Uncomfortable Drivers Seat Question - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

donv · 11-21-2005, 01:31 PM

I have a 2001 as well - and also find the basic Boxster seats are just plain uncomfortable for long trips (albeit great for spirited track driving)... my DD Subaru and GF's Mazda are both much better for longer rides. There is a way to modify the stock Boxster seats to add lumbar support that should make it better. I've not yet made the change to my car but plan to. There was a post here a couple of months ago about using a blood pressure cuff to add adjustable lumbar support; there is also an aftermarket part specifically designed to do the same thing but tailored to the seats. In the past I've used rolled up hand towels to achieve the same thing but in a temporary fashion. Give that a try to see if it will help and then explore the above more permanent solutions. Good luck.

Quote:

Originally Posted by joshua6060

Do any of you guys get uncomfortable in your Boxsters on long drives?
I have taken a few 3 and 4 hour drives in my new '01 Boxster and have found the seats to be come rather uncomfortable after a few hours of driving, particularly around the hips and lower back. I have played around with various seating positions, and I think its the seat itself that is too hard, Do you guys have any suggestions or thoughts or experiences that might help me out with this before I take this 8 hour drive for Thanksgiving????

Biz-z Z · 11-26-2005, 07:10 PM

When I drive for more than 10 minutes, I've learned to take the my wallet out of my back pocket. I don't know if that will serve as a total cure in this instance, but I thought I'd pass it along.

threpwood · 11-28-2005, 09:45 AM

It's the suspension and the way the car handles that makes it difficult to drive for long time. The steering wheel, not to mention the seat, gives direct feedback from every bump and contours of the road. I think it's just the way boxsters are made. Maybe adjustable suspension will help.

RandallNeighbour · 11-28-2005, 11:09 AM

I drove my boxster for 4~6 hours nearly every day for 17 days this summer on vacation. Put 4200+ miles on the car. I developed a slight back pain which went away after we got home, despite the 2 hour leg and back stretching we did.

The car's seating and suspension is just not made for cross-country comfort driving.

Had I driven my 11 year old Lexus LS400, we would have been able to drive 8+ hours a day due to the ability to move one's legs and butt around in the car more frequently. My wife could have done far more of the driving as well as she's petrofied of shifting gears while entering freeways, followed closely by downshifting, or simply putting it in neutral and coasting with the brakes. Go figure.

The only reason we didn't take the Lexus is I wanted to drive Hwy 1 and through Yosemite in the boxster with the top down. It was worth all the discomfort and lack of luggage to do this! And believe it or not gentlemen, my wife packed one small duffle bag for 17 days and we only did laundry once. It can be done.

joshua6060 · 11-28-2005, 11:57 AM

Well Guys, I'm happy to report that I did make thru my 8 hour drive for Thanksgiving, I stopped every 2.5 to 3 hours for gas and made sure to take a quick strech while pumping, also, I used the cruise control for a good bit of the drive, that allowed me to move my legs and feet around a little more during the drive. On the drivers side, I did have a little fun around turns and up hills

cyclocross · 11-28-2005, 12:17 PM

My wife complains of lower back pain after short rides in my (our) 2001 Boxster. She has alleviated most of the problem with this seat cushion:

Seat Cushion - Orthopedic, Price: $35.99, Item #: 7006, from Stacks and Stacks Housewares

It fits perfectly on the Bosxter seat and the Navy color is a good match for Metropol Blue.

This uncomfortable seat issue may kill my chances to get a Carrera. However, my wife loves BMW seats so maybe there will be a M3 in the future!

70Sixter · 12-15-2005, 11:16 AM

I just made my first road trip in the Box. Coastal NC to Tampa Bay area in 11 hours. Return after two days, also in 11 hours. Became god parents in between! I had a comfortable trip, altho some of you had me worried. My li'l wife seemed okay in pass seat, but probably not quite as comfortable as I. Maybe cuz I got to drive.

BTW - 27.7 mpg from S Carolina gas stop to destination. 26.6 on return with an additional hour of back roads from I-95 to the coast. Cannot divulge average speed based on 5th Amendment!

Also surprised one piece of roller luggage fit in front trunk.