Seat Height -- Obvious flaw in otherwise great car

nyprius · 01-22-2008, 02:17 PM

I love my Prius. But nothing is perfect. One large and annoying flaw is the seat height and positioning. I'm 6'1". The first time I got in my new Prius, I wanted to lower the seat and push it back more. After a while, I found a viable solution for moving the seat back -- I had a retrofitter who normally does this work weld steel to the front of the seat rails. This shifted the range of motion back three inches. Now I drive the car with the seat 2" farther back than a non-modified Prius can go. It's much more comfortable.

However, in spite of all the discussion about lack of seat height adjustment on PC, no viable alternative has been offered, at least for me. Someone discussed taking their seat apart and adding Corolla components. But I'm not a mechanic, so I can't do that. Others put in Recaro seats. But they are expensive and you lose the side air bags.

For some reason, US Toyota decided not to put seat height adjustment in the Prius. They have it in Europe and Japan. But not here. All Corolla models have it. The two higher end Yaris's have it. Only the low end Yaris does not have seat height adjustment. Does US Toyota think Prius buyers are equivalent to low end Yaris buyers? Movies stars and billionaires drive Prius's, because in some ways it's the coolest car on the planet.

I have the highest option package offered on the 05 Prius. My car has every option. But no height adjustment. It's like putting Yugo seats in a Mercedes. I cannot understand why US Toyota made this decision.

The Prius driver's seat position seems to be set for someone that's about 5'6". I like to have the seat back all the way up (rather than reclining back) when driving. As a result, the sloping down roof in front and back cuts off my vision out of the front and rear windshields. I often must crouch down to see what color traffic lights are. And I must look out the side mirror if I want to see more than a couple hundred feet behind my car.

Has anyone ordered the Prius driver's seat from Europe or Japan and installed it in their US Prius? Does anyone have any other practical suggestions for lowering the Prius driver's seat?

drees · 01-22-2008, 06:34 PM

Not me, but I also wish I could lower the seat by an inch or two and tilt the seat bottom a more from front to back. As it is now I feel a bit too much pressure on my buttocks and feel like I'm falling a bit forward out of the seat. I get used to it after a while, but it's a bit annoying as the car would otherwise be much better ergonomically!

hefaust · 01-22-2008, 11:29 PM

I had the same problem with the seat making me feel as if I were falling forward. I solved the problem by taking 14 5/8" washers and shimming out the front bolts and under-rails of the seat. The process took me all of 15 minutes and now the seat is very comfortable.

bestmapman · 01-22-2008, 11:40 PM

Here is an article from solar powered who added an adjustable seat.

nitschke65 · 01-22-2008, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bestmapman

Here is an article from solar powered who added an adjustable seat.

I'm a pretty handy guy, but after reading that article, I wonder if it wouldn't be easier to have three inches removed from my spine.

clintd555 · 01-23-2008, 05:56 PM

Ditto on the seat height adjuster. Huge over site by Toyota. Maybe the '09 will have one??

Earthling · 01-23-2008, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hefaust

I had the same problem with the seat making me feel as if I were falling forward. I solved the problem by taking 14 5/8" washers and shimming out the front bolts and under-rails of the seat. The process took me all of 15 minutes and now the seat is very comfortable.

Did you need longer bolts to do that? There is a local fastener shop that could supply me with longer, high-strength bolts if needed.

Harry

GreenLady · 01-23-2008, 06:56 PM

Well, I happen to love the seat height. (I'm 5'3"

)

Seriously though, I agree that the lack of seat adjustments is a big downside. I love every thing about my Prius, but I wish the driver's seat was power adjustable.

westex39 · 01-23-2008, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hefaust

I had the same problem with the seat making me feel as if I were falling forward. I solved the problem by taking 14 5/8" washers and shimming out the front bolts and under-rails of the seat. The process took me all of 15 minutes and now the seat is very comfortable.

I tried to do that too. Once I raised the seat up to install the washers the bolt hole was so misaligned I couldn't get it started. Can you please explain how you did this.

thanks,

Wextex

kocho · 01-24-2008, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by westex39

I tried to do that too. Once I raised the seat up to install the washers the bolt hole was so misaligned I couldn't get it started. Can you please explain how you did this.

thanks,

Wextex

Please, do - also wouldnt that mean that the rear bolts will be twisted back or the rail curved a little (less likely)? I thought about that but I also thought that the strength of the seat fasteners might be adversely affected. I suppose I need to take a look and probably even take the seat out to check that.

