Bigfoot,
Welcome!
Couple suggestions:
1) Sign up for the Capital Area Cobra Club if you haven't already at:
Capital Area Cobra Club - Index
You can possibly "try on" some of their cars at the Saturday "grease-up" at the Vienna Inn. Only potential downside is the amount of good-natured(?) abuse they dish out. There's at least one owner there in your size range.
2) Consider an automatic. This will reduce the number of pedals in a very narrow area and reduce the chances for stepping on more than one at a time
Enjoy the hunt, and good luck,
Tom