Headrest / seat adjustment suggestions for shorter drivers?

bookrats · 06-26-2005, 02:32 PM

My partner, who is about 5'3", drove around the University of Washington in my Prius this morning (with me sitting in the passenger seat, trying to look nonchalant. However, she drives better than I do, so no worries.)

She's of a mind to replace her nearly 20 year-old Toyota Tercel with a Prius; a completely loyal Toyota customer who thinks the Prius is a great car. (I concur.

)

However, she found the seat uncomfortable for her (as most seats are for someone of her height); and the headrest very uncomfortable. Turning it around 180 degrees kept in from banging into her head, but didn't offer much support.

Any recommendations / suggestions from those of you who have had to deal with similar problems? There's another [url=http://priuschat.com/forums/better-headrests-plus-monitors-available-vt6475.html]thread in PriusChat regarding headrests (some research from naterprius shows that a Sienna headrest will fit fine in a Prius); but I wondered if there were other/better things that could be done.

Thank you in advance!

GreenLady · 06-26-2005, 02:43 PM

Good question. I'm 5'3" as well, so I'm interested in seeing what others have come up with. She may try sitting on a pad. I really wish the Prius had height adjustable seats. Both my and my husband's Camrys have the height adjustment, and to me it is a Godsend.

I carpool with a coworker who has a Jeep, and I find her seats unbearably uncomfortable. I have a neck and backache for days after riding in her car due to the headrest forcing my neck in an unnatural position.

I really hope there is a good fix for this in the Prius. Any word for height adjustable seats in the 2006 Prius?

NuShrike · 06-26-2005, 03:03 PM

I'm 5'7" and I always flip the headrest around. It just gives me neck-pain in 5 minutes if I always have to lean my head forward, and esp in long traffic drives.

For the seat, I try to set it as near vertical with it leaning just slightly back a few notches. This is the "most" comfortable I can find without leaning forward again, and giving some lumbar support because the seating position encourages me to lean back.

Tyeise · 06-27-2005, 10:34 PM

I'm also interested in the answer to this question, because at 5' 2.5", sitting upright, I find the headrest pushes my head forward also.

I also find that even with the seatbelt set for the lowest setting (on the side) that it tends to come up uncomfortably high on my neck/under my arm. I put it down, but it keeps riding up.

Jonathan · 06-28-2005, 09:14 PM

I recently found out the Toyota Matrix uses the same part # for it's seat. The upper model Matrix has height adj. The brochure shows it only in black. Might be worth further research.

06-26-2005, 02:32 PM	#1
bookrats Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 2,843 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Headrest / seat adjustment suggestions for shorter drivers? My partner, who is about 5'3", drove around the University of Washington in my Prius this morning (with me sitting in the passenger seat, trying to look nonchalant. However, she drives better than I do, so no worries.) She's of a mind to replace her nearly 20 year-old Toyota Tercel with a Prius; a completely loyal Toyota customer who thinks the Prius is a great car. (I concur. ) However, she found the seat uncomfortable for her (as most seats are for someone of her height); and the headrest very uncomfortable. Turning it around 180 degrees kept in from banging into her head, but didn't offer much support. Any recommendations / suggestions from those of you who have had to deal with similar problems? There's another [url=http://priuschat.com/forums/better-headrests-plus-monitors-available-vt6475.html]thread in PriusChat regarding headrests (some research from naterprius shows that a Sienna headrest will fit fine in a Prius); but I wondered if there were other/better things that could be done. Thank you in advance! __________________ "Have you ever noticed.... Anybody going slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?" -- George Carlin</span> Jeff Meyer <span style=\'color:green\'>Tideland '05 AM Package, 12 November 2004

06-26-2005, 02:43 PM	#2
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	Good question. I'm 5'3" as well, so I'm interested in seeing what others have come up with. She may try sitting on a pad. I really wish the Prius had height adjustable seats. Both my and my husband's Camrys have the height adjustment, and to me it is a Godsend. I carpool with a coworker who has a Jeep, and I find her seats unbearably uncomfortable. I have a neck and backache for days after riding in her car due to the headrest forcing my neck in an unnatural position. I really hope there is a good fix for this in the Prius. Any word for height adjustable seats in the 2006 Prius? __________________ Elly

06-26-2005, 03:03 PM	#3
NuShrike my other Mobile Suit is a ... Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 1,367 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Headrest / seat adjustment suggestions for shorter drive I'm 5'7" and I always flip the headrest around. It just gives me neck-pain in 5 minutes if I always have to lean my head forward, and esp in long traffic drives. For the seat, I try to set it as near vertical with it leaning just slightly back a few notches. This is the "most" comfortable I can find without leaning forward again, and giving some lumbar support because the seating position encourages me to lean back.

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06-27-2005, 10:34 PM	#4
Tyeise Join Date: May 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 22 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I'm also interested in the answer to this question, because at 5' 2.5", sitting upright, I find the headrest pushes my head forward also. I also find that even with the seatbelt set for the lowest setting (on the side) that it tends to come up uncomfortably high on my neck/under my arm. I put it down, but it keeps riding up.

06-28-2005, 09:14 PM	#5
Jonathan Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 74 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I recently found out the Toyota Matrix uses the same part # for it's seat. The upper model Matrix has height adj. The brochure shows it only in black. Might be worth further research.