GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk7 => Topic started by: esoxhunter on 25 April 2018, 23:29
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I have a new 230ps GTI. It is the most uncomfortable car I have owned by a country mile. 400 miles and 2 bedsores later plus severe back issues- either the car goes or I buy some comfortable seats.
Can anyone recommend a pair of front seats that will give me a comfortable long distance drive.
The oem seats look very good and offer the comfort of 1” plywood. I love the drive, but the seats have ruined any pleasure for me.
Any advice gratefully received.
Kind regards, Arthur
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What were you driving before the GTI? I find the seats strike the right balance between support and comfort.
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I'd speak with an automotive upholsterer before making any drastic decisions. I'm sure they could add padding/reshape/adjust your seats to suit your needs.
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My previous car was a Mazda 3 , BBR tune stage 1.
I am 14 1/2 stone, and I most certainly don’t find the seats strike a balance- There are seriously uncomfortable. I wanted a car to travel 400 miles without fatigue, as it’s name implies GT . In all other respects it is a brilliant car, very quick, punchy, lnfotainment/ sat nav to die for, and beautifully finished. A classy car with comfort less seats.
Upholsterers yes, it is a possibility. First I see VW, today , and I will probably take a hit , after all I have a used car now, all 400 miles of it. I feel very annoyed that the only alternative is a Passat 2.0 TSI , hardly what I had in mind. I need four doors see...
I have also latched on to Recaro Ergomed seats at £ 2000 each.......Or I could lose weight and lock the car away for a year. It’s a real problem. Thank you for the replies so far. Arthur
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Curious as to what it is about the std seats which don't suit you. Lack of padding? Lack of support - back, base or under-thigh? Too tight bolsters? More info might help with suggested remedies which won't see you pee a large sum down the drain - probably unnecessarily.
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First thing I would do is to totally reset your seat the steering wheel position.
Google how to set up the best driving position, theres loads of guides. Even the slightest bad position can make you feel uncomfortable and lead to back pain and fatigue etc. Simply having to reach a bit too far for the steering wheel, and having the seat tilted a too far back, puts pressure on your spine, the combinations are endless and rife for an uncomfortable drive.
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I find the R seats which are the same as the GTI very good indeed, even after a long trip my back is fine. I had a CC before but I'd get back ache with those ones. I could never get the driving position quite right.
Might be worth starting the set up again as mentioned above.... hope you sort it
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I find the GTI seats a bit tight across my upper back but very comfortable otherwise.
I would also look into adjusting them correctly before I got rid of the car or spent a fortune changing the seats.
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I got standard leather seats but on a long drive I do get a pain like a kidney punch, I put it down to my health rather than the seats, it wasn’t as bad in my mk6 tho
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Weren't the seats uncomfortable on the test drive? If they really don't suit you, surely that was the time to look elsewhere!
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With me it takes about 80 odd miles before I feel it, only had a 10 minute test drive
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I'd have a look at the seat and steering wheel setup - you could find you've got it less than optimally setup.
I know we are all different, but I find the seats in both the Mk7 GTD's I have had to be really comfortable. In fact the best I've experienced.
Maybe the only thing they lack is an adjustable leg support that pulls forward, but other than that its good.
On the other hand, a friend of mine who is a little bigger than me says its uncomfortable because the seat isn't wide enough for their more manly build... I have read Americans moaning similarly.
I'd doubt if a more race orientated Reccaro will be better. In fact probably worse. Maybe a less sporty car like a Merc or a SUV style (Tiggy perhaps?) would be better for you?
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I've racked up 10k since July and find it perfect and no issues with 3-4 hours driving at a time. Perhaps you haven't got the seat position set up correctly? I had a new shape C Class prior to this and the Golf is a little bit more comfy on a long journey.
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I thought it was just me. It was very exciting to take delivery of my new GTI last summer after a long wait - but after the first trip of more than 30 miles, and only driving on motorways up to then, I also had the severe back pain together with numbness in my legs. It was a standard 230ps, with standard wheels, and no DCC. I'm 16st and 6' 4", but I'd never had a moment's discomfort in either the Golf TDi or the Porsche 996 that I was driving prior to the GTI.
The causes for me were the combination of the hard seat base and thin seat cushion, with the hardness of the suspension. I tried every possible adjustment, plus lots of separate cushions and gel pads, but I had to admit defeat in the end and sell it after 6 weeks for the sake of my health. Not an easy decision, and I'm very envious of those of you who can drive these otherwise great cars in comfort.
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I wonder if its to do with the width at the hips?
Could also be a arm/leg length - I'm pretty short as well as skinny.
I'd have thought that being 6'4" would be a problem with most cars... Clarkson like!
