are floor-mounted accelerators "better"?

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My ATS has a floor-mounted accelerator, which is the first of its kind for me. Are they "better" in some way? In a review on the ATS, the writer commented on this kind of accelerator as part of the vehicle's performance-oriented setup.
 
In addition to the floor mat thing, floor-mounted pedals are better if you value accurate response AFAIK.
 
Most purpose built racecars have them. When you look at pedal assemblies from Tilton and Willwood the brake and accelerator are close together to allow for heel-toe driving or left foot braking.
 
I had it in the CX-5, and didn't like it at all. Mainly because I'm so used to using only the bottom third of the accelerator, not my whole foot. And you had to do it higher on those, so they feel extremely stiff to someone who drives like I do. I definitely prefer top mounted accelerators as opposed to floor ones.
 
My MB diesels have it floor mounted.

Cant tell a difference one way or another...
 
I drive with my heel almost under the brake pedal with my foot cocked to the right at a 30- to- 45 degree angle and can use either pedal variety.

"It's been said" that the top hinge was so women in heels could operate them, but IMO it's something that happened when we went from rod linkages to cable throttles.

Now I guess with drive by wire they can do it how they want.
 
I've driven both for years and never noticed a bit of difference.

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
One obvious benefit is that your floor mat won't get wedged behind it.


But it will get pushed up against it.
 
Originally Posted By: eljefino
"It's been said" that the top hinge was so women in heels could operate them, but IMO it's something that happened when we went from rod linkages to cable throttles.


My 60's 70s holdens had top hinged linkages FWIW

This bloke can use anything apparently, sporty or not
 
My VW GTI has a floor mounted pedal and a manual transmission. The floor mounted pedal is better for someone is drives and does heel-toe downshifting. You really gotta be driving like you stole it to see the benefit.
 
Originally Posted By: NHGUY
When the floors rust out,down goes the pedal....lol

Good cars' floors don't rust out.
 
Originally Posted By: skyactiv
My VW GTI has a floor mounted pedal and a manual transmission. The floor mounted pedal is better for someone is drives and does heel-toe downshifting. You really gotta be driving like you stole it to see the benefit.

Rev-matching is something you're supposed to do at all times, even if you're driving slowly...
 
Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit
I've driven both for years and never noticed a bit of difference.

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
One obvious benefit is that your floor mat won't get wedged behind it.


But it will get pushed up against it.


Not if your floor mats have holes and the car has clips, like my corvette!
 
Originally Posted By: Corvette Owner
Not if your floor mats have holes and the car has clips, like my corvette!


The floor mats have to be engaged with the clips to work correctly. That was the cause of the Lexus ES350 fatal crash that sparked the entire unintended acceleration deal with Toyota; the floor mats weren't engaged with the clips in the floor.

Regarding the accelerator pedals, I don't like the ones hinged to the floor. They don't feel natural to me. I've driven various BMWs and Acuras with them hinged to the floor and I don't like them. One of my friends who lives in Michigan doesn't like them either; he says that snow and slush collect at the bottom and can cause corrosion down at the hinge.
 
Originally Posted By: d00df00d
Originally Posted By: NHGUY
When the floors rust out,down goes the pedal....lol

Good cars' floors don't rust out.


Just to play devils advocate, I'll note that BMW has had horrible floorpan rust issues in the past... probably even the E36 like yours although I'm not sure when/if it ends.

It's still kind of irrelevant. I'm not sure I'd be driving a car with a hole in the floor pan to be worried about whether the gas pedal is attached to the rusted out area or not, nor would anyone else...

Just saying that rusty floor pans are not a "bad" car problem that "good" cars don't have.
wink.gif
 
Originally Posted By: Miller88
I would be concerned that salt would get in the throttle electronics causing it to fail after a few years.

My wife doesn't seem to get the concept of knocking the slush off your boots before you get in the car, so I like top mounted pedals. Often the rubber mat in her car is full of water if we have a few snow days in a row...
 
Originally Posted By: d00df00d
Originally Posted By: NHGUY
When the floors rust out,down goes the pedal....lol

Good cars' floors don't rust out.


They do if you live in New England. The stuff they spread now is so corrosive it requires spreaders to be replaced sometimes after only 2 seasons of use.
 
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