a class-action lawsuit– call D'Olivera and Sons on the Hurtline now— I can't help but think there's a bigger car story out there, somewhere. So to speak. Anyway, meanwhile, here's the guitas [via, get this, The Earth Times]: "A German judge has ordered a Volvo dealer to compensate a man with big feet because there was not enough space around his new car's accelerator pedal, a court spokesman said Monday. The man, a travelling salesman, sought and won a 5-per-cent reduction in the price of his Volvo C70 coupe by arguing that his leather shoes, European size 47 for a foot 29.4 centimetres long, did not fit beneath the dashboard." Beneath the dashboard? Either that's a very small dashboard or my European shoe size converter is on the fritz. So… "Under a court-supervised settlement, the buyer obtained a 1,700- euro (2,650-dollar) refund to pay for a snug pair of sneakers that just fitted into the space, as well as his time changing back into street shoes each time he got out of the car to meet clients." Jesus! Is that what a pair of sneakers costs in Germany? And what's this guy's billing rate, anyway? And doesn't the clock start when you meet the client? "A judge in the court at Wiesloch in Baden-Wuerttemberg state said size 47 was not abnormally large and the Swedish-made car should have catered for big feet." Would you like your foot massage now, Mein Herr?
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Like Disney Land and KFC, our litigiousness spreads to the far corners of the world.
So… either he bought the car after a test drive, or he bought a Volvo without a test drive.
Either way I wonder how his IQ compares to room temp (in degrees F or C).
I’m wearing size 47 Italian shoes right now. I have to cock my left foot 20 degrees to the left to operate the clutch pedal with the ball of my foot. Maybe I should sue VW over the car I’ve been driving for 7 years.
since i don’t fit in a miata, i could either scalp myself or skip it and buy a car that fits.
i guess now i have a new choice–buy the wrong car anyway and sue somebody? i hate people.
Dammit! I had my dealer cut an opening in the plastic cover under the dash of our Saab 9-5, because my size 44 shoe didn’t quite fit under the accelerator. I never thought of suing the friendly bloke!
Slow news day indeed. However, it looks like the general press is picking up on what TTAC has been discussing for almost a month. Saw this on the drudgereport:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2008/05/06/frustrated_owners_try_to_unload_their_guzzlers/?page=1
According to that shoe size converter, the guy wears a U.S. size 13. And the judge says that’s “not abnormally large”? I’d guess it falls at or above the 95% percentile, which seems “abnormal” to me.
Of course, the judge’s big head is at the 99th percentile.
50merc
According to that shoe size converter, the guy wears a U.S. size 13. And the judge says that’s “not abnormally large”? I’d guess it falls at or above the 95% percentile, which seems “abnormal” to me.
A size 13 doesn’t seem abnormally large to those of us who wear US size 14. And that guy should either take ballet lessons to learn foot placement or hire someone to drive him if he can’t maneuver his size 13s around the pedals in a Volvo. If he really wants fun, he should try driving an MG-B wearing size 14 combat boots!
I wear a Eruo size 46… Capt. Mike, Farago, could you two get me some small European cars?
And, like quick?
I wear US size 13-14 and the only time it has been a problem is when I was wearing work boots and trying to drive my old early 90’s Corolla. The pedal placement was so close that I had a hard time even with my foot cocked to the side. So, I learned to hit the gas with the outside of my right foot rather than trying to turn my foot. Otherwise, it has never been a problem. He should learn to adapt like everyone else with larger feet.
Actually, the guy said in that in 3 million clicks of driving, he had never had a problem, until he bought the Volvo. His compensation was less than two thousand Euros. The ruling was based on what the Germans call “Stand der Technik”: if a product is less than a (conservative) definition of state-of-the-art, then customers should be informed prior to purchase. No million-bucks-for-microwaving-the-cat, this.
Martin Schwoerer :
No million-bucks-for-microwaving-the-cat, this.
Slightly OT, but how much do you get for microwaving a cat these days?
This is great news. I can buy an RX-8 and sue because I’m too tall for it. Free cars for the people!
I can relate to him. I wear a size 14 and have to cock my foot to 45 degrees in order to drive my Volvo, even in flip-flops.
RF: “Slightly OT, but how much do you get for microwaving a cat these days?”
30 days community service and a $500 fine around here…
Anyway, I’ve got size 15 shoes (and size 14 1/2 feet); my problem is that the new Elantra’s “go pedal” is sprung so softly that I could barely feel it under my shoe. So, I had to add an extra spring under the dash — maybe I should sue them for the $3.99.
I always thought big shoes meant you had a big one….in this case it means you are a big one.
I’m not without sympathy for the big-footed German. I’m left-handed; have you ever seen a classroom deskchair oriented for southpaws? But if Volvo has blundered, correcting their mistake is a function of the marketplace.
Actually, Volvo has lots of company in the too-small-footspace department. For those riding up front, wheelwells, transmission humps, emergency brake pedals, and a/c and heating components intrude. Chrysler even bragged about their “cab forward” design, which should have been called “wheelwell in the cabin” design. No problem, though, for a driver who’d lost their left leg. I suspect a significant portion of pickup truck purchases are made to those who like a spacious under-dash expanse.
Fats Waller: “Your Feets Too Big”:
Way up in Harlem at a table for two
There was four of us,
Me, your big feet, and you
From your ankles up, you sure are neat
But from there down there’s just too much feet
Yes, your feets too big
Can’t stand you cause your feets too big
Say I can’t tolerate you, cause your feets too big
Your gal she loves you, she thinks you’re nice
She claims you got everything to take her to paradise
She likes your loving
She likes your grace
But man oh man them things is too big
Yes, your feets too big
Can’t stand you cause your feets too big
Say I can’t tolerate you, cause your feets too big
Say your pedal extremities are colossal
But, to me you ain’t nothing but an old fossil
Yes, you got me walking, talking and squawking
Cause your feets too big
Yes, your feets too big
Can’t stand you cause your feets too big
Say I can’t tolerate you, I really hate you, cause your feets too big
Your pedal extremities are a bit obnoxious
One never knows do one
The guy’s on a roll. Now he should hop in that C70 (in those gold plated sneakers) and make a beeline to the nearest McDonalds drive thru and order some hot java…to spill on himself, but hopefully not on the shoes. $$$$$$$$