Nissan tries the stiffer gas pedal idea

http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssConsumerGoodsAndRetailNews/idUST25709120080804

Not as extreme as a coilover spring for the throttle return, but possibly more annoying. Luckily it can be disabled.

I'm still waiting for computer-controlled hypermiling that can be enabled or disabled like cruise control.

Are they fly by wire? And there adding a feed back motor?

I don't understand why they don't bring back the "economy" mode switches from the 80's. It would be easy with an electronic throttle, one program for max economy, one for fun. In economy mode ignoring most throttle inputs less than 50% would be easier than having a feed back motor fight you for the throttle?

I had a '87 camry, the transmission had a power and economy mode. Driving in the econ mode made hills tough, sports mode made it feel "brisk," there was also an economy button on the A/C, it would cycle the compressor like half as much, it wasn't as cool, but was better than not running it. Where did this stuff go? How about watching a vacuum gauge rather than having the pedal push you back?

"Derr vacuum? Like you clean carpets with? I'm gonna ignore this thing"

"Derr transmission modes? I'm not gonna mess with that, I might break the car." accidentally clicks it into MAX POWER REDLINE ASSAULT MODE where it sits for the next few decades

"Derr two buttons for the AC!? Whoa, my brain asplode!"

I had some of those switches in my S70 T5 Volvo. You had S for sport, E for economy and W for snow or ice. i never really could tell a difference between the sport and econ. modes. But if you put it in W the car would shift differently. I never drove the car in any snow to see if the W mode did anything because in the entire time we owned the car it never snowed.

W?

Winter!

Also, is Nissan trying to give all GRMer's abnormally large right calves?

Saab has a W. I call it 'wuss mode.'

But then it got me through eight inches of virgin powder at 3 am, so I was forced to take it all back.

When I get in that car, it goes into D then immediately S for sport. A much better experience.

I actually wouldn't mind this if they did it right. Nothing annoys me more than having to hold my foot up to maintain my speed because otherwise the pedal would just flop to the floor. On the other hand if I'm going for an all-out top speed run or doing hot laps I'm tensed up already and the extra pressure lets me modulate my throttle inputs more accurately.

Make the pressure about equal to the weight of my foot for normal cruising, then firm it up progressively for agressive driving. Let me lock it in one mode or the other with a switch too.

Everyone hates spongy brakes or floppy clutch pedals, I don't see why the throttle should be any different.

Of course seeing as this is an "eco" option and is therefore being designed by bespectacled weenies, they'll probably make it amputate my foot and throw me out of the car when I lay it on the floor.

J

I've driven several Honda cars with manual and automatic transmissions....the auto equipped cars usually felt like they had weaker throttle return springs. But it could have just been the way the transmission was set up. I mean, to me, many auto equipped cars seem to alsmost pull the the gas pedal to the floor in an attempt to make them seem faster than they are. A '97 Civic DX I drove with automatic seemed like a rocket ship compared to my '92 Civic with a manual tranny.

Some use a different arm on the throttle body. Automatics open the throttle quicker

Even if it is drive-by-wire, daytonaer, there is still a spring that returns your pedal to the "up" position. Otherwise, it would just fall to the floor.

But everybody is right about sport / economy stuff. Lexus did it with the IS 300 (which I love!!). Volvo did it as some of you mentioned as well as Toyota with the older Camrys.

BMW does it with their engines in the new super M cars (M3, 5, and 6). They also have sport mode which kind of does the opposite in the Z4s if you get the option - it makes the throttle open at a much higher ratio at first and then tapers off as you reach the floor. Fun, but pointless - it's used to sell cars. It is STUPID at the track.

I agree with you guys about the electronic Hypermill feature. Hit the "H" switch next to your shifter, and bam - a 20% increase in mileage. Or in BMWs, select "Settings" from your iDrive menu; scroll, or, uh, spin over to "Driver Settings"; select "Engine Management"; select "Speed Settings" - no, that's not it - select "Engine Mapping Profile" - yeah, that one; select "Fuel Map"; and then "Hypermill". That would be sweet.

OR, just drive a manual car and shift it how you want.

viagra for gas pedals? is the pedal blue?

GameboyRMH wrote: "Derr transmission modes? I'm not gonna mess with that, I might break the car." *accidentally clicks it into MAX POWER REDLINE ASSAULT MODE where it sits for the next few decades*

Too funny.

confuZion3 wrote: Even if it is drive-by-wire, daytonaer, there is still a spring that returns your pedal to the "up" position. Otherwise, it would just fall to the floor.

This is not a stiffer spring, its a feed-back motor. Replace a cable with a computer and now 2 separate electronic motors.

neon4891 wrote: OR, just drive a manual car and shift it how you want.

But, there are no more throttle cables, so you still don't get what you want. Ever put it to the floor in a stick e-throttle car in neutral? Will it rev over 3k?? I HATE e-throttles, but there's so much potential that needs to be tapped that could make them ok.

Wired Top Story: "Nissan Puts Meddle to the Pedal."

Those clever geeks.