[Rant] My Driver's Seat Sucks

The back pain is coming from weak abs and weak core. Do you even lift?

 

Go to a dealership. Ask for the best sales person. And tell him exactly what you just said. He will fix your problem. That sucks.

 

I had this problem and the only thing that solved it was a new car.

 

Some people I know use this sort of thing for long drives. I've tried it, but isn't very comfortable, but others use it all the time. They are usually under 10 bucks. Seen it at Fry's Electronics being sold randomly this one time.

 

One of these should fix your problem.... Get a BMW, 325,328, 330, 335.... or any BMW....... They have great seats......

 

Buy new seats instead of a new car?

 

You know what... I take that back.. You don't need a new car and or new seats.... You need a chiropractor....

 

Body position is much different in a car than an SUV. The floorboard is lower and the seat higher in an SUV so it puts pressure on different parts of your body.

 

I don't have any advice, but I know how you feel. I have a 2011 Civic that I can't drive for more than an hour without really bad lower back pain. Yet, I can drive around literally all day long in a basic GMC cargo van (the polar opposite of a luxury vehicle) with no pain at all. I think it has a lot to do with the seating height, as Bandwagoner mentioned. In the Civic my knees are a bit higher than my hips--this is bad, bad ergonomics. But I think it's the seat too. I've been in other vans that kill my back too. There is something amazing about the plain-Jane GMC van seat. Good luck!

 

You need seats with lumbar adjustability. My Volkswagen GTI has them and the seats are so damn comfortable. Though I guess that isn't on your list since you are looking for a sedan even though I believe that hatchbacks are more practical. The GTI probably is the best fwd handling car in the market outside the Feista ST.


Again... You need a car with lumbar adjustability. Plain and simple.

 

I think your best bet is to sit in a lot of different cars, and tell the dealer your predicament up front so they don't think you're crazy or indecisive. Do you have friends whose cars you ride in occasionally and don't have this same issue? I just have a bad feeling this won't ever get resolved.

 

Lower back problems from extended time in car seats is usually a symptom of poor lumbar support from the car seat.

 

I regularly cover Bulls games (five hours driving in one night) and Pacer games (2.5), I'm not exactly in the best of shape and I drive an ancient Corolla, so I've had back issues stemming from those trips. The back support pictured above will help, but for me the way out of the pain is constant stretching.

Stretch like mad before you get in the car and after the trip. You won't even need to take a break midway, but if you do have to use the john/get something to eat/drink, stretch again. Only weirdo truckers will look at you funny.

Also try to regulate your posture, pretend like your mom is there telling you what to do. Even on an automatic, keep your hand on the gearshift and try to keep your shoulders squared. Keep every quadrant moving. My back doesn't hurt anymore after long drives, which wasn't the case four/five years ago (when I was obviously younger and in better shape). The back support thingy has long been shelved as a result.

 

Also, if you're thinking about turning that Fusion in for a lower payment and a Fiesta, think again. I love hot hatches and really want to love the Fiesta, but apparently it's about as unreliable as domestic cars come these days.

 

Pronounced: Chiro-Quack-ter

Take 2 Aleve before you start out on your long trip. I also leave my heated seat on, on low.

 

Does the fusion not have a Lumbar support adjuster? If not you need to get a lumbar support cushion/pillow/mesh back support and see how that works out for you.

 

Install a new seat with better lumbar support