Fabric / Cloth Seats and Lower Back Pain

Hmmm... I have a sciatic nerve problem as well and I haven't experienced any discomfort in my Prius 3 even during a 6 hr drive last week. Then again, I sit with the seat back almost horizontal.

 

I've driven 1000 miles straight through twice now with no back issues & I've had low back surgery. I find the seat support to be excellent. I'm 6'2" & 250 lbs too.

 

I got my new 2011 Prius a month ago (in November) and my lower back has been aching ever since. I never had a lower back problem prior to driving the car! I've tried four different "cushions," hoping the last one I purchased will help.

I WISH I knew about this potential problem before getting the car. It SUCKS. Otherwise, I love the car. Had I known this would be an issue... I would've purchased the Prius IV which I believe has lumbar support.

I'm a short guy, so it's not my "height" that's the problem. "Tilting" the seat back one more notch doesn't do the trick either. Any other suggestions?

 

If you can DIY, look at my suggestion for adding foam in post #20. If you cannot DIY, go to a good auto upholstery shop that will work with you to make the same or similar improvements. Good luck.

 

this is exactly why I went with the "four" .. it has better seats, albeit not much but they re better, and offer lumbar control.

 

That was our MAIN reason for the 4. Leather holds up much better than fabric...especially with my wife driving it to the horse stable every day.....plus I had leather and lumbar in my 4 Runner and it was great. I do wish the Prius had motorized seat positioning like the 4 Runner. The tilt function was very nice. We did just return from a 2500 mile road trip and I think I was less achy and fatigued than when I took long trips in the 4 Runner. I think the seat being lower and able to slide back further in the Prius makes a difference.

 

A small rolled-up towel does the trick for me. No problems from eight-hour drives.

One other possible contributor if you carry a wallet in a rear pants pocket: try moving it to a front pocket or a coat pocket.

 

Who carries a "wallet" in their back pocket anymore?
seriously... .. just put a chain on it why don't ya..

 

Has anyone else added RECARO seats in there's as I did in my last two and my next one.
You can start with one and add a second one later or just add both at once. Dealerships love it when I show them my seats. Better than a broken back is what I got before I got the RECAROS. Now I can sit for 24 hours in the car straight with nada. Also holds me in place when I race Motorcycles around corners!

 

You would want to add stuff on top of your seat - lumbar cushions, seat cushions, etc...

 

Just the same reason that I didn't buy a IV, I hate leather seats as does my wife. I did test drive one but I hated the way I slide around on it. Plus they are cold in the winter while being hot & sticky in the summer. The heated seats help in the winter but they are still cold at first & not much can help in the heat of summer. I find the fabric seats hold me better & are warmer in the winter & cooler in the summer. It was also $3k difference between the III & IV with the same equipment so it was hard to pay that much more for something I didn't even like. Luckily the dealer found a III 100 miles away. :cheer2: