Unpopular opinion: modern car seats are just not comfortable
Posted by frenchynerd@reddit | Autos | View on Reddit | 212 comments
I'm back from a car show and I've sat in a lot of different models.
Seating in an economy car like a Corolla or a luxury car like a Cadillac basically feels the same.
All the seats are hard. A lot of them had hard parts poking the back. Pretty much all of them have crappy head restraints with angles that are either uncomfortable or simply painful. Some seats were less bad than others (Ford Mach-E, the head restraint was actually tolerable), but none of them could be called cosy or really comfortable.
What is happening with our auto industry? Do people really prefer those seats compared to those from 10-15-20 years ago?
Like in the picture here, from a Cadillac, which engineer thought this could be even remotely comfortable?
Virtual-Effective-48@reddit
Yep. Disc injury here. I now need to add a pillow just for some back support and don't get my started on the head rests. They make my head sit so forward. Can't be good on the neck. Can't even have a ponytail on my head. I'm sitting in a Subaru Forrester right now and not having fun in this passenger seat. ..
boliviandubstepfan@reddit
Horrible take. I have the most basic car ever, the corolla 2010, and find it pretty comfy. The seat itself actually seems to be more comfy than the seat with the seat cover on, and i paid a hundred for the seat covers. This does mean that any other car does have seats more comfy since a corolla 2010 is rock bottom.
PrxjectNotorious@reddit
Your not wrong. We need couch cushion type of seats. Bet itll lower car crash deaths and injuries. Not by much but by a little. Absorbs the impacts a slight bit.
caverunner17@reddit
My biggest issue is the excessive Lumbar in my F150. I hate lumbar support and it doesn't retract enough.
QuickCharisma15@reddit
I have a 2001 Expedition and I feel the same way. My lumbar support is at the lowest setting and it still juts into my back. In most cars I have some lumbar support but the Expedition is already pushing outwards no matter what.
No, it’s not broken, I’ve maxed it out to see the difference and it does move, it just won’t disappear if I wanted it to.
Lower-Employer2796@reddit
It could be at the standard 40% lumbar if there is an air bag in the seat. The crown Vic with limited seats that have airbags have the lumbar preset at 40% due to the airbag
frenchynerd@reddit (OP)
I hate that too. I have scoliosis, and a hard plastic part protruding in my back has never helped me.
Substantial-Ask-4609@reddit
this is an unpopular opinion as much as "drinking water is good" is unpopular
yes, everything became "sporty" and now seats are shit while most cars as unsporty as much as they've always have been
ottrocity@reddit
The comfiest seats I sit in are sports car seats with good bolsters and lots of adjustment.
The worst ones are the unsupportive shit made for fat Americans. Looking at you, F-150.
Alabatman@reddit
Hard disagree. I'm not a fan of bolstering and fitting like a glove. I'm not 20 anymore and want to drive a couch...keep sporty seats in sporty cars. Bring back old man Lincoln seats for old man cars...they can be an option on family cars.
mattcintosh@reddit
My "collectors" car is a 1993 Taurus wagon with 3.8L engine, column shifter and 60/40 bench seat. So much more comfortable than that newer junk they have out there now
Aggressive_Pilot2760@reddit
Then buy a Lincoln nautilus - hubby is 6'2", VERY long legs, just got one & is thrilled with it! But be prepared, it doesn't have a stick shift of any sort, instead there are "piano keys" for a gear shift. Enjoy!
Alabatman@reddit
If you told me it has a column shifter I'd be at the dealer right now ;-).
clickstops@reddit
Those seats are straight up worse for back pain though. In the same way that comfy, flat cushiony lounge shoes are comfy for a few minutes but will kill you over 6 hours. Whereas shoes with support will keep you feeling good.
Limp-Ad-2068@reddit
Not if the seat doesn’t fit you, personally, properly. And since people are all different, that happens a lot. If you’re the average height/weight/leg length/etc. male, lucky you. For the rest of us, those shaped seats are torture devices. Don’t get me started on the headrests that assume everyone is a hunchback.
Alabatman@reddit
I don't disagree, but on a long Road Trip a full size SUV is more comfortable for me than a sport sedan...from a seating perspective alone. I like having space to shift positions from time to time.
munche@reddit
I have a 1994 Buick Roadmaster Wagon with a bench front seat
After like 45 minutes of driving the "couch" my back starts to hurt it turns out lots of cushion and no support isn't actually that comfortable in real life, it's just what people think is comfortable sitting on it for 5 minutes
Dr_Mickael@reddit
I can't wrap my mind around the number of people here that genuinely believe that a fluffy seat with no support whatsoever is more confortable in a long ride than a firm seat with support. We all agree that our grandma's ridiculously thick and soft mattress is actually crap and that a firm mattress is light-years better for our back, but it would be the other way around for a car seat?
Iamjimmym@reddit
I had a 1991 Buick Park Avenue - it was guilty of the same thing. Excellent comfy seats for 15 minutes.. road trips killed my back.
Alabatman@reddit
I drive a Ford SUV from that era and love it for long road trips. Now it's been my daily driver the whole time too so it's likely molded to me after all that time.
AKADriver@reddit
I'm 42 and I still want sport seats.
Sublethall@reddit
Best seats I've sat in were in Macan S could adjust them just right. It took a while to get right but after that 10 h road trip was easy
APR824@reddit
My Toyota 86 seat fits me like a glove, just had to buy a lumbar pillow, every other regular car I drive I feel like I’m going to fall out of the seat around a corner
goatharper@reddit
My FR-S seat bolsters come up a bit high for me: they get into my latissimus dorsi. I'm not short (5'11") but my lats are kinda oversized. It's not uncomfortable but it isn't perfect.
Corrupt_Reverend@reddit
What kills me is the "lumbar support" bulge that is always down at your tailbone forcing your back to slump rather than hold a healthy curvy. (Those bullshit gaming chairs are often guilty of this too)
Oh, and wtf is up with the steering wheel not being centered to the driver's seat?
hoytmobley@reddit
Oh god, once I notice the steering wheel not centered it ruins a car for me. Sliiiiiiight pass to work trucks that have a front bench seat meant for 3 people, but bucket seats in a small car? Infuriating
Hilobird@reddit
Preach brother
Sillyfiremans@reddit
Exactly. Every car now needs 20 inch wheels and low profile tires because race car. God forbid a family sedan with 200 hp be comfortable and easy to ride in.
