Since I've taken delivery of my new Skoda, my lower back has been killing me! Has anyone else developed back pain since taking delivery of their Octavia? I've played with the lumbar support, but to no avail!

when i picked up my octavia last year i had a 300km drive home and arriving home my back was killing me. had backpain for two days after...

now a year later i have no pain driving long distances. used to my toyota soft leather seats with all kind of adjustment options i guess the back had to get used to the hard skoda seats with less options to adjust to my liking.

Edited 8 August, 20169 yr by bytterga

No back problems have occurred since buying my Skoda. Find the seats are great and quite firm. Our other car has firm seats too.

Edited 8 August, 20169 yr by stu53

What flavour of Octavia is it and what seat options did you choose?

Its a VRS, and there are no options at all on it really!

 

My previous three cars have been BMWs, and I've had no pain. But the pain I have now is very similar to the pain I have from my Civic Type R back in 2009ish.

The BMW seats are pretty good.

 

I didn't get on well with the Mk2 vRS seats. Backache. Made me sell car.

 

I specified electric, leather seats this time which has the 4 way electric lumbar support and happily, no issues.

 

Different things suits different people unfortunately.

Its a VRS, and there are no options at all on it really!

My previous three cars have been BMWs, and I've had no pain. But the pain I have now is very similar to the pain I have from my Civic Type R back in 2009ish.

How tall are you? I don't know if it's cause I'm a funny shape but I'm 6" and find the seat base too short like these no leg support and I'm having to hold my legs up. If I adjust for my legs I can't get the right position for the wheel.

I do eventually get a comfortable driving position but it's not that easy.

Mind it's a lot better than the mk1 Fabia vRS - that was murder.

I am on my second VRS and while there are better seats about, I have had no problems with the standard seats.

 

I have done around 9500 miles with some long journeys.

Do you have electric seats? It offer better lumbar support, with more adjustment options than standard seat mechanism. 

If it is the car and I can't find a solution, then I'm buggered as I've signed up for a 2 year PCH deal!

 

I'm 5'10'', so pretty average for a male. I'm hoping I can fiddle with the seat until I find a good spot!

The vrs seats in the front are poor. Sure they look good but...

I'm not surprised you have back problems now or it has aggravated and prior condition

gullyg, on 08 Aug 2016 - 10:41, said:

How tall are you? I don't know if it's cause I'm a funny shape but I'm 6" and find the seat base too short like these no leg support and I'm having to hold my legs up. If I adjust for my legs I can't get the right position for the wheel.

I do eventually get a comfortable driving position but it's not that easy.

Mind it's a lot better than the mk1 Fabia vRS - that was murder.

 

I'm 6' and have a bad back which is not made worse by the seats.

 

I used the height adjustment to get a reasonably high seat and this gives me plenty of support for my legs.

I'm 6' and have a bad back which is not made worse by the seats.

I used the height adjustment to get a reasonably high seat and this gives me plenty of support for my legs.

I try that and then find I don't have enough reach for the full limits of the clutch or I'm too close to the wheel.

I think I'm just an odd body shape

I have suffered from lower back problems since my late teens. The vRS has proven to be the most comfortable car I have owned in a long time, no back issues driving it in 2.5 years.

Solution for lower back problems is usually in the gym, not in the seats :p

I have suffered from lower back problems since my late teens. The vRS has proven to be the most comfortable car I have owned in a long time, no back issues driving it in 2.5 years.

That sounds promising then. Hopefully it's a case of finding the right spot. I'll dig out my "wedge" cushion too!

I experienced a little discomfort the first week or two with my VRS having moved from the wide, soft seats in my Mazda 6.

 

Took me a little while of playing with the rake, back angle, lumbar support, height and steering wheel height/reach before I was sorted but now I think these are some of the most comfortable and supportive seats I have had!

 

Like others above, I am a slightly strange shape - 6' tall, longish legs and short arms!

.

FWIW I currently have my seat nearly all the way back, as low as it will go and with the back reasonably upright and the lumbar at about 50%. Steering wheel is at full reach.

Mk2 Ambition with lumbar support were no problems even when on 5000 km driving holiday.

Mk3 Ambition with no lumbar support was killing my back after just 1.5 hours of the first long drive.

Had to use cushion supports until my back got used to the seat, it took about 2 months and now no issues.

