AF-RX8

I don't know if anything is wrong with my particular seat but after spending nearly 4 hours in my car yesterday my back is killing me . . . I never really drive the car for more then 20 minutes but yesterday I had to go to NY City for business.

I am trying to figure out what is the part of the seat that bothers me and I think the backrest needs more padding, my step fathers RX8 feels like his seat has more padding . . .

Anyway I know a lot of you love the seat comfort but does anyone feel uncomfortable in thier seat ? ?



EDIT: I forgot to mention I have the power Leather seat.

blue flash

usallly on long trips i will tilt it pack alittle farther then inflat the lower back support

8_is_enuf

Mine sux too.

mysql101

I'm very comfortable in mine. The only problem I have is my legs are long and I wish I had some support for them to rest besides the side of the door and center console.

DateAn8

Yeah inflating the middle si the best for long trips. Also, I put the front of the seat all the way down, and the rear of the bottom part all the way up so that I sit at a decline towards the pedals. That helps my legs. Do you think something like this http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=42612
would help if you put it in the mid back for extra back support at correct posture??

PA BATMOBILE

I agree with blue flash. If you tilt the seat back a little more than usual (not too much) it helps a lot. Seat heaters help for a real sore back too.

blue flash

my heated seats dont work with the ac on .since it is controlled by the temp setting .or is mine screwed up.

Winning_BlueRX8

If I sit on my *** for 4 hours straight, my back kills me. Doesn't matter what kind of seat it is. Having said that, mine is comfortable. I have the lumbar inflated to the max.

moRotorMotor

Surprisingly, I feel that the seats are the most comfortable that I have been in. I often take the 8 for long road trips and it is because I don't have tremendous back ach after I arrive at my destination.

Xyntax

I think this has to do with body type also. I've had bigger people ride my car and they usually say that the seats are really comfy coz the kidney support and leg support hugs them perfectly. I only get to feel that one side at a time since I'm 5'10" and 160 lbs only. I have to lean to one side of the seat in order to feel the support. If my body was a bit wider, I might be in heaven all the time with these seats.

AF-RX8

Thanks guys for all of the replies, I had a crazy busy day at work today so I haven't had a chance to reply yet but here is the deal ...


I spoke to an Auto upholstery shop and for around $200 they will take the seat apart and replace the foam in the seat to meet what makes me comfortable. Basically you describe to the owner who also does the work exactly what you want and he will custom the foam in the seat to make you comfortable ... included in the deal is one free fitting afterwards so if he doesn't solve your problem, he will then reshape it for you.

I am Psyched to have it done, I am bringing my car in tuesday... I was thinking of going to the dealer but that is such a pain in the butt and this way it gets done in one day and I don't have to make multiple trips to the dealer . . .

RotorManiac

^I agree^ Mine hurts too if I drive more than 3-4 hours. Lumbar inflated to max and heat option relaxes my back a lot.
Seats are great but not the best. I drove my previous car for a whole day(alfa romeo) and never felt anything... those seats were truly something great!

bwayout

I''m truly sorry to hear you had a problem! I really feel your pain!

Sadly when you get to test drive cars it's never for very long. For those short rides the seats always seem fine. I had a similar problem last year, after I just bought a new mp5 (The RX-8 wasn't out yet so was test driving Celicas and RSX's but went with the mp5 for the 5 doors and actually like how it felt better behind the wheel than those others plus I've got 2 car-seated kids so I needed the extra doors and a true back seat).

As soon as I drove to work which is about a 55 minute drive ... after about twenty minutes, my back started hurting and it hurt for the rest of the day for about 8 hours – finally, it was starting to feel OK, but than I had to drive home and it started all over!

:p

I spent 2 weeks trying to find the right seating adjustment (it did seem to be a little better after I took my salesman's advice to also tilt the seat back a little farther... but I did not like driving in that position), I never had that problem in my old 1990 Probe or in my wife's 2000 Passat – than I took a friend's advice who also has a mp5 (he's never had any problems with his) to get a cushion. I did and the problem went a way.

Before I buy the RX-8, I need to be able to rent one and take it on a long drive!

AF-RX8

what cushion did you buy ??

I'd be interested in finding out ...

I actually woke up this morning thinking I am just going to trade it in or sell the 8 on ebay but I rarely take trips with the 8 and I will be buying an extra car (comfy sedan type) within the week (I had just sold my extra car a couple of weeks ago) so the 8 is really going to be the 2 to 3 times a week car, meanwhile I will go have the upholsterer make the seat as comfortable as possible and if that doesn't work then I'll say 'see ya ' to the 8 and see what else is out there to buy . ..

Squidward

try this, tempurpedic rocks.
http://www.sitincomfort.com/bebaunsebawi.html
I have the bed, pillow, and lumbar support. Feels heavenly.

pret

having been in a no-fault accident, my back is messed up, so i am extra careful about seat positioning. i had an isuzu rodeo, and i had to require use of one of those lumbur cushions due to back pain. however, with my 8, i was able to spend the day in it on some long trips without any problems. i have my seat adjusted similiar to some other member's comments, all the way down, slight angle toward petals, i do not have the lumber support seats, i have the cloth seats. we had a company at work come in to 'fit' everyone to new office chairs. they took body measurements and would 'adjust' these office chairs to our body right there for us (see there is a market for everything!) perhaps you can find such a company in your area. good luck

TRZ750

I am 6'4" and 220 lbs. Have back problems, but no problem in the 8, even for a few 8 hr. trips. I have leather seats, lumbar up most the way. The seat reclined so I have head room and no problem. Only thing I notice is when driving hard (turns) I do feel the seat frame on my left hip a little. My wife is also real confortable on the long trips.

Rotary787

I have a small frame and my back was killing me started killing me after I got the car. I also had other things hurting it so I do not know if it was caused by the car. When it was hurting I would put a rolled up towel in back to lower the lumbar support. I went to back therepy & did all these stomach strengthing exercises. Now my back is better and it only bothers when I recline the seat or raise the front of the seat up. I no longer use the towel.

Topgun

This why they call them sports cars. I love the RX-8 and it is fun car to drive. But it does not have enough comfort to make me want to drive it everyday. I drive a 02 S60 turbo Volvo for my daily car. What makes the RX8 great is its low price. I do not mind leaving it in the garage until I want to play with it.

bwayout

I can't remember, but I took an afternoon and visited about 3 of our local auto stores (Pep Boys, Trac Auto, something else, Target and Walmart) and ended up with the cheepest one from one of the autostores. It is a grey cloth covered foam lumber support cushion for under $15 (might have been even under $10) I thought that if it didn't work, I'd pay more ... but it worked!

:D

I just put it against my back, and it's raised about 4 inches up from the bottom – that's where it seems to work the best.

I've attached a pic of something close that I found on the web...

Here's something that I found doing a GOOGLE search – it looks much nicer than my old cushion!


http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/P...0101/langId--1

Good luck!

Hope you don't have to sell the RX-8, But I understand and feel for you!

Try doing your own GOOGLE search – this is what I used:

auto OR car AND "lumbar support" AND "cushion"

Rotary Titus

wow I've had the opposite with my seats, I used to have back aches from drives and now I just drive 8 hrs and my back feels fine!
If it's your lower back that's hurting, extend the lumbar support and raise the back of the bottom part of the seat up so it lifts you up to the lumbar support.
sometimes I find that if I'm sitting loosely in the car and my back tenses up when I make hard turns so you might want to find a position that you feel secure against the side supports and use your left leg or knees or extend arms on the steering wheel to brace yourself in the seat

AF-RX8

thanks again to everyone who gave me advice on this.

I really appreciate it !!