So, er, has anyone ever had a chronically uncomfortable car seat?

[Mal Adroit]

'05 Nissan Altima, just bought it. Love it. Except. I swear to Zog I can't get comfortable in the thing. Have tried every angle imaginable, but my back hasn't felt right since I bought it.

Suggestions/stories/jokes at my expense?



(Careful, Frump.)

[Giraffe]

Had a Mercury Sable with surprisingly uncomfortable seats. They were like airplane seats -- curved too much and in the wrong places. No one I ever rode with found them comfortable. I was able to make them tolerable with a back pillow, but it was a relief to finally get rid of that car.

[BrotherCadfael]

I coworker (probably twenty years ago now) had chronic back problems. She had a long commute, and her doctor allegedly recommended that she get a Volvo, because their seats are so supportive. She and her husband were not in a position to buy a Volvo at that time, so they went to the junkyard, bought a couple of Volvo seats, and had them installed in their Chevy!

Or at least, that was her story. Anyone who wants to claim that Volvo seats wouldn't fit in a Chevy, or that no mechanic would touch the job due to liability concerns, or whatever, is invited to stuff it.

[LionelHutz405]

Yes.

I found one of those obus form back supports helped.

[Mal Adroit]

Back pillow or a obus form back support, check. Drugstore/WalMart have these?

BrotherCadfael, I actually wondered how involved/possible that solution would be. It's just a helluva thing- you drive for years and never think twice about the car seat. Until you get one that sucks. And all the horrors of the void are revealed.

Thanks for taking the time to post, all.

[chaparralv8]

Racerwholesale.com has the most comfortable seats I've ever been in. Just go for the $139 el cheapo model.

[MLS]

I have a VW Passat and find the seat quite comfortable, which is fortunate since I have an arthritic spine, and the seats in this car only adjust manually. My husband has an Acura, which was scads more expensive than the Passat and has all kinds of bells & whistles including power adjustable seats. It doesn't matter how much I fiddle with the settings, I am never comfortable driving his car.

[Mal Adroit]

If nothing else, it's good to know I'm not crazy.

Thanks for the rec, chaparralv8.

[iwakura43]

Originally Posted by Giraffe

Had a Mercury Sable with surprisingly uncomfortable seats. They were like airplane seats -- curved too much and in the wrong places. No one I ever rode with found them comfortable. I was able to make them tolerable with a back pillow, but it was a relief to finally get rid of that car.

It wasn't a 1999, was it?

[QuickSilver]

I used to own a Volvo V70 AWD TurboWagon. It rocked in many ways, particularly winter driving, but I just hated the seats. Too soft or something... Never fitted me right. My budy, who is over 6 feet, has almost the same car and loves the seats.

I like VW/Audi seats best. BMW a close second.

[Quartz]

I have problems in many car seats, simply because I'm so tall.

[asterion]

I had problems with my seat after about an hour or so. I finally figured out that the problem was that I had the seat too far back and that was what started hurting my back. I've never had a problem once I moved the seat up.

[Cherry2000]

I had a Toyota Corolla that had the worst driver's seat I have ever experienced.

I am 5'4"...short, but not all that short. The seat used to hit a spot on my leg that would cause it go go numb and then progress to actual pain after about 2 hours in the car.

Man, was I glad when I got rid of that thing!

[Mal Adroit]

Originally Posted by asterion

I had problems with my seat after about an hour or so. I finally figured out that the problem was that I had the seat too far back and that was what started hurting my back. I've never had a problem once I moved the seat up.

I've been vacillating between which feels better- when I have it in a more upright position, it feels like the seat is boring into my back. When I recline it more, it's a little more comfortable, but I'm a mile away from the controls.

But I finally established (as you pointed out) that while "up" means more discomfort while driving, "back" can mean more discomfort later.

Good folks who have had a similar problem: did you wind up selling the car because of the seat or were you able to cope with it until you sold it? I can't fathom going through the buying/selling rigamarole again (never mind the lost dough) because of a fucking car seat.