I disagree there. An aftermarket seat is:

- Not guaranteed to solve it.
- Detrimental to resale
- not equipped with side airbags (when your car is a featherweight even compared to the typical compact, you want all the safety you can get)
- Looks ridiculous without two seats, which is twice as expensive.

So, if you blow your money and it still isn't comfortable, you're still out the cost of the seats plus the depreciation that comes with having pseudo-race stuff (ie. the rice tax).

If you trade in the car, especially now with the spike of interest in Fits (before the gas price drops again), you can get out of it pretty easily, and into a seat you KNOW will be comfortable, especially if you do the comparison shopping you should have done before buying a car with a crummy seat.

 

I went to a car dealer today and when asking how much I could get for the car, he asked me when I bought it and when saying two weeks he told me: "I could give you a quote, but you would walk out frustrated... If you sell your car now you will lose a lot of money."

What he said made sense: cars lose most of their value the first year.

So I wanted to buy aftermarket seats... but then the problem with the side airbags which mean insurance could be a problem... I've read Recaro makes seats with airbags, but still it looks like a lot of trouble.

The bottom line is: I don't know what to do anymore. I have a car that cost me 80$ a week and it hurts my back even after trying everything I could try.

 

I hate to say it but it is probably more than partly you. 6ft and 260 is pushing it for anyone's back.

 

I faced the same issue: I was about 1500 upside down (and really pissed when the trade-in values climbed by about $1000 after the earthquake, and after I'd traded it. )

Basically, it came to this: It's not like you're going to lose more money by trading it now than trading it later. Whatever your payoff is now, you'll have to pay that in the end. You won't feel it as acutely if you've spent several years paying it, but you're paying it one way or the other. I looked at my situation and said "I'm paying $1500 of difference between my current trade in and my outstanding balance one way or the other, either driving this car or driving a different car. Across the remainder of my payments, I'll pay approx $15 less in interest if I were to keep this car until its paid off than if I roll the difference between trade and payoff into a new car. $15 is worthwhile to be in a car that is more comfortable, more enjoyable, and has a row-your-own gearbox. Done.

Making a habit of rolling over that debt is bad, but in this case, if you have decided that you are going to swap it, it's not a variable - you are either going to have that outstanding difference in value that has to be rolled into a new payment, or you are going to make monthly payments to pay it down. Either way, it's coming out of your hide.

 

This is so sad to read about

 

If I were you I'd sell the car now. Its value is not going to increase with time. Cut your losses and make sure the next car you get is comfortable. I love my fit but if the seats hurt my back it would be gone. These things happen. It's nobody's fault really, just life. Sometimes you get the bear and sometimes the bear gets you. Good luck.

 

Thanks a lot for your help everyone. From what I understand, everyone agrees that aftermarket seats is not the solution?

I need to think about this. 90% of the time I use the car for 10 minutes or less. But I make a long trip a year and 3-5 longer rides. You're right Occam about paying in the end; the problem I see if that if I sell the car right now I will have to continue to pay it for maybe a whole year... without having a car to drive (well it's hard to consider my old Golf with its 3 1/2 cylinder and hardly no compression as a working car).

I'm kind of lost. Yesterday it seemed clear to me that aftermarket seats were the only option, and now your arguments make me think otherwise.

To rule out aftermarket seats definitively, is there any way I could put one legally and have no problem with my insurance company?

Thanks a lot

 

Only your insurance company could answer that question. I really can't see it being an issue.

Give it a bit more time. Drive position has all to do with it and it took me a while before I found the sweet spot. The washer trick helped a lot - Occam originally came up with it in his desperation to find comfort.

Others have stated the desire to see driver seating memory control because as soon as anyone changes things it's so hard to get it back.
I've found comfort with the seat back more upright and a bit forward than I've ever had it in any other car I've driven.
One position click means a lot.

