Love the car... but let's improve the driver's seat!

I have a Seaside number 7. I use a matching blue pillow on the driver's seat. I got the pillow for ten bucks at Fred Meyer, and it works great. It has a rubbery side and a nice side; the rubbery side keeps it in place on the driver' seat. I too have had a problem with the driver's seat; in my case it was thigh support because I have long legs. The pillow does raise me up a bit and that took getting used to, but now I find the car quite comfortable. Have driven as long as 10 hours on road trips without discomfort. Much cheaper than trying to alter the seat internally.
I added a few blue throw pillows in the back for color to relieve the sea of beige. Pillows are handy for napping in ferry lines and at roadside rest stops.
Bob

 

my somewhat expensive solution

I somehow ended up on an Italian website, ESpeedup.com and found this fantastic lumbar adjustable "pillow" for 55.75 Euro. Of course the shipping was almost as expensive as the pillow itself, but it is worth every euro. The fabric is not what you would call plush, but then unless you're riding in your Prius naked *shudder* then you won't care. I find myself no longer slouch in the seat and I can adjust the seat back now so that my head can comfortably touch the headrest. Here's where you can find it:
http://www.espeedup.com/speed.cgi/results?...autocategory=C6

I'm certain they have many other modifications/enhancements that can be universally applied to the prius, but I haven't had the time to sift through their humongous website. I ordered the catalog however, so that should provide me with some pleasant bedtime reading. Oh, also I found an armrest on Brookstone's website that fits snugly between the hard burgundy plastic (Silver BC/9) and the window. This is usually where I rest my elbow while on long trips, muy importante.
hope this helps!
g'day

 

Re: my somewhat expensive solution

Too bad we can't test both the adjustable and (almost half the price) not adjustable one in case the latter works for 'you'.

 

your local upholstery shop can install a lumbar support for as little as oh, $75, and up, with electric adj. or hand turned knob just like factory equipped cars...i have one, installed in san diego, it's super! there are many varieties from which to choose.

 

driver's seat comfort

I was in agony on my first few short trips - felt like an arrow was between my shoulder blades. I tried a cushion to raise me up (simulating my Subaru with height adjustment) that worked for a while regarding the pain in the neck but just was not comfortable. I too find the seat length (butt to knee) short. And I am a short person - there is no support under my knees.
Today I took a long (250 mile) drive with two stops to walk around and arrived home feeling no pain. I don't know if I'm just getting used to the seat or what. I would still support a campaign to get toyota to include power adjustable seats !!!
Is Toyota listening????

 

I like the seats just the way they are.

 

I'd like the seats just a bit lower, and maybe able to go back one more notch.

But it's not too bad, I've taken it on some fairly long drives (driving 2000km to California next weekend), so I'll evaluate the long-haul comfort then

Dave

 

Guess it's a personal thing...
Like mine just the away it is...
Then again I've done nothing more than 3 hours at a time in the default driver seat....

cas

 

In the few test drives I made (most over one hour long) I've had no trouble finding a good position behind the wheel (I'm 6'2"), the only thing that could be improved in the next Prius is the adjustment options for the steering wheel. Now you can only tilt it a bit, and not high enough. It should be able to raise it a bit higher and pull it a bit closer so to speak.

I like the firmness of the seats.

 

Just a General Foint on Airbag Equipped Steering Wheels.

When I was in driver's ed, we learned to hold the steering wheel at 10:00 and 2:00 o'clock. However, with the advent of airbags, this recommendation has been changed to 4:00 and 8:00 o'clock. This is due to what happens when the airbag deploys. If one uses the old 10:00 / 2:00 when the steering wheel airbag deploys one arms can get pushed into ones face, causing injury. When held at 4:00 / 8:00 they get pushed down and away. My wife, an ER nurse, has seen the evidence and I'm sure Evan Fusco, has seen similar things in his ER.

 

i suspect that these seats, being basically just foam, do not lend themselves to adjustability. plus the motors and everything to make them adjustable probably add a bunch of weight...

i'm sure that and a lot of other stuff is coming up in fugure generations... as great as the prius is, its still a 'work in progress'

 

How about 3 and 9 as a compromise? I don't think I'd feel comfortable with my hands on the wheel at 4 and 8.

 

I drive with my hands at 6 and 6 most of the time!

 

Instead of the seat moving back further, I would prefer the pedals to move a couple inches towards the engine. Don't think I'll do that mod anytime soon.

 

Holding the wheel at 10 and 2 or even 3 and 9 give you the most control of the steering wheel if you need to make an emergency maneuver.

 

Yeah, I tried 8/4 but didn't feel as if I had anywhere near as much control as 10/2 or 9/3. I still feel as if I have the most control with my hands at 10/2.

 

:lolup: Ever try one of these?:

[Broken External Image]:http://www.northerntool.com/images/product/images/1698_lg.jpg

 

Here's another one: