Seat position

monkadill

monkadill

Senior member
Just recently i have been doing some long runs in the Z and don't find the seating position right. I am expecting my legs to be straighter and my position lower. No matter what i have done with the controls i seem to be in a more standard seating position rather than a sports position. Does any one else have the same opinon?
 
I have the back near vertical and the seat quite low, have you got the Sport seats?

If so I like the back near vertical so I can really make use of the seat "wings". I can really dig my shoulders into the seat when driving hard. Also helps with steering in my opinion - helps throw the car into the bends.
 
Not sure there is a sports position - just what is comfortable and allows you full control.

There was a bit on Megafactories, on YouTube I think - in fact if you search on here it's probably linked. Anyway, on there one of the test drivers (in an M, not that it matters really) said how to set the seat position...
Get to the height you need.
Move the seat back/forward so that your left knee is slightly bent when clutch is depressed.
Adjust the backrest so that the bottom of your wrists rest on the top of the steering wheel.

Did it with my standard sport seats and it was a lot more comfortable - especially on longer journeys. Same with my new M-Sport seats, think others reported similar success :thumbsup:
 
Have mine as low as pos and pushed right back have no probs did a 7.5 hour non stop drive and felt fine which made me smile as i have had a lower back op the only prob putting the seat all the way back is it sometimes makes a noice rubbing against the plastic but i normally drive window down or top down so cannot here it that often.

I have the M.Seats
 
Thanks for the advice - will give the reccomendations a shot this weekend, afrter i have fitted my M Multifunction steering wheel.... :P
 
monkadill said:
Just recently i have been doing some long runs in the Z and don't find the seating position right. I am expecting my legs to be straighter and my position lower. No matter what i have done with the controls i seem to be in a more standard seating position rather than a sports position. Does any one else have the same opinon?
Click to expand...
Glad you brought this up as i've had the same problem,in my roadster with manual standard seats i could get a good driving position. But since getting the coupe which has electric sport seats i've not been able to find a comfortable driving position. Over christmas we had a 300 mile trip to the in-laws in Wiltshire but about halfway i had to pull over and have leg stretch has my left leg was starting to get pins & needles which i had never suffered in the roadster on long trips.
I've tried to match the seating position of the roadster in the coupe but to no avail, i like the seat low as it will go and as far back as it will go but the back rest then the back rest rubs against the bulk head so i adjust the back rest to clear the bulk head but then it is bit to upright for my liking.
I put it down to the electric seats been a bit more bulkier due to the all gubbins in them compared to the manual seats.
 
Redzedfour said:
monkadill said:
Just recently i have been doing some long runs in the Z and don't find the seating position right. I am expecting my legs to be straighter and my position lower. No matter what i have done with the controls i seem to be in a more standard seating position rather than a sports position. Does any one else have the same opinon?
Click to expand...
Glad you brought this up as i've had the same problem,in my roadster with manual standard seats i could get a good driving position. But since getting the coupe which has electric sport seats i've not been able to find a comfortable driving position. Over christmas we had a 300 mile trip to the in-laws in Wiltshire but about halfway i had to pull over and have leg stretch has my left leg was starting to get pins & needles which i had never suffered in the roadster on long trips.
I've tried to match the seating position of the roadster in the coupe but to no avail, i like the seat low as it will go and as far back as it will go but the back rest then the back rest rubs against the bulk head so i adjust the back rest to clear the bulk head but then it is bit to upright for my liking.
I put it down to the electric seats been a bit more bulkier due to the all gubbins in them compared to the manual seats.
Click to expand...

I'm glad i am not alone..Its an odd dilema as i have two fists distances bertween my head and the roof, so should be low enough, but it does not feel sporty and i cant stretch my legs out. I'm gonna give the recomendations go.
 
How tall are you monkadill?

One of the things they recommend to minimise discomfort on long journeys is to have the seat back tipped as far back is you can, which supports your spine and takes downward weight off your pelvic area (which is what causes the discomfort).

Im 6'3" and I tend to sacrifice a bit of legroom on long journeys to get that seat tipped back. Apart from that I have the seat squab dropped as low as it will go - raising it a bit I think lets you slide it back a tad further but the height then has my knees too close to the bottom of the dash (in a roadster).

One thing I also find helps if you have - ahem - larger feet :oops: is that I have a pair of those beach or board shoes - can't remember which - mine are a really old pair of Merrells that fit like a glove - OK I'm a size 12, but wearing these, I can stick cruise control on and my feet slide easily between the pedals giving me another 3-4 inches of legroom.....obviously only for where traffic is quiet 8)
 
Just to clarify there is no difference whatsoever in the range or movement on manual seats to electric seats. So not sure why some would appear more comfortable/adjustable than others.

I base that on having dismantled and rebuilt manual and electric seats, swapped mechanisms, etc. and seen how the limits of movement are controlled between allowed clearance for the first aid kit boxes, rear pillars, bulkhead and so on.

I can't say if the bulkhead of the coupe differs to the roasdter, but doubt it
 
lacroupade said:
How tall are you monkadill?