Ihate_reddit_app@reddit
Even more funny is that 20" wheels and low profile tires aren't actually used on real race cars.
count_lavender@reddit
I guess group GT4 (probably others but this is off the top of my head) doesn't exist).
Ihate_reddit_app@reddit
Leave it to a redditor to pick out a random touring car series that uses slightly larger wheels. They still use 18" wheels with a decent sidewall.
Nascar switched to 18" wheels as well and it's been a disaster compared to the old 15" wheels, but they wanted to look more like a production car.
What series uses 20" wheels?
Legs11@reddit
Truck racing uses 22.5" wheels (/s but only a little bit, truck circuit racing is hilarious)
FocussedXMAN@reddit
My Civic Type R racing league that to see how fast I can get home from work
legitducks@reddit
"Group GT4" The racing understander has logged on
theyoyomaster@reddit
20 inch wheels aren't because race car. The reasons cars have massive wheels these days is pedestrian safety. To reduce the chance of injury to pedestrians, hoodlines have been raised to create a standoff distance between someone impacting the hood and hard objects below it like the engine and windshield wiper motors. With the hood line raised every other part of the design language needs to match with the fender lines and wheel arches included. When they shift proportionally with the hood the wheels start sticking out if they aren't big enough so massive and heavy wheels have become the standard.
Spencie61@reddit
What’s even dumber is that a properly setup fixed back bucket seat can actually be incredibly comfortable, you just can’t cheap out on it
I vastly prefer the sparco I just bought to any of the stock seats in my cars because instead of halfway doing the performance driving and support thing and halfway doing the loose bench seat thing, it commits appropriately to actually supporting you where it matters
weasler7@reddit
Honest question to everyone. Do people actually like the headrest angled forward like that?
frenchynerd@reddit (OP)
And if so, please explain why. I don't get it at all.
orthopod@reddit
Supports the head on rear impacts, preventing whiplash.
As an orthopedic surgeon, they are quite effective. Usually they are adjustable.
Limp-Ad-2068@reddit
Very few of them are adjustable - the only ones I know of are in very expensive vehicles. And if you don’t have a hunchback they hurt your neck all the time. There has got to be a way to provide support in a crash without putting people in pain all the dang time.
Personally, we started buying used cars in 2010 because we couldn’t find any new cars that didn’t cause me pain the instant I sat in them. I just made a 400 mile trip (200 there the first day and 200 back the next) as a passenger in my daughter’s 2019 Corolla and was in pain the whole time. Drove it for a couple days last fall and was in even more pain, even though it was much less driving - it took me most of a week to recover.
So while I don’t doubt that they lessen whiplash incidence, but in about 35 years of driving, I have yet to have a whiplash incident. And if I use a car with those seats, I will be in constant pain. We’re not all built the same, so seats fitted to some average are ridiculous. I still can’t figure out who those tilted headrests are designed to fit.
paradine7@reddit
Curious which cars you found work for you?
Senziga@reddit
I hace camaroni back from years of PC gaming, i wish my car had a leaned headrest.
tman2damax11@reddit
This is for crash safety correctly angled vs correctly angled
asking--questions@reddit
The difference I'm seeing is the support behind your skull instead of just the squishy whip of your neck. Is it possible to have a taller headrest that doesn't push your head forward?
Mr_Mumbercycle@reddit
My thoughts exactly, the angle seems to have no effect. Not to mention that no one with one of the angled headrests actually has the back of their head pressed up against it. We all tend to tilt the back of the seat down and lean forward to compensate.
cfreezy72@reddit
I've read before that it's best to have less than 2" from your head to the head rest before a crash and i think the forward angle kinda forces that to be the case. But the ones in my work truck were hurting my neck so much i just spun them around backwards even tho i know it's not safe but damn my neck isn't killing me all day long.
alagaesia7@reddit
I did that in my Impreza once. Couldn't drive it otherwise
alagaesia7@reddit
If you look closely it's nearly the same angle but the whole seat height is different against the presumably same-height dummy. I dunno about you but I never meet anyone taller than the seat
Aggressive_Pilot2760@reddit
Thank you... I understand now.
photographally@reddit
I am too short for mine though, the headrest doesn’t go down all the way and if I have my hair tied up the base pushes my head forwards. It’s very uncomfortable. My whole seat is uncomfortable and not made for a short person ☹️
Spencie61@reddit
It’s only correctly angled because people recline their seats too far. I prefer to have a much more vertical seating position and the headrest absolutely pokes my head forward and down
SkylineFTW97@reddit
I leave mine at close to vertical too. Or I did until I dealt with modern headrests, now I have to tilt it further back because of them
Limp-Ad-2068@reddit
I’ve given up and flipped the headrest around so I can sit comfortably. It’s still within 1-1.5 inches of my head.
tman2damax11@reddit
Yeah that's to stop your neck from snapping backwards...
Limp-Ad-2068@reddit
I’d suggest that you can have a head restraint that does that without pushing your chin into your chest.
Spencie61@reddit
The effective headrest angle in your good vs bad example is roughly the same, hard to tell because I can’t pause it on mobile. The big difference is that in the good example, it’s a headrest, and in the bad example, it’s a neck fulcrum. In both examples the seat is very obviously reclined further than I sit. With a seat that far reclined, the angled in headrest offers support. To position my shoulders appropriately in the car with the seatback, headrests that lean forward do not make good contact with my head. Maybe that means I should suck it up and recline more, but that’s not comfortable and leads to my arms being too straight when I reach for the steering wheel or shifter
br0ck@reddit
I don't know why you're downvoted, I have the same exact issue.
Spencie61@reddit
Obviously I’m not normal ergonomics for car manufacturers, I’m very thin and extremely tall, so getting myself where the steering wheel/shifter/pedals are in the right place is usually compromising somewhere else
Limp-Ad-2068@reddit
And yet here I am, 5’4” with short legs (so I sit tall), not very thin, and none of the seats fit me, either. They all push my head forward, as in chin to chest, and yet my upper back and neck still aren’t touching the seat. I’ve been told to recline, but my chin is still in my chest then, and I also called reach the steering wheel. I also have broad shoulders and seats with a lot of bolstering push them forward.
