Proper seating position. You're (probably) doing it wrong!

[Rainmaker]

Following on from a post about back ache and lumbar support in the Superb, I started writing a reply and it soon turned into a bit of a general tutorial. I think it's better to post it as its own thread, as not everyone is going to potentially see that single person's thread and find my general advice. I hope it helps someone. Remember that even if you've 'always sat that way' or 'already know' how to set up a car seat for optimum control, safety and comfort, most people actually get it wrong.

 

As a rough guide for setting the right position, you can do the following. YouTube - as usual - found a simpler more visual explanation, but my text remains below for completeness as it adds a lot of factors the video (which concentrates only on back position) omits. Even if you think you're happy in the car, spend two or three minutes and watch the video anyway. The video is split into electric and manual seats, so you don't even need to watch it all. You'd be amazed how many people just get in and have no real idea about the ergonomics of seating. Just remember that instead of sitting the backrest forward (i.e. more vertical) to support you, usually it's easier and better on your back to have it 10-20 degrees past vertical in the rearward direction and then bring the whole chair forward instead, so that the backrest 'meets' you that way. You're always naturally going to try to sit a comfortable distance from the controls while driving, which is why you see so many people leaning forward away from their seat around town. They maintain optimum distance from the wheel for comfort and maximum visibility around them, but the chair ends up way too far away behind them for proper support and comfort. The following video is American and the guy is very... American also (read: cheesy) but it's solid and simple advice.

 

 

I found it easiest to start with the seat base all the way rearwards and downwards (vertically), with the back rest tilted towards the back seat a little past vertical, and the seat base cushion tilt all the way down/forwards. Basically the seat starts as far down, back and 'open' as possible before you get in. Sit in the chair with your backside fully rearward in the seat, so you are fully upright and in a natural, comfortable position. Don't slouch with your pelvis away from the rear/base of the chair, as so many seem to do (mostly because their chair is incorrectly set up and allows them to slide down over the course of a journey!).

 

Next, adjust the back rest forward (very slightly) to meet you if necessary, still past vertical rearwards. Don't bring it too far forwards! If you feel you need to bring the back rest even further forwards for comfort, you'll usually actually find it easiest and best to actually do most of that adjustment by moving the whole chair towards the pedals instead, rather than by moving forward the back rest. This will have the side effect of bringing the back rest closer to your natural position in the car and still maintain that 'open' angle of the entire seat. Just ensure you're close enough to operate the pedals properly (and see out of the windows) while staying supported by the chair and keeping your legs slightly bent when the pedals are at full depression/extension. It's probably a little closer than might seem natural at first for many, and bear in mind a DSG will have the brake closer than the throttle, so a middle ground will be required.

 

At this point you may need to adjust the height of the whole chair if you're a shorter person or a female, so that you can comfortably see out of the windscreen and side windows. It will also keep you away from the floor (depending on your height) due to the slightly downward sloping seat base, and thus giving clearance and support to your thighs. Bear in mind that a lower seat height setting is generally better, provided you have full visibility. A lower 'H' point in the car gives you more connection to the vehicle's chassis, allows for better road feedback and also better ultimate comfort. Only raise the height further (slightly) if it is the only way to maximise the other aspects of seat adjustment later on. For example, depending on your individual biomechanics and especially if you're tall and/or long-legged, you may find that you can't be far enough away from the pedals and still close enough to the wheel without moving the base back slightly (away from the pedals) but the height up slightly also (so you can still also reach the wheel).

 

So, once comfortable in the chair itself, and a proper distance from the pedals, you need to set the steering wheel for maximum control and comfort. Steering wheel reach and rake are your friends here. Pull out the wheel far enough that you can now comfortably rest your wrists on the top over 12 o'clock, and that at the same time your shoulders are still resting into the back rest. If your shoulders move forwards away from the chair when you put your wrists on the top of the wheel, you need the wheel to be closer or the wheel needs to be lower. Period. Since we already set the chair comfortably from the pedals it's the wheel that needs to move here if possible, so bring it closer until your wrists and shoulders both rest at the same time. Taller drivers may find they reach maximum reach of the wheel but it's still too far away (the Superb's wheel reach isn't great considering the amount of leg room and seat travel). If that happens, you'll have to move the whole chair forward slightly to meet it (first choice), and/or slightly raise the seat height (second choice) or back rest further towards vertical (least desirable choice). In practice this won't be a problem either way and you'll soon get it right.

