SEATS??? Options?

[OZ132]

We rented a 2008 Prius over the weekend to do a real and thorough test drive. We took a 400 mile trip to check out the car. The mileage was great!!!
Everything was fine, and we would be looking to buy a Prius, except the driver seat position is awkward--for the wife and I, anyway.
We are in our 60's. She is 5'9", I am 5"10" of average weight (I am 200lbs). We didn't think we were unusually shaped, and are perfectly comfortable driving most cars.
In the Prius, the driver's seat/steering wheel position leaves us fatigued after a 100 mile drive. I felt like my arms neede to be about 4" longer (sort of like a monkey's) to holdthe steering wheel comfortably, with the seat adjusted for my legs. We tried all adjustments/combinations. The seats are also hard. We even tried a cushion. Nothing helps.
Yet, there are no options?
And no one is even discussing this????
So, it's just us????
Perhaps we are weird, but for the wife, at least, this could be a deal breaker.
A $30,000 car with uncomfortable seats?
Someone is missing the boat, here.
Of course, who are we to complain, since you can't even find a Prius to buy around here anyway.
Maybe we should wait for the 2010's????

[freshmtt]

Well, the Prius seats are just fine for me, I am 5' 9 and I have no problem in the seats, they are very comfortable to me and I like them very much. I just wish the door panel would have a little more wide space to rest my arm when I am driving. But the seats are wonderful, I love them.

There are many posts about the seats and comfort, if you do a search here you will find a lot of people posting about the seats, either people love them or hate them. I happen to love them. They sold me the car. If I would have sat in them and felt like I was sitting on the street I would have passed on buying this car. I came down from an SUV and liked that higher up feeling. So in the Prius I loved the very firm seats and that higher up feeling.

The Prius is not a $30,000 car, base price is only $21,000 it is the added options that bump up the car to be almost 30 grand. This is in my opinion an eco friendly car and not a luxury car. I think if you wanted a bit more luxury with the seats you might be more comfortable in a Toyota Camry Hybrid, and their base price Camry from what I remember is just at $30,000.

You might want to test drive a Toyota Camry Hybrid, you might like that better. I just would never spend $30 grand on a car, as I don't want to pay that much for a car.

[qbee42]

If you think no one is discussing options, then you didn't do much reading on this forum. There have been hundreds of posts relating to seat position, back supports, replacement seats, and the like. A quick search will give you hours worth of reading.

As for the driver's seat, I am 5' 7", with a 30" inseam, so my legs are fairly long for a short man. I had to fiddle a bit before I found a good seat setting. I use the seat back all of the way up, in the vertical position. This gets my arms closer to the steering wheel. I then set the seat a touch more forward than I would in a normal car, getting my arms a bit closer.

Most of my initial discomfort came from over controlling. The Prius takes a very light touch on the wheel, as the steering has almost zero dead band. Use a very light grip and relax. That will help a lot.

I got this from a quick search for "seats": Results 1 - 10 of about 6,360 from priuschat.com for "seats"

Tom

[OZ132]

Thanks Tom and Michelle,
I just now registered for this forum, so I haven't been doing much reading yet. How can I do a search for more info on seats? When I typed in "seat" it gor me nowhere...
Thanks.
Mike

[gdbelden]

I just returned from a 950 round trip on the Highway (Wash DC to NW Ohio)

No problems with the seats beyond any stiffness that you can get in any car.

5'11'
30' inseam
long arms / short legs

[greylar]

There are a couple of posts saying that the adjustable seats are available in other markets (europe). But as of yet no one has suggested a way to get one. I think there would be a huge market for someone to import them. At any rate here are my suggestions.
-Foam pad under legs for tall people.
-Foam pad for lumbar support for people with bad backs.
-And my personal favorite for those without enough leg room, take off your shoes. I do this on long trips and it gains an extra inch or so and gives me just enough room that I can fully extend my legs... (i am 6'3")

It is sad that we have to take such measure with an otherwise great car.
G

[qbee42]

Originally Posted by OZ132

Thanks Tom and Michelle,
I just now registered for this forum, so I haven't been doing much reading yet. How can I do a search for more info on seats? When I typed in "seat" it gor me nowhere...
Thanks.
Mike

Try using advanced google search for just priuschat.com. It works a lot better than the internal search function.

Tom

[OZ132]

Michelle, what did your Prius cost?
All the two year old Prius's now on Carmax are priced above $27K. Not so good!
Search results at carmax.com
$10K still buys quite a bit of gas....

[greylar]

Originally Posted by OZ132

All the two year old Prius's now on Carmax are priced above $27K. Not so good!

Hehe check out this one. 2005 for 24k
CarMax Car Detail

[Jiipa]

I'm 5'9" and my wife is 5'1" and neither of us has any problems with the seat. If the seats are that uncomfotable for you, then the Prius (at least the Gen II) is not for you. You will only get more and more disgusted with it until you finally sell it for something else.