2010 Prius - needs fully adjustable driver's seat

[cycledrum]

Request - For all the people who believe the 2010 should get this feature, or anything else you'd like to see (i.e. telescopic steering wheel),

please go to Toyota Cars, Trucks, SUVs & Accessories > contact us (bottom of page) > email toyota (2nd from bottom. > follow steps. 5th post here is part of response I got from them.
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Wanted - 2010 Prius - 6-way adjustable driver's seat with height adjuster, can be manual, doesn't have to be power (More substantial seat bottom would be nice too).

What is 6-way seat?

* slides back and forth
* seatback reclines
* seat bottom raises and lowers <<<< No US model Prius from 2004-08 has this

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One can raise sitting height with a cushion, but us tall folks can't lower unless altering the seat to some other fixed position.

Did you folks know the current Prius in Japan, Europe and Australia has the mechanical handle to raise/lower driver's seat?

My 1988 Toyota pickup has a seat bottom tilt adjuster, same with my sister's 1993 Camry. The current Yaris, Corolla, Matrix, Rav4, Camry, etc .... Honda Civic Hybrid, have this simple device.

Apparently US Toyota design / marketing decided the US doesn't want this feature on any Prius. Why? Could cost be an issue? Would you pay $25, $50 more for a height adjustable seat in your Prius?

It is entirely possible they will or have already made the same mistake on the 2010 Prius, and the choice will be a 4-way only adjustable seat on all models for the next 6 years or so.

Does anyone here have pull, clout with Toyota corporate US / Japan wherever to verify the 2010 model will indeed get the 6-way adjustable driver's seat?

[qbee42]

None of the eight cars I have owned had adjustable height seats. I must have picked the wrong brands or models.

Tom

[cycledrum]

In the driver's seat department, the Prius is right up there with a Yaris ...

Yaris liftback - 4 way adj.
Prius, any model - 4 way adj.
Tacoma reg cab - 4 way adj.

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4Runner base - 8-way manual
Avalon - power seat
Camry base - 6-way w/ height adjust
Corolla, base model - 6 way w/ height adjust
FJ Cruiser, base - 8-way
Highlander - doesn't say, but of course has height adjust
Land Cruiser - 10-way
Matrix, base - 6-way w/ height adjust
Rav4 base - 6-way w/ height adjust
Sequoia - 8-way
Sienna, base 6-way
Tundra, base 8-way adjustable

Yaris sedan - 6-way adjustable driver's seat w/ height adjuster

Ooops, my bad, Prius seating not up there with a Yaris, only in liftback version

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When person is short, can sit on a chair pad to raise up.

When much over 6ft, nothing one can do except recline the seat back to get lower sight line in a Prius, but that can feel crappy after a while.

2008 Toyota Prius brochure p11, interior: "WE THOUGHT OF EVERYTHING. FOR EVERYTHING."

Not. Hopefully you do in the 2010 model.

[sorka]

Originally Posted by qbee42

None of the eight cars I have owned had adjustable height seats. I must have picked the wrong brands or models.

Tom

All of the cars I've ever owned had adjustable seat heights:

1) '91 Mazda 626
2) '93 300ZX Twin Turbo
3) '01 C5 Corvette
4) '92 300ZX Twin Turbo.
5) '95 Lexus SC400.
6) '04 Infiniti FX45
7) '04 Dodge Durango Limited HEMI(Hatin that Hemi currently .

I think cars without adjustable seat heights are very rare. I find it hard to believe you had 8 cars with fixed seat heights.

[cycledrum]

email response from Toyota. Not an auto, canned response since they mentione I've contacted several times.

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....
Thank you for contacting Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

Your feedback to Toyota is greatly appreciated, and we appreciate your enthusiasm!

According to our records, you contacted us several times by telephone as well as twice now by email regarding your suggestion about the Prius seats and steering wheel, and we're always glad to acknowlege your suggestions and to let you know we've documented them here at Toyota.

We're glad to get your feedback because the only way we know what our customers are looking for is when they tell us, as you have. We try to scope our customers out in advance, by researching the market, conducting interviews, surveys, focus groups and doing our homework, but there's no better source than a Toyota owner or intender who takes the time to tell us like it is.

We can't guarantee that your suggestions would be implemented, but if they were, they would be driven by just this sort of honest communication. Your comments have been made available to Toyota management.

Again, please accept our sincere thanks for frequently taking the time and trouble to let us know your thoughts.
.....

[cycledrum]

Look at what this person went through just to get a height adjustable seat in his Prius.

Finally, I've got a height adjustable driver's seat

Click here, scroll down for photo of Japanese Prius with seat height adjuster handle -

http://us.f13.yahoofs.com/bc/43f411e...I9heIBPD88DEuj

[Scruge]

They probably don't offer in States because air bag can't handle weight of lard assed americans..

[Jack Austin]

We're scheduled to pick up our "new" '08 Prius in an hour and a half. (Which we ordered in May without the opportunity to actually drive a demo Prius first due to their huge demand in the SF Bay Area...they're all presently being sold BEFORE they even get trucked in!) It will have everything just as we wanted it...except, EXCEPT that now I learn that we'll likely have to refuse it because of the driver's seat/steering column issue. The problem for both my wife and I is likely to be that to get a reasonably comfortable position close enough to the steering wheel we'll be too close to the pedals, so the driver's right leg has to lay over to the right which eventually causes continuing pain in that hip. I'm 5'9" (about average) and I've had to stop driving my wife's '03 Camry for this very problem. In the last few months she's started having the same problem with her commute to the City or any extended driving. I'm VERY disappointed! Thought maybe the '09 release in February could be a fall-back solution, just a little more patience....now that sounds unpromising as well. Wonderful car! Very foolish and frustrating shortcoming! P.S.: I LOVE my old gas guzzler's full range electric seat!

[cycledrum]

Sorry to hear about your troubles with ergonomics Jack.

If you or anyone else would please take a few minutes to email Toyota (as mentioned in 1st post), voice your concerns, tell 'em what you want. The squeaky wheel gets the grease and I like the idea of trying to make a difference.

[OZ132]

Sooooo my wife and I are not the only ones!!! It's not actually the height, so much, for me. With seat at correct position for legs, my arms need to be about 4" longer to hold steering wheel comfortably--a monkey would do nicely...
I would say, the seat was designed--ergonomically--for a monkey!!!