You'll not see an immediate change, it will take a bit of time and right now you're seriously focused on it.
Think more on all the things you do like about your new FIT!
Maybe your Fit will let you fit better ;-)

 

The OP (as followed up with in a successive post) stated that they were likely going to lose thousands so in that case, I suggested that aftermarket seats be "On the table", (not necessarily a 100% guarunteed solution to the problem). Also, bagging up the original seats for reinstall in the vehicle later (when it's time to trade) will help with private party sale as it will look as if it is brand new. The Safety issue is something that everyone has to weigh and like the OP stated, there are aftermarket solutions but again, no guaruntee. If an aftermarket seat can be installed for a few years where the resale of the vehicle won't be as big of a hit (or private party is more likely to work), He'll likely be able to resell the Aftermarket seat to someone on this board.

Again, no gauruntees. But also, with a few grand likely going into the toilet on trade (this will depend on the area you are in), aftermarket seats should be kept "on the table".


Fitter... Also see if maybe the Civic Seats will fit. i think someone did it. Those might be more comfortable and also likely just plug right in for side airbags.

~SB

 

I'll be looking for Civic SI seats. From reading you guys I think this may be the best solution. What year should I look for for an easy "plug-n-play" airbag?

 

Hope it works out for you Fitter - the seats were the main reason I got out of the Fit... The chance to drive a stick again, wanting a 2 door, wanting a sunroof... and wanting a car note without my ex's name on it were all additional factors that prodded me on to a different car. Oh, that and the price of the tC - $17,995 worked out quite nicely for el budgeto.

 

There is no built in adjustment, but you can make your own adjustment by placing washers under both the front seat bolts to effectively raise it up.

I've heard others suggest 3 to 4 - 3/8" washers.

 

Having you ex's name on the car is always a good reason to buy a new car!

 

BTW anybody know where I could buy Civic SI seats that would fit? I've read RSX would too, but may be less comfortable. I need a seat with airbag and I think this is my only solution.

I checked on Ebay but there is not a lot of choice... and it doesn't look like they have airbags integrated.

 

Seem to need more padding...ordered the Costco Sheepskin cover, but finally removed it today...the padding helped, but they put a huge seam off-center that was pretty annoying (wasn't as bad in the winter with a jacket on)...their paperwork said it would flatten out, but 4 months later it has not. I will return it when I go to Costco. Looking at the neoprene covers next...

The seat seemed really comfortable after taking that annoying cover off, I hope I have better luck with the next one...

 

They need a LOT more padding...I don't think I am odd shaped or anything at 5'11 190lbs......but half way back on right there is a piece of the metal frame that you can feel with your fingers if you press even slightly down...almost right at bottom of hip bone....am I the ONLY one who notices this or feels discomfort from that area?

Seriously considering asking for a new seat as the padding has just seemed to shit the bed on this seat.....I can feel it on the passenger seat also but really need to press down....never had issue until about a month ago...no anything over 1 hour driving and leg gets irritated....must be pressing on a nerve

What are odds on a new seat ya think?

Bad week for the Fit.....last Monday the hood got chipped up by some a-hole landscaper with a weed whacker at my place of work, seat is causing pain and now click in window when raising it from all the way down

 

Did you try a memory foam cushion? I had this in my Golf and it made wonders... still trying to make it work on the Fit however and it didn't work. But maybe it would for you...

 

The Clazzios help with this issue significantly, even more if you put a terrycloth towel between the seat and cover.

 

I'm making adjustments gradually to the seating position and leaving it for a few days to see how it feels.

The biggest improvement so far has been to adjust the seatback to a more upright position by only ONE notch.

I feel more in control of the vehicle and the seatback is now actually providing support for my back.

Now considering adding some washers under the front bolts, which I know will slightly change the seatback angle... but will wait a few days to see how this change settles in. I think the washers may be just what is needed at this point to just angle the seat slightly back.

 

Seat covers from AutoAnything.com. Kicker is that they came in purple...

Many recommendations to add extra memory foam under these. I have a couple of leftover pieces I can use....