 

Next, make sure also that the wheel is low enough (in rake adjustment) that you can (1) see the instrument binnacle fully and (2) completely relax your shoulders into the seat while driving. Slightly low usually better than slightly high (which will leave you reaching up with your shoulders away from the back rest). You should maintain a relaxed grip on the wheel with your hands roughly at 9 and 3 (not 10 and 2 or 8 and 4). Again, some forwards/backwards movement of the base is better than making the back rest vertical or worse. Having hands at a 9 and 3 position on the wheel is best for both full control of the vehicle, and for comfort/support.

 

Finally push out the lumbar support and play around with it until it feels supportive and comfortable. It should ideally feel like someone is gently 'pushing' into you from behind, and maintaining the spine's natural S shape. If you're not usually a lumbar support user, this may feel slightly unnatural at first until your spine gets used to being positioned properly again. It should not, however, be painful or causing actual discomfort. It will just feel 'strange'. Again, everyone's biomechanics are different, so play around with the degree of protrusion and the thickness/shape of the support until it sits naturally and the rest of your seating position doesn't need to change to accommodate it.

 

We've finished! A lot of text, but in reality about 30 seconds of adjustment when you know how to do it for yourself. Essentially you should now be as low down in the car (vertically) as your height allows, while maintaining full visibility. You should have the back rest past vertical ('open') and the base similarly past 90 degrees horizontally where possible, so that it's pointing slightly towards the floor rather than up towards the roof. The Superb's seat base actually stops pretty much at 90 degrees, so most drivers will need to keep it at its lowest setting for maximum support for your lower spine and discs. Your hands will now be resting naturally and with fully relaxed, slightly bent arms at 9 and 3 on the wheel, and your shoulders will be relaxed into the back rest foam at the same time. Your feet should now be relaxed, central to your pelvis rather than offset, and operating on a pivot from your heel between brake and accelerator while maintaining a gentle bend at the knee. If you have to stretch, move closer. If you're a little cramped, move back and adjust the rear of the seat to compensate.

 

Once it feels right, store the seat position in memory before you lose it. That way you can add little tweaks as you drive over the next day or two (using memory 2 or 3) without losing your 'baseline'. I often find I will drop the seat down and back a fraction for long motorway trips, but move it slightly forward and the base slightly up for town work. YMMV. Don't forget to re-tweak the mirrors if you move your seat during the initial setting up phase.

 

After a short time you should have a very comfortable, fully supportive seating position with maximum position for safety, stability and visibility. This method translates to any vehicle, so it will pay to take a couple of minutes to learn how to do it properly. Despite the wall of explanatory text, it's really very simple. I just find that most people will rarely adopt a new way of doing things unless they have the reasons for doing it, rather than just how they should be doing it. Also, in my experience VAG seats are never the best or most supportive (certainly not compared to Volvo, Saab or Ford seats), but the above will allow you more than adequate comfort. I have a spinal injury and kidney disease, so if I can get comfy anyone can lol. I hope this helps someone get more comfortable (and be safer) in their car. Have fun!

Edited 23 April, 2017 by Rainmaker

[Superb170]

Thanks for taking the time to post this - very helpful

[FelisBengalensis]

Very useful advice.  Like you I have a spinal injury (lumbar and cervical) which means good seat position is vital, and hard to achieve.  Now if I could just get proper 'Comfort' seats for the S3 like my BMW has I would be really comfy 

Edited 23 April, 2017 by FelisBengalensis

[Whaty]

Yes, thanks for taking the time and trouble to do all this...