It’s almost like people are all built differently and a seat designed for some mythical “average” isn’t going to fit a lot of people. Ugh. The problem isn’t you - the problem is auto manufacturers designing seats without taking different builds into account. There needs to be more adjustability to account for this.
Infuryous@reddit
I noticed that too, the big differnce was the height of tje head rest, not the angle.
adfthgchjg@reddit
Wrong. Those have the same angle. The bad gif is bad because it’s too low.
Infuryous@reddit
That's more due to height than angle. The "incorrect one" only goes up to neck height causing wiplash, while the "correct one" goes to the top of the head preventing wiplash.
The fixed forward angle ones make my neck sore and I end up with a migraine within about 20 minutes.
RetroRoberino@reddit
I'm so tired of seeing cars get worse and worse because of "safety".
People should stay at home if they are so worried about their safety. These new seats all suck.
bingojed@reddit
Well I’d hate to see it incorrectly angled now.
SithSidious@reddit
Also doesn’t that make a risk for a neck injury if you are rear ended? Wouldn’t it force your neck to bend downwards rather than be straight?
Tje199@reddit
Not if it's properly adjusted. Automakers are trending towards making things more and more safe, so anytime there is a weird decision that's been made you can almost certainly bet money that the reason for that decision is occupant safety.
These things aren't just gut feel either, lots of testing and engineering done.
Also, even if it makes your neck bend forward and down - that's the way necks are meant to be bent - most people can tuck their chin to their chest without discomfort or injury. The problem comes when you bend your neck backwards/up.
Falandyszeus@reddit
They ought to make it more comfortable to have your headrest in the correct position then, seems most newer cars have rock hard headrests, where sure it might be safer if your head is up against it before the crash, but you probably won't cause its unpleasant...
So as to avoid leaning your head against something uncomfortable you instead instead bounce the back of your head into the fabric covered brick that's replaced headrests...
(Genuinely no idea if thats the case, I just wanted to rant about how shite modern headrests feel...)
Tje199@reddit
Unfortunately safety and comfort are often (but not always) mutually exclusive.
Lots of people do not find FIA fixed-back race seats to be comfortable (I have been called weird by other race drivers for saying I find mine super comfy).
Makes me wonder if they're using a foam similar to the FIA-spec roll cage padding which is an extremely dense and hard foam but that makes a big difference when you're trying to decelerate a bowling ball from 60mph (or more) in the safest way possible.
It's counter-intuitive because you'd think a nice, soft, squishy foam would be best but when you're in "comfort mode" you're not slamming your head into that foam at high speed.
Falandyszeus@reddit
I can see where you're coming from, as someone who prefers "hard" beds.
Can't say the same for car seats though, I'll take some 90s Volvo's!
Not sure I'm convinced that's the ideal way, seems more like a compromise between wanting the roll bars covered in foam so you have some level of dampening and not having them take up too much space and blocking vision more than necessary.
Clearly preferable to bare metal, but the safest way possible tends to be maximum distance minimal G's.
Sure if you're "using it right", my query is whether or not it's inherently dissuading the user from doing so.
To a degree where the safer version is possibly more detrimental cause you're inclined to use it wrong, than the suboptimal version where you are inclined to use it right.
I'm sure they're great if your head never picks up much speed cause you don't mind leaning against a brick wall the 99.99999..99% of the time you aren't actively crashing.
Alternatively I'm sure you could make a hybrid that's flexible normally but hardens when necessary with some D30 or so.
frenchynerd@reddit (OP)
Exactly. On top of being weirdly angled, they are so hard!
Tje199@reddit
See my reply to u/Falandyszeus - harder foams are (generally) better at absorbing/dissipating energy during a crash. I have no idea if you have any experience with race cars but there are basically two types of roll cage padding/foam.
There is the pool noodle style which has big air pockets and is very squishy - nice and comfy when you're not in a crash but if you do crash your arm/leg/whatever will very quickly compress that foam and then you're basically hitting a metal bar. It does basically nothing for energy dissipation.
Then there is FIA foam which is extremely dense and so stiff it kinda hurts to hit your arm against in regular driving but in a crash it's far better than direct metal contact. It's extremely good at absorbing the energy during a crash and also preventing you from contacting the steel of the cage.
I'm not saying they're using literally the same foam but the hardness is almost certainly for safety reasons.
orthopod@reddit
No this helps prevent whiplash.
Source- in an orthopaedic surgeon, and I also race cars
sergiy-slobodyan@reddit
I totally agree with you. I got a BMW X5 after Outback, Civic and Corolla. The seats are painful (https://youtu.be/3dx39qf9urY), though I believe its because of the defect that BMW doesn't acknowledge. Though while I was solving for seats in my X5, I tried Acura RDX, MDX, Large Lexus SUVs, Toyota Highlander and Grand H, Subaru, Mazda CX9, and some others. So
Acura has the widest seat between the bolsters and I liked it the most. Lexus'es have narrow seats, the part between the bolsters, even their largest SUV has narrow seats, why??? I liked the seats in regular Highlander, but the new Grand High is again narrow and hard. Mazda's seats are like wooden bench, and Subaru's ventilated seats are hard as well, while non-ventilated are ok.
When I'll be picking my next car, I'll be looking for non-ventilated, non-massage seats, with wide bottom part between the bolsters and preferably flat instead of bucket.
Spl4tB0mb@reddit
Yeah, most of the time they tend to be too hard, or make your legs go numb after extended periods of time (say, a road trip or long commute).
Substantial-Ask-4609@reddit
you too? modern seats tend to bite into the region between my thighs and behind, and my legs go numb. it happens mostly with my mom's 2014 c class for me
Spl4tB0mb@reddit
Yep, it sucks cus it makes me have to wait until my legs "wake up" again to get up and not collapse, it cuts blood flow pretty badly, sometimes I just use my sweater under my legs and it alleviates it greatly, but it shouldn't be a thing.
