Seat & Wheel - Correct Positions

flimper

flimper

Veteran
 Hampshire
Had the car for nearly 9 years and today was the first time I've adjusted the steering wheel :roll:

I drive with the seat quite low and the wheel quite high, and have never been that comfortable making quick turns i.e. through roundabouts

I found this on another site and wondered how other drivers set their positions.

1. Adjust the up/down seat position so that you have 4 fingers between the top of your head and the ceiling.

2. Adjust the front/back seat position so that your leg is just shy of full extension (knee slightly bent) when your clutch/brake is fully depressed.

3. Adjust the steering column down as low as it will go while still having a view of all of the instruments.

4. Adjust the seat back position so that with your arms fully extended, your hands can drape over the top of the steering wheel.
 
Interesting post.

My driving position seems to tick all the above boxes. I've experimented with many and have various saved settings.
The higher seat position definitely helps with the never ending bonnet.
 
Yes, that sounds about right.

I quite like it that when I collected the Porsche, they actually "fitted" me in my seats to be the correct position for driving.
 
i think this is highly subjective flimps.

At 6'1" I'm only comfortable with the seat as far back and as low as it can go while giving an adequate rake for comfort. I'm a long-legged fella too so moving any further forward will mean my knees are knocking against the dash when changing gear.
When my arms are stretched out they can easily drape over the instrument binnacle let alone the steering wheel.

Also, not everyone is built the same and 'standard man' (and woman) configured as he/she is when used in ergonomic studies caters for a huge cross section of western society and only represents an actual minority at those exact dimensions.
I know this because I had to design and configure escape routes on a ship from the azimuth thruster housings fore and stern at 4 locations up to the maindeck and conforming to ABS regs the ship had to be lengthened a total of 20metres to facilitate 4 stairwells. At a beam of 16metres this was an expensive but necessary addition - just to cater for 'standard man'!

Thankfully my own escape route from the zed, should it ever be required is a bit shorter. :thumbsup:
(waits for snappy quip from pastry paul here....)
 
Being a shortarse, I have the seat height midway, quite far back, but still allowing full pedal depression, and the stering wheel nice and low, but not enough to obscure to top of the instruments....

Mike
 
Ducklakeview said:
Being a shortarse, I have the seat height midway, quite far back, but still allowing full pedal depression, and the stering wheel nice and low, but not enough to obscure to top of the instruments....

Mike
Click to expand...
A shortarse scouser? Why does thar remind me of derek hatton? :lol:
 
Chris_D said:
Ducklakeview said:
Being a shortarse, I have the seat height midway, quite far back, but still allowing full pedal depression, and the stering wheel nice and low, but not enough to obscure to top of the instruments....

Mike
Click to expand...
A shortarse scouser? Why does thar remind me of derek hatton? :lol:
Click to expand...

Calm down, calm down...

Mike
 
Ducklakeview said:
Chris_D said:
Ducklakeview said:
Being a shortarse, I have the seat height midway, quite far back, but still allowing full pedal depression, and the stering wheel nice and low, but not enough to obscure to top of the instruments....

Mike
Click to expand...
A shortarse scouser? Why does thar remind me of derek hatton? :lol:
Click to expand...

Calm down, calm down...

Mike
Click to expand...
Hahha
image.jpeg
 
I'm 6.3" so don't really have the luxury of an ideal seating position. All the way back and all the way down.
 
I'm over 6'3 and find I have the rear of the base of what seat right down and the front lip of the base raised. I don't have the base of the seat as far back as it will go so I get a comfortable reclined position to the seat back. I also have the thigh supported fully extended. The wheel is as high as it can go and for reach I have it pulled as far out as it can so my knees easily clear the underside of the wheel. My left knee is very close the the bottom of the dash but you get used to that.
 
Some years ago my then chiropractor came out to my car to see if we could set the seat right.
I think my DD then may have been a Mondeo any way try as she might we could not get an ideal position.
Her conclusion was in her experience only Volvo made car seats that would give proper adjustment.
 
Grumpyowl said:
Some years ago my then chiropractor came out to my car to see if we could set the seat right.
I think my DD then may have been a Mondeo any way try as she might we could not get an ideal position.
Her conclusion was in her experience only Volvo made car seats that would give proper adjustment.
Click to expand...
My old saab 900i had the best seats ive ever experienced in a car. They supported in all the right places, especially lumbar. I could have sat in those all day and not had any discomfort!
 
Chris_D said:
I could have sat in those all day and not had any discomfort!
Click to expand...

Did that car break down that often as well then that you sat in it all day waiting for a recovery van? :poke:
 
1. Seems very odd to have the ceiling of a car as part of the measurement - surely that could be at any height in relation to steering wheel/seat/windscreen etc etc. depending on the design of the vehicle?!
 
Darkangelv2 said:
1. Seems very odd to have the ceiling of a car as part of the measurement - surely that could be at any height in relation to steering wheel/seat/windscreen etc etc. depending on the design of the vehicle?!
Click to expand...

Especially in a convertible with roof down! :poke: :P
 
Darkangelv2 said:
1. Seems very odd to have the ceiling of a car as part of the measurement - surely that could be at any height in relation to steering wheel/seat/windscreen etc etc. depending on the design of the vehicle?!
Click to expand...

Quite. Try it in a Kangoo...
 
:P
Steve84N said:
Darkangelv2 said:
1. Seems very odd to have the ceiling of a car as part of the measurement - surely that could be at any height in relation to steering wheel/seat/windscreen etc etc. depending on the design of the vehicle?!
Click to expand...

Quite. Try it in a Kangoo...
Click to expand...
Just tried it in a high sided transit and I needed 3 booster cushions. Only problem is I can see bugger all and can't reach the steering wheel or peddles!!! :P
 
Opening post is about right on a sequence to follow. I've seen variants on it, but in essence there does seem to be consensus on a correct sequence of height, base rake/leg position, wheel height, then arms by moving the wheel in/out

Of course there are some limitations on ideal position based around different cars and driver size, but I've mine set this way and been perfect for any journey and more importantly the ability to see and control the car
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom