Anyone else have trouble finding a comfortable seating position? (MS3)(tall/big)

[bast525]

Hey all. Had my MS3 for one week as of today. And I've been having one hell of a hard time getting the seat/steering wheel adjusted to where I am comfortable in the car. It's becoming a major concern.

I am 6'2" about 270 lbs. I have tried dozens of positions... moving the bottom part back and the backrest forward, moving the backrest back and bottom cushion forward. Raising the seat height, lowering the seat height... I have spent HOURS just driving around, pull over, adjust the seat, drive some more, and can not find a comfortable driving position!

I don't think I'm cramped... I can move the seat so far back that I can't fully bottom out the clutch pedal or comfortably move the shifter to 5th gear. I do think the steering wheel reach is an issue... I've pulled it as far out from the dash as it will go and still feel like I have to reach out uncomfortably far for it if I have the seat set back far enough to not be cramped. To get the steering wheel more in reach I have to put it all the way down to where it's touching my knee, and then raise it whenever I am getting in/out of the car. Not to mention, it cuts off a sizeable amount of the tach when I do this.

Generally the issue is with my right leg, it gets very uncomfortable and is getting worse daily. I'm not 100% sure what it is but it feels like the pedals aren't lined up right or something... I feel like I have to twist my whole leg uncomfortably to go from the throttle to the brake. Also, just leaving my foot on the throttle is uncomfortable. I can only be comfortable with cruise control on which is impossible during my daily drive since it's all street driving.


Can anyone else here maybe give me tips or something? I'm getting really worried... I mean... I'm kinda stuck with this car that I can't even drive comfortably for more than 10 minutes. I've owned and driven over a dozen cars and never had this problem before... I've always been able to find a comfortable position quickly. I love the car and really want to be able to enjoy driving it.

Anyone else about my size have this issue?

 

[Blackrose]

Yeah those MS3's are very uncomfortable. Why dont you just give it to me and i will endure this for you in you place. lol j\k.

Sometimes it just takes time to get your layout right.

 

[bast525]

Seriously... if it's something I couldn't adjust out, it might actually come to a point where I would sell it. I did a moderate road trip today, about two hours, and my leg is freakin killing me. It hurts to walk and I'm limping around now.

I just wanted to see if there were any other tall people driving these and how they adjust their seats for comfort? Right now I have the seat height set all the way down, lumbar support "off", seat bottom moved two notches forward from full back, and seat back at like 11:30 o'clock (best way I could think to describe... it's not laid WAY back, but leaned back to what should be comfortable).

I still can't quite figure out why, but something about the seating position and position of the pedals causes my right leg (upper and lower) to ache badly after more than 10-15 mins.

 

[thezfunk]

I am 6'4" but only around 200lbs and I kind of know what you are talking about. I agree the steering wheel doesn't come out far enough. The other complaint I had is that I have to have my right leg as tight up against the center console as I can to get at the gas pedal. I enjoy driving more upright that is fashionable right now. I use full lumbar support and have my seat mostly level with the seat back slightly back.

You might the the bottom seat tilted too far back and when you are reaching for the pedals the front lip of the seat could be cutting off circulation to your leg. That has happened to me before. Other than that, the seat envelopes me quite nicely.

 

[Vermilion]

Hell i'm selling mine cause of this reason and a few others (wanting to go back to Subaru family) I'm only 5' 10" and about 150lbs and my right leg/knee KILL me after about 15 minutes. I've tried every seating position imagineable to no avail. I made a thread about this a few weeks ago. My right knee gets jammed into the dash/center dash. It seems like the pedals need to physically need to be moved to the left some and the dash thinned out. It sucks having to stop and pull over every 20-30 minutes to get out and stretch. I've owned a 350z, STi (which i'm going back to) and now the MS3. I never had this problem on the Z nor the STi. Oh well it will be up for sale soon.