Aggressive_Pilot2760@reddit
I am having a similar issue & just found "clip-on" seat extenders online, reasonable priced. Maybe try that instead of a sweater?
FordsFavouriteTowel@reddit
My 2010 Mustang premium trim has fully adjustable seats, so I can adjust the angle of the part my butt is on and get my thighs comfy and in proper position to avoid them falling asleep.
I essentially sit in a bucket seat with how goofy the angle is, but it works for me.
Baffling that it isn’t a standard feature in 2024.
Spl4tB0mb@reddit
the S550 stangs are uncomfy as hell imo, but the preimum trim S197s were something else, they were actually comfortable imo.
RunninOnMT@reddit
Sometimes it’s just adjustment. It took me almost 6 months of messing around before I found a position that was good for 2+ hours.
Spl4tB0mb@reddit
It depends, the car I'm talking about is a family member's Rav4 TRD Off Road...especially the backseats...those are hard as hell, front ones are more comfortable and they are adjustable, but eh, the back ones are more just quick commute ones lmao
Aggressive_Pilot2760@reddit
Not only are they harder but I find the seat itself is shorter, hitting the middle of the backs of my thighs instead of the backs of my knees. I found seat extenders online, will try one to see if it solves the problem.
Illustrious-Swim7249@reddit
I’m having the exact opposite problem. I cannot find a couch or even recliner that doesn’t hurt me. The only time my back, butt, leg and sciatic nerve stops hurting is when I’m sitting in my 2013 ram truck seats.
iandix@reddit
Yo do know that head RESTRAINTS aren't for comfort don't you? They're not headrests, their purpose is to prevent one's head oscillating like a balloon on a stick in the event of a collision. So, no, comfort isn't on the list of features when designing a head restraint.
Limp-Ad-2068@reddit
Car seats that force your body into contorted positions that cause constant pain cannot possibly be considered “safe” - they are literally causing physical harm. And a driver distracted by pain is a less safe driver. The crash tests where they declared these things “safe” use crash test dummies, which do not get neck pain, migraines, etc.
The head restraint is literally in the space that my head needs to be in if the rest of my body is in the seat. It needs to be behind my head if it’s going to restrain it from snapping backwards, not in the middle of it.
Fryphax@reddit
"Torture Device"
You aren't supposed to be laying down when you drive. It's not a pillow. It's "Don't break my neck"
https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/man-driving-seated-on-a-car-seat-gm515601734-88574185
Limp-Ad-2068@reddit
That shouldn’t cause neck pain upon sitting in the car for five minutes, though.
Fryphax@reddit
The point is, the head 'rest' is not meant to lay your head on while you drive. It's there for safety in a crash.
Limp-Ad-2068@reddit
Sure. But it’s angled forward to where it’s in the space my head needs to be in if the rest of my body is in the seat. If it was adjustable to where it just touched my head, that would be great, but it’s not.
wallaka@reddit
Not everybody is your shape and size, dude. I've never sat in a the front seat of a car that "pokes my back" or had any issue with head restraints, so I don't think there's a problem at all.
Envowner@reddit
Not everybody is your shape and size, dude. I've sat in the front seat of a car that "pokes my back" and had issues with head restraints, so I think there's a problem.
wallaka@reddit
Good on you for getting the point
Envowner@reddit
Your dismissal of a problem not existing because you don’t personally experience it seems uniquely American
wallaka@reddit
You assuming that everybody has the same experience as you seems painfully out of touch. The point is it's a problem for YOU, not the manufacturers, or everybody else.
Limp-Ad-2068@reddit
It’s a problem for lots of people. You happen to be fortunate enough to not be one of them.
Envowner@reddit
“Unpopular OPINION: modern car seats are just not comfortable”
“Do people really prefer those seats compared to those from 10-15-20 years ago?“
OP clearly was not declaring any of this fact for the entire population (literally calling it an unpopular opinion). They shared their experience on a public forum and asked if people really prefer the new stuff and you responded saying NO I DONT EXPERIENCE THIS IT ISNT REAL lmao
Also “anecdotes aren’t data” lol bro OP wasn’t writing their PhD thesis, they just found seats uncomfortable and posted on a discussion forum about it. You’re the only one who’s making declarative statements?
Giving off big 14 year old debate lord vibes dude just relax a bit
chriswaco@reddit
Honda head restraints were terrible a few years ago. Both my wife and I couldn’t believe how uncomfortable they were. They seem a bit better this year.
Tall-Independent-575@reddit
Comfort is complex, first sit Comfort is easy (soft) longer sit Comfort requires support, which leads to firmer surfaces which often do not have that initial sense of comfort. Ergo design takes time and knowledge to get right. Most manufactures no longer make the own seats. So the oem trim style gets forced over the lowest route supplier.
carguy82j@reddit
I love my 2005 Yukon seats. Like sitting on a recliner
frenchynerd@reddit (OP)
They don't do them like that anymore! No, it's more like sitting on a park bench!
carguy82j@reddit
Yes, I understand sports cars. I build and work on them. No need for sport seats in a pick up truck or full size SUV.
mkchampion@reddit
I think it depends on whether the car is marketed towards trying to be sporty (a lot of cadillac’s are doing that these days, just to be specific).
I think the seats in my 2018 bmw 2 series are pretty comfortable. Obviously the H-point is low but the seats themselves feel comfy to sit in and have good lumbar and thigh support for the low angle.
LOL what’s up with the forward angled headrest in that cadillac lol are they trying to force you to look down at their shitty infotainment? Is that a thing now??
Thuraash@reddit
I suspect they're designing the headrests around people who recline the seat twenty degrees back. Frustrating for those of us who prefer a more upright posture and basically cannot use the backrest at all as a result.
Reasonable_Guava8079@reddit
The forward angled headrests are the worst. I realize it’s a safety thing but holy shit does my neck die about 5 min in to a drive. I can’t.
WhenVioletsTurnGrey@reddit
My old car has an aluminum bucket with a lightly padded leather cover over it. I can ride in it all day. Not sure what advances could be worse than that?
therealpilgrim@reddit
My first car was a 99 Crown Victoria. It basically had 2 couches for seats. That soft fabric was a bitch to keep clean, but man do I miss driving that boat around in absolute comfort.
