Comments on: Court Orders Volvo Dealer to Compensate German with Big Feet

By: monsenor

monsenor — Tue, 06 May 2008 20:08:35 +0000

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. $$$$$$$$

By: Robert Schwartz

Robert Schwartz — Tue, 06 May 2008 19:42:25 +0000

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

By: 50merc

50merc — Tue, 06 May 2008 18:51:01 +0000

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.

By: 1996MEdition

1996MEdition — Tue, 06 May 2008 16:27:44 +0000

I always thought big shoes meant you had a big one….in this case it means you are a big one.

By: shaker

shaker — Tue, 06 May 2008 16:13:31 +0000

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.

By: Jordan Tenenbaum

Jordan Tenenbaum — Tue, 06 May 2008 16:03:18 +0000

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.

By: David Holzman

David Holzman — Tue, 06 May 2008 15:52:17 +0000

This is great news. I can buy an RX-8 and sue because I’m too tall for it. Free cars for the people!

By: Robert Farago

Robert Farago — Tue, 06 May 2008 15:37:28 +0000

Martin Schwoerer :

No million-bucks-for-microwaving-the-cat, this.

Slightly OT, but how much do you get for microwaving a cat these days?

By: Martin Schwoerer

Martin Schwoerer — Tue, 06 May 2008 15:35:15 +0000

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.

By: Sanman111

Sanman111 — Tue, 06 May 2008 15:23:45 +0000

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.

By: Jonny Lieberman

Jonny Lieberman — Tue, 06 May 2008 15:19:14 +0000

I wear a Eruo size 46… Capt. Mike, Farago, could you two get me some small European cars?

And, like quick?

By: Frank Williams

Frank Williams — Tue, 06 May 2008 14:30:46 +0000

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!

By: 50merc

50merc — Tue, 06 May 2008 14:19:42 +0000

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.

By: RGS920

RGS920 — Tue, 06 May 2008 14:13:26 +0000

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

By: Corto

Corto — Tue, 06 May 2008 14:10:46 +0000

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!

By: NICKNICK

NICKNICK — Tue, 06 May 2008 13:44:39 +0000

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.

By: ash78

ash78 — Tue, 06 May 2008 13:43:40 +0000

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.

By: helius

helius — Tue, 06 May 2008 13:40:51 +0000

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).

By: Detroit-Iron

Detroit-Iron — Tue, 06 May 2008 13:29:23 +0000

Like Disney Land and KFC, our litigiousness spreads to the far corners of the world.