Back Advice

[John F]

The most comfortable driver's seat I've ever had in a car was the Recaro fitted as standard to my 1994 (M) Cav SRi.

[Bangernomics]

I’d say working on rehab is the way to go. I alternate between fine and hands and knees levels of knackered.

Best advice as a fellow sufferer is to get walking and drop as much excess weight as possible (I know I need a good few side bellies removed) as that loads the lower back like nothing else.

I also weirdly found cycling helped as I naturally leant forwards but did sometimes get numb hands as my weight was shifted forwards which helped the lower back but killed the wrists.

[Nibblet]

The worst seat I've experienced was in a Skoda Octavia. It wasn't particularly uncomfortable but I could barely walk after only a couple of hours.

I owned one and yes the seats were uncomfortable.
What is it about modern car seats that means they, at least to me, are always uncomfortable? On the other hand I've found most cars from the 60s through 80's have fantastic seats. Admittedly I got accustomed to those in Volvos and Benzes, I'm told Renault 16, Jaguars, Maxis and many others had supremely comfortable seats, so what are modern manufacturers up to?

[LynehamHerc]

Is it a combination of the seats and the suspension design, optimised for going around the Nurburgring?
Mind you my VW T2 seats are shit and that'd fall over just going out of the pits.

[CLINT]

The most comfortable driver's seat I've ever had in a car was the Recaro fitted as standard to my 1994 (M) Cav SRi.

Yep my two favourites were my Capri 2.8i and Cavalier SRi seats. Better than anything else by far

[MRustbucket]

I have lower back issues that a long journey can be spoiled by. I had a Rover 75 a few years ago that enabled a 10 hour stint that was only punctuated by convenience breaks. It was a Connoisseur SE spec so had the nice seats.

I could also recommend an XJ40 (over an X300 and later) for this ailment. I suspect a R75 may be kinder on the finances though.

I also have lower back problems and find the seats in my late model XJ40 to be good. The seats in the XJ40 are a lot better for my back than the X300, which don't seem to suit me. One problem I do have which limits the XJ40's long-distance comfort for me is a lack of headroom on my car because of its sunroof. If you go down the Jag route, get one without a sunroof, but with electric seats.

I was very impressed by the seats in the Volvo 700 series, they are comfortable for me. One of the worst cars I have sat in was the Nissan 200SX (S13) I had in the early/mid 1990s. That could cripple me in under 100 miles - as could the W140 Mercedes my brother had in the late 1990s. The electric seats in that offered a limitless range of uncomfortable positions.

[MRustbucket]

The most comfortable driver's seat I've ever had in a car was the Recaro fitted as standard to my 1994 (M) Cav SRi.

Yep my two favourites were my Capri 2.8i and Cavalier SRi seats. Better than anything else by far

Quite a few cars have seats made by Recaro, even non-sporting ones. The front seats are made by Recaro on my XJ40, for example.

[Hooli]

I've got to disagree with Mr Rust bucket there.

When talking about XJ40 or X300 Jags I'd get one with manual seats. The electric seats don't go as low which limits head room and for me utterly ruins the driving position. Jag had sorted this by the X308 though.

[MRustbucket]

I've got to disagree with Mr Rust bucket there.

When talking about XJ40 or X300 Jags I'd get one with manual seats. The electric seats don't go as low which limits head room and for me utterly ruins the driving position. Jag had sorted this by the X308 though.

Ha - the very thing I was complaining about. I haven't been in a manual-seated late '40 though - only an early one.

[Hooli]

My '92 3.2S had manual seats. The XJR X300 I tried had electric ones and it was like sitting on the car not in it. Bloody horrible.