B0OG@reddit
I had a 99 Lexus LS400 recently and man it felt like sitting in the living room while driving
callacmcg@reddit
Had a 2010, seats were comfy for an hour but holy hell did they mess my back up for anything longer. Switched to a Miata with the stock Recaros and the support alone makes up for the much bumpier ride. My monthly 4 hour drive is much more comfortable now.
There's a line between comfy and support, my e46 nailed it and the Recaros in my Miata are heavenly (worth the $4k package). Vic seats were like a bad thrifted lazyboy
auto180sx@reddit
My E46 was absolutely the most comfortable car I’ve ever owned. Cheers to our fallen comrades!
callacmcg@reddit
Perfect mix of comfort and poise, anyways felt sturdy and planted without rattling you around
Doctor_Expendable@reddit
My buddy's first vehicle was an old truck with a bench seat. After the truck died we ripped the seat out of there and put legs on it. Had a fairly comfy love seat couch with that.
OuchMyHurt@reddit
I drive a 99’ crown Vic right now. I love it endlessly and sometimes sit in the backseat when I want to just relax
RunninOnMT@reddit
My best friend had a couple of Vics.
I had pretty bad tailbone pain when I’d ride in them or drive them. Super unsupportive, whereas the stiffer sports car stuff was fine
callacmcg@reddit
Those seats are brutal on your lower back, don't know how cops sat in them for hours a day. I'll take real support over those foam blocks any day
racingsoldier@reddit
Holy shit! I drove a 98 Vic in High school. That thing was awesome for a high school kid. Lots of V8 power, huge spacious bed room for a backseat and a lazy boy couch for a front seat.
It also helped that its what the cops were currently driving so people got the fuck out of my way and the local jurisdiction left me alone because what 17 year old kid would be driving one of those?
frenchynerd@reddit (OP)
I think that I will try to find a low mileage similar model for my next car instead of investing a huge amount of money for sitting in a dentist chair.
Thunderpuss_5000@reddit
My 2013 Denali seats are the best seats I’ve ever ridden in.
Marcus_Brody@reddit
I think the issue is over-design and marketing and market positioning. Each seat of each car tier needs to feel better than the one below it and align with whatever crash test standards and heating and cooling and lumbar and massage.
20 years ago you just stuffed the shit out of luxury car seats or bolstered the hell out of sports cars or put some rubber on a board for trucks and called it a day. There wasn't much else for seats to do I guess.
Then more cars in more segments watered everything down except the ultra high end stuff, somewhat by design.
I rode in a new Escalade a few months ago, it was no different than a Tahoe. Serious let down.
Our Lincoln Aviator has the most comfortable seats I've ever owned or sat in for any length of time. It's just fantastic. The seating *position * sucks, however, but maybe I'm not an SUV guy.
Our XJ has an extremely comfortable seat and great seating position, but you still start to get driving fatigue.
Our Stinger has a typical sport seat so you know how that goes but the leg extender things are nice.
They are out there, but you gotta hunt.
frenchynerd@reddit (OP)
Is your Aviator recent? I sat today in the Corsair, and it felt the same as all the seats from all the other brands and prices. Hard cushion and uncomfortable head restraint. Only thing different was the quirky separation for each thigh.
Marcus_Brody@reddit
It's a 2020. It does have the thigh thing.
I don't really use it but the movable headrest is nice.
The Jag headrests are like pillows haha.
wut_eva_bish@reddit
Maybe it's not modern seats, but instead your ever-expanding backside.
I keed...
sort of.
QualityCucumber@reddit
You haven't been in the Ioniq 5 yet. The limited seats are superb. I sold my Tesla once I test drove one.
OkDifference5636@reddit
My Acura RL seats were comfortable and so are my Volvo V60 seats.
Stillwindows95@reddit
I have an answer that may explain this. Recently my usual trains from where I live into London were replaced with newer trains. Everyone complained the seating was too hard and uncomfortable.
The answer is that the filling of the seats are designed to burn out quicker in the event of a fire, rather than burning for a long period of time. That sounds dangerous but generally speaking it's safer than the alternative, which were also flammable but will be alight for a very long time.
VokN@reddit
Are you fat by any chance? I’ve sat in a 718 gts for 6 hour drives semi regularly and it’s plenty comfortable, but I guess you mean the mid level luxury “racing” look rather than actual racing/ bucket seats?
I mentioned weight because the gts has bit fuck off wrap around bits on the edges that I bet would hurt like a bitch if you weighed 200 or were just built like a Pacific Islander
lovesdick@reddit
I am fat and drive a GTI. I personally love the hard bolstered seats but my wife who's 100lbs hates them and wishes they were more soft. I think it's a preference thing but I kind of disagree with OPs post. Before my GTI I had a 2019 ram which had very comfy seats, and I had a couple other pick up trucks that were the same. I also have a 2008 sienna and it's much different. I also travel a lot for work and end up in different rental cars all the time so I don't think this is something I experience very much. I feel like the seats in my GTI are actually hard and bolstered and in other cars they're too cushy and soft. The cushy and soft seats tend to compress after hours of driving, and make it really hard to not hurt my ass after a few hours. But I've taken very long drives in my GTI 6+ hours and loved every minute of it. It might just be a personal preference thing and everyone's body is different too.
jmblur@reddit
wish my 718 gts had buckets. My 18 way couches are nice but I'd love to drop the 40-50 lbs and make it possible to get actual harnesses on the car. Of course it'd cost me 14k to do it now so that's not happening!
(FWIW I'm 6' 190lbs and not particularly athletic build at the moment and the buckets I've sat in have been very comfortable, albeit only for an autocross run or two)
VokN@reddit
Yeah I got super lucky with the spec, some old lady sold it for the same exact top spec new 718 4.0 I don’t think I’d pay for all these extras if I was doing it myself lol
ehggsaladsandwich@reddit
Bucket seats are the only good chair. Regular car seats suck. Office chairs suck. Couches suck. Bench sucks. Toilet sucks. Bed sucks. Bucket seat is the final evolution. Drive in the bucket seat. Eat in the bucket seat. Sleep in the bucket seat. Shit it the bucket seat. Burry me in a bucket seat. Gaming chairs are the ultimate travesty of capitalism; they are an insult to man and bucket seat alike. Gaming chair is shitty office chair trying to deceive you into believing it is bucket seat. Do not believe the lies. Take bucket seat from car and put it on office chair wheelie base, and only then will you experience enlightenment. Give me bucket seat or give me death.
frenchynerd@reddit (OP)
It's the opposite, I'm tall and only 130 pounds, and I have scoliosis.