The seats are very nice but, its how the center console and pedals are designed. I myself also enjoy driving closer to the steering wheel with the seat back almost straight up and down. I HATE driving ghetto and i'm having to do it this way to be somewhat comfortable. I really like the MS3 but, I feel this is a big enough concern that I can't live with. I bought this car to have fun in and keep it for 5+ years but, I can't see myself keeping it for another month.

Heres the link to my thread awhile back. No much help really.

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123659679

 

[SharkDiver]

What I did was add about 15 washers on both of the front bolts for the driver seat.I had to buy a longer bolt also since I added all the washers but It lifted the front of the seat up about 1.5",I may go a bit higher.

Shark

 

[Vixen]

I'm a shorty, 5'3", and I had the same issue with my right leg. It really ticked me off for a while. I thought, "Shouldn't it be my clutch leg that's sore?" It took a little time but all is well now. I think the seat just needed to be broke in or something.

 

[Vermilion]

I've got 4300 miles on my car and if the seats not broken in some now I doubt it ever will be. But, I also don't think the seat is my problem. Its how the center console bulges out, the pedals being too far to the right, and the steering wheel not pulling out more.

 

[thezfunk]

I've got 4300 miles on my car and if the seats not broken in some now I doubt it ever will be. But, I also don't think the seat is my problem. Its how the center console bulges out, the pedals being too far to the right, and the steering wheel not pulling out more.

I would agree with this assessment.

 

[DeadGeneration]

Your seats dont get broken in, your legs do lol

 

[MS3 Sprinter]

I am 6'5" tall and I also have a MS3. I have been driving mine for about two weeks now and drive for at least 30min each time. I have found the car to quite comfortable.

First question I would ask is if you have a wallet in your right side back pocket. If so, you may want to take it out while you are driving. Whenever I forget and leave mine in, I experience some discomfort on my right side. Remember these seats are made to fit you like a glove and if you have a bulge in your back pant pocket it is definitly going to cause some discomfort.

The second thing I'd do islower the seat all the way down. and try and put it in more of a straight up seating position. When using the accelerator I just snug my right leg next to the center consol and pivot on my heel when using the accelerator. It does not seem awkward going from the accelerator to the break.

Now for positioning the wheel, that is something that has to be figured out be each individual driver. But I have seemed to found a position that allows me to drive comfortably and still be able to see all my gauges and get out of the car without having to adjust the steering wheel.

I hope this helps you out.

 

[TStar]

Seriously... if it's something I couldn't adjust out, it might actually come to a point where I would sell it. I did a moderate road trip today, about two hours, and my leg is freakin killing me. It hurts to walk and I'm limping around now.

I still can't quite figure out why, but something about the seating position and position of the pedals causes my right leg (upper and lower) to ache badly after more than 10-15 mins.

i can tell you what it is, i had the same thing after a 30mins testdrive ^^
it's the part of the middle console you will touch with the right part of your shinbone/lower leg. it's so badly shaped, it will penetrate the area below the knee where the nerves go down the leg, it will make you walk like a cripple within no time...

when i experienced this during the testdrive, i knew i would never buy a mazda 3, simply because a design failure like this clearly shows the designers didn't give a SH*T about who is going to use their vehicles.

 

[Vermilion]

The corner of the center console jams into my right knee when I drive no matter how i'm sitting.

Also I have my wallet in my front pocket.

 

[knowledge007]

Now that you guys mention it. The bottom half of the console does come a bit to much. And the petals do seem to be to the right than usual. I am 5'10" and sometimes my right knee does get a little stiff. But for the most part im good.

 

[thezfunk]

I am 6'5" tall and I also have a MS3. I have been driving mine for about two weeks now and drive for at least 30min each time. I have found the car to quite comfortable.

First question I would ask is if you have a wallet in your right side back pocket. If so, you may want to take it out while you are driving. Whenever I forget and leave mine in, I experience some discomfort on my right side. Remember these seats are made to fit you like a glove and if you have a bulge in your back pant pocket it is definitly going to cause some discomfort.