One of the things they recommend to minimise discomfort on long journeys is to have the seat back tipped as far back is you can, which supports your spine and takes downward weight off your pelvic area (which is what causes the discomfort).

Im 6'3" and I tend to sacrifice a bit of legroom on long journeys to get that seat tipped back. Apart from that I have the seat squab dropped as low as it will go - raising it a bit I think lets you slide it back a tad further but the height then has my knees too close to the bottom of the dash (in a roadster).

One thing I also find helps if you have - ahem - larger feet :oops: is that I have a pair of those beach or board shoes - can't remember which - mine are a really old pair of Merrells that fit like a glove - OK I'm a size 12, but wearing these, I can stick cruise control on and my feet slide easily between the pedals giving me another 3-4 inches of legroom.....obviously only for where traffic is quiet 8)
Click to expand...


I'm a mere 6.2ft, so not overly tall. Maybe its the design?
 
cj10jeeper said:
Just to clarify there is no difference whatsoever in the range or movement on manual seats to electric seats. So not sure why some would appear more comfortable/adjustable than others.

I base that on having dismantled and rebuilt manual and electric seats, swapped mechanisms, etc. and seen how the limits of movement are controlled between allowed clearance for the first aid kit boxes, rear pillars, bulkhead and so on.

I can't say if the bulkhead of the coupe differs to the roadster, but doubt it
Click to expand...

Who knows what they did to the Toupe, sorry, Coupe to make it fit for the more intellectually challenged driver? :fuelfire:

But I've always thought the Zed is lacking an extra 2-3 inches in the cockpit department.

A bit like me.... :oops:
 
lacroupade said:
But I've always thought the Zed is lacking an extra 2-3 inches in the cockpit department.

A bit like me.... :oops:
Click to expand...
:rofl:

I'm 6'1 (~185cm) and have no issues with the space in my Roadster (even with the roof up :wink:). 33" inside leg and don't even have the seat all the way back, there's a good couple of inches between the seat back and the bulkhead plastics. Mine are as low as possible, then using method described by pawnsacrifice above. Comfiest driving position of any car I've owned or driven.

Echo what cj10jeeper says: there's no difference in seat position/height between electric and manual bases - I too have head them in bits...
 
Sad but I just checked the Zed video and the recommendation is:

Set the seat base so that if oyu pres the brake pedal as hard as you can your knee has a slight bend
Adjust the back to a fairly vertical position, so that forces push you back into it. Not too steeply raked back and overly relaxed
Final adjustment is so that while seated firmly your wrists just break over the top of the wheel.

That's described as a good basic position to work from
 
From the IAM......

'One of the most important aspects of driving a modern vehicle is achieving a perfect driving position every time you get behind the wheel.

This is especially important if you share the driving: using somebody else’s settings for the mirrors and seats can quickly leave you tired and at needless risk of a nagging muscular pain as you find yourself “straining”.

Good seat positioning may sound boring, but it takes literally seconds, and will keep you comfortable and more alert on longer journeys. It’s also the position adopted by racing drivers, especially rally and touring car drivers.

* Sit in the car with the base of you spine in the back of the seat to prevent back problems.
* Hold the wheel at ten to two or quarter to three – keep your thumbs vertical
* Can you adjust the steering wheel for improved control?
* Make sure your arms are slightly bent
* Legs should also be slightly bent with your feet are on the pedals
* The back of the seat should be fairly upright, giving you a good view of the road ahead, and of course mirrors (rear and door) display and dials
* Ensure the head restraints are adjusted so they align with the top of your head.

Being “too laid back” compromises vision and car control. It shows a lack of interest in your driving and makes you more likely to doze off on a long journey. Thousands of accidents and near misses are caused by drivers giving in to the effects of fatigue.

On the other hand, if you position yourself too close to the wheel, as well as looking slightly strange, you will have less car control, poor reaction times and – in the event of a crash – you will be hit by the airbag cover exploding out at more than 200mph instead of cushioned by it as it deflates – which is what it is designed to do for you.'

Sports position....... :thumbsdown: :poke:
 
cj10jeeper said:
Sad but I just checked the Zed video and the recommendation is:

Set the seat base so that if oyu pres the brake pedal as hard as you can your knee has a slight bend
Adjust the back to a fairly vertical position, so that forces push you back into it. Not too steeply raked back and overly relaxed
Final adjustment is so that while seated firmly your wrists just break over the top of the wheel.

That's described as a good basic position to work from
Click to expand...

Sounds very familiar... sure I read something very similar just recently :poke:
 
Sorry to dig up an old post, but I've been struggling to get an ideal position for the Sports seats in my E85.

There's a video mentioned a lot in this thread but I can't seem to find it. Does anyone have the link?
 
I don't find the driving position too bad ergonomically, but having to drop your head down to look out of the side windows is what bugs me.
 
I have my sports seats forward and the back as far back as possible. I like front of the seat to be up so it gives me extra comfort on the back of my legs and my Crown Jewels
 
My main problem seems to be neck support, i.e. actually having my head comfortably touching the headrest whilst still being able to see forward properly.
 
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