Driving position, SE spec

[Gwynmawr]

Anyone else having problems finding a comfortable driving position on the SE spec?

Surprised on a £30K car that lumbar adjustment isn't standard (it is on me wife's £16K Quashqai).

I also find on a manual you need to put the clutch to the ground to start the car - as a result you have to sit quite close, which is quite uncomfortable then when the clutch returns back to normal position.

I've tried seat low, seat high, adjusted back and steering wheel, but despite best efforts, can't seem to get a comfortable driving position. Anyone else find similar, or is it just me (quite likely!)?

[Johnny31]

Mine is SE but with the optional sport seats... Did it to get lumbar support. It is auto so I can't comment on the position of the clutch but it is definitely slightly offset which is noticeable.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

[iancorben]

I dont think it is just you. we have an SE at the moment and going for S Line with replacement.

Main reason we got to look at the SL was my wife not getting comfy in the SE we tested. A combination of the seat position and the headrest. By comparison we then sat in the sport seat of the SL and were sold immediately.

My current SE is the most comfortable car we have had, and hence not looking at any other brand or model but there was definitely something with the one we tested. I came from a MB C class and was constantly in pain with back pain after any journey. The lumber support cured it with the A6 and I would never have another car without it.

i know it isn't ideal, but have you tried the lumber supports you can buy that sit over the back support of the chair - this definitely helped me in the Merc before we changed.

[ukgroucho]

When we test drove an allroad with 'stock' seats (same as SE seats I think) and then jumped in an S-line A7 my wife was immediately sold on the seats in the S-line (which are the sports seats you can upgrade to). This is coming from a 2005 C6 A6 SE with the leather electric seats. The standard seats in the C7 A6 don't seem to be as good as the ones in the C6 were... although I have to confess I don't recall exactly what upgrades the seats in mine had - I just wanted leather / heated and that was the vehicle that matched most closely from stock.

I have the sports seats in the allroad (same as s-line seats but without the s-line bling) and they are very comfy once you get them set up right.

[Saablover]

I've got an SE with standard seats and find them very comfortable. My wife thinks the extra side support of the upgraded seats would have been better. I also find the driving position OK. If the offset hadn't been pointed out to me then i wouldn't have noticed it. It's an auto so less of an issue but my leg does rest against the tunnel.
Having said that, I've never had a problem with comfort in any of my cars.

[Olio]

I have an SE, and because I wanted heated seats, I had to spec the electric lumbar adjustment.

The headrests were stupidly set when the car was delivered, sticking out far too much. Once they're adjusted (to make them as thin as possible basically), it's very comfortable.

Regarding offset pedals, I have a multi so can't comment on the clutch, but the pedals are wide, and I didn't feel the position being awkward.

This is clearly the most comfortable car I have owned so far, chassis, behaviour and interior, including seats. Since I don't expect to drive it like a maniac, I didn't think (or felt, after trying them) the sports seats were useful / necessary (i.e. worth the money from my point of view).

[Chris_www]

I initially had problems with neck and shoulder ache after long journeys in the sports seats. This seat setting guide from Loughborough University http://drivingergonomics.lboro.ac.uk/downloads/initial%20driving%20position%20and%20posture%20gui de.pdf helped me find the correct adjustments and I'm now ache free. I actually had the seat set too low and the backrest tilted too far back, even though I had it set just like this in my previous car.

[Gwynmawr]

Thanks everyone for the replies - really useful. My car was a stock car (deal too good to refuse) so upgrading to sports seats, S Line etc wasn't really an option. Got a very good price so can't grumble, also think coming from an auto back to a manual is taking me a bit of getting used to as well.

Worth others who have yet to purchase knowing however that lumbar adjustment isn't standard on SE trim, so be warned if that is important to you! Cheers.