Mk VI drivers seat

[MkVIMatt]

Hi all, I've just joined and wondered if anyone can help shed some light on an issue I'm having with my drivers seat?

I took receipt of my MKVI in July last year and from day one I've had a nightmare with my drivers seat. I find that the seat position is awful and I've adjusted all variables more times than I've done miles and just can't get even remotely comfortable. I find that the seat pan feels like it is slightly tilted toward the drivers door, as if the foam were less dense on the right hand side and therefore I'm sat at an angle, which is doing my back no favours but worst of all I find that when I corner to the left, my weight is shifted to the right and because there is no support I get pushed towards the drivers door. The other knock on effect of this is that because I'm not sat upright, my back is not supported by the sports seat back and this accentuates the issue.

Just as a bit of background, I'm 6'2", weigh about 13 stone and previously owned a MKV GTI, so I'm familiar with the seats and had no issue with those whatsoever, infact they were great! I've had the car in the dealership twice, one to check that the base was located properly and the second time they dismantled the seat and measured all of the components, reassembled it and measured all the angles and distances from dash/pedals etc. I drive about 22,000 miles per annum and it's getting to the stage where I have constant pain in my hip and backache!

I was just wondering if I'm alone in this issue or whether anyone has had a similar issue and has managed to resolve it. It's got to the point where I'd get shot in a heartbeat if I could but I'm tied into a three year lease agreement.

Thanks in advance for your responses and hope there's a solution out there cause it's a belting looking car and would love to be able to love it!

[Pimpmac]

Not sat on one but have heard of lots of people not liking seats.  A colleague in work had a BMW for a year and got rid of it as the seats gave him back pain, yet I have driven bimmers for 10 years without any problems.  At the end of the day you're going to have to live with the car for a few years so why not consider going down this route:

http://www.recaro-seats.co.uk/sport-seats/recaro-speed.php

Or why not see if you can get a MK5 front seats from a breakers. 

Would help if you had leather as may be easier to match but if you have the tartan are you prepared to get a different set of seats for the front and at least try to get a tonal match??

Just a thought and I know not ideal but a few quid spent on this may be worth it for the health of your back (and you mind) in the long run.

[am1w]

You are about the same height and slightly heavier than me. Fortunately, I have no such problem.

Have you tried another GTI with similiar seats to yours and have you had the same issue?  Has anyone else tried your driver's seat and have felt the same? Do you feel tilted when you sit in the passanger front seat? Did you not test-drive a car with similar seets to yours?

I seem to remember another GTI owner had found the Recaros much more to his liking as he could not attain a comfortable position with the standard seats.

It must really be quite horrible to have this problem of feeling tilted. It is a very serious.

If you cannot feel comfortable driving your car, and as you seem to have tried every avenue to address this issue without success, then unfortunately you might have no choice but to sell it or exchange it, if you can.

I cannot recall any other members having a similar issue.

PS: Have you tried a 'Mobility Centre' like Brotherhood, as they have lots of seating solutions to enable a comfortable driving position. Otherwise, you might need to buy some Recaros (very costly), and/or try and get VW to part-pay for these.

[Exonian]

As Asker has said above, you really need to spend a bit of time in another similar car. I found both the mk5 and mk6 Golf GTIs very comfortable (though I'm about half your height!) and yet found a previous car, a 2006 Polo GTI 1.8t, I had a few years ago gave me very bad back ache and I had to get rid despite the car being such huge fun to drive.
If you spend a lot of time in the car you need it to be comfortable. Go do a few test drives in other GTIs/GTDs/Rs that have very similar seats. It may be a problem with your car that is so subtle that it is nearly impossible to detect but enough to twist your spine slightly constantly which will give you personal problems for a long time if not sorted.

[Ess_Three]

I find no such issues with mine...at 6'3" and over 18st, they are some of the best seats I've had.
Mk5 equally so...and if anything the Mk5 seats sit lower, which I'd prefer...but both are equally as comfortable.

My only complaint is that I'd like the steering wheel to extend a further 1-2" as I like to have my seat well back, and find that I'm then struggling to get the wheel as close as I'd ideally like....but I did well over 500 miles this weekend in mine, and got out feeling perfectly fresh and comfortable each time...which is always a good sign.

[mac7]

Welcome Matt (pun intended - I couldn't resist ). I suffered a disc prolapse a few years ago so good seats are important to me. I find the sport seats in my car excellent (5'11" and 12 stone). I think you need to continue pursuing this with the dealer, perhaps asking them to swap the seat base (or whole seat) with another. Or as Exonian suggests, take another car for a decent drive to compare. Or how about having someone drive you around in the passenger seat, see how that feels. The dealers measurements wouldn't detect the problem if it's a faulty cushion, as they aren't measuring it when compressed with your weight on it.

[MkVIMatt]

Much apprecaite all your comments.

I think the suggestion of "test driving" or even leasing another GTI is a belting idea, at least then I'd know whether it's just the way the car is set up or whether it's something not quite right with mine. The Recaro seats suggestion I may have to look into further, the only issue is that it's a lease car so a) not sure whether they'd allow it and b) it's a fair investment for a car that I'll have to give back in 2.5 yrs.

Thanks, once again for your ideas and the speedy response, I'll update you as I *fingers crossed* get progress!

[Doddy1976]

I am 6'2" and also 13 stone and find the seats excellent.  I also suffer from muscular back pain and extended time in any car makes it ache but the GTI is better than most I have driven recently. I had an assessment on my driving position by a physio some time ago on a different car and it really helped, may be worth trying to find someone capable/willing to do it? In my case I had to pump the seat up as high as I could, pull the seat further forward than normal and adjust steering wheel - felt weird at first but really helped.

[am1w]

Just found the member who had a problem with the standard GTI seat.
Found the £3000+ Leather Recaros perfect.

http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=163122.0

BTW Doddy: Got my seating position assessed by a Physio also. Similar positioning to you. Funny that. Had laminectomy surgery a couple of years ago. Golf seats are perfect for me. Physio thought the same. 

[RickS]

My seats are very comfortable with firm support, no problems such as the one you describe. Sounds like a new seat may be required; if it's not supported correctly at one side there must be a fault surely