Was this VRS yours? & Drivers Seat Problem

[Tall_Tim]

Evening All,

I recently bought a 53 plate Black Fabia VRS, with Briskoda and Skoda motorsport stickers above the headlights. The car is from the west country Bristol / somerset area? The car is showing 66K and has a black grille.

If it was yours can you let me know any gruesome history :( or any good history would be better!!

Saying that the car is in good nick apart from 1 really annoying problem:

The Drivers seat is slightly loose, it looks like the joints/ rivets that connect the seat base to the runners are worn so the seat rocks back and forward and inch or so (which is quite disconcerting!!) I have been quoted £240 for a new seat base assembly which I think is a bit harsh is this a common problem?

Thanks in advance

T

[BOBAD]

The Drivers seat is slightly loose

When I got my Fabia I was driven to distraction by the driver's seat which wouldn't go far enough back to be comfortable. If you look at the seat runners there is an extra set of securing bolts at the back which are not in use but it looks like they could easily be used to provide an extra 3 or 4 inches of legroom. It seemed simple enough to me but I couldn't get any garage to do the work on the grounds that they didn't want to run up against construction and use regulations!

Then I hit upon the idea of using a disabled-driver conversion specialist who did the job (which I had been told was impossible by countless garages) in about 20mins. and he didn't even charge me!

Result - one very comfortable driving position although there is only legroom for a midget/ small child in the rear.

Worth you checking out this route as these guys know everything there is to know about securing drivers' seats and I bet you will get away with paying a lot less than you have been quoted so far.

Bob.

[anewman]

I've just got a Fabia and at 6' 3" I think the legroom is brilliant, best of any car I have tried so far.

Also my driver's seat rocks slightly back and forth, but only by about maybe half a centimetre. Tried rocking it while looking at the mountings and couldn't identify the source of the play. Mines approx 48k on the clock.

[Jonny5ive]

Evening All,

I recently bought a 53 plate Black Fabia VRS, with Briskoda and Skoda motorsport stickers above the headlights. The car is from the west country Bristol / somerset area? The car is showing 66K and has a black grille.

If it was yours can you let me know any gruesome history :( or any good history would be better!!

It wasn't Mine!!

Welcome to the forum Tim from a fellow Yocal ;-)

I'll keep an eye out for you around Stroud

['Little' John]

When I got my Fabia I was driven to distraction by the driver's seat which wouldn't go far enough back to be comfortable. If you look at the seat runners there is an extra set of securing bolts at the back which are not in use but it looks like they could easily be used to provide an extra 3 or 4 inches of legroom. It seemed simple enough to me but I couldn't get any garage to do the work on the grounds that they didn't want to run up against construction and use regulations!

Then I hit upon the idea of using a disabled-driver conversion specialist who did the job (which I had been told was impossible by countless garages) in about 20mins. and he didn't even charge me!

Result - one very comfortable driving position although there is only legroom for a midget/ small child in the rear.

Worth you checking out this route as these guys know everything there is to know about securing drivers' seats and I bet you will get away with paying a lot less than you have been quoted so far.

Bob.

You must sit on the edge of your seat or something. I'm 6'5" with 36" legs and I don't have any problems in my vRS. In SWMBOs classic I can't even have the seat right back because I can't depress the clutch properly without stretching.

[Confused_Cheese]

I'm just under 6 foot, but I have the seat right back and its still not far enough :p I sit almost bolt upright too back in the seat, with arms partially bent on the wheel (proper driving position)

On long journeys my knees start to ache due to the position... might have to go down the same route

[Tall_Tim]

You must sit on the edge of your seat or something. I'm 6'5" with 36" legs and I don't have any problems in my vRS. In SWMBOs classic I can't even have the seat right back because I can't depress the clutch properly without stretching.

There is plenty of legroom in the Fabia - And I should know as I I am a touch taller than Little John

[kotlewski69]

I'm just under 6 foot, but I have the seat right back and its still not far enough :p I sit almost bolt upright too back in the seat, with arms partially bent on the wheel (proper driving position)

On long journeys my knees start to ache due to the position... might have to go down the same route

you must haveong arms and legs cos i'm 6 foot 2 and i fit fine in a proper position. Plus i can move the seat back anothe 3 - 4 inches!!!

[Confused_Cheese]

lol think my legs are long, I struggle on some roller coasters etc. too. I don't get comments on them though, so they can't be that big or look abnormally proportioned.

Had an astra before, that was fine for me... Old Fiesta before that and boy did that cripple me.