Mind you, he had a GTI for a long old time as his daily driver and if he got rid of it, I doubt it was because of comfort. Given that he could have had pretty much what he wanted, yet he stuck with a Mk7 Golf... I'd doubt if he was any lighter than 16 stone too!
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I'm no orthopedic expert or anything, but I've read a lot online about how most of us don't have our seat position set optimally. The angle of arms, elbows, hips, back etc all play a vital part in a proper seating position.
But then there's the physical thing. We are all different sizes and shapes. I am on the (cough, cough) rather chunky side of things and 6'1", and maybe due to my inbuilt padding or that fact that all of my MK7's have had DCC, but I've never had a issue - even on journeys of 4 hours or more. In fact I become more tired generally then my back or legs etc. However someone who is taller, shorter, bigger, skinnier than me all have their own seating requirements, and I guess (and only guess) that most manufacturers try and cater for the largest demographic when designing their seating, but unfortunately can't cater for every possible combination of size and shape.
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Mine might be to do with a broken back form a motorcycle accident when I was younger 😉
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I'm no orthopedic expert or anything, but I've read a lot online about how most of us don't have our seat position set optimally. The angle of arms, elbows, hips, back etc all play a vital part in a proper seating position.
But then there's the physical thing. We are all different sizes and shapes. I am on the (cough, cough) rather chunky side of things and 6'1", and maybe due to my inbuilt padding or that fact that all of my MK7's have had DCC, but I've never had a issue - even on journeys of 4 hours or more. In fact I become more tired generally then my back or legs etc. However someone who is taller, shorter, bigger, skinnier than me all have their own seating requirements, and I guess (and only guess) that most manufacturers try and cater for the largest demographic when designing their seating, but unfortunately can't cater for every possible combination of size and shape.
Be interested to see where you have your seat set Andrew. I'm constantly moving mine too find a comfortable position after the dealer ignored my request to not move my seat position under any circumstances due to my back issue.
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I get lower back pain and was really worried when my back started hurting after my first hour plus drive in mine.
For me I've found that lowering the seat height, making the back rest more vertical and making sure my bum is right back in the seat has cured it, especially as that then allowed me to use the lumber support. It's obviously going to be a very personal thing, but my point is that I manged to go from pain to comfort with a bit of experimentation.
I do a lot of road cycling and have had 'bike fits' where they fiddle with the set up of the bike to make it fit your biomechanics, not sure if there might be someone who could offer a similar service for cars.
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Biggest issue for me, I just wish the seats would adjust a little bit lower. The seats themselves are fine, other than the cheap feeling fabric.
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I get lower back pain ........I've found that lowering the seat height, making the back rest more vertical and making sure my bum is right back in the seat has cured it, especially as that then allowed me to use the lumber support.
This is a very good tip. Too many people recline the backrest and slouch in the seat, putting strain on the lower back and negating the effect of the seat's lumbar support. Get your bum as far back in the seat as possible people.
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Be interested to see where you have your seat set Andrew. I'm constantly moving mine too find a comfortable position after the dealer ignored my request to not move my seat position under any circumstances due to my back issue.
To be honest bud, I find I'm also tweaking it. The wife uses it occasionally and I'm 6'1" and she's 5'1", so she has to move pretty much everything. Just wish the MK7 came with the electric memory seats as an option without having to spec leather.
In any case, my steering wheel is right in (towards the dash) and just down a touch. My seat (fore and and aft) is positioned so that my legs are bent at a round 20-30° angle on the pedals with my lower back right against the seat back, and the back rest adjusted to about 20-25° off vertical, so that with my back against the seat backrest, I can outstretch an arm and rest my wrist on the top of steering wheel at the 12 O'clock position whilst still keeping my back against the seat. Seat height is set about 8 pulls off the lowest setting. Finally my headrest is adjusted so that the top of the headrest is about level with the top of my head.
Not sure if that is the correct positioning or not, but feels very comfortable.
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I'm about 8 pulls up too but have the steering wheel nearly fully out :grin:
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Biggest issue for me, I just wish the seats would adjust a little bit lower.
Are you long in the body then or just like that racing car feeling of sitting on the floor?
I actually detest being low down, I like to sit up high where I can see all around. In fact that sitting on the floor thing was the final straw with the 1 series for me!
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Iv had my 2016Gti 2yrs now from new and tbh never had a problem I drive mine and the wife's Scirocco at the same position 7/8 clicks in adjust back rest pump down the seat and I'm 6ft 4" and 16.5st iv had no issues at all
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Quite an interesting read.
I just had a Merc E class for a week and found the seats in that utterly dreadful, no lumbar support whatsoever. And it wasn't just me who struggled to adjust, my partner, my brother all tried and wanted to shoot the design engineer.
