Does anyone know if there are after market seats I could buy for the driver that have power adjustments? I'm not talking about the sport seats. I need a better quality seat that will allow me to position myself in a better location.

I can't get a sweet spot with the manual adjustments. I can't get it so that I can recline and be close to the wheel without compromising leg room.

Unfortunately for me, the latest round of surgery just proved I can't drive the box for any length of time anymore without some sort of hip or lower back pain. The price I'm paying for too many years beating the heck out of my body bull riding.

I tried seat cushions, a towel behind me etc and gave up as none were comfortable.

If I can't find an aftermarket seat I'm afraid I'll have to trade in the box this year, possibly before summer.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks
Keith

 

They Ride Bulls in NJ?

 

yup we do. There's a lot of activity out here (NY, NJ PA) in various organizations. Below are some of them.

http://www.cowtownrodeo.com (PRCA)
http://www.bullridemania.com
http://www.apra.com/
http://www.geocities.com/redeyerodeo/
http://www.rawhiderodeo.com/history.htm
http://www.edgewoodvalleyfarms.com/WEBSITE/Homex.html
http://www.mountainspringscampground.com/index.html

 

Regardless of who rides what and where they do it, I'd like to second the original request for suggestions on replacement but not performance seats.

 

Have you looked into seats from other toyotas?
Lexus, Camry, higher end cars come to mind.

 

I was just looking over another post and they showed some seatcovers. When I went tothe site I found that you can add lumbar support. I don't know if this might help your situation but I have a bad back also and they sound like they might be comfortable.

http://wetokole.net/page/WOH/PROD/SCION/SCIONF

Good luck.

 

i think its possible but you will need the right brackets, check with newscionparts.com they have some seat info plus their pretty knowledgible about scion stuff so they may have some suggestions

 

Thanks all for the advice! I'll try the seat cover with lumbar support first. If that does the trick terrific. After pricing some seats I decided not to make the investmemt, the cost is high and I've already got 51k on the box. I usually trade by 100k and that will happen less than 2 years from now.

Thanks again.

 

Sweet. keep your box! Let me know how they work.

Happy Palm Sunday!

God Bless

 

Well I took the plunge and ordered a full set from Wet Okole. They looked pretty nice. They're pricey though, ouch. I'm gettin Coalt blue inserts with outside piping. I also ordered the lumbar support option. It's adjustable so I'm keeping hope that I can put it all the way down where it's needed the most. I plan on adding additional padding under the seat cushion too.

They said it'll take about 3 weeks to come in. And it may take me another weekend or two to get the time to install. Once I do I'll post some pics.

Thanks

 

Sweet! Good luck..

 

You could try putting some washers under the front of the seat. Check this thread. LINK

 

It took a while to come in and for me to get the chance to install, but finally they're in. I'm waiting on a replacement lumbar support for the drivers side as they installed it on the passenger side instead. Otherwise the quality of these covers is very good.

 

hey man those really good. I had wet okole's in a jeep a few years ago. the quality has improved alot. Also, did you paint your door panels? they are very shiny.

 

Thanks. The door panels have a carbon fiber overlay on them. Check out my link below for pics.

 

Those Look awesome! How does the lumbar support feel? Or better yet let us know when you get a chance to drive while using the lumbar support.. Can you describe how they feel? Like a wet suit? or like a squishy pad? Do you think they are going to be easy to get snags?

 

Wet Okoles are by far the best seat cover manufacturer to be found. This is a time where you get what you pay for.

 

I think taller drivers in general have the same problems with the xB. I know I do. It wasn't something I noticed on the test drive, but the leg room is just a little short for a guy who's 6'3", and I have to reach for the steering wheel with the seat all the way back- so my back is singing to me after 50 miles or so- not good. If anything, the aggressive lumbar support makes it worse, not better, at least for me.

I've figured out how to modify/move the seat and rails back, but that would just make the wheel even further away. I may be stuck going to an aftermarket wheel sans airbag, with a spacer- I'm not too keen on that, but it seems inevitable. Then the turn signals will be too far away from the wheel.... but my back and legs will be happy...

I don't think the engineers accounted for taller American drivers when they prepped the bB for the American market- hell, the seat will go so far forward that even my 5'2" wife keeps it several notches back, and few humans can fit between the wheel and the seat with the seat all the way forward...

What it really needs is for the seat rack to move about 2" back, and a telescoping steering wheel... If anybody knows of another Toyota steering column that will bolt in, speak up...

There are lots of things I really like about my little boxmobile, but the driving position isn't one of them...

 

That 's my problem too. I had hip surgery and I have to keep my leg out as straight as possible and it's permanent. That forces me to move the seat back one click and the seat back up straighter. It wasn't comfortable as the wheel was too far away and the lower back began to suffer.

I thought I'd try this test with the seat covers and lumbar support (which is inflatible). The seat covers added a layer of padding. The lumbar support still isn't in due to a mfr. screw up I'm waiting on a replacement for. But, with a towel behind me and the seat covers it was just enough, not perfect, but enough to tolerate instead of having to trade the car in.

Only now are manufacturers beginning to install telescoping wheels. Most Asian brands favor the wheel too close to the dash and like you said, don't account for taller American drivers in the seating position.

 

As a personal opinion- I'm GLAD they don't account for taller american drivers. I am 5' tall and as it is there are a limited number of cars that I can safely drive without having to sit too close to the steering wheel. If manufacturers put the wheel farther away from the dash, I would have to sit on top of it to reach the pedals.

As it is, in our Dodge Durango I have to sit so close to the dash that my knee hits the steering column to safely see.

So, while it may sound like a great idea for you tall guys- it would stink for shrimps like me!