Your Height and the Driver's Seat

[loyalty4life]

A couple of things, first.

I've only been a lurker for a few days with this forum, but it's really, really a great wealth of information that many appreciate. That's neat. Plus, I really like vBulletin, the forum system that makes all this possible. Combine both the Prius and vBulletin, and you have a great combo.

Secondly, I know that this topic has already been discussed. But I am asking that you would do a couple of things at the beginning of your posts:

• Mention how tall you are.
• Male or female
• Do you have any discomfort sitting in your seat for 5 minutes? 30? 2 hours?
• Are you able to see the trafflic lights when stopped at one without bending over?

If you can go by the criteria set out, I'd really appreciate it. It would help me (and others) very much in determining if the seat will be a problem or not.

I did a test drive of a Prius today, and was very happy with it. Ironically enough, I woke up with a back ache today, and it was difficult to stretch at first when waking up. I'm 21... maybe I'm in trouble.

Anywho, when I was done with my 15 minute trip, my lower back did seem to hurt a bit. But honestly, I won't credit that to the car. Even now, my back is still sore and hurts a bit. Don't ask why though... Have no clue.

So if you're able to make a small list with what I mentioned above, and your brief experience with driving in the seat, I'd be much obliged.

Thanks.

[928Quest]

I am 5'11". Drove a rental 1000 miles over a three day weekend, no problems. Have own mine for 1 week and drive 30 minutes to work and 30 minutes from work every day, no problem. Not as comfortable as my other car and truck, but good enough.

[loyalty4life]

Thanks for the post.

I am 6'3, 215 lbs. I hope you can understand my thoughts of wanting a car that'll work for me.

[Bill Merchant]

Welcome to PriusChat, loyalty4life! I'm 5'7" and can drive all day with no problems. From reading other posts about tall drivers, something else you might ask for is how people are tall. Some guys with long legs and a medium torso are comfortable in the seat, if only they could get it back far enough. Some, who are longer in their torso, have problems seeing the stop light. And others just don't fit no way! Even people with moderate stature may need lumbar back support, there's a current thread on a mesh back support now.

The ultimate test is your seat in the seat. I always urge people to rent a Prius for a weekend and do some real driving to know it it's a good match. A test drive of a few miles isn't enough. A few bucks, even a few hundred bucks, is cheaper that the mistake of buying a car you can't comfortably drive.

[theblackbag]

5'10" with a 29 inseam (long torso).

I have the seat all the way down and back. And I could drive it till the cows come home without any discomfort (I do 3-4 hours once a month or so). I could have it forward of it's current position but this would probably reduce the comfort levels a little.

Not sure how much this helps as I beleive the US spec does not have a height adjustment (or did I imagine reading that????)

[JimboK]

Originally Posted by loyalty4life

• Mention how tall you are.
• Male or female
• Do you have any discomfort sitting in your seat for 5 minutes? 30? 2 hours?
• Are you able to see the trafflic lights when stopped at one without bending over?

1) 6'4"
2) Male
3) No
4) Usually

Like Bill says, we tall folks are proportioned differently. My torso is a little shorter and legs a little longer (34" inseam) than some. I'd like the seat to go back a little further, but what I'd like more is an adjustment on the seat bottom: a height adjustment at a minimum, angle adjustment even better. My biggest complaint with seating comfort (though I wouldn't say it rises to the level of "discomfort") is lack of thigh support. I compensate for that with an Obus Forme seat.

Using that, I've made a trip of 2000 miles, about 400-500 miles/day, with few problems. First day on the road, I drove until my bladder or my stomach said "stop." My legs were a little stiff at the end of the day (hence, the desire for a little more leg room). On subsequent days I made a point of stopping to stretch my legs every hour or two, and I was fine.

[NaptownPrius]

Mention how tall you are.
Male or female
Do you have any discomfort sitting in your seat for 5 minutes? 30? 2 hours?
Are you able to see the trafflic lights when stopped at one without bending over?

5'11"
Male
No discomfort, but wish the seat was lower.
Tend to find myself wishing seat was lower at lights as I tend to hunch over to see them better if I'm close.

Wish I was lower in my seat by about an inch. Plenty of room ebtween my head and ceiling, just feel like I'm in a car with seat up all the way.

[ForTheGlory]

6'0"
Male
Generally no discomfort
I can always see the traffic lights

The only time I've ever felt "discomfort" was during my two 4.5-5 hour trips this past weekend. We only made one stop, and for a very short time, so that was just a long time to be sitting in one place. I was still fairly comfortable even after that much time in the seat, though.

My biggest complaint is the lack of a seat bottom angle adjustment. I feel like the seat is angled too much "nose-down", and I'd like to angle it up more.

[qbee42]

5' 7"
Male
No discomfort.
I can always see traffic lights.

I have a 30" inseam, so my proportions are fairly normal, and I have a small, athletic frame. As for driving discomfort, I have made several 11 hour trips in our Prius without any unusual discomfort. The seats aren't as good as the ones in our Aerostar van, but they aren't bad either. On long trips I always use cruise control when safely possible, and move my legs around to different positions. I rotate between three or four different grip positions on the wheel. If I don't do that my arms and legs get tired. I am a 51 year old rock climbing grandfather, if that makes any difference.

Tom

[lefat1]

i'm 6'-0..2 complaints i have are 1-if i put the seat and back all the way rearward, i cant reach the steering wheel without stretching my arms...wish the steering wheel would have been telescopic to solve this, 2-every toyota i've owned in the past and most other cars had the sun visor slide back to cover the area just where my eyes are when the sun is on the left and low in the sky