Seat Height -- Obvious flaw in otherwise great car

Funny thing is my wife said to me today, one thing I really like about the Prius is the seat height.

We do have an adjustable drivers seat height in Australia though.

 

I'm posting here a copy/paste from another thread where I posted that height-adjustable seats are available from other countries, in particular is Portugal (Toyota sold the Prius with a height-adjustable seats in those countries. This is the link:

http://priuschat.com/forums/prius-m...i-ve-got-height-adjustable-driver-s-seat.html

This is the cut/paste of my post there:

"Well, I've discovered that the Prius in Portugal is available with a height-adjustable driver's seat. For anyone else who speaks Portuguese, see http://www.toyota.pt/cars/new_cars/prius/equip.asp and look at the section titled "Bancos". There you'll see the first line "Banco do condutor com regulação em altura" as available on the Prius High Pack version.

Now I've just got to figure out two things, does theirs RISE from our standard height or LOWER from our standard height, and if they lower how to get ahold of one of these potential darlings! Thinking that it might be easier to import from Canada, I also looked at the Canadian website for Toyota; their site only shows 4-way adjustable seats like the USA."

Perhaps some of you are able to read other web sites in other countries and find a way to import an adjustable seat that is a swap-out for the U.S. seat. I haven't tried to find out more about importing from Portugal.

Tim

 

I too would like a height adjustable seat, but not to lower it. I like a more straight up sitting position so my long legs aren't sticking straight out which I find uncomfortable on long trips. The taller Prius was one of the positive purchase decisions over the Civic for me. However I have a different complaint about the driver's seat.

The head rest on many new cars is too far forward for my comfort. I understand this is a safety feature. After I drive the car for 50+ miles my neck and back are sore because I can't put my head back far enough to relax.

I recently found I could reverse the head rest which moves it well out of the way - perhaps too far. I'm sure this is less safe but it should help on my upcoming 1,000 mile trip a few days after Easter.

Does anyone else have an issue with the position of the head rest?

John

 

Headrest

I don't, but I know what you mean ... it's the same way I feel about every airline and long distance bus seat I've ever sat in.

 

Re: Orthopedic HELL - Seat Height and Head-rest-NOT

My husband is an Orthopedic Physical Therapist and I am a Rehab Pilates Specialist. In our line of work, we spend a great deal of time talking with patients about their horrible car seats, including height and tilt issues AND CERTAINLY those horrid headrests that shove the head forward of the neck and shoulders.

Re: safety, the thing is this: IF YOU HAVE THE KIND OF POSTURE that has developed into your head resting forward of your shoulders, then the forward headrest is fine for you... (though, ultimately, you need to work with a posture specialist to fix that if it isn't too late because you are signing up for so much neck and back difficulties very often.)

From a safety point of view, if your head is forward for YOUR shoulders, then if the headrest isn't also forward tilt, you would indeed whip your head/neck in an accident.

THE BAD NEWS FOR PEOPLE WITH HEALTHY POSTURE? The majority of adults don't have healthy posture and the seats are made for them. Thus, those of us who don't appreciate having our neck jammed forward (complete with strain down into the back...) have no choice but to reverse the headrest. I can't say for sure, because I am not an auto safety tester or expert, but it sure makes sense to me that a person should have their head supported in the position it naturally rests in for optimal safety. For people who come with forward head syndrome, that means the way the Prius comes is great. For those of us with more healthy posture, we're at a disadvantage and have to get clever - as in reversing the headrest.

The other issues with the seat are just beyond making sense. It's nuts that Toyota doesn't see fit to even allow for an option w/8-way seat adjustments, and LUMBAR support would be swell.

We're excited to be about to buy our first Prius - a touring model, but I have to say, this very issue was one that kept us looking at other cars.

 

Re: Headrests

It would have been good if the Prius had "active" headrests that move forward within milliseconds of a rear end impact, so as to reduce whiplash injuries.

But Toyota has been a bit of a laggard in including active headrests in their cars (compare, e.g., Honda and the European carmakers, especially Volvo and Saab), and has only recently started to include them in their new models.

I expect that the next generation Prius will have active headrests.

 

Re: Orthopedic HELL - Seat Height and Head-rest-NOT

Recaro, SAAS, Sparco, Bride, all make very good after market seats.

 

My 5'2" wife fits perfectly in the car. I'm 6'4"

I can't really permanently modify the car...it's her main driving car, but it's also our main car when we drive out and about as a family (I fit perfectly in my Crown Vic, but boy the mpg is bad.)

Has anyone ever thought about filing down (or cutting out) the molding of the headliner? From my line of sight that would add an inch or two of visible windshield room.

I just got back from Germany. I darn near asked one of the Taxi Prius drivers if I could look at their adjustable seat...and perhaps sit in it to see what it felt like. Anyone have a pic of the seat height adjuster? Just curious what it looks like.

I know this is an old thread...is there any update from Toyota on a possible retrofit?