automatics and large brake pedals

As the Discovery is the first automatic I have owned, the question came up. Why do automatics have such large brake pedals? If I can hit all three small pedals in a stickshift for years without missing one, why does an automatic equipped vehicle need a brake pedal that is three times the size of the same pedal on a stick shift equipped car?

Because you used to need both legs on the brake pedal sometimes plus design inertia.

so you can wear out the brakes with your left foot, as it has something to do now.....

To combat unintended acceleration! Small brake pedal = certain death! Oh, the humanity!

to fill up the space better.. it can just look goofy and very un-feng shui on the floor if the proper amount of space isn't taken up by the pedals..

lots of people switch from left to right ... back and forth when braking an automatic car. .... Mom's old Audi had a tiny brake pedal and it made it very difficult to switch feet on the pedal ... large pedal makes it very easy

I think a better question is "why do manual transmission cars have such tiny brake pedals"?

We (usually) don't have the parking brake on the floor anymore., so it can be done.

Because of the lulz that result from driving a manual exclusively for a few months and then switching to an automatic and finding out your left foot is on autopilot and volunteers to push in really hard in at the 1-2 shift point.

Back in the dark Ages I saw more than one M/T car with a large brake pedal and a small clutch pedal. Dunno why. I've also seen A/T vehicles with a small brake pedal, particularly GM pickups for whatever reason.

Knurled wrote: I think a better question is "why do manual transmission cars have such tiny brake pedals"? We (usually) don't have the parking brake on the floor anymore., so it can be done.

I retained the auto pedal when swapping one of my Foxes from auto to 5-speed. I liked it a lot better than the itty-bitty brake pedal that came in the manual equipped cars.

Astro vans have a small brake pedal. Of course the whole footwell is pretty tiny.

Duke wrote: Because of the lulz that result from driving a manual exclusively for a few months and then switching to an automatic and finding out your left foot is on autopilot and volunteers to push in really hard in at the 1-2 shift point.

I do this several times a year. It's kind of hilarious. Usually happens for me when im slowing down, though, and then i slow down.. a lot. oops.

The Ranchero was originally a three-on-the-tree swapped to a C4, but still has the manual-sized brake pedal.

It does just sort of look odd.

Not sure whether I'm going to get an auto pedal for it. (Of course, I'm also tempted to put a T5 in it, making the brake pedal a non-issue...)

Duke wrote: Because of the lulz that result from driving a manual exclusively for a few months and then switching to an automatic and finding out your left foot is on autopilot and volunteers to push in really hard in at the 1-2 shift point.

Going in the other direction, I've been driving rentals a bit too much, all autos of course. I get into a manual car and turn the key, nothing happens, sit there like an idiot for a second - forgot to push in the clutch. D'oh.

gives you a place to rest your left foot and the brake lights keep blinking.

Duke wrote: Because of the lulz that result from driving a manual exclusively for a few months and then switching to an automatic and finding out your left foot is on autopilot and volunteers to push in really hard in at the 1-2 shift point.

BTDT.

yep ... threw everyone through the front window as I was slowing for a stop sign

Some of the old American cars and trucks have equally huge clutch pedals to match.

the Chevette used the same size brake pedal for manual and auto trans.

I hurt my foot 'quickly pushing in the clutch' one day on an auto car...