The second thing I'd do islower the seat all the way down. and try and put it in more of a straight up seating position. When using the accelerator I just snug my right leg next to the center consol and pivot on my heel when using the accelerator. It does not seem awkward going from the accelerator to the break.

Now for positioning the wheel, that is something that has to be figured out be each individual driver. But I have seemed to found a position that allows me to drive comfortably and still be able to see all my gauges and get out of the car without having to adjust the steering wheel.

I hope this helps you out.

The wallet thing is an excellent point that I forgot. I figured that out within the first week. It helped me out quite a bit. I love the seats now.

 

[major error]

I haven't had any issues either.
6'3" @ 185lb...

I set the seat height to it's lowest, lumbar to max, and seat maybe 2/3 back, and the back reclined around 10 degrees? The back of my shoulder is roughly in-line with the front edge of the shoulder harness guide, and 4-6" clearance between the dash & knees.
The wheel is pulled all the way out, and the top edge is aligned with the arch over the instrument cluster...

EDIT: I tend to have more issues with my arms since I'm not used to having such a high grip on the wheel. Then there's the issue of "just in case" I'm involved in an accident; last thing I want to happen is to get an injury (to the hands) from the airbag going off...

 

[alien1979]

I am 6'5" tall and I also have a MS3. I have been driving mine for about two weeks now and drive for at least 30min each time. I have found the car to quite comfortable.

First question I would ask is if you have a wallet in your right side back pocket. If so, you may want to take it out while you are driving. Whenever I forget and leave mine in, I experience some discomfort on my right side. Remember these seats are made to fit you like a glove and if you have a bulge in your back pant pocket it is definitly going to cause some discomfort.

The second thing I'd do islower the seat all the way down. and try and put it in more of a straight up seating position. When using the accelerator I just snug my right leg next to the center consol and pivot on my heel when using the accelerator. It does not seem awkward going from the accelerator to the break.

Now for positioning the wheel, that is something that has to be figured out be each individual driver. But I have seemed to found a position that allows me to drive comfortably and still be able to see all my gauges and get out of the car without having to adjust the steering wheel.

I hope this helps you out.

Amazing! I was reading the OP and the first thing I thought was take out your wallet. I see you have addressed that. I know most people wouldnt believe it at first, but it does make a difference. I had the same problem on my 1990 Miata that I drove for almost 5 years. If I had a wallet in my back right pocket, it would kill my leg. After removing it, I would be in good shape.

 

[Vermilion]

Amazing! I was reading the OP and the first thing I thought was take out your wallet. I see you have addressed that. I know most people wouldnt believe it at first, but it does make a difference. I had the same problem on my 1990 Miata that I drove for almost 5 years. If I had a wallet in my back right pocket, it would kill my leg. After removing it, I would be in good shape.

The reason I bought a new wallet was because I got sick of taking it out everytime I got in the car. Fixed it with a fossil bi fold with money clip on top.

 

[bast525]

okay I will try tommorow to drive with my wallet out of my pocket. I do have a moderately sized wallet that I do keep in my back-right pocket.

I do think it's more an issue with the pedal offset and the center console more than anything else.

I've still been messing with it... still is most comfortable with the seat height adjusted all the way down, seat bottom moved to the fourth notch forward from all the way back (counting all the way as the first notch), and seat back only reclined slightly, just to the point where I can still reach the steering wheel and shift into 5th gear comfortably without reaching.

I've been alternating between this, and moving the seat bottom one more notch back (third notch forward from full back) and moving the seatback to an even more upright position, but so far the more reclined position seems more comfortable and natural.

I took the MS on a 30 minute test drive as well before buying and it didnt' bother me.... only after a couple days of owning it did it really start to ache and now it's pretty bad and aches right away when I start driving.

I am seriously considering getting rid of the car for this. It's a great car but what's the point if I can't drive it comfortably? I'll try the wallet thing... if that doesn't work...

 

[ptperformance]

6' 6" and 250 here and I have no problems with finding a good spot to sit in on long trips.