 

I have had lower back problems in the past due to poor core strength but just fairly regular home exercises made an enormous difference to my life.

178cm (5'10"), 68kg (10st 10lbs).

 

I did not realise the base model Mk3 I bought had no lumbar adjustment as I test drove a similar higher spec model with it and assumed since the mk2 had it on driver and passenger seats that it was a given.

Probably an Aussie thing as a few other manufacturers do similar at the cheaper end of the market (and sometimes not so cheap either)

Edited 9 August, 20169 yr by Gerrycan

Vaguely remember similar thing when I got mine over 2 yrs ago. I twiddled with the lumber support (non electric). As I went. Also I tend to prefer the back reasonably upright, so my back is fully against the seat. Different clothing ie thick/coat no cost. Can alter things.Im lucky only I drive mine so it's softened to my shape nicely.

Basically the seat should bed in.

Enjoy the rest of the car

Yes, count me in on the initial back pain - my Saab seats used to fit perfectly. My VRS has non-electrical seats, so, no lumbar adjustment.

Good news is, that also as some others have said, after a few weeks either my back, the seat, or both got adjusted to each other and I can now drive really long distances without pain.

 

In all fairness, these are not the most comfortable seats ever - my work colleague got a base spec Octavia 1.2TSi mk3 that I test drove for her and the seats were much more comfortable...

I used one of these in my Octy

 

https://www.medesign.co.uk/MEDesign-Backfriend-Car

 

Solved my back problems, not needed in my R as it has better lumbar support but I do now use a CG lock to keep me securely held back into the seat so I do not slide around, also very effective.

I experienced a little discomfort the first week or two with my VRS having moved from the wide, soft seats in my Mazda 6.

 

Took me a little while of playing with the rake, back angle, lumbar support, height and steering wheel height/reach before I was sorted but now I think these are some of the most comfortable and supportive seats I have had!

 

Like others above, I am a slightly strange shape - 6' tall, longish legs and short arms!

.

FWIW I currently have my seat nearly all the way back, as low as it will go and with the back reasonably upright and the lumbar at about 50%. Steering wheel is at full reach.

I too suffer from back problems (upper back / shoulder blades) but can't say it is the vrs seat that is the problem.  I'm 5'11" but with long legs.  Seat is set up like Item's - almost all the way back and very low with back upright and steering wheel as close as possible.  That way I have plenty of support all the up my back to the shoulders and am not stretching to reach the wheel.  When my back is bothering me I turn on the heated seat.

For me in the past the problem has been getting the seat far enough back to have support under my thigh while not so far back I have to stretch for the steering wheel or am unable to bottom out the clutch and so pulling on the upper back.  When buying cars I follow my old man's advice - if it hasn't got a comfy seat don't buy it!  Generally it has worked for me when I've had the choice.  As I spend 2 - 3 hours a day  commuting a good supportive seat is vital.  I've been told that soft squishy French style seats are generally not good for the back.

Once knew someone with a bad back who spent a fortune on a big Merc only to find it undriveable.  He had to give it to the wife and use her big 4x4 instead!

Recently sat in a new Audi A4.  Peddles are offset to the right relative to the steering wheel.  I could feel myself twisting in the seat to drive it and in 5mins or so that I sat in it, it became uncomfortable.  The salesman even noted that was a problem for him - great way to sell the car. Strike that from the list!  The Focus ST3 was even worse.  The seat back was so tight between the seat bolsters I thought it was going to crush my ribs!  Again for me undriveable.  Strike 2.

I started to get back pain several years ago when driving longer distances (in a mondeo at the time) I found I needed more lumbar support than typically available in most cars. The solution was cheap and simple. A small feather cushion from dunelm mill. I've been using this now for 6 years accross several cars and it completely solves the problem. The key is that a feather cushion is mouldable and can provide just the right amount of support.

Do u get back pain/discomfort with a new sofa? Or new mattress even?

The seats don't bed in. Utter rubbish.

Your body learns and adjusts to the new seat. The pain is there to remind you that your back is not in an ideal position.

Agree with the saab seat comfort comments. Never had to bed in a saab seat. They understood ergonomics.

I've fitted a wedge cushion now, but not really driven it enough to see if it has made a difference. I'll report back in a week or two!