Did a 1,000 mile in it and my back was in a right state after it and that is a car with a 20k price hike over the Golf. Did the same journey a good few times in my 2013 mk7 GT estate and my 2016 GTD (different trim but basically the same seat) with hardly any backpain at all. I have not had a lot of cars that were as comfortable with regards to seats as the mk7 Golf - and I've done nearly 170k miles combined in <4.5 years.
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I’m 6 foot 5 and 15 stone and the GTi has one of the most comfortable seats on a car I’ve ever driven. Golfs have always been good for tall people. I am on the lowest seat height setting because otherwise my hair would be rubbing the roof lining! :grin:
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Biggest issue for me, I just wish the seats would adjust a little bit lower.
Are you long in the body then or just like that racing car feeling of sitting on the floor?
I actually detest being low down, I like to sit up high where I can see all around. In fact that sitting on the floor thing was the final straw with the 1 series for me!
I'm 6ft 1, so not overly tall, and not long in the body either. I like to sit fairly upright, but I just don't like the flat seat base. I don't need them to go much lower, only maybe half an inch or so, so I have the sense of being behind the steering wheel, rather than over it. I might be mis-remembering, but I'm convinced that the seats in my Mk5 went lower than they do in the Mk7.
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...... I might be mis-remembering, but I'm convinced that the seats in my Mk5 went lower than they do in the Mk7.
That is my impression too and I'm not that long out of my mk5 GTI. At a guess I'd estimate the mk7's lowest setting is equivalent to 3 or more pumps up on the mk 5's.
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I also find the seat base quite uncomfortable over long distances and tend to move around quite a bit as a consequence.
Conversely to what others have said, I have found raising the seat to more of a mid height position and reclining the seat back more than I would do normally has helped. I'm 5' 11" & 12 st.
Seats are no where near as comfortable as the sports seats in our A6, but the off centre A6 driving position brings its own issues! This is one thing that does annoy me a bit as I'm quite sure that over the years manufacturers seeking to improve their NCAP ratings have moved seats more towards the centre of the car to reduce side impact injuries, but the steering columns remain where they were. Hence the driving position results in a degree of body twisting that can bring its own problems.
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The offset pedals thing is horrible but the Mk7 doesn't have that. The 1 series does, as does the F56 Mini... both of which I hated.
I still don't understand though how the OP got sores from the Golf. That must just be something specific about him...
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At 8 ft 6 and 21st I find the seats very comfortable. However I did have to order a sunroof (which isn't exactly ideal in the winter months) to avoid curling into a ball and looking into the footwell while driving
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At 8 ft 6 and 21st I find the seats very comfortable. However I did have to order a sunroof (which isn't exactly ideal in the winter months) to avoid curling into a ball and looking into the footwell while driving
Luxury! I'm 21 foot tall, weigh the same as Jupiter and have to drive from the boot. Never hurt me. Young people nowadays....
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At 8 ft 6 and 21st I find the seats very comfortable. However I did have to order a sunroof (which isn't exactly ideal in the winter months) to avoid curling into a ball and looking into the footwell while driving
Luxury! I'm 21 foot tall, weigh the same as Jupiter and have to drive from the boot. Never hurt me. Young people nowadays....
You guys tickled me :grin:
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I discounted the MK7 because of the seats, can't cope with the length of the seat base.
You could:
1. Get or stick with a MK6, far more comfortable, you can really see VW made cost savings in the seats.
2. Go third party https://www.sportseats4u.co.uk/vw-golf-mk7-sport-seats/cat_1161.html?ccUser= with a guarantee they will fit!
3. Go OEM https://www.vwroc.com/forums/topic/10530-fitting-recaro-seats/?page=2 but more research needed into the side air bags, its possible a normal MK6 GTI seats would be no problem versus the wingbacks in the thread, maybe!
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Thing is, I can't see any of those sports seats upgrades that would solve the problem described by the OP.
Those will be more sporty, bigger deeper bolsters, less padding... they are designed for race/track use (or Maccydees carparks) not for mile munching for the "larger gentleman".
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Understood, but now we know you can get proper MK7 third party seats, someone else can look for other options, that place sells the seat rails only, so you should have lots of options.
Alternatively, try an ED40 with the recaro option, they look mega and would (only) be a £2000 upgrade!
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Cheapest option is still have a proper play around with how the OP is setting the seating position.
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At 8 ft 6 and 21st I find the seats very comfortable. However I did have to order a sunroof (which isn't exactly ideal in the winter months) to avoid curling into a ball and looking into the footwell while driving
Luxury! I'm 21 foot tall, weigh the same as Jupiter and have to drive from the boot. Never hurt me. Young people nowadays....
:grin: :laugh: :grin: :laugh: