Calling all women who drive stick - I need your help

[noaagirl]

Actually, I think that men of a certain disposition might be able to help too, but I couldn't think of a way to tactfully call them out in the title of the thread.

I've been learning to drive my manual 2006 Salsa Red NBC and I've got a bit of a challenge. I like to wear heels - typically 2-3 inch heels, and my car also has those Beetle monster mats with all the rubber ridging.

I've recently noticed that I am much better at managing the clutch and brake/gas transitions when I am wearing sneakers (on the weekends), and I think that the reason is because my heels keep getting caught in the rubber ridging of the floor mat, making the movements back and forth, and even up and down, less than smooth.

I'm reluctant to take out the monster mats because I am concerned that a) I'll wear a little hole into the regular floor mats using my heels as pivots and b) those monster mats really do collect a whole lotta junk. By the same token, I think I've stalled out at least once or twice because my heel has gotten caught in those ridges and I couldn't make a smooth transition.

Any help from the heel-wearing, stick-driving ladies (or men of a certain disposition) would be greatly appreciated!

[GINA]

I don't wear heels, but when I need to get dressed up for whatever reason and have to wear something other than sneakers I always wear flip flops or sandals when driving, and put on the dressy shoes when I get to my destination. I never drive in pumps or anything that doesn't allow my heel to feel the floor.

[dgoldbe2]

This reason is basically why driving shoes were created. Keep a pair of moccasins in the car just for driving around in, and change your shoes when you get to your destination.

[Smileybug]

Any time I've needed to wear heels I either have the bf drive or I bring other shoes if no one else is with me. I drive in flip flops but not often, as they hit the floor and get stuck there sometimes, making it hard to drive it smooth. I try to wear sneakers whenever I drive. I find that I feel the floor and pedals much better, which makes me drive better and smoother. But I have driven in heels once but they aren't big heels so it wasn't a huge problem.

[AmyJane]

Careful driving in flip flops, girls. My best friend was driving with flip flops and the tip of the one on her driving foot got stuck under the brake pedal as she was trying to step on it and kept her from being able lift up her foot to depress it and she rear ended the person in front of her She was stopping at the last minute because the person in front of her slammed on his brakes. It's happened to me also, but I haven't rear ended anyone because of it and now when I wear flip flops in the car I take em off to drive. I know driving without shoes is a no no but its better that risking getting your flip flop stuck on the brake pedal

[noaagirl]

Ugh.. I absolutely refuse to wear flip-flops... I just hate them to death (can't stand having anything between my toes). And I assumed I would have the same problems with any floppy sandal (since the floppy back could easily get stuck in the ridges.

A moccasin-type shoe, though, I hadn't considered. Hmm. I may have to visit DSW and see what options they might have. And budget two extra minutes into my commute to give me time to slip them on and off (I catch a train, so timing is everything!) I already had to give myself an extra minute to put the top up on nice days!

I may have to upgrade my bag, too, since it isn't currently big enough to handle a pair of shoes, and I wouldn't want to just leave them in the car. Or maybe get them their own little bag to keep in the backseat?

I guess this calls for only one solution: shopping!

[bluebeetlebabe]

drive barefoot! I have done it, or just bring a extra pair of tennis shoes! I work at a horse barn and I have to wear steel toed boots there but I cant wear them when I drive so I just bring some tennies along and I am ok!!

[lojasmo]

Driving shoes.

Ugh...heels.

[dnyed]

I drive a stick (6-speed! ), and I cannot drive in heels (if I wore them... ), Birkenstocks, sandals.....I need my Reeboks or Sketchers.

I have Monsters, and the sandals and Birks get caught in the grooves. I have to remember NOT to drive wearing them. It's just the nature of the beast.

Picture the Cadillac commercial, with the "supermodel" driver, sawing off the right heel of her new stilletos. *And*, that was an automatic!

[AmyJane]

Originally Posted by dnyed

I drive a stick (6-speed! ), and I cannot drive in heels (if I wore them... ), Birkenstocks, sandals.....I need my Reeboks or Sketchers.

I have Monsters, and the sandals and Birks get caught in the grooves. I have to remember NOT to drive wearing them. It's just the nature of the beast.

Picture the Cadillac commercial, with the "supermodel" driver, sawing off the right heel of her new stilletos. *And*, that was an automatic!

