Seat Comfort or Function?
 

In regards to the current poll question on home page of Fit Freak, do you value comfort...Victorian Prostitute...chaise lounge chair..OR Safety, Race car driver...I find the question somewhat invalid.

I want both. I don't think they are mutually exclusive. I think if you have an incredibly comfortable seat, but safety is compromised...of course that's not a good choice. Likewise, a safe seat, that is uncomfortable is going to be a huge problem too. I don't care what the poll results are, if you are uncomfortable sitting in your vehicle and your back is killing you, you are going to drive less and wish for a more comfortable seat.

That being said, I think it's perfectly possible to have a Victorian Prostitute that also drives a Race Car. Infact if that role is being played by either Angelina Jolie or Ashley Judd...I'm in, infact it's a fantasy of mine. But I digress....

My dad once had a late 80's, early 90's Ford Escort, that believe it or not had the most luxurious seats. It was like sitting on a couch or a good chair. I assumed it was also as safe as any other seat at that time.

So my vote is actually I want both.

I find The Fits seats to be average. I don't find them so comfortable that I actually look forward to sitting in them, nor do I find them so uncomfortable that I dread them. I think they could be improved. Lumbar support in my personal opinion is somewhat lacking.

Long wool sheepskin seat covers..... You can put them on a church pew and be cozy.

There is a JDM lumbar support available...I ordered one. When I get it, install it and road test it for a while...I'll you-all know my findings. It isn't cheap though.

I see your point, I don't necessarily think the "race car" driving position was supposed to be uncomfortable, though. I find sitting upright in the Fit to be more comfortable than anything else, and it actually gives me better posture in my day to day life.

I always liked to put a windshield on my motorcycles that would have me sitting as straight as I could to see over them because of chronic back pain..... I have a hard time getting comfortable in any car and lumbar supports don't work for me.... I got my wife the sheepskin covers and tried one on my car and will soon order some for myself they are very thick and allow me to slightly recline and still reach the wheel and lifts me higher supporting my legs and giving my size 13 feet more room to move around and my toes not knock the plastic panel between the pedals and steering column loose.

Thigh and lumbar support are bugbears for me in both the GD and GE stock seats. That's why I ended up swapping mine out for reclining Recaro SRDs. They're supportive AND comfortable. Heck, I even sleep in them on lunch breaks. The only real downside is the high thigh bolsters that get in the way of ingress/egress...but there are other sport seats that have lower bolsters (e.g. BRIDE Stradia, BRIDE Vorga, Spoon sport seats...) if that's an issue.

The ideal race-car seating position is actually just a small variation from the best daily driving position...mainly because racing is just efficient driving. You sit as upright as possible, with your butt cheeks tucked into the corner of the seat back and squab. Then adjust your seat so that you can still push the clutch to the floor with some bend to your knee. Also, adjust your seat so that you can put your wrists on the steering wheel and bend them over the rim.

To achieve that, all I usually do is move my seat forward half an inch so I have more leverage on the pedals. Apart from that, I find that the proper "race" seat position works wonders on the street and doesn't tire me out.

As for seat material, I've always been biased toward cloth seats. Leather and leatherette get scorching hot when you leave the car under the Manila sun. Besides, in my experience, they tend to get slippery when driving - not very confidence-inspiring. It's not as if cloth is any less comfortable than leather anyway.

all day ;)

https://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a...omhatchpic.jpg
carbon Kevlar

I find the seats to be just right for the kind of car the Fit is - cheap, sporty, fun. It's not a race car nor is it a Cadillac. I am 5'8.5" and the seats fit me very well.

I'm 6-00" and they are right on the edge for me. I am comfortable, but like many would like more thigh support. My last car was a Mazda5 which had the best seats I've ever enjoyed (still miss that car) My problem is that as much as I love Recaros for their function and their form, I will not give up my side airbags. I would dearly love to install some RSX-S seats in my Fit and someday i may, as they fit me very very well. I've got a wife and kid who need me around more than I need slightly more comfortable seats.....

one of the fit's few flaws
 

They're not that comfortable, definitely need BUILT IN lumbar support and go back a couple more inches ( I know the magic seats wouldn't work). I'm only 6 foot but would like more legroom. My MR2 did better in that regard but you had to put a suitcase in the passenger seat. I regard the seat as the fit's only flaw TO ME.