GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk7 => Topic started by: oryx3dr on 01 May 2022, 19:59
-
Had my 2017 GTI for almost 3 years now and over the past few weeks I've started finding the seat really uncomfortable. Numb right leg, numb bum and just generally uncomfortable driving position. I've tried shifting the seat around, moved it up and down back and forward and just can't seem to find the right position. Anyone had this issue? What did you do to solve it?
-
@oryx3dr; sorry I can’t resolve your issue, but I currently also have an issue with seat comfort in my 2020 Polo GTI+ which has the same style of seats as the mk7 / mk7.5 Golf GTi.
In my car the left side of the driver’s seat cushion feels very hard - almost like sitting on a plank of wood - which makes my left leg and left buttock feel uncomfortable after a short spell of driving. I find myself constantly shifting around to try and get comfortable - occasionally I’m able to but invariably I can’t.
I’m not overweight (I only weigh 10 stone 6 pounds), so it’s not excessive weight causing damage to the structure of seat cushion. I’ve also checked under the seat to see if there’s any foam particles on the carpet which could indicate the foam disintegrated, but there’s no such debris.
I’d also welcome any suggestions on a solution.
-
@oryx3dr; sorry I can’t resolve your issue, but I currently also have an issue with seat comfort in my 2020 Polo GTI+ which has the same style of seats as the mk7 / mk7.5 Golf GTi.
In my car the left side of the driver’s seat cushion feels very hard - almost like sitting on a plank of wood - which makes my left leg and left buttock feel uncomfortable after a short spell of driving. I find myself constantly shifting around to try and get comfortable - occasionally I’m able to but invariably I can’t.
I’m not overweight (I only weigh 10 stone 6 pounds), so it’s not excessive weight causing damage to the structure of seat cushion. I’ve also checked under the seat to see if there’s any foam particles on the carpet which could indicate the foam disintegrated, but there’s no such debris.
I’d also welcome any suggestions on a solution.
Hmm strange, I'm the same it's just constantly trying to shift my weight around in the seat to get comfy but to no avail. I should also mention I'm only 5,11" and 68kg so also not a large person myself. I've tried moving the seat back but I'm quite short in the leg department so that's an issue.
-
Have a read of this - https://www.easyposturebrands.com/blogs/articles-1/8-ways-to-stop-right-leg-pain-while-driving
Also, it might be worth seeing a physio, you may have another issue that is exacerbated by driving. Life causes tight muscles which may not exhibit pain except under certain circumstances. A few sessions may sort you out. If the seat has been okay before, chances are that it is still okay.
-
@Watts; thanks, I’ll have a read.
I do visit a chiropractor every 3-4 weeks; more often if I feel I need to, as I’ve had back-related issues for over 40 years. However, I’ve never suffered ongoing discomfort before while driving. My current car is also DSG (all previous cars have been manual), so there’s no clutch work to contend with.
-
I’m small, 5’7 and about 70kg but I find the seats ok if low. If the seat is too high the squab cuts the circulation to my legs especially the right as I’m pushing the back of my thigh into it.
I like to sit lowish in cars generally and it’s fine when I do that.
Try some different positions.
-
I suffered with issues down my right leg and bum when I drove any journey of greater than about 1½ hours. On several occasions the pain was so great that I couldn't keep my foot on the throttle and had to pull over and get out for 10 or 15 minutes. I tried the seat in all manner of different positions and never resolved the issue.
It was that and the generally highish levels of road / wind noise that were the only two negatives I had with four years of GTI PP 7.5 ownership.
I've now just taken delivery of a new SQ5 and so far it is a significant step ahead on both those issues, but obviously at a higher price point.
-
It was that and the generally highish levels of road / wind noise that were the only two negatives I had with four years of GTI PP 7.5 ownership.
What tyres did you run? I found the oem Bridgestone were like plastic, lots of NVH in the car.
Swapped to Michelin PS4 and the car is transformed, noticeably quieter and more comfortable.
-
I had the same issue but fixed it with spacers under the front two bolts of the seat to raise it up 3/8 of an inch or so. Since doing that I have had no comfort issues at all.
-
The only issue that I have with the seats is that I find they lack of bit of padding in the coccyx area. The root of my spine feels like it can be pressing into something quite hard at times.
I may end up sitting on a thin cushion.
Other than that I have no issues with the driving position, I am 6ft 1" tall.
-
It was that and the generally highish levels of road / wind noise that were the only two negatives I had with four years of GTI PP 7.5 ownership.
What tyres did you run? I found the oem Bridgestone were like plastic, lots of NVH in the car.
Swapped to Michelin PS4 and the car is transformed, noticeably quieter and more comfortable.
I ended up with PS4's all round and they were an improvement, though it's always difficult to be precise about the improvements as going from any worn tyre to a brand new tyre is going to reduce road noise.
-
My fronts were 2k miles old when I got rid so I think it’s a tyre thing.
PS4 for me are amazing.
-
I suffered with issues down my right leg and bum when I drove any journey of greater than about 1½ hours. On several occasions the pain was so great that I couldn't keep my foot on the throttle and had to pull over and get out for 10 or 15 minutes. I tried the seat in all manner of different positions and never resolved the issue.
It was that and the generally highish levels of road / wind noise that were the only two negatives I had with four years of GTI PP 7.5 ownership.
I've now just taken delivery of a new SQ5 and so far it is a significant step ahead on both those issues, but obviously at a higher price point.
Like Pete said, it's tyres - I switched from Bridgestone which were incredibly noisy, to Michelin Cross climate - the car is virtually silent on A roads and motorways, i can only hear the engine and that is quiet and well insulated.
