New car and seat uncomfortable (luxury, vehicle, 2012, seats)
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I Bought a new Kia Soul a few days ago. I like the car and no regrets about buying it. It serves my purposes and budget just fine. What bothers me when driving this car my back hurts, from the midback up to the shoulders. I have tried adjusting the seat and steering wheel in all positions. Nothing seems to help. I had the dealer turn the headrest around because it was hitting my head. Nothing has helped. I drove a small pickup for almost 11 years that I traded in for this Kia. That vehicle had armrest on both sides of me. This Kia just has one on the door. The console next to me does not have a cover to rest my arm on. I'm wondering if this could be the cause of this awful pain when driving the car. I'm just not supported in the seat as I was in my previous vehicle. I bought a lumbar pillow but that really only helps lower back and that's not what is bothering me.
Any suggestions. Has anyone ever had this happen when buying a car and what did you do? I'm guessing the angle of this seat is much different than my back is use to. Perhaps in time I will get use to it. Thanks.
This may be something that is unique to your body. There is a thread on the Kia Soul forums (Severely Uncomfortable Drivers Seat) with a new owner complaining about seat comfort but the vast majority of responses from other owners claim that they find them very comfortable even after long drives (some claim even more comfortable than their Audi's, xB's, etc). Even people with various back problems claim to make 500+ mile trips without any issues.
Maybe your back is just messed up right now, and in a few days it may settle down. I ordered three different lumbar support cushions before finding one that worked for me in my new Yaris.
my 2012 Yaris is a cheap car and i love the seating position. you sit up high and it doesn't feel like a small car. the seating position impressed me when i first sat in the car.
Most cheap cars have crap seats. Sit in a mercedes or volvo and you'll understand.
Although I tend to agree because the manufacturer will be better able to invest into more expensive/comfortable seating, it seems that based on forum responses specific to the Kia Soul many people are quite happy with the seats and claim it’s more comfortable than their prior cars which include luxury makes. Of course comfort alone doesn't say much about materials quality so Mercedes and Volvo can offer leather seating at their price points while I'm fairly certain the Soul makes do with cloth.
I wonder how many are saying how comfortable the seats are to try to play up their car. I personally don't see how seats in a lower end econo car can compare to the upper end cars. Or perhaps they have upgraded seats in a top of the line kia package.
No, I'm not a high end car snob. I own a mid-line pick-up and a low end fiesta. The seats in the fiesta are to me how you describe the kias. Longer drives I get uncomfortable. There seems to be an emptiness in the lower part of the backrest (no lumbar support?). The seats are only slightly softer then a concrete bench. I have no center arm rest as well. They are what I expected on the grade car I bought. Nothing more. My truck is a lot more comfortable to drive for long distances and it is 4 wheel drive. However, my wallet likes me driving the fiesta better. Right now I'll let the wallet win out and let my back suffer.
My husband had a Subaru that I could not get comfortable in. The head rest hit the wrong part of my head no matter what position it was in or how the seat was angled. I volunteered to drive my car all the time so I wouldn't have to ride in it. He has an Equinox now and the seats are more comfortable for me and I'm a passenger again.
Years ago he had a Ford Escort wagon and had back pain for a couple of years, as soon as that car was replaced, the pain disappeared. Sometimes the fit just isn't right for a particular person and their body in some car models.
I wonder how many are saying how comfortable the seats are to try to play up their car. I personally don't see how seats in a lower end econo car can compare to the upper end cars. Or perhaps they have upgraded seats in a top of the line kia package.
No, I'm not a high end car snob. I own a mid-line pick-up and a low end fiesta. The seats in the fiesta are to me how you describe the kias. Longer drives I get uncomfortable. There seems to be an emptiness in the lower part of the backrest (no lumbar support?). The seats are only slightly softer then a concrete bench. I have no center arm rest as well. They are what I expected on the grade car I bought. Nothing more. My truck is a lot more comfortable to drive for long distances and it is 4 wheel drive. However, my wallet likes me driving the fiesta better. Right now I'll let the wallet win out and let my back suffer.
I can tell you from experience that forum members will often be the most honest about their cars. Forums are where you find common problems, reliability concerns, etc. For the vast majority of people there is zero motivation to play up your car particularly when you're conversing with a community of individuals who all own the same car and generally share the same set of problems.
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