I really want to love my V8 Vantage but....

[valhalla]

Hello all. As the title goes...........I've had the Aston since October last year. Never did I think I would own such a fantastic car. The trouble I know is that I'm only 5' 6" tall. The seat is as high as it can go. Probably only goes up an inch in total. So I have a lot of trouble seeing out of it. I've tried a booster cushion. An improvement, but not a cure. We live miles away from any major roads. And our back roads are narrow and twisty turny. My wife says I'm more and more tentative when I drive the back roads. As I cant see any of the car through the windows. So please let me know if there is a fix for raising up the seat for me. Just lately the car seems to get left in the garage when we go out. As I can see so much more out of my Freelander 2. I'm seriously thinking of putting the car up for sale if this problem with the seat height can't be resolved soon. so please help guys.
Dave.

[B4rnst4ble]

jockman your assistance is required

[dig123]

There must be a way of changing the fixings under the seat to raise the height. But I have found with mine the more you dive it the more comfortable you get with its position on the road and it becomes less worrying to drive even down country roads. Try driving it more.

[roughrider]

There is quite a bit of height adjustment usually [4 or 5 inches?]? The seat lifts both at the front and rear, are you lifting the rear of the lower switch? Failing that, do a Performance Driving Course at Millbrook, and tell the instructor you want to spend more time on the City course [tight/twisty lane with painted borders],,,as this really helps with spacial awareness...

[avinalarf]

I hate short men.
Always stroppy little sods .....Napoleon.....Hitler.....Simon Cowell....
Nevertheless in the spirit of this forum I shall try to help with your handicap.
I sell a self inflating seat pillow that is guaranteed to do the job,I can also get it embroidered with the Aston Martin logo.
A female friend of mine also happens to be a dominatrix and I have spent many happy hours on her stretching rack,this should also improve your lack of height ,so that you will look almost normal.
Hope this helps.

[Terminator]

valhalla said:

The trouble I know is that I'm only 5' 6" tall.

Just pretend you're 5'11", like me.

[michael gould]

My 5' 3" wife has no problem driving my DB9.........

[Jockman]

B4rnst4ble said:

jockman your assistance is required

Mike u nonce

OP this is a joke thread, right??

You did test drive the car??

I have no problem driving the DBS, nor does my wife upon whom I'm seated whilst I drive

[RichB]

Humm... if you drive a land rover then I can see why you've got accustomed to that sit up and beg driving position. Had you ever driven any sports cars prior to buying the Aston? I wouldn't have thought a V8V is any more laid-back than a 911 or whatever but either way, they are not cars for twisty, narrow country lanes. You're probably right to use the jeep for that keep the sports/GT for when you'll stretch it's legs.

p.s. I'm a bit concerned to think that maybe you just hammer round blind bends normally because you're in something big that you don't mind scratching on the hedgerow! I'm sure that's not what you meant

p.p.s. Oh, yeah, you were a TVR chap weren't you, so what you moaning about!

[avinalarf]

Jockman said:

Mike u nonce

OP this is a joke thread, right??

You did test drive the car??

I have no problem driving the DBS, nor does my wife upon whom I'm seated whilst I drive

Take a tip Jockers......get the missus to sit on your lap.....much more fun.
P.S. Remove your sporran

[Phil74891]

I have the same issue, being 5'8" and 17/32nds, in that I've noticed that when driving I can't see any of my Vantage out of the windows - except the wing mirrors. It's never bothered me. I think just drive it every day for a bit and you'll get used to it. I refuse to sit on a cushion though, and have yet to resort to any of Avinalarf's somewhat dubious activities, whether they be legal, or not.

[valhalla]

Thanks for all the jokes guys. So why is virtually everyone taking the p**s?

[avinalarf]

valhalla said:

Thanks for all the jokes guys. So why is virtually everyone taking the p**s?

No idea Valhalla ..........I'm baffled.....,unfortunately there is a section of posters on this forum that do not empathise with handicapped persons.
This is of course disgraceful and completely non p.c.
May I apologise for their behaviour as its not your fault you are vertically challenged.
Good luck with your new car and I sincerely hope that you will find a way to find a suitable thingy to help you see over the steering wheel.

[mikey k]

because PH Aston Forum

I've found the trick is to visualise where the wheels are in you head and overlay that on what you see out the window, rather than having to actually see the extremities.
Once you've got that its easy, as most that have been on a hoon with me will testify

[V8V Pete]

OK, so I won't take the piss. I'm 5' 7" (nearly) and I've had the seats on my Vantage (Sports seats & Lightweight seat versions) nearly to the bottom of the travel anyway. I like it that way (so I can reach the peddles) and I doubt anyone that can fit in the car can see the front of it unless they get out and walk round to the front. Just drive it and get used to it as everyone says. But do also get the seat checked out to make sure it is moving as intended.

[avinalarf]

By Jove ,stroke of genius here....I've been giving it a lot of thought ......think I've solved your problem



trench binoculars....of course no need to wear army uniform......it can't be that difficult to attach a couple of bungees....
Then tie around the old bonce.....there you go.....

[B4rnst4ble]

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

This was discussed last week

less of the nonce jockman - hope you are well?

[telum01]

I'm 5'7", no issues once you learn where the front end is. Only time I have to put extra effort into seeing out of the car is watching for curbs when making a right-hand turn, especially in parking lots (LHD car, as I'm in the US).

[Neil1300r]

valhalla said:

Thanks for all the jokes guys. So why is virtually everyone taking the p**s?

Because we can!

Serious answer- I'm over 6 foot tall. I can't see past the middle of the bonnet. It something I had to learn to judge where the front corners are. Took me a while - easier to do by avoiding country lanes to start with. Was in Cornwall last year down some really narrow lanes - holding up the locals in their battered old cars.

[Wozy68]

RichB said:

Humm... if you drive a land rover then I can see why you've got accustomed to that sit up and beg driving position. Had you ever driven any sports cars prior to buying the Aston? I wouldn't have thought a V8V is any more laid-back than a 911 or whatever but either way, they are not cars for twisty, narrow country lanes. You're probably right to use the jeep for that keep the sports/GT for when you'll stretch it's legs.

p.s. I'm a bit concerned to think that maybe you just hammer round blind bends normally because you're in something big that you don't mind scratching on the hedgerow! I'm sure that's not what you meant

p.p.s. Oh, yeah, you were a TVR chap weren't you, so what you moaning about!

I've driven a lot of nice cars, use a Landy as my daily and the first thing I asked when I sat in a V8 was can the seat lift. You do feel very low in the Vantage IMO and I'm 5.11.