Best seats for a bad back

[Slobberchops]

I am currently suffering with bad back problems, not helped by driving a lot and then a lot sitting in meetings.

My 2010 3 series seats seem to be bad and the pedals offset and close together which seems to giving me a twisted position.

Just thinking about changing the car for something with seats more in line. The wife's old V70 is far better but I don't want the same.

Does anyone have any recommendations? The choice appears to be:

New 3 series
A4
V60
V70
Passat

Thanks.

[0llie]

Some of the comfiest seats I've sat in have been in Volvo's. New gen S80 in particular.

Another vote would be for the 'comfort' seats in the BMW 5 Series

[Paul O]

Im not keen on the seatig position in Audi's as the centre console sticks out, meaning there isn't a great deal of room for your left leg if you want to shuffle about.

Volvo's are supposed to be very good seats but I've not tried them.

What about something higher up? My missus' Evoque is great as the seats are more chair-like.

I also found the 2005 Honda Accord to be very, very comfortable on long journeys.

[GreatGranny]

I've owned 5 Volvos and have 2 at present and they have the best seats of any car I've owned.

TBH my old E36 leather seats were pretty good ditto the Seat Alhambra's as well. Firm but with good support.

[Agrispeed]

I found the lower you sit with straighter legs the more comfortable I am... I rate my spitfire as very comfy, along with MR2 mk3 while my mums panda causes a bad back, hips and knees because you sit ontop of the pedals.

[CampDavid]

The Germans don't understand seats.

The pews in my 7er are the uprated contours with about 26 levels of adjustment and they're as comfy as the basic Volvo efforts, once you've spent 30 minutes setting them up.

Can't beat the swedes for comfort

[jbi]

Jeep grand cherokee has armchairs for seats



heated and fully electric as well with separate memory function. My mum has a bad back and I loaned the jeep to her to try for a week and see if it helped. She told me if it got better fuel economy she would have one tomorrow as it's far better than her honda accord.

Edited by jbi on Friday 2nd November 13:40

[loose cannon]

citreon bx

[rfn]

A lot of it isn't to do with how comfortable the seats are, rather how the seat/gearstick/steering wheel/pedals are laid out.

I found in my old Mondeo that the steering wheel wasn't actually straight on to the drive, so also it had comfortable seats, I was constantly twisting my spine whilst driving = a horrifically painful back.

Something like an MX-5 is great as they are laid out perfectly... even though the seats aren't the most comfortable the layout is great.

[NiceCupOfTea]

Saab or Volvo.

[pjdow]

Volvo,

or a Range Rover Full Fat, not a Sport

[V8RX7]

As this thread demonstrates - what suits some doesn't suit others.

I had to see an Osteopath after my back locked having driven a Mondeo for 9hrs - she said most found Mondeos had great seats.

[Slobberchops]

Paul O said:

Im not keen on the seatig position in Audi's as the centre console sticks out, meaning there isn't a great deal of room for your left leg if you want to shuffle about.

Volvo's are supposed to be very good seats but I've not tried them.

What about something higher up? My missus' Evoque is great as the seats are more chair-like.

I also found the 2005 Honda Accord to be very, very comfortable on long journeys.

Same on the BMW with the console. Where my left leg used to fall to press the clutch on the A6, I would end up pressing the footrest on the BMW as the pedal box seems to be offset to the right and this also makes me have to twist my left leg over to depress the clutch.

Got a V60 booked for a demo next week, and was thinking A4 as I have had a few before and they were good but it sounds like the new ones aren't so well set up.

[spaximus]

My specialist asked me about the sort of car I drove as I regularly do 60k per year. The question was because in his view BMW in right hand drive had the worst driving position as the pedals were offset. On LHD they are in line and pretty much spot on.
Since then I have only bought cars with an inline pedal position.

[Slobberchops]

spaximus said:

My specialist asked me about the sort of car I drove as I regularly do 60k per year. The question was because in his view BMW in right hand drive had the worst driving position as the pedals were offset. On LHD they are in line and pretty much spot on.
Since then I have only bought cars with an inline pedal position.

What is different on the LHD other than the obvious?

[treetops]

Saab 95 Aero - no contest.

Designed using humans... not mannequins.

[simoid]

French barges possibly worth a shot?

I always enjoyed the 406 seats, soft and supportive, not sure if today's equivalent are similar.

[JVaughan]

V70 seats best by far for my back ... the 406 is comfortable but getting down low to get into them means comfort isnt always forthcoming.
quite like the seats in our new SEAT alhambra too ... plenty of lumber adjustment and firm

[drivin_me_nuts]

Saab 95's are ace, as are the ones in the bigger Volvos. French ones I find too soft - do not like the 'armchair idea' at all as there is often bugger all lumber support. Best ones for me where those in an E39 M5. Supadupa. Heated seats are an absolute blessing for a bad back. I leave mine on pretty much all the time from September to April.

(also, find a seat that lets you sit as straight as you can, not slouched or with a pronounced curve in your lower back or an unsupported lower spine)

[Ari]

Audi A4 sport seats, by far the best I've ever sat in (and I've been lucky enough to sit in some nice cars). Extending thigh support too, great if you have long legs.



But avoid S-Line seats, they're too narrow at the top and push your shoulder blades in.