Seating help for 2012 Prius Three

This past Monday night I test drove a Prius for about 5-10 minutes, then purchased the Prius Three model.
Picked it up Tuesday morning. At 75 miles I said I have to adjust this darn seat, at 148 miles I was calling the dealer because I could hardly walk with the back pain.

I am 5 foot 9 1/2 with 35 inch inseam. The steering wheel doesn't come out very far, and by the time I move the seat back for my long legs I am uncomfortable reaching the steering wheel and the back of the seat is a weird design. When I called the dealer I asked if I could get the power seat installed, maybe that would help the issue, and was told no. The salesperson didn't know of after market seats, will ask around.

I am so, so bummed. I have owned Toyota Camrys since 1984 and have never had a seating issue.
I only switched to a Prius due to my daughter being paralized in a DUI accident in 2011 and the action of lifting her wheelchair into the Camry had made my tendonitous so bad in both my arms. the hatchback was the answer. My elbows feel 95 percent better, but I have horrid lower back pain.

Any suggestions?

Last night I was told a car was stolen out of a local parking lot, and I asked the person " hey you think I can park my car there for someone to steal it? Gees

 

Yeah, I called and left a message for the company that modifies vehicles for the disabled, who will be doing that for my daughter. They know most likely the mods that can be made.

The seat back angle is a choice of race car position or feeling like I am sitting on a wooden Colnoial Ladder Back Chair. Having dump would help alot for thigh support, I took a piece of 1 inch foam from my crafting supplies put under my legs and it seemed to help.

I wish I could have rented one, I live rurally , have to travel over 25 miles one way to get to a Toyota dealer and the local rental place has limited cars for rent. No hybrids the last I rented. I have rented from them many makes and models over the past 19 months when I take my daughter to rehab places over the 125 miles away one way to test out.


Humm car upholstry shop will have to call around to find that one, other than backyard shade car repair people.

Honestly I never thought this would have been an issue owning Toyotas for 29 years and never having problems.

When I asked the salesperson about trying out the power seat option he never got back to me.

I don't want to dump alot into this aftermarket if I can't get it back for resale, for what I got the dealer down off sticker it would not be too terrible to resell now with less than 1,000 miles on it.

Odd, I don't recall consumer report or edmunds reviews mentioning this.

 

Yeiks, the mobility salesperson said the mod starts at 8K , they are checking out what alternatives for me, called the local custom car place, they directed me to the auto upholstry guy, not lookin good there, he is concerned about the resistors for the air bags. Told me to find a power seat from a demoed car and swap it, probably the dealership doesn't want to do this is because of the warranty.
Yes, I extended and played around with the steering wheel, would be nice to have it come out about another inch. When I pulled it out I thought, " is that it"? I have messed arouns up/down back/forward, which is about it for this vehicle.
I made a quickie lumbar support pillow yesterday so I didn't get lower back pain driving a 20 mile trip. I can mod that made it too full.
Today measuring my Camry seat, steering, dump angle back etc to see if I can get this seat to do that.
Noone seems to know about adding shims for a dump.

This is a real pain, no pun intended, in agony lifting 31 lb wheelchair into the Camry, can't walk with back pain when you get out of the Prius.

 

Hey, thanks Den49!
I was going to get the manual, for 14 years I worked for a bus company and have re skinned a 55 pass bus, so I guess I can do one lousy seat, lol. At least I know if if there is no plastic bag between the foam and fabric, go to the dry cleaners and get a bag, makes for the skin to slide back on very easy.

You know, when you think about it, advertising a six way seating is misleading. Back and forth are 2 ways, really?
Only one more thing you can do with it is go up and down, as opposed to the pass seat.

Between the seat and the windshield ghosting of headlights this will not be a long term love affair me thinks.