Manual transmission vs shorter driver

[Ptremblay1]

Hi, I am looking to order a manual 2 doors Big Bend Bronco but I am on the fence with the transmission. I wanted the manual 7 speed, but reading the review in car and driver about shorter people banging their knee and hard to reach pedal makes me wonder. My wife is 5'1

link to car and driver : https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a37183884/2021-ford-bronco-black-diamond-by-the-numbers/

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[GaryB2220]

Hi, I am looking to order a manual 2 doors Big Bend Bronco but I am on the fence with the transmission. I wanted the manual 7 speed, but reading the review in car and driver about shorter people banging their knee and hard to reach pedal makes me wonder. My wife is 5'1

link to car and driver : https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a37183884/2021-ford-bronco-black-diamond-by-the-numbers/

See if a nearby dealer has a manual bronco that you can test drive

 

[StormtrooperS225]

I am 5.6" I didn't have to much of a problem

 

[AZshot]

That article has been out a while, and is the ONLY report I've heard that short people may have challenges with the clutch. I'll find out soon, my wife is 5'1" and all she's ever drove is a stick.

 

[BroncoAZ]

My wife is 5'2", she'll either make it work or she won't drive the Bronco. She could never drive the 87 in my avatar because I had moved the seat back 6" from stock, she was 4" from the pedals with the seat all the way up.

 

[MaverickMan]

Zip ties and a chunk of 4x4 should be right as rain.

 

[Ptremblay1]

That article has been out a while, and is the ONLY report I've heard that short people may have challenges with the clutch. I'll find out soon, my wife is 5'1" and all she's ever drove is a stick.

Indeed can't find any other reference either, that's why I'm asking before shelling 50k$. My wife is a 5' 1'' avid manual driver

 

[Ptremblay1]

See if a nearby dealer has a manual bronco that you can test drive

In Canada it's hard to see it in real life.. I haven't seen one on the road yet.. Been to a dealer, they had a yellow Badlands automatic which was already sold . I guess the manuals wont be available for test drives.

 

[Herbie]

I'm 5'4", 5'5" on a good day and I haven't met a manual transmission I couldn't drive in the past 32 years. It better not be a problem because that is what I am getting. When I sat in a MT at one of the Ford events I didn't have trouble with the clutch. I technically didn't drive it, but rowed through a gear or two while sitting there and it was fine. Not sure if this helps.

 

[KEM IA]

When I test drove (5'9)a manual Bronco it did seem I had to move the seat up a lot more than the Tacoma I had. The wife is 5'4 and she was fine. But I would test drive bc it is a longer reach than other manuals I've driven.

 

[RiotSquirrel]

i'm 5'6" and was able to test drive a MT badlands at my dealer. no issues, its an easy clutch and the shift pattern is tight. I probably had to move the seat up closer in the bronco than with my previous MT mustang, but not nearly as close as i have to get with The Dudes MT F150. its a comfortable middle ground for this short person.

 

[AZshot]

The ergonomics are one thing a car company doesn't mess around with. I think that article was a fluke/complainer/stunted growth person. You have a lot of adjustments that can help someone with short legs, compared to cars years ago. If you need more leg length, you can lower the seat for example, with the pump handle. That would also clear any dash obstacles hitting the knees too. If the steering wheel then feels too close, you lean the seat back a little. If not that, then adjust the wheel pull in/out or tilt. There are lots of things you can do in a modern vehicle. I think this article is like the alleged "mirror is in the way" report that one person gave out - then was never heard repeated again by anyone else.

 

[broncofanatic]

That article has been out a while, and is the ONLY report I've heard that short people may have challenges with the clutch. I'll find out soon, my wife is 5'1" and all she's ever drove is a stick.

hi, just checking in on this. Did your wife have issues reaching the clutch at 5'1?

 

[dejones64]

I'm 5'8" and need to move the seat forward (not all the way) to get the clutch to the floor. Right leg is bent up more than I like. I also don't like sitting that close to the steering wheel/air bag.

I've researched clutch pedal extenders but have not pulled the trigger on any yet.

 

[broncofanatic]

I'm 5'8" and need to move the seat forward (not all the way) to get the clutch to the floor. Right leg is bent up more than I like. I also don't like sitting that close to the steering wheel/air bag.

I've researched clutch pedal extenders but have not pulled the trigger on any yet.

Oof I am shorter than that and my partner is way shorter. This actually might unfortunately cause me to pick the automatic. I have not found a good clutch extender that can be used for the bronco.

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