Hi folks, I just snatched up a 2008 xD RS1 with 5K miles for sale in my area that I found on autotrader.com. It came fairly standard for an RS1 with few mods beyond the upgraded Pioneer stereo system (not sure if that is a RS1 default or not). But I don't care too much as the car itself is so beautiful!

What I do care about is ride height. At just under 6 feet tall, I feel like I am perched on a child's chair while driving this car. In short, it's too low to the ground. Pushed all the way back and me sitting as far back into the chair as possible, my thighs don't even touch the chair, but are suspended above and beyond its terminus. It was the same in my old xA and I had to carefully fold up a blanket and sit on that to make it comfortable.

Does anyone here know if it's possible to replace the stock seats with something larger? I did read the thread entitled "seat height adjustment" or some such, but that one was about lowering the seat. In it, people were talking about customizing the track so the seat could be pushed further back, but as the steering wheel does not telescope I can't see how that's practical - as it is, I drive with my arms fully extended and gripping the lowest part of the steering wheel because I can't reach the top of it without leaning forward a good bit. I love the upholstery on the RS1 seats, but it looks like I'm going to have to cover the driver's seat up with another blanket again unless I can figure something out. Any suggestions?

I doubt my car has it, but how can I verify whether it has ESC? I bought the car with the misunderstanding that this was not optional on the xD. After reading a lot of threads on this forum, I was disappointed to find this is not the case.

Lastly, as a used car purchased from a dealership, I never even noticed the paint chips until I showed it to my mom and she noticed them. In one spot, there is a place where they buffed the paint on the rear fender so hard the paint is gone in a thin strip along a ridge. I want to fix these chips along the doors and hood (they're not bad, but I want to have NONE) but am not sure how to proceed. I also want a way to prevent the front edge of the hood from getting all chipped up by bugs and rocks - any suggestions there?

One last question - the navigation system. Is it a good investment? I priced it at the dealership at some $2200, which is crazy expensive. I noted some alternatives on this forum but fear that investing in anything non-stock would open me up to a greater risk of theft. My stereo is pretty nice, the Pioneer PT546-00081 (if that means anything to anyone) but I'd love to have the nav one. Still, I'm trying to avoid spending much money on additions that will have little impact on the vehicle's resale value in the long-run.

Thanks and I look forward to being a member here.

 

Are you saying the car is too low to or just the seat? The RS comes with lowering springs so it's a little lower than the regular base model.

I don't think the navigation is worth it, that's me. Especially when you can find some double din ones from as cheap as $210, but if you're skeptical that they would be crap you could easily get a $500 one that's good quality and save lots.

 

Ha, I can see why you asked your question. I had an idea in my mind and it didn't communicate very well. I am referring to the seat height.

Say you do get a custom (3rd party, non Scion) stereo installed, esp one with a large head unit, wouldn't you be concerned with theft? I mean it's not just the stereo that gets stolen, but the car itself sustains damage and anything else of value inside usually gets taken. I'd be leery of a large double din stereo for that reason, thus the reason for my question.

 

I can't help with the whole seat thing but the stereo, I would be concerned about it getting stolen. To help solve that though get your windows tinted, mine are limo in the back three and 15% on the doors (you don't have 3 in the back, xD got rid of the 2 little hatch ones), and you can only see clearly inside if you're next to the car.

I don't have one, but one day I hope to so I've thought about it some. You could always keep a small towel in the car and throw it over the stereo but in a non conspicuous way. There's also the ones that the screen detaches that you can take out and either carry it with you or find a good spot to hide in the car that no one would find if they tried to steal it. (I believe to get a replacement screen/faceplate they charge the same price as the whole unit). Then there's also insurance, a friend got his cd player stolen about 4 years ago and insurance covered it because its physically attached to the car.

 

If you want a nav system, dont go for the scion one (IMO). If it had come with the car, fine , but i wouldnt pursue a stock head unit. Tha pioneer Avic series seem to be a popular choice around here. I dont think that thye faceplate on that model is removeable, but IDK. Tintin is the best way to prevent theft IMO. If you can get away with soem tint on the front windows where you live then go for it. Of course it goes without saying that you should always try to park your car in well lit, busy, secure areas if at all possible.

As far as the seats go, I think You're crazy. Sorry. Too small? I'm not sure what vehicle you're coming from that might be skewing your perception but i absolutely LOVE my seats and find them supportive and comfy. If you think these seats are low you should sit in a new Subaru hatch. THATS Like ridin on the freakin floor! I dont think you're gonna find LAZboy comfort sized seats as a replacement. Its a compact car, not a BMW 745.

Replacing seats has been brought up before and although not impossible, not cheap either, and since your seats tie into your SRS airbag system, not something i'd look to get rid of either. Personally I think you feel low, cuz the car's lowered, I'm 6' and my friends like the seats too, and they say they actually feel higher up than they thought they would.