I'm 6'4" and the seat is both short and too much to the front. In my Camry I have room on the left behind the dashboard to fully stretch my left leg should I whish to do that (behid the foot support) - nothing like the cramped space on the left in the Prius. And my right leg is not up at the knee nearly as much as it is in the '02 Prius....

If anyone has fitted a Corola seat or another "stock" seat - please share with details. I'd be interested to learn more.

01-22-2008, 02:17 PM	#1
nyprius Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Saratoga Springs, NY Posts: 340 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 2 Times in 1 Post TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Seat Height -- Obvious flaw in otherwise great car I love my Prius. But nothing is perfect. One large and annoying flaw is the seat height and positioning. I'm 6'1". The first time I got in my new Prius, I wanted to lower the seat and push it back more. After a while, I found a viable solution for moving the seat back -- I had a retrofitter who normally does this work weld steel to the front of the seat rails. This shifted the range of motion back three inches. Now I drive the car with the seat 2" farther back than a non-modified Prius can go. It's much more comfortable. However, in spite of all the discussion about lack of seat height adjustment on PC, no viable alternative has been offered, at least for me. Someone discussed taking their seat apart and adding Corolla components. But I'm not a mechanic, so I can't do that. Others put in Recaro seats. But they are expensive and you lose the side air bags. For some reason, US Toyota decided not to put seat height adjustment in the Prius. They have it in Europe and Japan. But not here. All Corolla models have it. The two higher end Yaris's have it. Only the low end Yaris does not have seat height adjustment. Does US Toyota think Prius buyers are equivalent to low end Yaris buyers? Movies stars and billionaires drive Prius's, because in some ways it's the coolest car on the planet. I have the highest option package offered on the 05 Prius. My car has every option. But no height adjustment. It's like putting Yugo seats in a Mercedes. I cannot understand why US Toyota made this decision. The Prius driver's seat position seems to be set for someone that's about 5'6". I like to have the seat back all the way up (rather than reclining back) when driving. As a result, the sloping down roof in front and back cuts off my vision out of the front and rear windshields. I often must crouch down to see what color traffic lights are. And I must look out the side mirror if I want to see more than a couple hundred feet behind my car. Has anyone ordered the Prius driver's seat from Europe or Japan and installed it in their US Prius? Does anyone have any other practical suggestions for lowering the Prius driver's seat? Last edited by nyprius; 01-22-2008 at 02:26 PM.

01-22-2008, 06:34 PM	#2
drees Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 375 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #2 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Seat Height -- Obvious flaw in otherwise great car Not me, but I also wish I could lower the seat by an inch or two and tilt the seat bottom a more from front to back. As it is now I feel a bit too much pressure on my buttocks and feel like I'm falling a bit forward out of the seat. I get used to it after a while, but it's a bit annoying as the car would otherwise be much better ergonomically!

01-22-2008, 11:29 PM	#3
hefaust Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 32 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #2 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 1	Re: Seat Height -- Obvious flaw in otherwise great car I had the same problem with the seat making me feel as if I were falling forward. I solved the problem by taking 14 5/8" washers and shimming out the front bolts and under-rails of the seat. The process took me all of 15 minutes and now the seat is very comfortable.

01-22-2008, 11:40 PM	#4
bestmapman "Dream" Prius Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Cincinnati, KY Posts: 713 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #2 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 2	Re: Seat Height -- Obvious flaw in otherwise great car Here is an article from solar powered who added an adjustable seat.

01-23-2008, 05:56 PM	#6
clintd555 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 251 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 1	Re: Seat Height -- Obvious flaw in otherwise great car Ditto on the seat height adjuster. Huge over site by Toyota. Maybe the '09 will have one??

01-23-2008, 06:56 PM	#8
GreenLady Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 162 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: Base Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Seat Height -- Obvious flaw in otherwise great car Well, I happen to love the seat height. (I'm 5'3" ) Seriously though, I agree that the lack of seat adjustments is a big downside. I love every thing about my Prius, but I wish the driver's seat was power adjustable.