Not many posts about the seats being uncomfortable - more the opposite. However, any good car interior shop should be able to add extra foam padding, where and if needed.
True, and there are all kinds of ergo pads that you can simply put on top of the seat.
I haven't experienced that understeer problem, could it perhaps have been exacerbated by worn or incorrectly inflated tires on the rental car?
I find the seats to be very comfortable, personally. Then again, the biggest gripe I have about my VUE is the lack of support, and the fact that I feel as if I am being canted forward into the floor. I prefer a euro-firm seat that wraps around me.
I have never found understeer to be an issue, nor did I find any issues merging into fast moving traffic on I-270 in the DC area. Ymmv, I suppose.
I guess my butt must not have enough padding since I begin to hurt after about 1 hour in the seat. After that it's misery. One of the few things I HATE about my cabrio. But since it is a city car and I rarely sit in it for more than a few minutes it's not a big deal. I am not looking forward to driving it 500 miles to my other home in Tucson next week, well, actually I am, but I expect a sore butt when I arrive.
I guess my butt must not have enough padding since I begin to hurt after about 1 hour in the seat. After that it's misery. One of the few things I HATE about my cabrio. But since it is a city car and I rarely sit in it for more than a few minutes it's not a big deal. I am not looking forward to driving it 500 miles to my other home in Tucson next week, well, actually I am, but I expect a sore butt when I arrive.
What hurts exactly? You really might save yourself any discomfort by buying a wedge to sit on for your lower back , or additional lumbar support with an add on pad or whatnot. No point in feeling any pain if an inexpensive pad might help and make the trip pain free.
Guess I'm lucky, just spent a bunch of time in the car and had no issues with the seats at all.
I've TAKEN MANY LONG TRIPS in small cars, here are the trips I use.
Wear sweat pants (for driving) put your wallet in your shirt pocket and wear boxers. Have enough coats/pillows so you can use as an arm rest to elevate both elbows to just below then Man Breast point, wear thick comfortable socks and wear sneakers that are very loosely tied. kick in the Cruse Control, kick off the shoos and your in ZONE.
In a Z3 I did 27 Hr straight from Key West, Fl to New Hampshire, another trip was NH to Ar then to Ga then back to NH thid trip was done in 6 days, I used all the afore mentioned tricks and this trip too went great.
Last tip is de-recline your seat by about 2 clicks and you should Be all set to go I'm 50 @ 5'11 @230 lbs.
Hope it helped
ASM
Last edited by ASmartMan; 03-29-2008 at 08:08 PM.
Reason: heading Typo, should say (450 to 451) can't edit headings
The seat bottom is just too damn hard! I have been carrying my wallet in my front pocket for 35+ years so that's not the issue. I wish I had cruise control in this car, it would help to be able to shift my position a bit, but that's not an option if my foot has to stay on the gas pedal.
BTW, I am 55, 5'10" 160lbs, I think perhaps you have a bit more padding than I do? (70 lbs?)
This was designed as a commuter/city car so I am not too bent out of shape about this, also my Benz seats took a long time to break-in too, but now are just fine. Time will tell.....
So after looking up "understeer" on Wikipedia, I must say that I noticed this on highways ramps>> like, I want the car to curve to the right as I turn the wheel, but the car wants to go straighter than I have the wheel aimed... (right?)
So after looking up "understeer" on Wikipedia, I must say that I noticed this on highways ramps>> like, I want the car to curve to the right as I turn the wheel, but the car wants to go straighter than I have the wheel aimed... (right?)
Yep, and going into a a tightening curve too fast, you find you do not have enough "turn" cranked in, and must turn the wheel harder. The 'G" loads then pile up on the rear suspension and, in the case of the early Corvairs, the outside rear wheel would fold under and you were gone.
Most cars today are designed to understeer. With the Smart we have ESC.
Wife is in our Smart most of the week. We have the leather/heated. She finds good suport and seat is comfotable.
She gives it an 8 out of 10. Not bad for a tiny car.
A2Jack
Last edited by a2jack; 03-30-2008 at 02:52 PM.
Reason: Over/Under.
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