Fryphax@reddit
So you have no built in cushion and you have a condition that make you crooked from normal human. Here I was guessing 6'4" 375
frenchynerd@reddit (OP)
Exactly! So I need seats with cushioning and which won't crook me more. It was possible before, but none of the seats I've tried today would work for me, especially on long drives.
siredmundsnaillary@reddit
This might sound counterintuitive, but less-padded and more bucket-like seats could be more comfortable for you. Modern sofa like seats tend to be over-stuffed so if you’re skinny you feel like you feel like you’re perching on them.
jackel3415@reddit
I have similar body type to OP and I can confirm I found Sparco bucket seats comfy for daily dives.
circuit_heart@reddit
You need to shop around different car brands, though the ones with good seats may be out of your budget. Most new Japanese cars I tried have uncomfortable seats except for (oddly) the Civic Si. Porsche and Volvo work for me as well, you're intended to recline more to sit more in a Zero-G position, so once you're in there it's comfortable for hours and hours.
frenchynerd@reddit (OP)
When I recline too much, I get upper back pain. That's why I sit in a more upright position, which is making neck-pushing head restraints even more painful.
circuit_heart@reddit
That means the seat isn't reclining correctly for you. Unless your scoliosis is so severe that your muscles didn't develop normally, supporting the whole back via the seat requires less core strength/effort than supporting your upper back via your lower back when sitting upright.
If you go to a furniture store and you need to sit upright in every single sofa/couch to avoid back pain, please go talk to your doctor.
frenchynerd@reddit (OP)
At home, it's the opposite, I recline to watch TV. And I have a very comfortable soft plush recliner, no issues at all.
I believe the difference when driving is having the arms up to hold the wheel, which strains the upper back muscles. Maybe?
circuit_heart@reddit
Your arms should never be "up" and never require back muscles to keep up. A natural driving position is one where your back and arms exert next to no force when cruising at constant velocity. Arms should be bent, upper arms close to your rib cage when your hands are at 3- and 9-o'clock. Elbows should basically drop by gravity and be held in space only by 1) your hands semi-gripping the wheel and 2) your shoulders preferentially dropping back against the seat, not being held up by your core. That's why reclining in a car is so important.
I rest my hands at 4 and 8 all the time and my elbows are just resting on my stomach. Argument by authority - I'm an amateur racing driver and track instructor. Doing 12-24hr stints in a car used to be a regular thing for me, so posture, ergo, and technique is key to staying comfortable for so long.
VokN@reddit
Damn I’m around 130-40 5’10, I’ve never found cushioning to be more important than the actual shape of the seat but maybe I’m weird since I found even the old mk1 lotus Elise foam seats tolerable
nyclurker369@reddit
Sit in a Volvo my friend. chefs kiss
SamDroideka@reddit
Yup. Did a 1200km trip this summer in my 2020 V60. Only had to stop 3x for food / restroom breaks. When we arrived at our destination I felt as fresh as when we first left.
OD_Emperor@reddit
I think it depends on the car. I love the seats in my challenger, yeah they're sporty-ish but also very supportive overall.
Now, a big luxury car or truck, you'd better fucking bet I want them COMFY.
NewAustralopithecine@reddit
I have a Mazda with leather heated seats. Sometimes I have no where to go but just start up the car, turn on the heated seat and drive around.
Usually end up at a pub. Often extolling the virtue of my leather heated seats to anyone who would ask about the smile on my face. Then I drive home, after a pint, at a slow pace. With my luxurious, leather, ass warming, seats.
SchleifmittelSchwanz@reddit
Classic is KEY!
Want a car that you could figure out what you're in while blindfolded? Get a classic.
Want a car that you need to see the badge to figured out what it is? Get a new Corolla/Jetta.
dumptruckbhadie@reddit
You should try the seats in a 2008 Toyota Yaris. Mine are fucking amazing!
Constriction@reddit
2 questions/points -
Safety is part of it, the more guidelines on adding in all the various side impact airbags, head restraint angles from crash data, etc - are dictating the way forward first - with comfort coming second (even on models/brands targetting that experience).
And the second.. you're also older than you were 10-15-20 years ago. I dont know about you, but my body complains a lot more about sitting down in an imperfect chair than I did when i was 20. You cant ignore that part of the equation, too.
shizbox06@reddit
I think seats have improved a lot over the last couple decades, but I like sports cars and seats that are on the sporty side. I don't like the Recaro type seats though.
ablokeinpf@reddit
Having done 12 hour drives in my GTI I have to disagree. I felt fine after them.
Iwantav@reddit
One of the most uncomfortable vehicle I ever rode in was a Mazda CX-50. I spent an afternoon riding in one and at the end, I simply didn’t know how to sit anymore because my whole body hurt. And I got motion sickness, which I normally don’t get.
On the opposite end, the most comfortable was my old Peugeot 306. The seats were both supportive and well padded, it was a nice ride.
So, yeah. Newer cars are not as comfortable as they used to be.
xNOOPSx@reddit
I think in many cases they've gone for aesthetics over anything else. Cost is also a consideration, but federalizing a decent Recaro and utilizing it across the line up as your basic seat wouldn't be that much more. You wouldn't have to do any R&D on the seats, so that's a win. It could be cheaper.
Give me legit Recaro or the OEM Recaro reproduction seats some manufacturers use(d). Some of the worst seats I've experienced are truck seats with Ford and especially Dodge being complete dogshit. My BIL had back problems he thought was from his construction career. That probably didn't help, but when I borrowed his truck for a day, I told him his seats could have doubled as a torture device for anything more than 10 minutes. It was a mid-00s Dodge 2500 diesel, so the ride didn't help things either.
