Mk1 Tamora seat comfort

[a1butch]

Since buying back in November last year I'm starting to use the Tamora more often now the weather is improving. Almost everything about the car is epic, except for the level of comfort and adjustability in the seats. Ok so I'm not expecting them to be sofas but i do feel they could be more supportive under the legs and lower back but there's no way to adjust them.
The T350 and later model Tamora seats look slightly different, are the support levels or adjustability better?
I am thinking of a complete retrim but if other seats are more comfortable I could swap over.

[ShiDevil]

The T Cars, mainly the T350, Tamora and Sagaris will either have T350/Tamora seats or Tuscan seats. I think the later the car the more chance you had the Tuscan seats. It's very much a personal choice which one feels better. Personally the T350 seats don't seem to be that supportive for me when I've sat in them. I prefer the Tuscan ones. I'm pretty lean but also workout so my body shape works better in the Tuscan seats. I take the pad out of the bottom too as I'm 6"2. Never had a comfort issue and do many long road trips

[GazzaM100]

I'm sure we spoke a couple of times in November as we were both hunting for a Tamora.
Some of the very late Tamora's were fitted with the Tuscan seats but looking at mine which is a 54 plate my seats do seem slightly different to yours.

I've added a picture of my Tan interior and one from a Sagaris with cream seats that show the knee pad to be larger and more rounded than yours.

Hope this helps, Gary

[GazzaM100]

[chris watton]

GazzaM100 said:

I think they are the same seats, except yours has more padding, it seems.

[garreth64]

I've got an additional cushion under the Base of my seats which was fitted by the previous owner. You wouldn't know they were there but they do help with seat comfort. I can take a pic if it helps.

Doesnt help with regard to back support though.

[chris watton]

garreth64 said:

I've got an additional cushion under the Base of my seats which was fitted by the previous owner. You wouldn't know they were there but they do help with seat comfort. I can take a pic if it helps.

Doesnt help with regard to back support though.

What about fitting a lumbar support?

http://www.racetechdirect.co.uk/v0322-tvr-car-part...

http://www.racetechdirect.co.uk/v1119-tvr-car-part...

[garreth64]

chris watton said:

What about fitting a lumbar support?

http://www.racetechdirect.co.uk/v0322-tvr-car-part...

http://www.racetechdirect.co.uk/v1119-tvr-car-part...

I've actually got the factory fitted lumbar support on mine but it doesn't work properly and have never bothered/remembered to get it fixed!

[a1butch]

Yes please Mark. I'll take another fuller photo of my seats when I'm back later today.
I've seen quite a few T cars with the bulkier leg cushions. The tops of the seat look slightly different too.
The Mrs doesn't like the comfort levels either and keeps referencing my old 997 as 'really comfortable considering it's such a fast car'. I want to get out and use the Tam for longer jaunts through summer so those kind of comments are not helping!
The next local meet in Essex should be next week so I'll try and jump into cars then.

[a1butch]

Good idea Chris.
That could be a good option to retrofit if i go down the retrim route.

[chris watton]

a1butch said:

Good idea Chris.
That could be a good option to retrofit if i go down the retrim route.

I had mine fitted when I had my interior re-trimmed last year. It does make a difference, for not a lot of money.

[garreth64]

Here you go, a couple of quick snaps from the phone as it's in the garage. The additional cushion is about 10-15mm thick and velcro'd in-between the base and the top cushion.

IMG_20150405_160200 by garreth64, on Flickr

You wouldn't know it was there once the top cushion is in place:

IMG_20150405_155949 by garreth64, on Flickr

[a1butch]

Thanks Mark. One of the previous owners updated the seat inlays (red sections) and and their upholsterers may have stitched the cushions in permanently as we couldn't pull them out last time i visited Kerridges.

[AJV8]

Hi Gareth (or anyone else reading this). Does anyone know how the bottom cushion may have been removed by a previous owner?

I have just had a look on mine as I was going to do the same thing as my bottom cushion as absolutely shagged, but I’m struggling to pull this out and it seems fairly well in there. Happy to use brute force if required but don’t want to break anything.

Any help would be great,

AJ

garreth64 said:

Here you go, a couple of quick snaps from the phone as it's in the garage. The additional cushion is about 10-15mm thick and velcro'd in-between the base and the top cushion.

IMG_20150405_160200 by garreth64, on Flickr

You wouldn't know it was there once the top cushion is in place:

IMG_20150405_155949 by garreth64, on Flickr

[MK_tamora]

Bottom cushion is usually only velcroed in place. Try pushing your fingers down into the gap and you should be able to feel the rough velcro and you will feel more confident about prising it out bit by bit.

[garreth64]

MK_tamora said:

Bottom cushion is usually only velcroed in place. Try pushing your fingers down into the gap and you should be able to feel the rough velcro and you will feel more confident about prising it out bit by bit.

This. Mine are velcroed so just pull apart as per the photo. It is possible that a previous owner may have changed this though.

[GazzaM100]

Maybe possible that the earlier cars haven't got removable seat pads. I did view a car that came with 2 different thickness so you had a choice.
Seems the older car seats are different around the knee roll so maybe the pad was stitched in as well

[AJV8]

I have tried getting under the front but it’s seemingly part of the frame and there’s certainly no Velcro holding it in (rather frustratingly). Going to get them out and check in due course.

Does anyone else steuggle a bit either the lower back section being a little uncomfortable? On a long journey mine feels like it’s pushing in to my back which is really rather frustrating as when added to the fact that I’m essentially sitting on a spring, the seats are really rather uncomfortable.

If I can avoid a full retrim for now I’d rather a quick fix so any suggestions if it’s not just Velcro?

PS, I have no idea why my images are being uploaded upside down.

Edited by AJV8 on Friday 30th March 09:57

Edited by AJV8 on Friday 30th March 09:59

[brownspeed]

is it anything to do with the seat height? I have a mk1 and because I'm (ahem) less than average* height; the seat was way too low for me, so I had to raise it -I too found it uncomfortable. I don't have any comfort issues now.

• I actually consider myself to be of average height- it isn't my fault that there are more people above average height than there are below.