Setting the perfect driving position

[stealthwolf]

I'm the kind of person that adjusts to the car setup rather than adjusting the car. In the old fiesta, the only two things you could do for positioning was move the seat forward/back and adjust the backrest. It was fairly easy to set up and get used to.

When I test drove the ED30, I didn't tinker with any of the seat controls and just got used to the driving position. But since I let a mate have a sit in it, I had to readjust it and now I'm not sure how I should set it up.

Positioning the seat forward/back and the backrest is easy:

Adjust the seat position so the left leg (whilst pressing the clutch) has a slight bend in it.
Adjust the backrest so you can reach all the way around the steering wheel.

Now the GTi has the options for adjusting seat height/steering wheel position/lumbar support. How do I know when these three things are at the right setting for me?

[Hurdy]

Sit back and relax

The main things I've always been told are:-

When the throttle pedal is fully depressed the nape of your knee should be touching the seat and your bum should be located at the back of the seat. Once you have this sorted your arm when outstretched should be able to reach past the top of the wheel with your wrist touching the top of the wheel, whilst at the same time your shoulder should still be in contact with the seat back. How high you want the seat and how far back you want the back rest to be can be varied with moving the rake and reach of the wheel. Once you have your position set you then adjust the lumbar support so that you can feel it slightly pressing in the small of your back. once you can feel it doing this press it in the opposite direction for half a second. If it isn't in the small of your back when you feel it, then you need to raise/lower it till it feels right. Next you need to adjust the headrest so that when you press back against it you are pressing aginst the central part of the rest.

Now you have the driving position set all the mirrors to suit

[RedRobin]

When the throttle pedal is fully depressed the nape of your knee should be touching the seat and your bum should be located at the back of the seat. Once you have this sorted your arm when outstretched should be able to reach past the top of the wheel with your wrist touching the top of the wheel, whilst at the same time your shoulder should still be in contact with the seat back. How high you want the seat and how far back you want the back rest to be can be varied with moving the rake and reach of the wheel. Once you have your position set you then adjust the lumbar support so that you can feel it slightly pressing in the small of your back. once you can feel it doing this press it in the opposite direction for half a second. If it isn't in the small of your back when you feel it, then you need to raise/lower it till it feels right. Next you need to adjust the headrest so that when you press back against it you are pressing aginst the central part of the rest.

....That's exactly what I've been taught as well (by someone who is a blue light driver trainer).

[NewGolf]

When the throttle pedal is fully depressed the nape of your knee should be touching the seat and your bum should be located at the back of the seat. Once you have this sorted your arm when outstretched should be able to reach past the top of the wheel with your wrist touching the top of the wheel, whilst at the same time your shoulder should still be in contact with the seat back. How high you want the seat and how far back you want the back rest to be can be varied with moving the rake and reach of the wheel. Once you have your position set you then adjust the lumbar support so that you can feel it slightly pressing in the small of your back. once you can feel it doing this press it in the opposite direction for half a second. If it isn't in the small of your back when you feel it, then you need to raise/lower it till it feels right. Next you need to adjust the headrest so that when you press back against it you are pressing aginst the central part of the rest.

....That's exactly what I've been taught as well (by someone who is a blue light driver trainer).

Same here on an advanced drivers test.

[Hurdy]

Alternative version

Chill man

Lowa da seat man till it hits the floor yo! Dat way the bacon can't see who you are.

Then recline the back of da seat down till you can just see through the steering wheel...diggit!

The seat then goes forward till you can touch the wheel with the tips of ya finga's. This means ya can still make dem vital phone calls an change gear wiv ya elbow like!

It don't matta if ya can't reach da brake like as long as ya can reach the spliff ashtray ya naah.

Finally get all da mirros pointin back at you so yo can see dat ya hair is well safe ...innit.

 

[scoobs7]

Alternative version

Chill man

Lowa da seat man till it hits the floor yo! Dat way the bacon can't see who you are.

Then recline the back of da seat down till you can just see through the steering wheel...diggit!

The seat then goes forward till you can touch the wheel with the tips of ya finga's. This means ya can still make dem vital phone calls an change gear wiv ya elbow like!

It don't matta if ya can't reach da brake like as long as ya can reach the spliff ashtray ya naah.

Finally get all da mirros pointin back at you so yo can see dat ya hair is well safe ...innit.

 

Sounding wicked hurdy!! you da man! :-)

[romelpotter]

lol, I am a short arse so I pump up most seats to the highest position available, but then I hate an upright seat so I do recline quite a bit!! You gotta loaf when driving! Easy Now!!! 

[joesgti]

Alternative version

Chill man

Lowa da seat man till it hits the floor yo! Dat way the bacon can't see who you are.

Then recline the back of da seat down till you can just see through the steering wheel...diggit!

The seat then goes forward till you can touch the wheel with the tips of ya finga's. This means ya can still make dem vital phone calls an change gear wiv ya elbow like!

It don't matta if ya can't reach da brake like as long as ya can reach the spliff ashtray ya naah.

Finally get all da mirros pointin back at you so yo can see dat ya hair is well safe ...innit.

 

sonds like my seat position  lower the better, just like my susspension  "how low can you go" 

[RedRobin]

Alternative version

Chill man

Lowa da seat man till it hits the floor yo! Dat way the bacon can't see who you are.

Then recline the back of da seat down till you can just see through the steering wheel...diggit!

The seat then goes forward till you can touch the wheel with the tips of ya finga's. This means ya can still make dem vital phone calls an change gear wiv ya elbow like!

It don't matta if ya can't reach da brake like as long as ya can reach the spliff ashtray ya naah.

Finally get all da mirros pointin back at you so yo can see dat ya hair is well safe ...innit.

 

....Brilliant!! - Five Star Laugh!

[Steve78]

Now the GTi has the options for adjusting seat height/steering wheel position/lumbar support. How do I know when these three things are at the right setting for me?

When you feel comfy.