Just purchased a mesh seat lumbar support at the dealership already felt better on the ride home. It aligned me very well. I noticed amazon carries it, it has high ratings and very inexpensive. Like 12.99.
"Anyone having back, shoulder or neck problems?" Yes but it is not from my Prius. Had them problems for years. I will look into the item though. Can't quite fall asleep on the way into work. p.s. is this similar to what you got? support
Yes I can't say it is from the Prius, but it sure hurts more when I'm driving. My shoulders and my neck were forward while driving. With the support my back straightens. Sure had a lot of pain in my shoulder.
The dealership had them in different colors. My dealer had about six different ones, temperpedic, lamb wools etc., but the mesh was a little longer so it went from the bottom back to the middle back. Amazon calls it angel sales posture pro lumbar support.
I do when I drive my Honda CRV more than two hours but not the Prius. I love the "whimpy" non-lumbar seats in my III. Not sure why they are the most comfortable seats ever - I am 5'8 and they just "fit." I usually like really stiff seats (cushioned of course) and have always had lumbar (were very comfortable in my Avalon before CRV). So if you are considering buying a III instead of IV or V, don't assume you "have to have" the lumbar support and test drive both seats.
For future buyers that find this thread: This back problem might be another reason to consider a IV or a V that have lumbar support besides the other extra options that one gets over the II or III. I Posted this here: http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii-2010-prius-main-forum/69280-good-bad-ugly.html#post963502 5'11" and I love the new seats in the 2010's Prius compared to the 2005 Prius that I had (not that I hated it), on some trips on my 1 1/2-2+hour drive from southern MA to southern NH (depending where I am going), I had to put a cushion in the bottom back drivers seat, then sit on that so back pain would not be present, on the 2010's I no longer need it at all plenty of adjustment! (that is one reason we now own 2 2010 Prius's). On my 2009 v6 XLE w/nav Camry loaded (that I traded in for the Prius V w/AT), seats were a little (very little) more comfortable, but my right knee would hit the center console and cause pain in my knee, had to use a cushion in between my knee and center console all the time while driving, not with the 2010 prius at all I have a IV base (wife's) and V w/AT so both have leather and lumbar support. If this means anything to you I (personal opinion, no offense people) definitely love the leather better than the cloth, hands down (both of us do). Best of luck Don
I agree. It's not that the seat on the III doesn't have lumbar support; it's that it's not adjustable. That said, I can see where some folks might want more. For me, the seat is extremely comfortable, including the amount of lumbar support and the degree of firmness, and I wouldn't change a thing. But then, I've written in earlier about how much I like the fabric on the seats (still do) and others have written how much they prefer leather. In many cars I'm uncomfortable in driver's (and passenger's) seats, so I'm just happy that these have worked out so well. It's hard to tell when you test-drive a car, but once I'd taken a long drive, I was really pleased.
I'm not sure if a car manufacturer can provide a seat with as much lumbar support as this add on does. I tried the leather and the lumbar support seem to have a little roll in the seat. This roll helps but the add on supports more of the back which allows it to straighten more. The add on looks a little odd but everyone probally has different needs. I had extreme pain. I only had the add on for one night. But the Amazon reviews were very good.
I just want to caution everyone against installing anything that wraps around the seatback (either back supports like this or seat covers) as they will interfere with the deployment of the side-impact air bags.
My wife and I just returned from a 9 day road trip in our new Prius V. On the last day we travelled 900 miles in 14.5 hours with only one stop for food and gas. We were a little stiff by the time we got home, but our backs were in good shape. She is 5'2" and I am 6'1". We both have had surgery for a ruptured disk. Not bad. In fact my back feels worse after 1 hour in the Chevy Impala I am currently renting.
The rigid mesh lumbar supports looked good, and I almost ordered some, but I had forgotten about the in-seat side airbag. Does anybody know what seam rips open and just what clearance this side airbag needs to come out (deploy) properly? Thanks, Gary
I would think you can put the back strap real low between where the seat reclines, this shouldn't be in the way of side air bags? Some one else's comment about armrests makes me think. My arm rests on center console because there is no armrest. So the arm is a little lower I wonder if this helps to cause pain.
How about a link to the one Amazon. I just had a double spinal fusion last Monday and drive or ride for a month but would like to have a bit more lumbar support.
Try seach "Angel sales posture pro lumbar support" it looks similar to the one I bought called magic lumbar support. Amazon has great reviews.
Thanks for name. Here's a link to what believe to be the one you got: http://tinyurl.com/y93etj5 It's cheap enough.
