Long distance drivers/ cloth seats/ your experience?

The first thing I did when I got my vehicle home was apply Scotch Guard to all the seats and fabric. Spills have not been an issue although none (so far) have been dark liquids like coffee.

I've driven a few 16 hour non-stop (except gas, food and potty breaks) road trips without any lumbar issues. These seats are not the most comfortable I've had but they're also not the worst either.

I remember seeing some pillow type lumbar pads that you can add for a cheap solution if you have trouble.

 

We took our III with cloth seats on a 5500 mile drive last summer, from Arizona to Canada and back. The seats were more comfortable than I thought they would be. I bought a lumbar pillow, but didn't need it. It spend most of the ride in the backseat, taking up space.
Our previous car was an Avalon, and I would be lying if I suggested that the Prius was as comfortable a car. But it wasn't far off.

Coffee spill? Clean it up! A good portable steam cleaner should do the job.

 

My G3 is a company car, but I'm still pretty anal about keeping it clean. I haven't spilled any coffee on the seats (yet) but if this were my personal car, I would run (not walk) to the nearest store that sells a seat cover that fits. My interior is grey, which is juuuust light enough to worry about in the stain department.
The seats themselves are horrible as far as long distance driving is concerned. Completely sub-par for a $25,000 car! Oh well.....part of the price for being green I guess.
I did immediately go out and get a lumbar support gizzywhopper for "my" car even though I usually put less than 200 miles a day when I drive from office to office for my job.
There are endless varieties of seat gadgets out there, so you shouldn't have any trouble finding something to help you out for both protection and more comfort.

Good Luck!

 

Mark, My cloth seats are comfortable. I've already spilled coffee, coke and other stuff and so far, the cloth wipes clean; no stains. Maybe the material is coated, but I don't know. I wish I had more lumbar support rather than height adjuster, but I'm comfortable with my seat. After a couple 8 hour trips, my back and legs were pretty good.

 

I love my Prius but if I lied here I could live with myself in the morning. The Lumbar support on my 2010 Prius II is crap and by crap I mean it's really pathetic. Way, way worse than on my 2004 mazda mpv, way worse than on my 2000 Maxima. I'm surprised that lumbar support can be so bad in a 2010 vehicle. It's hardly existent. For a long drive I'll typically shove things back there like a shirt or something else.

Obviously, it's working for some people, but I don't even think it's adjustable on our cars is it? Anyway, I can't remember, maybe it is to some tiny degree (I don't think it is) but for me it's seriously insufficient.

Probably costs all of $10-20 to make a truly adjustable lumbar setup in the seat that goes out far. Oh well.

 

I'm still baffled by the comment of lack of lumbar support on the g3's, my previous car had adjustable lumbar and I had it cranked to max. My '11 III Pri's cloth seats have, to me, so much lumbar pushing on my lower back it's almost uncomfortable. I still notice it after two months.

The seat bottom is fairly firm and non-forgiving, which affects each person differently depending on our body design factor. I'm tall and recline the seat a bit more than average also.

Would-be buyers definitely need to sit in the seat for ten minutes and fiddle with all the adjustments.

 

Maybe a lack of padding. But actual physical distance projected out is low. I think the support is extremely substandard.

 

I've spent 5+ hours traveling one way and I thought the seats were very comfortable and no problems with the lumbar support. I do however believe the seats could be improved. I'm sure due to different body shapes some people will just fit better than others.

 

I am very glad I got the leather seats/steering wheel and lumbar support. Much much better than the cloth seats on my 2005 Prius. I just got back from a 2 day drive to Florida and had no back pain at all.

 

First, I have not had any issues cleaning the few minor spills that I have had on the cloth seats.

Second, I have made several 4 hour trips and never had any issues with the seats. The seats are as comfortable as any other car that I have owned. I will have to say that I do not have any back issues either.

 

I've put 5000 miles on the car in 3 months. From my perspective as an old, fat man the seats are as comfortable as any I've ever owned. Several long trips with zero back pain. The Highlander we traded for the Prius always gave me back pain, but none with the much cheaper Prius. Can't address spills; none so far.