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Seat comfort and covers

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by davekro, Nov 1, 2013.

  1. davekro

    davekro Member

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    I have always had lower back issues an both our cars (before PIP) had a mechanical lumbar adjustment, which of course the the Prius does not (w/o leather/power/$$$$). Onmy test dives, I thought the seats felt confortable, but now after four 1 1/2 hour commutes, I find I feel much better putting a thin lumbar support behind my back. ALso, needing to cover the seats for dog and their hair protection, I am wondering if anyone has run across cover options that include a mild lumbar pad to incorporate under he new seat covers. I will look for material or a slim pad, baut was curious if this wheel had already been invented.

    Also, I now realize the Prius seats are much firmer than our other seats with cause me mild soreness on a long commute. I love the car, but am wondering how I may doctor the seats for increased comfort. The only 'cushy' that came to mind is lamb skin, but that would be a huge undoable esthetic clash. :eek:)

    Great forum/community. I really appreciate everyones generosity of spirit and info to this Prius newbie!
    Dave
    PS. Besides the center console cover being a highway from front to back for our two 10 lb dogs, one likes to perch on console as we drive. I am looking for ideas to recover that synthetic material surface. It looks like (maybe) the pieces of plastic on each side. might come off for an ueasy way to 'hold down' some new material over the top. The front and back might be tuffer.
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i use a small pillow when necessary, but be very careful before purchasing. many have been unhappy after the fact and sometimes there is no easy solution. all the best!(y)
     
  3. davekro

    davekro Member

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    I was thinking the same thing after mulling it over. I have a pretty flattened pillow I use in my 1990 Bronco, but even it felt too thick after a short while. It made me realize I only need a thin support pillow. I'll see what is out there. I definitely will just use it outside the covers we eventually get. My wife had a good thought that may cure two issues for me. Maybe I can find a one piece seat cusion/back cushion that softens the seat for my bum and the back portion adds a little lumbar support. More research ;)

    Head rests:
    I am 6'1" tall and the first thing I noticed, for me, is that the head rest held my head more forward than was my natural position. This actually felt like it moved my shoulders forward. I guess I am used to a bit arched back position to create lumbar curve. Anyway, I tried reversing the head rest and it was much better (for me). Being back from my head a bit might reduce the whiplash prevention slightly, but this way feels WAY better than no headrest! Maybe I'll see if there is a (Toyota or other )model of headrest that adjusts forward and back like my Hyundai XG350, that will fit and is close enough in color/material. Maybe at a salvage yard. I'll have to check if my Hyundai ones have the same width of the bars. Maybe I get lucky and use one of those temporarily. :)
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    agreed. i'm only 5'-7" so, can't help with headrest.:LOL: my wife made me a pillow out of 1" foam and cloth cover, but even that, i have to move it around on long trips. i don't think the back likes any one position for too long!:eek: there are plenty of threads here on seat comfort (uncomfort:cool: ) if you want to do some searching. cycledrum has particular solutions for tall people.;)
     
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  5. davekro

    davekro Member

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    Bisco,
    Hah, I just measure the pillow i have used and it seems to be 1" when comporessed. I'm guessing your 1" foam compresses. right? How dense a foam is it? For me a support compressed to 1" felt a bit too much over time. DO you think yours remains 1" or compresses "x"%. It is al personal preference. I will search for cycledrum's threads on this.
    Thanks
     
  6. JoeS

    JoeS Member

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    What is wrong with the seat for me is that it is shaped like airline seats(which are horrendous). The top comes back in toward the driver. Which is fine for small people but on me that hits my shoulders and causes my back to arch in a weird way. So what I will be doing is adding foam in to even that part out, then putting Clazzio seat covers over that. If the seat is too stiff for you Clazzio is suppose to have some memory foam on the seat portion that would help out. But the thing that would help me the most is if the steering wheel telescoped a few more inches giving me more seating choices
     
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  7. davekro

    davekro Member

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  8. davekro

    davekro Member

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    Joe,
    I get the same fit of having my upper body 'bent' forward by the upper seat. I can only assume it is a comfotable fit for those whose shoulders are lower than ours. Does the head rest further hold your head forward too? It does for me, ahich bugs me, to I reversed the head rests. Now they are a little too far back, but that is doable for me. I am spoiled by my Hyundai XG350 who's headrest tilts forward/back four clicks. But the Prius is not the Avalon of the Toyota line like the XG was in 2005 for Hyundai. So I need to remember that. ;o)

    I looked briefly at Clazzio, but was unclear on pricing. Was $550 for just the front two seat covers, or was bor back seat as well. When do you plan to get the Clazzio covers and install them?
     