Yup! I can't drive my auto in heels either! Or anything higher than a regular sneaker or shoe. I like my actual foot to be closer to the pedals. I feel more in control that way.

[Mazzzja]

To write something different.

I AM able to drive perfectly well with my 8cm heels (or lower)
No problems at all.
Don't have monstermats though, so I can understand where you're coming from as I know what they look like.

I have the regular mats in my car. Of course it's a little rough on the right, but there's no hole in it from my heals (I do have a pair of boots with the needle-type heels..).

So, just practise!

[anitx]

I highly dislike driving with heels. I like driving barefoot or with suuuper flat shoes. I learned to drive stick barefoot, and I like being able to "feel" everything in the footwell.

Because (live in SoCal ) I wear flip flops 89.99999% of the time, but I've had them get caught between pedals before!! So I just take them off, and push them to the side.


one a side note:

Wooooot!...Girls who drive stick!!

[noaagirl]

I can drive my Saturn in heels no problem (automatic, NO floor mats!) but the thought of that silly BMW commercial has me giggling over here (as if a woman would actually do that to a pair of cute shoes, clearly the commercial was written by a man!).

Actually, I'm pretty notorious for wearing inappropriate shoes in all kinds of circumstances (for example, walking around the brick sidewalks of Alexandria, VA, in kitten heels. Bad idea ). I'm glad to know that others have had this issue too, though.

Eeeew. Barefoot. I just couldn't do that after knowing what I walk around on all day in my shoes. Truthfully, I did try and kick off a heel this morning and work the clutch with my bare foot, but I hated the feeling and put it right back on.

Man, I'm not usually this girlie of a girl, but it's shoes! Who can resist!

[LadybugEwa]

I have regular rubber VW matts with round retention posts.
I often wear heels to drive, and they don't bother me.
It is a bit of a workout though. Here's why: when I operate the pedals, both my feet are often completely off the ground. The only time my heels are touching the matt is when my right foot's on the gas and the left unengaged. I think part of the reason I drive like this is because I have pretty small feet. I drive an hour one way to work, and while I can feel I'm getting a bit of exercise, I don't get craps or exaustion in my leg muscles. It works for me
We should start a club for stick-driving women

[ladymarmalade]

Originally Posted by LadybugEwa

We should start a club for stick-driving women

Can we call ourselves Chicks with Sticks?

I've also never had a problem driving in heels, but I have gotten my flip flop caught under the clutch. I'm glad it wasn't the brake or the gas!

[Evanrude]

"men of certain disposition??"

Are you thinking of Drag Queens in Beetles??

(lol)


Anyway. I used to wear cowboy boots everywhere. So it's essentially the same thing as heels, given the size of those bloody things.

And I *did* wear a hole clean through my floor mats.

Eventually I just stopped wearing cowboy boots.

The rubber mats are nice but they could cause issues with heels getting stuck.

I'd almost say just take a pair of slip-ons with you and take off the heals when driving, then put them on when you get there. A minute extra sure, but it could save you from an accident.

[HidHo]

I feel your pain... i have an office job where i wear heels monday through Friday. I usually just take them off and drive with my bare footed! i feel i can't drive for sh*t in heels and i tend to be really rough with the clutch and gas b/c me heels also get hung in the grooves. So, don't get rid of the mats just take your shoes off

[lojasmo]

Originally Posted by dnyed

Picture the Cadillac commercial

BMW.

[Ikkin]

Originally Posted by ladymarmalade

Can we call ourselves Chicks with Sticks?

Yes!! chicks with sticks!! i like that!

I too feel your pain, the first day with my NB i wore my super tall wedgies, i couldn't even back out of the garage! And we have our neighbor's fence with in striking distance! I ended up throwing my shoes aside and drove barefoot!

LadybugEwa was correct, try to not let your feet hit the floor. Most times, i'm not touching the floor. You will be fine with that, just be cautious to go slowly with different shoes.

I don't have monster mats yet...

[Lnzbug]

Just go barefoot in the summer and gym shoes in the winter. It won't take you that long to flip them off and slip the pumps on Or you can have car slippers like most people have house slippers And it's not only heels that put holes in your mats. I mostly wear gym shoes and I have a wear hole