Advice please - new car = backache

What Focus is it?

The seats in my ST were fantastic. So comfy, and I was happy driving 350 miles to Manchester in them.

The seats in a new 1.8 TDCI Sport I test drove a couple of weekends ago had what Ford call "Sport Seats". They felt like they had no lumbar support and the sides of the seats were really soft and squishy, so no support there either. 20 minute test drive and I wanted to get out.
 
Did you go on an extended test drive when you bought the car?

Anyway, too late now. Give them a few weeks and if they're still uncomfortable, you've got 2 choices:

1. (but either the leather ones, or ones with grey/blue/red inserts)
st.jpg


2.
wood.jpg



:p :p
 
I hear a lot of people complain about the Focus seats comfort, but I've had no trouble in mine, despite driving for quite a while in it. Is it just in the Zetecs?

Im driving to Leicester on Wednesday though (2 - 2.5 hours) so I don't want to speak to soon :o
 
I love the Leather in my ST, so comfy, i can quite happily do 7-800 miles a day and not be tired.Im not so keen on the fabric ST seats, they look a bit naff to me.

That said i had a Focus TDCI when they first came out, for about a week, and that was fine, for a 300 mile round trip to the NW from the midlands.

Are you sure its not an adjustment thing?
 
R124/LA420 said:
Take it from somebody who lives behind a wheel, it is an adjustment thing. ;)
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Can you give me hints how to adjust the seat? My 'theory' could be that because the seats are very 'comfortable' when you first get in the car it tricks you into thinking the seat it adjusted correctly which is why so many people complain. I can't understand what could be so wrong with the seats, also the fact that I never sit properly and always slouch when I am at my PC etc and never get any back trouble just makes it seem so strange.

I rallied an 18 year old landy with 350k-km on the clock with the Army in the OTC that had seen active service at least 4 times for 250 miles cross country, it took 11 hours (we came in first) and by the end of it my back was only slightly sore! I just find it very hard to believe that the Focus could be worse than that haha! The Landy seats are considerably more basic than the civilian ones, I might have a picture somewhere!

The other thing I could do is to ask my physiotherapist what exercises I could do to build up the muscle in my back to stop the pain. That would probably be one of my cheapest options!
 
laissez-faire said:
Can you give me hints how to adjust the seat? My 'theory' could be that because the seats are very 'comfortable' when you first get in the car it tricks you into thinking the seat it adjusted correctly which is why so many people complain. I can't understand what could be so wrong with the seats, also the fact that I never sit properly and always slouch when I am at my PC etc and never get any back trouble just makes it seem so strange.
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You've answered the question for me.

I find, if the seat feels comfy "from the off" then an hour into my trip, I feel the opposite.

Speaking from my main driving - which is driving a truck for upto 10 hours in a given day - Slouching is bad, I always try to sit as upright as I can, an issue thats helped with trucks as they have a large degree of height adjustment - which cars don't - Sometimes, its just your seat and back just not being compatible.

Here, an A3 size road atlas can offer great help (the maps not much use though if you use it as a back support!)

I've found a rolled up towel at the back of my seat (when driving an Iveco for example!) is the difference between back related agony or a comfy drive!

The trick for me, is to be able to not to have to stretch for whatever commonly used control (indicator, handbrake, gears etc) when my seats set up.

My seat back is slightly tilted back, but the seat base is angled also an "L" with a rearward tilt if you see what I mean :o

I have the seats in my car set up for slouched cruising mode :o - not really an issue though as I only rarely drive it any great distances.

:)
 
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What I would try is move the seat to the furthest back so you can't reach the pedals. Then adjust the back, if you're getting upper/shoulder pains then move the back of the seat forwards so that you're back is almost straight. After you've done this then move the seat forward so that you can depress the clutch without having to inch your butt forward. Then adjust the height of the seat and steering wheel to suit.

Having said all the above years ago I used to have a Vectra CDX and that always gave me back ache no matter what I did, ended up terminating the rental on that within a year as it never got any better.
 
I've found the same thing, (currently looking for a Ford, having driven a nice comfy Laguna)
The Focus seats seem to have a odd lumber support, IIRC like a bubble, and no adjustment ?
The Feista I didn't even bother sitting in, as I know their "seat" is just a wooden plank with the stuffing from some keyring plushie nailed on.
The Mondeo is better and did have a lumber adjustment, but they are all bit firm for my liking.

Saab and Volvo if I could afford them, but I'll check out that ST though :)
 
This might be way off the mark but you don't by chance have a pretty fat wallet (ie cars and loads of reciepts) that you keep in your back pocket?

I found this to be the reason I couldn't get comfy in a MG ZT-T (before you flame me, it was a company car)
 
Mr Nice said:
This might be way off the mark but you don't by chance have a pretty fat wallet (ie cars and loads of reciepts) that you keep in your back pocket?

I found this to be the reason I couldn't get comfy in a MG ZT-T (before you flame me, it was a company car)
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Yeah I do... but I never had any trouble with that in the past! I'll try taking it out though, cheap fix!
 
Mr Nice said:
This might be way off the mark but you don't by chance have a pretty fat wallet (ie cars and loads of reciepts) that you keep in your back pocket?

I found this to be the reason I couldn't get comfy in a MG ZT-T (before you flame me, it was a company car)
Click to expand...

I had exactly the same in the Impreza!
Moving from the Jeep (with extra squishy comfy seats) to the impreza (sports seats with bolsters and supports everywhere) I found my wallet was at just the position to make me shift in my seat so it didnt give me bum ache.
took wallet out and never had a problem since!
 
Bit of a thread bump this, but I realised I never replied when I said I would. Did my long drive in the Focus at the start of August (Dartford to Derby), took about 3 hours and apart from the usual slight stiffness of a long car ride, I had no problems with the comfort of the seat.

Perhaps this is a heigh issue. Im 6' tall and have my seat all the way back and fairly upright (None of this 'gangster lean' tripe :D). Is it only affecting those who sit further forward?
 
Occasionally spend about 2 hours straight in mine and after about 2 hours i get slight aches in my back, but nothing a quick wriggle doesnt sort.

Its only a 306, but the seats are soooooooooo comfy. Getting in my dads clio feels like im sitting on bricks, and my grandas Fiesta, dont even get me started, that thing kills me after 5 minutes.
 
This is an area where FIAT and the marques they own get it right. I can drive for hours in the Punto.


Does you Focus have an adjustable lumbar support? Might be worth trying seat covers, keep the seat in good condition for when you sell it too.
 
I had an old-shape Focus for three years and it was the most uncomfortable car I've ever had - the seats were an absolute nightmare.

I'd have thought they'd have improved them on the new one.
 
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