Princ3Ch4rming@reddit
laughs in Mazda
QuickCharisma15@reddit
My NA and ND Miata’s were some of the most comfortable cars I’ve owned, despite their size.
Liam_M@reddit
I must be the guy they design car seats for, literally can’t recall a single car seat I’ve ever found uncomfortable (when adjusted) Sat in a ton when I was working in a garage and many more at car shows since
toposhaba@reddit
Sedans yes. I find the seat in my Ford explorer surprisingly plush. Infinity has nice seats. Basically anything that is sport oriented or economy, which is all sedans or hatchbacks.
BrightLuchr@reddit
I bought my Subaru BRZ after instantly liking car sitting in it at the auto show. Great seats. But I find many SUVs don't really fit me: especially Toyota. It's partially the seats but also the length of the reach for legs/feet being too short or too long. And the seats don't give you any road feel.
alwtictoc@reddit
The seats in my new BMW X5 are the most comfortable seats I've had in a car since my 2013 VW GTi.
tamers1551@reddit
I have a 2017 tundra and the seat has a hard spot right in the middle. For a skinny person they may not notice it but Im bigger and it gets me in my bottom which, strangley is not big. My husband has the 2016 tundra, same damn seat. I use a feather pillow when I'm having pain from it. Does anyone know if all vehicle seats have the same bolt pattern? I'd love to change my seat out.
theonlyepi@reddit
I have a very different take on this. After reading more than 20 of the top replies, I feel like everyone is missing the goal of the engineers and experts behind this reasoning.
Modern cars aren't designed for you to be relaxed and comfortable, for a reason. The more comfortable and relaxed you are, the more likely you are to fall asleep, it's science. Be in the gray area, between comfortable and relaxing, to keep drivers awake and alert.
erlybird1@reddit
I’ve generally found ford seats comfortable for my fat ass
OuchMyHurt@reddit
I drive a 1999 crown Victoria, no seats will ever come close to how comfortable they are. All downhill from there
frenchynerd@reddit (OP)
No backpain issues because of lack of support during long drives like others have reported?
OuchMyHurt@reddit
I also read people writing that, I drive pretty close to the wheel as I'm 5'7 and have the seat at a 90º angle. No back pain from the few 3/4 hour drives I've had but I only really commute 30 minutes to work and back
jimbaker@reddit
I very much did not like the soft squishy nature of the Mach-E seats. I do however lovey Polestar seats. Easily the best seats I've ever had in a car.
OkTale8@reddit
I find the seats in my Focus ST insanely comfortable, but I’ve also heard people complain that they’re not comfortable. It’s almost like everyone is shaped differently or something.
89LSC@reddit
Modern car suspensions are not comfortable either. Luxury cars do not ride like luxury vehicles of the past
-WeepingAngel-@reddit
Tires play a big role in the feel too. Lots of modern cars have low profile tires which look better but are less comfortable that something with a large sidewall.
RunninOnMT@reddit
Look better and fit bigger brakes for flexing or doing repeated stops in (heavier) vehicles.
Unfortunately everything is a heavier vehicle these days.
-WeepingAngel-@reddit
Very true!
Old-one1956@reddit
Try being tall 6’3” 205 lbs, no cars have truely comfortable seats or headroom, need to get into SUV or better yet 1/2 ton truck, even then seats are hit and miss, Mid 90’s GMC trucks had the worst seats, have come a long way but still all vehicles seem to push onto the buttocks and cause discomfort
orthopod@reddit
I'm 6'5" 220. Porsche seats fit fantastic. My wife's previous cars - Audi, BMW and Volvo are also comfortable.
The_Strom784@reddit
Or just having broad shoulders. I've had to sit in a new civic and my shoulders stick out completely.
PENGUIN_WITH_BAZOOKA@reddit
I feel seen by this comment. I’m 6 foot 3 with relatively broad shoulders. I always drive myself places because most of my friends cars either don’t have enough headroom for me to sit up straight, or have such little shoulder room that I’m basically sitting at a 45 degree angle.
PENGUIN_WITH_BAZOOKA@reddit
I feel seen by this comment. I’m 6 foot 3 with relatively broad shoulders. I always drive myself places because most of my friends cars either don’t have enough headroom for me to sit up straight, or have such little shoulder room that I’m basically sitting at a 45 degree angle.
NotaOxyAddict@reddit
I loved my 78 cougars seats so much. Other cars seat comfort just doesnt compare. I suspect its a safety thing or something. Like if modern cars had comfortable bench seats like that id be so happy.
orthopod@reddit
Bucket seats are much, much, much better in a crash.
Lateral support really helps to transfer your bodies motion into the cars crumple zone, as opposed to you experiencing all of it.
adfthgchjg@reddit
Had that same Cadillac torture angle headrest on a mk6 GTI. Fortunately I was able to swap it with a rear headrest. The rear headrests were vertical.
Also, leather seats are horrible: cold in the winter, hot in the summer. Cloth is far superior. Leather is only useful for people who need to clean dog crap or baby vomit off their seats. And why is leather considered upscale? Cows are not exactly rare.
Jabba_the_Putt@reddit
it's true, so many older cars used to be insanely comfy! these days not so much.
it's like they over-engineer all of the unimportant tech crap, and then under-engineer all the humanitarian things like comfort and enjoyment
that said, they are at least a lot safer to crash in.
Mythrilfan@reddit
1) i generally prefer modern seats over overly-cushy old seats for anything more than half an hour... although I do dislike the seats in my Ioniq (they're too small) 2) the general reason why they're different is probably safety. Modern passive safety devices like to know where you... are in a car, and that's more easily accomplished with a more rigid seat.
Erdnuss-117@reddit
Blasphemy! I need my super sporty right bucket seat while sitting in traffic for 30 minutes!
leonpinneaple@reddit
My 2005 Honda Accord seat’s are way more comfy than the one in my wife’s brand new Trailblazer.
detailz03@reddit
I’ll ask, if modern day vehicles, which ones are actually comfortable? I was looking to get a new vehicle in a year or two and trying to focus on comfort over speed.
RetroRoberino@reddit
I absolutely agree. I've driven many newer cars. All the seats suck.