-
I suffered with issues down my right leg and bum when I drove any journey of greater than about 1½ hours. On several occasions the pain was so great that I couldn't keep my foot on the throttle and had to pull over and get out for 10 or 15 minutes. I tried the seat in all manner of different positions and never resolved the issue.
It was that and the generally highish levels of road / wind noise that were the only two negatives I had with four years of GTI PP 7.5 ownership.
I've now just taken delivery of a new SQ5 and so far it is a significant step ahead on both those issues, but obviously at a higher price point.
Like Pete said, it's tyres - I switched from Bridgestone which were incredibly noisy, to Michelin Cross climate - the car is virtually silent on A roads and motorways, i can only hear the engine and that is quiet and well insulated.
I've just fitted PS4's in 235/40/18 and whilst they're good I had Asy 5's before and I can't feel too much difference between them in terms of comfort. Although I do think the PS4s are louder on the road. Could be just me though.
-
Like Pete said, it's tyres - I switched from Bridgestone which were incredibly noisy, to Michelin Cross climate - the car is virtually silent on A roads and motorways, i can only hear the engine and that is quiet and well insulated.
[/quote]
I've just fitted PS4's in 235/40/18 and whilst they're good I had Asy 5's before and I can't feel too much difference between them in terms of comfort. Although I do think the PS4s are louder on the road. Could be just me though.
[/quote]
It’s the oem tyres that’s the biggest issue, the Bridgestone S001. They roar at virtually any speed and crash over bumps.
-
Have a read of this - https://www.easyposturebrands.com/blogs/articles-1/8-ways-to-stop-right-leg-pain-while-driving
Also, it might be worth seeing a physio, you may have another issue that is exacerbated by driving. Life causes tight muscles which may not exhibit pain except under certain circumstances. A few sessions may sort you out. If the seat has been okay before, chances are that it is still okay.
Home working and long driving are one of the 'modern' syndromes of back and hip issues, and general weakness in these areas, due to the muscles being overly relaxed for long periods, lock down exacerbated the issue for many also, for example, the abductor is a really key muscle, it drives a lot of movement and with other muscles gives you good strong stability, and normal day to day walking, and stairs is normally enough for most to keep in enough shape and strength to avoid issues, but prolonged driving and sitting will eventually shorten that muscle and a bunch of 'niggles' develop as balance of that part of body becomes a bit disparate. Its not an injury that you feel happen, it becomes chronic over time, and only way to resolve is regular exercises that focus on that area, increase of activity and lessen desk and where can driving for long periods.
Not actually saying its this, it could just be you have faulty seats where something has given way, but having had 9 years of driving in MK 7/7.5 Golfs seats have never been an issue for me, and there might be another cause and that some increase in strengthening lower body might remove. Again might not be applicable to you, but this modern phenomenon is definitely a thing
-
The mk7 seats have less padding than the mk6 and I notice the difference when moving from one to the other. While not uncomfortable the mk7 does take more time to adjust than the mk6. Perhaps a little more padding (thin cushion) might help some people. I think Hertsman is hinting that getting older might be a also part of the problem :grin: It is certainly mine being a long way past retirement age!
-
How about this for an option:
https://www.vwroc.com/forums/topic/41570-new-seat-i%E2%80%99m-in-love/ (https://www.vwroc.com/forums/topic/41570-new-seat-i%E2%80%99m-in-love/)
MK8 GTI seats in a MK7..... apparently 'plug and play' with the exception of the heated option not currently working.
-
Like Pete said, it's tyres - I switched from Bridgestone which were incredibly noisy, to Michelin Cross climate - the car is virtually silent on A roads and motorways, i can only hear the engine and that is quiet and well insulated.
I've just fitted PS4's in 235/40/18 and whilst they're good I had Asy 5's before and I can't feel too much difference between them in terms of comfort. Although I do think the PS4s are louder on the road. Could be just me though.
[/quote]
It’s the oem tyres that’s the biggest issue, the Bridgestone S001. They roar at virtually any speed and crash over bumps.
[/quote] have you got the pressures set correctly? S001s are really a summer tyre as when they are warm they are actually a good tyre.
-
Anything over 30 mins and I start to suffer too, I put it down to going from Recaro sports seats in my previous couple of STs to the less supported leather ones in the Golf, find myself moving around to try and ease the suffering.
-
Since @Oryx3dr started this discussion thread, I’ve been experimenting with different seating positions as I also struggled with finding a comfortable driving position.
Initially, I had the seat height quite low and the backrest lumbar adjustment set to its firmest setting. I currently have the seat height raised up quite a bit higher than I did previously, the lumber adjustment almost at its softest setting, the backrest slightly more upright and the seat one notch further back on its runners. I’ve also raised the steering wheel slightly. I’d say it’s definitely an improvement - for me anyway. It’s not perfect, but with a bit more fiddling and perseverance, I think I might get there.
I wonder what the dealership will think when I take my car in for its next service and I ask them under no circumstances to alter the seating position :grin: :whistle:. I don’t want to go through months of discomfort and having to find a comfortable position because someone at the dealer’s has adjusted the seat to suit them, just to move my car in and out of their workshop.
-
I've also been playing with the seat a little bit and whilst it's getting better slightly, I'm still getting a numb bum on longer trips! Contantly needing to just shuffle in the seat slightly to get a bit of blood moving around. I think my issue might also be the seat height now that I think about it, going to keep playing and hope for the best.
-
Keep us posted on what works, I’ll try changing mine around too, thankfully I don’t do many trips longer than 30 mins or so.