Hello

I've had a 57 reg Octavia 1.9 TDi Elegance for about 5 weeks and since driving it I've been suffering with tendonitis which the doctor thinks is being caused by the position of the accelerator pedal. Is it possible to get it changed to a more conventional style of pedal? I really don't want to get rid of the Octavia as it's such a pleasure to drive accept it's causing me severe pain of the foot.

Many Thanks FS

Is it perhaps possible that you haven't explored seat adjustment etc... many people sit too upright when driving thinking it is "correct" when in fact it can create problems in feet and ankles if your leg is not at a comfortable angle when driving... I had similar problem with a different car until I was advised by a chiropracter about my overall driving position... the pain which developed in my ankle after even quite short journeys was cured almost immediately...

If you mod it, your insurance might go skyhigh or even cancelled, its not something i've ever heard of. Do you have cruise control? If not, maybe retro fit it. Try moving the seat further back just a click or try putting your heel on something.

This enquiry seems uniquely odd. My Octavia and all VW group cars have a wide range of adjustment and it seems plainly perverse to claim there is something wrong with them.

If this question is genuine, then carefully think about the placing of the seat against the pedals and whether you can deploy the controls comfortably. I've been driving for 42 years and the Octavia is as comfortable as anything I've driven.

The Octavia uses drive by wire technology, so no the pedal cannot be altered or changed as its basically an electronic volume control if you like. The pedal is very different to other cars, and issues like the OP describes are usually caused by poor seat positioning. I owned my Octavia for 3 years and 100K miles, including completing 2 trips to southern spain without so much of a hint of tendon problems. Play with the seat positioning some more. Concentrate on getting the legs right first because the steering wheel (up/down and in/out) and seat back can all be adjusted later.

As others have said try moving the seat so that the foot ios more rested.

Have you got cruise control which would help, even on short journeys you can press it on for a few seconds enabling you to move your foot around, if not consider retro fitting it, its a very common & fairly inexpensive mod & there will be a few threads on it.

We dont have it on the Abarth & it has quite a strong return spring on the pedal. On long runs through France I end up with an aching ankle. Unfortunately its not an easy retro fit on that car

A quick search threw up these

http://octavia-vrs.com/cms/content/cruise-control-installation-service

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/154339-retro-fit-cruise-control-octavia-ii/page__hl__cruise+control

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2005-2011-SKODA-OCTAVIA-RETRO-FIT-CRUISE-CONTROL-KIT-/380314047678?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item588c7bd4be#ht_1742wt_907

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/200558-cruise-control-retro-fit/page__p__2379084__hl__shark__fromsearch__1#entry2379084

Edited 8 May, 201115 yr by Stuart_J

This enquiry seems uniquely odd. My Octavia and all VW group cars have a wide range of adjustment and it seems plainly perverse to claim there is something wrong with them.

If this question is genuine, then carefully think about the placing of the seat against the pedals and whether you can deploy the controls comfortably. I've been driving for 42 years and the Octavia is as comfortable as anything I've driven.

Maybe a bit harsh on the OP?

People come in an infinite number of shapes and sizes after all. I know I had a colleague who bought a brand new Golf GTI Anniversary a few years ago and could not overcome problems it caused with his back and sold it after a couple of months. He was a man in his 30s average height and weight with no previous back issues.

Thanks for replies I'll have a mess about with my seating position a bit more and I hope that works. Yes I do have cruise control and use it when I can. FS

Edited 8 May, 201115 yr by Fireman Sam

I find that after 2 to 3 hours the seat base feels like sitting on concrete I just wish they where softer like in the MK1 Superb.

They could fit a conventional peddle though, as I very occasionally catch it when breaking

The seats and steering column move in all directions and so a comfortable position is surely available for all with forethought.

What is so unusual about the movement of the accelerator pedal ? It feels perfectly natural to me with little foot movement being necessary. As said above, use the cruise control and the convenient foot rest to the right of the pedal.

I know about uncomfortable seating positions, having had cars with off set pedals and non adjustable steering colums over the decades. Fitting of a 13/14" Mountney wheel was my usual mod to get my knees under the wheel without splaying my legs. Many cars on the market simply had insufficient rearward travel for me to even get in. I'm only just over 6'. Now I can not reach the pedals when my seat is fully back.

Edited 9 May, 201115 yr by gregoir