I wrote in the forum last october about getting rid of the Kia Stonic I had bought a few weeks earlier.

I went from A Kia Sportage to the Stonic, and it was agony after a few weeks. Bit the bullet and went to a Ssangyong Korando, (Sportage size)

www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/159203/ssangyong-k...o--

Back and hips complaining.

www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=159092

It was torture...

Edited by _ORB_ on 06/05/2022 at 14:50

The seats in the Mk4 MX-5 are not in my opinion up to much.
I've a 2017 soft top which I love, but the seats I just put up with. Unlike most car seats and those in previous versions, they don't have a shell with foam on it, rather they use webbing. I liken them to deck chairs. There is no lumbar support to speak of.

I'm OK for an hour or two but for longer trips I have an inflatable cushion on standby which I put in my lumbar region to relieve my back a bit if necessary.

smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01F8NX6D6/
seems to be out of stock.

smile.amazon.co.uk/Inflatable-ANGGREK-Washable-Bre.../

Another one

I know of an owner who has put his own lumbar support in using old number plates which can be fitted into the seatback frame, a bit like the slats in a bed base, and he has put the inflatable cushion between them and the seat leather.

If you can find a model with Recaro seats they are more padded and feel very different. More supportive but they do feel a bit "perchy" to me.

I've had it for three weeks now. (Mazda MX5 RF)

I'm 6ft4" and although its not the best fit in the world I haven't got any adjustment to make it anymore roomier.

Cripes, 6ft4" and MX5! I'm also 6ft4" and really don't fit in one of these, although I admit I've not tried the latest model. Last time I tried one I looked something like Big Ears driving Noddy's car.

I had similar thoughts a few years ago after a Morgan factory tour but the thought bubble was burst when I discovered I could only push the clutch pedal down on the way into the car and release it on the way out.

Myself I don't fit well in many cars - driving Mrs BJ's Panda is, er interesting. I can just drive it but it's not at all comfortable for me - eg the space on the door card that is designed for you right knee to have room to move is way too far forward so my knee butts up against the door handle. When looking right I use the rear window and the seat belt mount is too far forward.

I've had a lot of trouble fitting in cars over the decades and it's getting worse as I get older. I got a lot of advice from my local chiropractor who I had taken on to try a fix problems caused by previous cars - I used to do very high mileages in cars that weren't really suitable.

In summary I'd go and see a good Chiropractor but I think the car will have to go! On the up side used car prices are holding up well.

Edited by Big John on 06/05/2022 at 19:43

My best mate has a gen-3 MX-5 and even though I'm only 5ft 10in tall, I've always found the seating position to be uncomfortable for the passenger, let alone the driver. I had a similar problem in the passenger seat of his previous car, a MGTF - I just didn't like the 'go-kart' type seating position I had to adopt to avoid hitting my head on the roof headliner.

Much easier for my mate, who's about 4in or so shorter.

It's the reason why I always see what the seating/driving position (including checking for pedal/steering wheel offset and whether the car has a left foot rest [a must for me]) is like when justing viewing the car, including making the best seat and steering wheel adjustments for comfort and ergonomics.

Only if I am happy to proceed will I even contemplate a test drive, carrying that driving position over before setting off. I've found that getting a correct ergonomic driving position is far more than just pulling the seat foward/back as some do, especially if you're prone to back problems as I am.

Similarly with people going on short test drives or just on smooth local roads, rather than longer runs (1hr+) on a variety of representative roads and surfaces, especially when the car is sporty with firm suspension and/or has low profile tyres.

I know many people over the years regret a car purchase after just a short time beacuse they negelected to do the above and it cost them several £0000s to PX / sell privately their brand new car and get something more suitable.

Sometimes some issues don't become apparent for some time, which is understandable, but normally with sporty cars, it should be relatively obvious given the large difference in driving experience / ride quality between them and 'ordinary' cars.

Whether a change in seat here will make any difference, given the OP's height - probably not. It may be better to sell the car and get a reasonably sporty car, but more 'conevntional' as regards the driving position.

I still think that the firm ride may also play a part in their back problems, which could preclude any sporty cars, as it's almost impossble to find one that doesn't have very low profile tyres (40 or lower) and very firm suspension compared to ones with 45-50 profile tyres (normally 17in) and not overly firm suspension.

Anything with 55 profile (which 20 years ago was considered quite reasonable for handling without being overly firm ride-wise) will only now be available on the entry-level 'sporty' cars (those with N/A 2L or 1.5T petrol engines [130 - 150PS] and lowest trim levels), which aren't that sporty. And they aren't that cheap, because they tend to be 'premium' brands.

Edited by Engineer Andy on 07/05/2022 at 12:54

Fiesta and Mazda 2 caused me back issues as poor quality unsupportive seats. Seat Mii had more support and no issues. No issues with a Seat Toledo. Defo the seats!