Any feedback from short drivers?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by PriusRos, May 31, 2009.

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  1. PriusRos

    PriusRos A Fairly Senior Member - 2016 Prius Owner

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    I am only 5' 1" (and my legs are relatively short, even for my height). I find my current 2006 Prius very comfortable. I don't need to pull it all the way forward or have the seatback fully upright to reach the pedals. My boyfriend is nearly 6'2" and he doesn't have any problem with the seat, either. His car is a Toyota Matrix and I find the seat very uncomfortable for some reason.

    I've seen a lot of posts about the 2010 seats from people who are medium to very tall but haven't heard from the shorter people.
     
    #1 PriusRos, May 31, 2009
  2. Steve Cebu

    Steve Cebu New Member

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    My wife is 4'11" so when we get ours I will post what she says about it. Funny thing is she was able to adjust the seat on a new Accord perfectly for her to drive. Very few cars have that much adjustment in a power seat. I'm hoping the same is true for the 2010 Prius.
     
    #2 Steve Cebu, May 31, 2009
  3. FLP

    FLP Junior Member

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    I'm looking forward to this information, too.
     
    #3 FLP, May 31, 2009
  4. table9

    table9 New Member

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    My wife is vertically challenged as well and I am 6 ft. tall. The 2010 fits us both well. She said she can see everything and the car fits her much better than her Accord as a reference. Steering wheel adjusts and she has minimal blind spots.
     
    #4 table9, May 31, 2009
  5. equake

    equake Member

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    Interesting topic as I am a vertically challenged guy and my current Accord is fine would definitely like the to know the ergos of the new Pri for us short folks :cool:


    EQ
     
    #5 equake, May 31, 2009
  6. table9

    table9 New Member

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    Let me try... Compared to a 2005 Accord. Much greater visibility, better driving position (she is able to adjust the seats to a comfortable driving position), fewer blind spots and the steering position adjusted to her liking. Let me know if you have any specific questions and I will get some more feedback.
     
    #6 table9, May 31, 2009
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  7. HTMLSpinnr

    HTMLSpinnr Super Moderator
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    5'4" here, height adjusting seat is a great improvement over the 2004. I'm short legged and average torso. Height all the way up is "too much" (can't see over visor), so for those who are short in the torso, you should do just fine.
     
    #7 HTMLSpinnr, May 31, 2009
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  8. hughh

    hughh New Member

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    Does the new Prius have memory seats?
     
    #8 hughh, May 31, 2009
  9. PriusSport

    PriusSport senior member

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    The 08 seats high and is perfect for the shorter driver. I read a review of the 10 in Motor Trend, and they said it sits lower than the GenII cars--maybe more suitable for taller drivers?

    I might add the driver side mirror in my 08 could use more latitude for my seat adjustment.
    I have to lean forward to avoid the blind spot for cars over my left shoulder.
     
    #9 PriusSport, May 31, 2009
  10. Boo

    Boo Boola Boola Member

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    #10 Boo, May 31, 2009
  11. i3akachan

    i3akachan i love my new prius:)

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    Hi everyone,

    I'd like some feedback on this topic, so I'm just putting a reply in to push it up on the list on the forum.

    I'm 4'10"...

    thanks!
     
    #11 i3akachan, Jun 5, 2009
  12. Steve Cebu

    Steve Cebu New Member

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    Ok, I posted this elsewhere but here goes.
    My wife is 4'11" and she had no problems adjusting to the Prius.
    she felt it was comfortable and had good visibility and liked it much better than our previous 2008 Honda Civic Si.
    The Si had a lot of adjustments as well, but she felt the Prius was better.
    I am short for a guy at 5'7" and I think the seat is great! It's very comfortable for my back and I'm very happy with it. It adjusts quite a bit but the tilt/telescoping wheel doesn't seem to adjust as much as the one in our 2009 Honda Fit Sport.
    If my wife at 4'11" is ok with it and she's tiny at 87 lbs. chances are it will fit almost anyone.
    Hope that helps.
     
    #12 Steve Cebu, Jun 5, 2009
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  13. i3akachan

    i3akachan i love my new prius:)

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    Great! I was worried, because there are some cars that I cannot drive without sitting on a pillow (for example, my mom's Mercury Villager), some cars that fit perfectly if I adjust it so that it's ALL the way up and ALL the way forward (for example, my old Jetta 2001), and some cars that I could fit comfortably in without adjusting the seat to the extremes (for example, my friend's Lexus RX300). You never know...

    Thank you!! I'm so excited... my car is due this weekend:)
     
    #13 i3akachan, Jun 5, 2009
  14. Steve Cebu

    Steve Cebu New Member

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    Glad I could help :D by all means try it yourself first. But my wife jacked the seat up to the moon!
    I'd be afraid of falling over if I was that high up. :eek:
    I really had to severely lower it to drive it comfortably. I think you'll be happy with it. Please post how you like it when you get it. I don't have the fancy lumbar support but this seat just fits me like a glove.
     
    #14 Steve Cebu, Jun 5, 2009
  15. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    It isn't a challenge, it's a gift.
     
    #15 patsparks, Jun 5, 2009
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  16. FLP

    FLP Junior Member

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    I just came from a test drive and am happy to report that my 5'1" self was very comfortable with the height adjustment and front visibility of the new Prius. Yeah! I thought the seat was quite comfortable. Having a place to put your purse is genius. Now the only problem is, I have to decide which package I want and dealer I want to work with. Test drove a blue ribbon metallic IV bisque interior without navigation. I liked the leather seats, but want a gray interior. Decisions....
     
    #16 FLP, Jun 7, 2009
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  17. ggood

    ggood Senior Member

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    Check out this post for a video showing one vertically challenged woman who adjusted the seat into a position that suited her:

    http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii...49-houston-meet-up-see-2010-v.html#post868292

    She didn't adjust the tilting, telescoping steering wheel, because she was happy with the default position. The video doesn't show it being used, but the big handle on the drivers seat is the manual height adjustment.
     
    #17 ggood, Jun 7, 2009
  18. PriusRos

    PriusRos A Fairly Senior Member - 2016 Prius Owner

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    I found that the GM cars are the worst for me, although the more recent models have been better. Even if I could get the seat close enough to reach the pedals, it seemed that the pedals were placed about half an inch or more higher or something. I couldn't place my size 5 1/2 foot comfortably on the gas pedal --if I rested my heel on the floor, the pedal would be under my toes instead of the ball of my foot. Very awkward. I've often had to drive a GM car because many rental agencies only provide GM cars.

     
    #18 PriusRos, Jun 7, 2009
  19. i3akachan

    i3akachan i love my new prius:)

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    i just got my prius ii blizzard pearl misty grey today!:)

    i feel super comfortable sitting in it and driving... no problem for short ppl!
     
    #19 i3akachan, Jun 9, 2009
  20. Steve Cebu

    Steve Cebu New Member

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    Congratulations! :cheer2:
     
    #20 Steve Cebu, Jun 9, 2009
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