Furby isn't that bad, but another extra 1-2 inches would make it spot on.

[BOBAD]

I'm just under 6 foot, but I have the seat right back and its still not far enough :p I sit almost bolt upright too back in the seat, with arms partially bent on the wheel (proper driving position)

On long journeys my knees start to ache due to the position... might have to go down the same route

Identical to me Mr. Cheese...!

I too am just under 6' and my driving position is a copy of yours!

I too suffered knee-ache on anything over 50 miles as well!

Moving the seat back was the answer and it was very annoying to have to jump through hoops to get the job done..

It's perfect now though.

By the way, it doesn't help one little bit to read posts from people claiming "I'm 12 feet tall and have more than enough room...." and " you must be perched on the edge of your seat..etc"

There isn't enough room in the standard car FOR ME and as I am the one driving it, that's all that matters.

Mr. Cheese I suggest you visit your local disabled-driver specialist (there is one in Upton who fixed mine).

The improvement in driving comfort transforms the car and makes it much more satisfying to own.

Bob.

[Confused_Cheese]

Was beginning to feel like a freak lol glad i'm not the only one

[chrisw880]

I'm just under 6 foot, but I have the seat right back and its still not far enough :p I sit almost bolt upright too back in the seat, with arms partially bent on the wheel (proper driving position)

On long journeys my knees start to ache due to the position... might have to go down the same route

I suffer from sore knees quite often

[wja96]

I'm sure you have all tried this, but putting the seat on it's lowest position pushes it back a good 4 inches because it pumps up and down in an arc rather than a straight line. If you guys are all taller than me (I'm 5' 11") then the dropped seat shouldn't be a problem, It also has the advantage that you can drop the steering wheel down for a more vertical (and therefore comfortable) driving position.

[kaitechno]

The Drivers seat is slightly loose, it looks like the joints/ rivets that connect the seat base to the runners are worn so the seat rocks back and forward and inch or so (which is quite disconcerting!!) I have been quoted £240 for a new seat base assembly which I think is a bit harsh is this a common problem?

Thanks in advance

T

I've just upgraded from a Fabia 1.9tdi comfort to a Fabia vrs. The seat in the vrs is fine but I had the exact same problem in the comfort. The seat rocks backward and forward maybe an inch or two. It never bothered me because I tend to lean back when I'm driving but some of my pupils (I am a driving instructor) did comment on it a few times,especially ones who sat more upright.

[BOBAD]

putting the seat on it's lowest position pushes it back a good 4 inches because it pumps up and down in an arc rather than a straight line.

Yes, we know.

If you guys are all taller than me (I'm 5' 11") then the dropped seat shouldn't be a problem

Yes you're right, it shouldn't be a problem. But it is.

Mainly because not everyone prefers to be the same distance away from the pedals/steering wheel when driving.

Some (like me) prefer straight legs when driving. Others don't mind having their legs splayed.

Straight-arm driving technique can easily be attained by reclining the seat to the desired angle and adjusting the steering wheel to suit.

Straight-leg position is more difficult because the seat is prevented from moving rearwards by the bump stops.

Moving the bump-stops to the rear by 4" gives the desired position and it is this modification which is so difficult to have done by a garage because of some obscure "construction & use" regulation.

The seat runners have two un-used bolt-holes at the back which can easily be utilised to give an extra 4" of legroom to the driver at the cost of reduced leg-room for the rear off-side passenger. This isn't a problem for me as I never take passengers in the back.

The 4" of increased leg room I now have has transformed the car into something far more comfortable to drive thanks to an independent specialist who took less than half-an-hour to do the job, and I am eternally grateful to him.

Bob.

[Tall_Tim]

Guys,

Thanks so much for all of your feedback comments etc. Does anyone have an exploded parts diagram of the seat?

Cheers

T

[anewman]

[Tall_Tim]

Thats great thanks a million. I am guesing component 1 comes as a single unit which is why its £240

T

[BOBAD]

On long journeys my knees start to ache due to the position... might have to go down the same route

Mr. Cheese, The specialist who can sort out your seat runners is in Greasby, Wirral and his phone numbers are:

0151-678-38 91

or

mobile: 07860-78 79 14

Bob.

[Smeghead]

Just been looking at mine. Not 100% certain but there are what appears to be extra mounting holes in the runners so it looks like the seat could be moved back an extra couple of inches. Like I say not 100% certain as I haven't tried it but it looks possible.

Might help the 12 footers on here

Edited 15 March, 2010 by Smeghead