Upgrade / Replace Prius Seats? Desperate!!

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by tart_green, Feb 25, 2017.

  1. tart_green

    tart_green Junior Member

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    I have a 2011 Prius and work for a living in the car.
    I am in the car driving 8 hours a day. I LOVE the car, but the seats are really lacking in comfort and back support. After driving each day my back is incredibly sore. It is a manual seat, not power.

    Is it possible to UPGRADE to a newer model prius seat (from maybe a 2015?) with more comfort and back support?

    I'm not interested in adding pillows, I work out this car and I need a permanent solution. I will pay any price to keep this car and have a better seat.

    Any thoughts?
     
  2. CNYhybrid

    CNYhybrid Member

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    I have the 2011 Prius Four and I find the leather seats quite comfortable.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  3. tart_green

    tart_green Junior Member

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    OK, I'm glad, but it's killing my back.
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    there's no quick fix, but there are threads here from people who have put in power camry seats, volvo seats and etc.
    and also who have had the existing seat reupholstered. all the best!(y)
     
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  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Witness Leader

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    That's the problem. I doubt any seat will help. You need to reduce that somehow.
     
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    run behind the car?
     
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Witness Leader

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    I do not know, break your day, try to vary your duties, look for another line of work? I'm assuming this is work related.

    I used to be pushing a mouse around and keyboarding, eight-plus hours a day, hit the wall, went at diversifying my work from a lot of different angles.
     
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    might be easier to trade cars.
     
  9. tonycd

    tonycd Member

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    I think these posts aren't trying very hard to be helpful, and OP has a right to be peeved with them.

    OP, I'd consider trying to find a leather or Softex seat from a junked high-line Prius of this generation. Those seats have power-adjustable lumbar support, a seat bottom adjustment for angle as well as height, and have been reported to be much better for all-day comfort. It ought to be a bolt-in replacement if you get the whole seat; if it wasn't, they wouldn't be able to build both versions on the same assembly line.
     
  10. NavyLCDR

    NavyLCDR Active Member

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  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Witness Leader

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    @tart_green If you haven't already, I would check with a doctor too: a back injury could underlying your problems.
     
  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    hopefully the o/p has a sense of humor.
     
  13. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

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    Try this: Remove the headrest. Rotate 180 degrees, and put it back in, so that it points backwards. It helped me a lot.
     
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  14. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    I suspect the seats in every Prius of close model years are the same framewise. THAT is the problem. Changing the seat cover isn't going to solve anything.
    If it were me, I'd try the Lexus version of the GIII Prius. You might find a used one for a reasonable price.
     
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  15. m.wynn

    m.wynn Senior Member

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    I think David may be on to a possible good solution here. The CT 200 seats are absolutely Lexus-like, at least to my 5'9'' proportions. The problem may be that the CT's body is based on the Matrix and not the Prius. Wouldn't be surprised if modification were needed with regard to mounting. Another thought, which again pertains to my size, is that the Gen 2 driver's seat is far more comfortable and ergonomic than Gen 3. It actually has SOME lumbar built in. Again, cross-compatilbilty is the question. Unfortunately no quick and easy solution, but certainly worth investigating. I personally find the Gen 3 front seats to be laughable with regard to comfort.
     
  16. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

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    Try flipping the headrest. Takes 15 seconds.
     
  17. dmeans2anend

    dmeans2anend Junior Member

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    I totally agree that the Prius bucket seats are the most uncomfortable car seats ever made!!!!

    I'm very active ,athletic, and petite but get extremely sore back when I drive for an hour or more in my 2010 Prius.
    Since I'm tiny, the dip in the bucket seat really does a wringer on my back.

    I've recently made my own modification to the seat and it seems to help a lot with no more back pains but I do have to make adjustments regularly which is an inconvenient but well worth it just to be pain free.

    First, I bought the combo PharMeDoc wedge cushion seat and back support cushion on Ebay for only $23 with free shipping.

    Secondly, the 3" wedge cushion wasn't quite enough to take the dip out of the bucket seat where my hip would sink down into so I simply emptied a large bag of popcorn kernels in a large gallon freezer ziplock bag and tuck it under the wedge cushion to elevate me even more so that when I'm seated, my hip is level with me knees and there is no more strain on my back!

    This modification seems to have done the trick to relieving the stress on my lower back.

    The only con is that I constantly have to make minor adjustments to the bag of popcorn kernels so it doesn't slide under the cushion.

    My next change is probably to find a pillow cover for the ziplock bag of popcorn kernels so it doesn't slide around under the wedge cushion.
     
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  18. BZzap!

    BZzap! Senior Member

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    If you aren't a devout P.E.T.A. advocate, I would install genuine sheepskin seat covers on your seats. They add about 1/2 to 1" inch of conformal padding that significantly improves the comfort level of the Prius seats. That's the first thing I do after buying a new car.
    Mikes Canvas: Sheepskin Seat Covers
     
  19. dmeans2anend

    dmeans2anend Junior Member

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    Good to know. Thank you. Seems like a wonderful option in the winter but doesn't it get way too warm in the summer especially if you are in a hot climate zone?
     
  20. BZzap!

    BZzap! Senior Member

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    Actually these covers a very comfortable in the hot summer. They are very breathable and prevent sweating. I have never found any better solution for seat comfort ... summer or winter.