I've also driven my Uncle's 1994 Ford Mondeo recently and the suspension and the seats in that 1994 Ford Mondeo are extremely soft and comfortable.
What the fuck happened? Who thinks new car seats are comfortable? Why is this tolerated?
I will buy a 90s car because 90s cars are cooler and they don't give me back pain after 5 minutes.
Seats in new cars are horrible.
shamiltheghost@reddit
It’s the fake leather
triforce721@reddit
Compare audi seats from a decade ago to now, it's such a tragedy
SlyBeanx@reddit
E30 sport seats are the best seats ever made and I’ll happily die on this hill.
Caqtus95@reddit
E30 really was peak car interior design. It's all been downhill since.
KevinByMail@reddit
You should check out 135i seats
SlyBeanx@reddit
That’s on the bucket list for project cars to buy. Was considering a 128i and LS swapping w a TR6060.
Just need more space.
vargemp@reddit
I always wonder why most of the cars today have seats that get narrower at the top. My shoulders would be hanging outside the seat any time and I'm not even 80kgs. Look at MK7 Fiestaor whatever
reddittidder1233@reddit
Both of my cars have pretty comfy seats. My two are a 2016 dodge grand caravan and a 2023 Nissan Titan. They both have cloth seats.
TeamPararescue1@reddit
2004 VW R32 seats are the best ever!
AnusStapler@reddit
Soft seats were/are an American thing. European/Asian cars always had more support/stiffer seats. I like a hard proper seat way better since I have a messed up tail bone. Softer or unsupportive seats result in 2 days of lower back pain if driven more than 45 minutes. But hey, those ginormous seats from American cars from the 70's look fucking awesome dude. Purple velvet reclining massage couch drive seat? Fuck yeah dude.
frenchynerd@reddit (OP)
I do drive an American car right now, but was pleased in the past with the seats in the Honda, Nissan and Hyundai I've owned. I had an awful experience with a Chevrolet where the seats were extremely rigid.
AnusStapler@reddit
Yeah I guess I would prefer a soft crappy seat over a hard crappy seat. My current Skoda Octavia has really nice seats that are neatly adjustable, so that's perfect.
puddud4@reddit
More supportive seats are better for your back. Those old soft cushy seats were never good for you.
I recommend trying a Volvo seat. And an S-Class are about as good as it gets. Volvo has a long standing reputation for good seats. In this most recent generation their seat team consisted of engineers and doctors. They specifically used a thin leather that allowed your body to sculpt the seat.
If you don't like that Volvo seat then your definition of a good seat is unhealthy/wrong
frenchynerd@reddit (OP)
Volvo was unfortunately absent from the car show, as well as BMW, Audi, Mercedes, Mazda, Subaru and Chrysler.
But even sitting in a Lincoln that had so many adjustments, the seat was hard as rock and just didn't feel comfy.
POSVETT@reddit
To me, they are not firm enough and they don't provide even a decent lateral support. Gooey, super soft seats don't provide enough support to and cause back problem. A proper seat needs to support and restrict body movement during cornering so my upper body doesn't have to fight to stay still in the seat.
Reasonable_Guava8079@reddit
Very true on the lateral support. Nothing worse than taking corners and constantly shifting….that’ll make someone sore very quickly too.
Bacon4Lyf@reddit
I’ve sat in the carbon buckets of some brands like Porsche and bmw and I loved them so much
Reasonable_Guava8079@reddit
I think most car seats are very uncomfortable. I’m a 5’8” woman average build but long torso so I’m sure that doesn’t help. I think seats are too hard and some lumbar supports are too low but I’m taller with a “longer” mid portion. I think Toyota and GM vehicles have the most uncomfortable seats I’ve felt by far for me at least. My BMW has the most comfortable seats but then again has more settings which helps too.
Good_Housekeeping@reddit
For me what makes or breaks a seat is the thigh bolster size and amount you can raise it. My Chevy SS has a fantastic thigh bolster and I can sit in it all day. I've had a crappy 2017 Ford Exlplorer work vehicle where the thigh bolster was ass and I couldn't sit in the car long.
ImPattMan@reddit
Y'all just buying the wrong cars I guess?
I love the seats I've got in my Sonata. I've done 18 hours in it in one go, and was comfy the whole time.
It's also important to adjust them properly in one's that have lots of adjustments.
Gaijin_530@reddit
This is solely due to cost cutting. Cheap cars have cheap / flat seats. Any seat which has a single-piece cover is a pile of crap. The industry wants you to buy up.
Seats are still comfortable in more expensive cars, but definitely not what they used to be.
husbandoftheyear2028@reddit
Harder seats on modern cars are what drove me towards buying a pickup for my long daily commute. My back would bother me after an hour or so in whatever car I drove, but the F150s and F350s at work, I noticed I felt fine after spending nearly an entire day in. Between cushion softness and the more upright seating position, it's just more comfortable.
The cushions might look worn out sooner than a harder car seat, but replacement cushions and fabric are relatively cheap and plentiful.
frenchynerd@reddit (OP)
I sat in the F150 Lightning today. It was the softest of all the models I've sat in today, but again, the head restraint was too far forward and was bothering me. I could imagine the neck pain after an hour drive.
husbandoftheyear2028@reddit
Never been in a lightning, but my 2021 F150 XLT you can adjust the angle of the headrest. My SIL's 2021 Sienna is crazy far forward and not adjustable.
SlavicRyan@reddit
I had a 1999 Camaro and that was the most comfortable seat ever. Wasnt even leather either
Marshall_Lawson@reddit
there's a reason why 3rd gen owners regularly swap in 4th gen seats
AvarethTaika@reddit
i mostly drive older cars with racing seats installed so maybe this is a bad point for comparison, but i drove my bestie's 2014 accord recently and it's actually super comfortable. i have to assume some are and some aren't. personally i love sparco R100s, they're form fitting and great for longer trips (which i do a lot).
redoctoberz@reddit
A 2014 is a 10 year old car— things have changed a lot since then, especially the last 3-4 years.
Ignorhymus@reddit
Not sure what the current lineup is like (I think people say they're still good), but Volvo's S80 from like 10 years ago had wonderful seats. You could bash out the miles and get out feeling fine