[funkytown]

Took a short trip, and I mean short....about 1.5 hours each way. First trip that length in my new E. When I got out after 1.5 hrs of driving my hips hurt, and on the return when I got out even sorer:| Have never had a problem like this before. Had a friend that rode with me. She's pretty heavy-set, and her hips were bothering her while we were driving. Mine only bothered me after I got out. I'm not heavy set, so I don't know what the deal is. The '08 Liberty I traded in had all the bells and whistles with leather seats which were quite comfortable.
Now, I've had issues with the seat belt before, which I talked about earlier on a post here. I bought the fleece covers to try and take care of that. Though not perfect, I can live with it. ( But it is really a poor design!) The seat issue I can not put up with. I will be traveling in my E at times, and it's going to have to be more comfortable than this!!!! Had a 2005 E a few years ago and don't remember seats bothering me at all. Took trips down to Georgia a number of times, and it was fine.
I've owned my2010 E for a month now, and it's been driven back and forth to work, so I haven't really noticed the seat thing until now. I LOVE my E and will keep it. But I just need some suggestions on what I could do about the seats.

 

[psschmied]

I started feeling uncomfortable riding in my previously comfortable Element weeks before I was diagnosed with a problem. Fortunately that problem passed. I'm not joking, the high side bolsters may be aggravating an undiagnosed medical issue.

If you are feeling discomfort that you didn't a few years ago, as you are investigating changes to the seats, perhaps you should discuss your discomfort with your doctor.

 

[funkytown]

I started feeling uncomfortable riding in my previously comfortable Element weeks before I was diagnosed with a problem. Fortunately that problem passed. I'm not joking, the high side bolsters may be aggravating an undiagnosed medical issue.

If you are feeling discomfort that you didn't a few years ago, as you are investigating changes to the seats, perhaps you should discuss your discomfort with your doctor.

I really think it is a seat issue and not a physical issue. I traded in the Jeep Liberty only a month ago, and never had this issue with that car. Plus my passenger said the same thing.....and she mentioned it first before I did. Thank you for you thoughts on it, but I think I need to find a seat solution

 

[psschmied]

I'd expect your passenger to be less comfortable in the Element than someone with a more slender build, because of the seat side bolsters spacing. It's still worth talking to your doctor. You don't have to be overweight to have a hip joint problem, and the earlier it's caught, the better.

One fast way to change the seat comfort is to use a wedge cushion. It will raise you up out of the "well" between the bolsters, and relieve stress on your hips. http://www.amazon.com/Wagan-IN9788-Ortho-Wedge-Cushion/dp/B000066OC7

 

[z(+)diac]

Honestly, this is one major thing that has me caring less for the newer generation of E's. Not only does the color and material used for the new seats turn me off, but they even look less padded than what I've seen with 03-06 models.

I'm not sure if you can swap out for the older seats, but that's definitely something I would consider.

 

[funkytown]

I was maybe thinking of some custom seats. I really love my new E, and would like to find something I could do with the seats in it. Thinking about it
z(+)iac...:roll::roll::roll:

 

[Flat Lander]

Memorial Day we took the E for about the same length trip that you did, about 1.5 hrs each way. Longest trip in it for me too. It's not the most comfortable road trip vehicle I've ever had, but not the worst either. I can't do road trips in conventional cars where you basically sit flat with your legs out in front of you. It's more comfortable for me in a truck or SUV (more like sitting in a chair). If I take any more trips in mine I think I'll try a wedge cushion or pillow.

 

[ramblerdan]

Long, contentious thread of the hatred that both short- and long-torso people have for the 2007-up seat here.

 

[jsbagman]

seat confort

Try
www.obusforme.com

 

[RJG]

I'm 5' 10" and weigh about 160. My seats are fine. My wife's larger car has better seats than the E, but I have already done several 600 miles days in the E with no problem. They are kinda firm, like a drivers car. Soft isn't really comfortable after long hours of driving. A BMW does not have soft seats.

My only real complaint with the seats in the E is the seat backs in the front seem to be designed for a larger person than myself, and I wish the seat backs were a little better sculptured for a person my size....to better hold me in place. I tend to slump over to one side when driving, unless I put a lot of weight on the arm rest. However....they are fine in the lumbar region for me.

If you are having problems, I suggest experimenting with different seat back angles, seat height, and how far you stretch your legs. Take some weight off your hips and butt. Sit further back from the dash so you distribute some weight onto lower legs. Then lower steering wheel down so you can sit further back from the dash. I tend to drive with a pretty upright seat back, legs stretched out, seat all the way up almost, and steering wheel as low as it will go and I can still see top of speedometer gauge.

