I've been whining about the seating ergonomics for a while. As I've said before I'm **almost** comfortable fitting my 6'2" frame in the Prius. I did four hours straight on Sunday and was pretty much fine since it was on the highway with the cruise control. Problems arise when I get into traffic and have to spend a lot of time with my foot on the brake pedal which cramps my leg. Another inch or two would do the trick. Well, I found my inch or two and it was so insanely simple. I've been sitting pretty much bolt upright which puts the steering wheel in the best position relative to my torso. But my lower back was getting a little twinge last week. This morning I thought, hey, why not recline the seat back a little? I went two notches back from my normal position and it was immediately apparent that my lower back was in a much better position. But even better, I was able to scoot back a little farther on the seat cushion. I did not expect the angle of the seat back to impact legroom enough to make a difference. It still isn't perfect but it should soften my urge to complain on an almost daily basis.
FWIW, I bought an Obus Forme (I think that's the correct spelling) seat cushion. It added a little more support - to the extent that I just finished a drive from San Diego to San Francisco in one day, followed by another run from S.F. to Seattle in 12 hours. The seat cushion is a Nascar Bobby Labonte model - gawdy, but effective. Cost $1.99 + shipping on ebay.
When is Tempurpedic going to get smart and start making replacement car seat cushions? :huh: I don't mean a doofy sit on top woopie cushion, but an actual pull-cover-off-replace-foam upgrade made to exact car model specs. I'm surprised I haven't heard of some car makers doing this. "Yes, we do have theeeeee most comfortable seats in the business . . . they're cushioned by Tempurpedic . . . and it's ooooonlyyyyy a $300 upgrade."
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Slair @ May 24 2007, 08:28 PM) [snapback]449493[/snapback]</div> Ya know, I've been cruising this forum for a couple of months now (maybe a little less) and I keep seeing the same people trying to p*ss on other folks' post with no real input other than something negative. It's really a shame. To the OP, good on you for finding a more comfortable seating position.
The point of the post is that seat tilt affected legroom enough to make a differece. That is not intuitive, and some taller drivers might find the information useful. That's what this forum is about: passing on information. Sometimes it's groundbreaking, sometimes it is as simple as this. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(BexarWolf @ May 25 2007, 01:52 AM) [snapback]449635[/snapback]</div> Fortunately there are very, very few of those people here. Easily few enough for the Ignore List to handle.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(brick @ May 25 2007, 07:37 AM) [snapback]449686[/snapback]</div> I agree, it's actually counter-intuitive to me; I used to drive sports cars and felt that when I leaned the seatback further back, it at least felt like it was decreasing my legroom. I attributed this to that "sliding forward" feeling when you recline in a seat. I would not have guessed that doing this would either buy you legroom or feel like it did. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(brick @ May 25 2007, 07:37 AM) [snapback]449686[/snapback]</div> Sometimes the poster's avatar is a dead giveaway.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ibmindless @ May 25 2007, 12:37 AM) [snapback]449613[/snapback]</div> I've got one of those, and it seems to help. The stock seat is the wrong shape for me, and the Obus Forme corrects that and puts my back in better alignment for longer trips. Harry
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(BexarWolf @ May 25 2007, 01:52 AM) [snapback]449635[/snapback]</div> This is the only real "piss on" that I've posted, other than the racing hubcaps, because I still cant quit laughing about it. Its a forum, which is an input based discussion system. I've been members of pleanty of forums for a long time now, longer than most of you even had a "puter". I dont know if you "old" guys know this but there is something called forum etiqette. The new topic button is the #1 abused item on forums, which if done, can get really ugly real fast. You'll have duplicate threads, random pointelss discussions like "I learned to lean my seat back." If you want to keep your forum clean, quick and easy to use, dont abuse the new topic button. That was the point of my post in this thread. Yes, good for him for finding a comfortable seating position, but is there a reason to post every time I lean my seat back a couple clicks? My input: I agree with what you guys say about the seats in the prius. I bought a $28,000 car, why cant it be comfortable? Right now I actually really like the seats in the prius because I drove a Scion tC for a year. If you want the most uncormfortable seats, buy that car. I guess Toyota thought super lumbar support with no adjustment would be a nice touch. Its like pushing you out of the seat all the time. But, why cant car makers just put some serious cushion in car seats?
Give the OP a break. If you don't have anything positive to say, don't. Others may find this helpful.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Slair @ May 25 2007, 11:04 AM) [snapback]449781[/snapback]</div> Your opinion. The relevance of a new topic is in the eyes of the beholder. My opinion: Running commentary on its relevance clutters up the forum more than the original post. And that's what can make it ugly.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(brick @ May 24 2007, 09:14 PM) [snapback]449485[/snapback]</div> That seems the be the latest craze "Gansta Style" ridin with the seat leaned back.... :lol: :lol: Really what ever works
I'm 6'2" as well and I've always had an issue with the seating. I took the Prius from the West coast to the East and back in only a week and had a lot of time to spend trying to get comfortable for those 14 hour driving days. Some of the positions I tried were obsurd. Leaning waaaay back, etc. I discovered eventually that yeah, leaning it back a few clicks is the best I'll ever get. I try not to complain too much about the seats not being great in an expensive car by justifying it as the money was spent on developing the most technologically advanced car out there. So what if the seats aren't perfect. As far as saying this post is a wasted thread, that's another insecure person the ignore button works well on.
Thanks for posting this. At 6'6", I'm open to any suggestions. I too have kept my seat in a rather upright position. I will try and lean back some. See how it works.
OP brick is at the forefront of medicine. It is now known that reclining is much better for the lower spine than sitting straight upright: it allows more weight to rest on the seatback and puts less compression on the vertebrae and disks. Of course in driving there is a compromise between reclining, and a sore neck (bending the head forward for visibility), and in being able to reach the steering wheel.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SomervillePrius @ May 25 2007, 08:39 AM) [snapback]449700[/snapback]</div> yea i discovered this "trick" after my first 4 hour drive in the prius. the seat notched back gives 2 inches more for the legs which is really nice for us people over 6 feet tall. the trade off is now you have to really reach for the steering wheel. here's another non obvious tip for us big guys. tilt the stearing wheel down more than you "think" is comfortable. it actualy brings the top of the steering wheel closer to you so you can grip it easier with you seat notched back. its another "duh" moment but its not obvious that normal things that would make a bigger/taller person uncomfortable in other cars actualy makes us more comfortable in the prius. also twisting your torso one way or the other brings one arm another inch closer and is remarkably relaxed driving position. i was ready to give my prius back untill i discovered these little "tricks"
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(richard schumacher @ May 25 2007, 10:54 AM) [snapback]449838[/snapback]</div> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Prius Toric @ May 25 2007, 11:00 AM) [snapback]449844[/snapback]</div> So all this time I've been driving around with my seatback more upright than I'd like 'cause I thought it would be better for my back and posture. oops, guess i'm not on the forefront of medicine (so does having sex standing up still count as birth control?) and the reaching is what's the problem here. reaching for the steering wheel effectively makes you hunch your shoulders. Even with my steering wheel bottomed out. twisting your torso one way or the other can get very uncomfortable very fast. Although reclining the seat would lower your elbows to the armrest and perhaps lighten things up a little. I've been leaning over on the armrests, which allows the other arm to reach the wheel easier. but it does get uncomfortable pretty quick. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(westex39 @ May 25 2007, 08:48 AM) [snapback]449732[/snapback]</div> It's not always the age that does it you know. I've met plenty of 44 year old snotnose know it alls.