  9. JoeS

    JoeS Member

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    I don't have a head rest issue. My head never rests on them no matter what car I am in. Maybe I hold my head forward or something with the way i set my seat. For the Clazzio you can get all pvc for around $300 or pvc with leather inserts for $450. I have a bisque interior which they don't have a matching color for. So need to decide if I should sick with something light but non matching or just go dark gray. If I go Ivory it will be 2-3 months before I get them, Gray would be about a week.
     
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    even at my height, i find most seats have this shape pushing the upper body forward and drawing the lower back in. not really sure why so many are desined like this. i guess the adjustable lumbar is evidence that everyone's back is different. my foam probably compresses to 1/2" - 3/4" including material. medium density i'd guess.
     
  11. davekro

    davekro Member

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    Have there been threads where people have posted pics of their re-upholstery? I would be very interested in seeing some real life pics of Clazzio, off the shelf covers and even if any have sent their cars to a shop to have a re-upholstery done and what folks invested on their option when complete. The dealer's $2,995 locally outsourced real leather probably costs them $1,500 or less. Not that you'd get their price at the same shop, but, just curious.

    One thing I did not notice/ think to look for when dealer shopping was:
    1) I assume OEM Softex material was in 'ALL' places us cloth folks have cloth (arm rest, door arm rests front and rear, little patch on each side of back seat)
    2) Can anyone with a Clazzio job report if any of these 'extra' places were covered also (especially the center console!)

    Thanks,
    Dave
     
  12. JoeS

    JoeS Member

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    Clazzio comes with center arm rest, but not the sides. You can order extra material and have a shop install it over the door armrests
     
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  13. davekro

    davekro Member

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    Joe, excellent glad to hear Clazzio can sell some extra material. Have you decided on the color and timing of your seat project? You said you had lighter (beige sort of?) color interior, correct? What color is the outside of your car? We have the white tip with the charcoal interior.
     
  14. JoeS

    JoeS Member

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    I think I'm going with dark gray. While we like the light color interior the Ivory is too bright for my tastes. I have a blizzard pearl white with bisque interior. If they had a matching bisque or a brown(I would love to have brown) I would go with that but they don't. If you have the Charcoal interior the dark gray will match wonderfully, or another option is to go with the light gray which would match your ceiling and create a nice two tone effect.
     
  15. davekro

    davekro Member

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    My wife likes the idea of a two tone affect. But this is her commuter and she has a history of spills and make-up getting all over, so I wonder the wisdom of anything light! Though her (just) previous car had beige leather seats, and I guess they cleaned up OK (when I wanted them clean). Oh, wait, maybe they started out white or ivory!!! ;)

    Are you planning to order the Clazzios soon Joe? Do you plan to order extra material for door panels? Did you say the reg package came with a cover for the center console, I forget.
     
  16. JoeS

    JoeS Member

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    Yep just ordered dark gray. No extra material for the door panels, because I don't want them to be dark gray. Yes it comes with a piece for the center arm rest.
     
  17. davekro

    davekro Member

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    Hi Joe,
    Would you be willing to post some pictures after you get the covers? It would be good to see pics of the Clazzio's installed by a regular Joe, so to speak. The official web site pics might not quite reflect all installs. If you were in the mood to post a few 'in process' pics, that would be cool too! :)

    I'll be curious how the center console piece installs. Does it go over the plastic on the sides of the lid, or do you remove the plastic to get the cover under it. If there is a way to easily disassemble the console cover to install just as the OEM material is, that would be nice.
     
  18. JoeS

    JoeS Member

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    Will do, but you can do a simple search on this site and find numerous examples of other members who have installed clazzios.
     
  19. davekro

    davekro Member

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    I searched 'Clazzio' on all forums and got lots of great info. Thanks.
    I think my search results improved because selected all forums! :eek:)
     
  20. JoeS

    JoeS Member

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    First pics of passenger seat w/ gray seat cover in bisque interior WP_20131109_14_50_06_Pro.jpg WP_20131109_14_50_31_Pro.jpg
     
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