Hope I wasnt too critical, SRY.

 

Hmm. I am perplexed that you're 6' tall and you think the stock seats are comfortable. Maybe I've missed something, but with my legs unsupported by the seat, their entire weight (or most of it) is put onto both my feet. After a long drive, I feel like I've been standing on them the entire time. I can put cruise control on and fold them "Indian-style" but that only helps a bit. It also makes using the accelerator pedal tiresome, in that my foot wants to "put the pedal to the metal" because it and the rest of my leg is bearing straight down on the pedal.

I'll just have to come with my own ideas, then. But thank you for all the feedback and suggestions on the stereo.

 

i hear you

im not 6 foot. but i have substantially longer legs than my torso
and my thighs are also hangin in the air, just a bit



but.... its not a luxury car, so im not complainin =]

 

I appreciate your feedback, but just to clarify, I'm not complaining - I love the car - I'm describing a problem I'm having and searching for solutions, nothing more. It's nice to know I'm not the only one, though.

 

You might just need to get used to the seating position. As with many subcompacts, you are supposed to sit more upright. The seating position in fact is much higher than most cars. After driving the xD for a while, I had to drive my dad's 2006 Jetta and I felt like I was sitting on the floor! Now, the part about your thighs not being fully supported is understood. I am 6'2" and I feel the same... in almost any car. However, I sit in the xD with the seat a few notches forward of the rear-most position. I think you are too far back for the upright seating position and that is just making things worse.

 

I have never even thought about this side of the seating issues, LOL.

I'm 5'2 and just feel too tall in the xD. I feel like I'm sitting too high up. I was thinking the xD had the same seat adjustment options as the tC, where you can "pump" the seat up/down. Thats what the xD needs. I was very disappointed when I saw the xD didnt have that.

Of course driving it everyday for 7 days I am totally used to it and wouldnt want it changed now.

 

I guess it's all about how we are all built different.

At a little over 6', I find her new xD seats very comfy, as I do my xB seats. These problems have been hashed for years on the xB forum.

A good mod for you to consider would be one the taller xB owners use to keep their knees off the lower dash piece. What you do is remove both front seat mounting bolts and loosen the back two. Get yourself some heavy washers and add them together on each of the front two mounting, underneath the seat rails bolt holes until you add enough tilt to the seat. You may have to buy a longer metric mounting bolt, depending on how many washers you use and how much tilt you add to the front of the seat. Be sure and buy a high strength bolt if you use a new one. Experiment with more washers and more rearward tilt until it fits you, and tighten all 4 bolts back up.

As for ESC, if you mean stability control, in these cars it's called VSC. As in "Vehicle". If you have it, it WILL have a control button mounted in the lower center console near the E-brake. Hit the button and the VSC lights in the dash come on indicating the system is off until the next engine start.

 

That's an interesting idea, and I will give it a try. The fact remains that the seat size, height, and position relative to the pedals and steering wheel hasn't hardly changed at all from the xA and I drove one of those for 8 months. I was never able to feel comfortable and it's the same in the xD for me - long trips or short. I will attempt to "adjust" and continue to look at various solutions.

If only a seat from the tC could be imported into this car, now that would rock.

 

yo dude, i'm 6'6" and drive an xd. i fit just fine. must be the seats....

 

lol you're a really nice guy. Why don't you just say it must be me

Man, have someone take a picture of you at the wheel with the door open - I'd love to see how you fit in there!

 

LOL it's not tight as you may think, although it is tight for the person riding behind me. LOL

 

I'm 6'2" and I fit without any issue...
I have my seat set up like so:

2 notches forward from the rear most slider position
and the backrest in almost a full upright position, I can reach the steering wheel completely with both hands not entirely stretched out, and I can get to all three pedals without any issues...
I hate to ask, but are you Gangster driving? Is your seat so far back that when you open the rear doors your looking at the top of the front seat? cause you never want to be that far back under any circumstance... the seats aren't designed for you to lay down in them, also as a general rule of thumb you want to adjust the steering wheel to that if the aribag was to go off, it would be aimed at your chest, and not your face...

not trying to sound rude, etc. so sorry if it comes off that way...

 

LOL I better not be driving gangsta-style - I'm a skinny white guy with short brown hair and no tattoos. I drive with the seat nearly straight and all the way back and my butt as far into the chair as I can get it :-). I'm 5' 11". I think perhaps it is just a matter of getting used to the driving position - my last car was a dodge and it had a huge seat. I know about the airbag in the steering wheel thing and how to avoid it exploding in your face.

I drive mostly around town, so my trips are usually 45 minutes or less, but on longer trips, I will most likely bring along a folded blanket to sit on. I'm thinking of getting one of those wood bead seat covers as well.