 

[Hathi]

an idea

I do have a bad back, but never ever a problem in my summer car Toyota MR2 MK1. Getting in and out, different story. I was given some really fine seats out of another Toyota, for a swap. So, with the 03 E seat out of the car, beside the other sport seat, shimmed to the right height, the difference was close to nil. The E seat comes apart without tools, but it is tricky. That other Toyota sport seat you need to work at to open up. I swapped out the inflatable lumbar support from the sport seat into the E seat, ran the hose/bulb in the armrest, tossed in a nice ( cheap) cushion, presto!

I use an EmbraceAirPlus back rest at the computer. Same style inflatable lumbar support. You could use one, or integrate the air bladder into the E seat.

As some have suggested, try to find out what an auto upholsterer can do to make it right for you. If you got the right kind of support, a heat kit and repadded with memory foam or what works for you, most likely cheaper than an aftermarket custom seat. I have no idea if side airbags spoil my idea here.

Autobody shops should be able to direct you to the right upholsterer.


Good luck.

 

[RJG]

I posted the way I did because I have a lot of experience with pain from sitting. I have a Coccyx condition that just will not go away. So I have to always make sure I'm sitting on my sit bones, and not my Coccyx. If I sit upright and spread the weight evenly (as possible) from just behind my knees to my sit bones, I can do 700 mile days OK in a car, and even at 69, ride my bike more than 100 miles per week.

So if you are getting some butt pain from a new vehicle after a couple hours of driving, I would guess somehow you are putting weight somewhere you are not accustomed to doing so, and I would suggest you alter your driving position to distribute your sitting weight more evenly between and butt and a point just behind your knees. This may mean sitting more upright, higher up, and further back.

I see so many folks with poor driving positions, almost laying down driving, sitting on their Coccyx and not their sit bones. You can distribute weight to your underlegs (and off your butt) better if you raise the seat height up, push seat back, then drop wheel down so you don't feel too far from dash. I believe you can improve your comfort level by making some driving position changes, and even if you do get a better seat, if the driving position is wrong, it may still not help much.

 

[wickster]

this may sound rediculous, but I have over 1.5 million logged miles in a tractor trailer, and this comes from experience from many hours a day of driving.

Any chance when you are on longer trips you keep your wallet in your back pocket? I say this because that WILL cause back and lower body pain in trips where you are sitting for longer times than normal. A few years back I would have such bad lower back/hip pain after being behind the wheel for 11 hours. I was talking to my dad about it (46 years over the road exp) and the first thing he asked was where my wallet was when i was driving. I told him in my back pocket. He then said while laughing "put your wallet on your dash you moron". Needless to say, that was the cause of my back/hip issues

 

[ramblerdan]

+1 on the wallet. My chiropractor said the same thing.

 

[scorsone]

I agree with the wallet. You may be experiencing two completely different problems between you and your passenger. I greatly reduced the size of my wallet years ago and it helps. If I am on the road I use one of the little shelves next to the steering wheel to hold my wallet.

I have notice that Honda does seem to design their seats for the "average" american that is a little wide in the torso. My wife had a Acura CL years ago and the seats had the same wide back design as the E. Now, that design works well for the fold flat style seats on the E but for a little "sports" coupe it fails.

 

[Picturetaker]

The 03-06 seats ride better than the 07 and up seats. If you look on You Tube they show crash results on the early design seats that fail bad compaired to the 07 and up design. The new design change has resulted in really bad seats. I would like to have the old design and take my chance.

 

[scorsone]

that youtube video is pretty poor. It looks like the angle is pretty far back on the '03 style. Not to mention the seatbelt seems to be anchored pretty high.

 

[LunchBoxDriver]

+2 on the wallet...

Drove down to the SoCal Spring meet (400 miles one-way) AND BACK on the same day... No issues... I am 6'-1" and a "big boy"... My steering wheel is tilted down, seat raised, backed up all the way and seat tilted back 2 clicks...

I've put down over a 500K miles... Not as many as Wickster mind you, but that's one lesson I've learned 450K miles ago...!

LBD

 

[Tater]

+3 on the wallet.....I discovered the same thing a few years ago and haven't dealt with the problem since. I'm 6' 5", 215 lbs and don't have any issues with my 09 E seats. Now having said that, the longest trip so far in my E has been about 3 hours, but I have a trip to Myrtle Beach in a few weeks, so I'll either have a stronger opinion then, or eat my words! I'd definitely try the wallet thing. A few Ibuprofen before you leave on a long trip isn't a bad idea either....at least it works for me! Good luck!

 

[funkytown]

Thanks for everyone's suggestions so far. Can't be a wallet in my back pocket. I'm a female;-) I've tried adjusting my seat, the steering wheel, etc. On my trips to work this week it's been fine. I think it's just somehow the way the seat is made and the way I'm made:razz: I do know they are about the hardest seat I've ever sat on. Don't remember my '05 sitting like this. I don't think it's necessary to make seats quite THAT hard. I just came from an '08 Jeep Liberty that had comfortable leather seats. Almost makes me want my Liberty back just for the seats:-o...almost.
Oh well, I love my Element. I'll deal with it somehow.