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Are there any Astra/Focus sized cars that offer programmable driver seats? Not that I'm in any immediate hurry to change cars but Mrs Moe and I both drive the one car (Astra Sri), she commutes and I do the occasional long trip or day out and I'm finding it really difficult to find my comfortable position, after 150 miles or so I have been getting very uncomfortable sciatic pain. A few years back when I used to drive regularly (same car) I never had this problem and I'm wondering if position might be the issue. Do any of the manufacturers offer anything?
Yes most to programmable electric seats. Will be on the top end trim levels though.
I bet it’s more down to you rather than the seat.
150 miles or so I have been getting very uncomfortable sciatic pain
That's Vauxhall seats for you in my experience. I couldn't stay in works Astra(s), Zafira(s) or Insignia hire car for more than an hour without a few days of pain afterwards.
How new a car? Any SE Lux or better model of Volvo will have electric memory seats and the finest seats.
Agree with MattOAB - Vauxhall seats are the worst I've experienced recently - no other car seats I've sat in caused me as much pain as those in my wife's Astra. Thankfully long gone (the car, not the wife).
Agree with MattOAB – Vauxhall seats are the worst I’ve experienced recently
To balance this, a had an Insignia a few years ago with the Sports seats as an option. These were the most comfortable seats I have had, and this is from someone with a history of bad backs.
The seats in the Mercedes C Class that followed was nowhere near as comfortable.
They also had memory function based either on a button push on the car or by which key was used to open the car so would be ideal for you.
I've always said there should be a feature on cars where you pick your "profile" as you sit down and the car then sets it up to your pre-programmed settings. So it'll move the seats and mirrors to where you like them, adjusts the volume on the radio and the heater settings.
Yep my 2007 1 series did that. It moved the seats/mirrors and even adjusted the air con and stereo settings back to how they last were for each user, based on which key had been used to open it. It was a great feature.
I’ve always said there should be a feature on cars where you pick your “profile” as you sit down and the car then sets it up to your pre-programmed settings. So it’ll move the seats and mirrors to where you like them, adjusts the volume on the radio and the heater settings.
There is, you just haven't had the right car.
I'm sure my BMW sets the heat and the preset buttons on the radio/nav.
Our 2004 TT did the Aircon based on key.
No electric seats though in either though 🙁
Edit: What willow said
My Octavia does all the Aircon, radio and other driver settings based on the key. It would do the seat position as well if it had electric seats. But it doesn't.
When I was 13 stone I never had any pain but since having lost a stone and doing very little driving (on the whole) it is quite uncomfortable. The car is a 2014 model. I tend to get in push the seat back, reset the mirror and drive but I think I could find a position, probably lowering and back tilt that would help alleviate the discomfort.
Thanks for the feedback.
Programmable seats are one of the best inventions for cars, speaking as a man with s wife a foot shorter who likes her seat bolt upright, life's so much better pushing a button to move seat, steering wheel and mirrors to the required position!!
1st world problems for sure.
P.s. for the comfiest seats Infiniti will be hard to beat
One is our cars has fully programmed keys that sets all the car settings (seat position, temperature, stereo settings, sat nav etc .) to the driver. The other car does it differently. So basic inside it has nothing to change!
Mate of mine who’s a bit of an old duffer and is worried about seat settings etc bought a Volvo v40xc as they are one of the smallest cars with electric seats apparently. They have said feature on some models where your wife’s settings can be returned to your settin*s at the touc( of a button.
You do really need to try a Volvo. I'm sure this is a thing with other brands, but mine recognises which key is being used with it and changes the seat to the position for that keyholder. Zero stress. Unlock, seat moves to the correct position. Only falls down if you use wifies keys, but even then you just need to hold a button down on the seat bolster to move it to the other key position.
(just read more of the replies - aye mirrors and other settings also tied to each key)