What's your driving position style?

[black_ninja23]

Does anyone here actually drive with your wrist is on top of the steering wheel when driving?

I know it's advised that a person should be able to put their wrist on top of the steering wheel while their back is fully on the seat. I use to drive like this, but I discovered that my footwork is much smoother when my legs are extended a bit which requires me to push the seat back...but then that means I move furthe away from the steering wheel. I guess my arms are either too short, or my legs are too long, lol.

I just can't seem to find the perfect driving position in this car. I don't know if it's Mazda products, because I use to have this problem with my previous RX8, but never did with a STI, EVO, or Civic Si.


Anyways, just curious if anyone else has this dillema?

 

[Huligan]

I have the exact same problem.

"that means I move furthe away from the steering wheel. I guess my arms are either too short, or my legs are too long, lol."

and the same as you, i didnt have this problem all my old cars (Ford Focus, an Oldsmobile, a Civic, a Jetta or Accord)

it really bugs me =(

 

[twistiert]

yep legs extended and hold more bottom of the steering wheel

 

[gonerogue]

You might trying using that...telescopic steering wheel

 

[turbodcee]

yup. I got the same problem. Im only 5'10" but I feel like I need more leg room or the wheel needs to telescope more.

 

[kwsmithphoto]

Closer and more upright is generally better.

That said, I wish the wheel on my 09 came back another inch or so. I'm also 5'10"

My problem is that the ideal driving position pretty much leaves my right knee rubbing against the center console. I'm working with a custom leather guy to put an OEM looking pad there, but it's not going as quickly as I hoped; he's busy and expensive.

Anyway, in a performance situation, it is generally better to be close the steering wheel and pedals. At no point should any of your limbs be fully stretched while driving the car. That said, on a 1000 mile Interstate road trip, you might want to notch the seat back a little, which is where a little more travel from the steering column would be helpful.

But generally speaking, almost anyone can find a safe, comfortable driving position with an 07-09 MS3. I have a custom throttle pedal that's wider and higher than stock, which helps a lot, and I like sitting high and close to the controls, but my right knee suffers. Hence the pad I'm working on.

PM me if you feel the same way, I can do it cheaper as a batch, and my friend gets more work out of it (I make no profit from it). His day job is restoring Rolls Royce interiors, so once I get a shape the works, he'll do a great job.

BTW, removing and cleaning adhesive from the center console is a real b****. I'm just working with high density foam shapes right now, but when I find one that works and looks right, I'll have my finish guy take it from there.

 

[black_ninja23]

You might trying using that...telescopic steering wheel

yeah, well it doesn't extended well enough

 

[Huligan]

I love the performance of my car but I have been thinking of trading it in for a Focus ST or maybe RS (i hope) cuz of nuances like this. Very uncomfortable car to drive for me

 

[paylew]

You just need to shrink a little guys, I've never had a problem getting comfy. Then again, I'm like 5'5.

 

[SBSPEED3]

i sit so my wrist can rest on top of the wheel, however i have the wheel set pretty low and about half way out (telescope). this way i can have my seat a bit farther back. im about 6-2 so by a little farther back i mean all the way lol. i have this set up for daily driving/road trips. if i am planning on more "aggressive" driving the seat comes forward a little, and the wheel moves up out of the lap a little.
i almost always drive with my left arm resting on the door, and my fingers wrapped around the right spoke and rim of the steering wheel.
i realized how much i do this the other day while cleaning the interior. the red stitching on the wheel is discolored in this spot, and there is a dent in the armrest on the drivers door where my elbo rests lol!

 

[SBSPEED3]

My problem is that the ideal driving position pretty much leaves my right knee rubbing against the center console.

this is my biggest complaint about driver position as well. i usually set the cruis control on long trips tho. i am then free to move my feet around a little to adjust this.

overall i think this is a very comfortable car to drive. i find the seats supportive, and the visibility is great for me

 

[Mz3Hatch]

i sit so my wrist can rest on top of the wheel, however i have the wheel set pretty low and about half way out (telescope). this way i can have my seat a bit farther back. im about 6-2 so by a little farther back i mean all the way lol. i have this set up for daily driving/road trips. if i am planning on more "aggressive" driving the seat comes forward a little, and the wheel moves up out of the lap a little.
i almost always drive with my left arm resting on the door, and my fingers wrapped around the right spoke and rim of the steering wheel.
i realized how much i do this the other day while cleaning the interior. the red stitching on the wheel is discolored in this spot, and there is a dent in the armrest on the drivers door where my elbo rests lol!

Thats funny that you drive this way. Im 6'3 and im exactly the same. Ive started to wear a perfect indentation on the door from my left elbow and my left hand holds the wheel with ring and pointer finger outside of the wheel and my middle and pointer finger on the spoke. I was looking the other day and it looks like i have web fingers when I drive like that lol.

Ive tried driving other ways but always revert back to that. When spirited driving, I hold on to the top left of the wheel tight. I keep the wheel also at a position where i can see everything on my dash through the wheel perfectly.

 

[gonerogue]

yeah, well it doesn't extended well enough

Really? Is your seat upright or leaning back significantly?

 

[black_ninja23]

Really? Is your seat upright or leaning back significantly?

No, I don't drive like a low rider with the seat back...I like to be comfortable and upright, but not a stiff upright position. I would say my seat is at a 110-115 degree open angle. I like to be able to rest my wrist on top of the steering wheel comfortably, without having to reach over with my body. Otherwise if I scoot my seat closer, then my leg room decreases and that's when my shifts become jerky.

If anyone's ever gotten inside or test drive an EVO X, I find it more comfortable and relaxing to sit in one, even though the steering wheel does not telescope. Same goes with the 09 STis. I would consider those two my ideal seating position.

 

[Design]

I'm 5' 11" and grab the wheel 8/4. I sit about 3/4 of the way back, with the back slanted 2 notches. One of the more comfortable cars I have driven.

 

[60181]

overall i think this is a very comfortable car to drive. i find the seats supportive, and the visibility is great for me

I'm 5'9" and 185lbs and average to athletic in build yet I find the seats a bit small. The bolsters on my thighs are too close and I find on long drives become uncomfortable. My previous GXP has the same seats as the CTS-V and IMO they were the best I've ever had. Wish they would fit here.

 

[destrux]

This used to bother me alot too. I went from my eclipse to the mazda and felt like I was sitting in a minivan. For some reason I overlooked the seat height adjustment. With that cranked down all the way I can sit upright (I hate gangsta lean) and have the perfect control reach and leg reach. With the seat height up in the middle of the range it was all weird, like my arms were too short to reach the wheel and shifter. I'm 5' 10" btw.

Also, I made offset bushings for the shifter to move it back 1/8" and left 1/8". The I put a Greddy (trust/grex) shift knob on, which improved the shift feel and lowered shift knob height by about 1/4" due to it's design.

From the outside of the car I appear to be sitting low, but who cares. I can see out fine, and the windows are dark enough nobody can see me from the sides anyway.

Lowering the seat height also improves the CG by more than you would expect... you're moving about 150Lbs down by about 1-2".

 

[Zapp]

Oh the trouble

Just be darned glad you are not SHORT, while seating and wheel are comfy, reaching into the back seat for the seatbelt requires being very limber, and my right hand rest is the shifter, everything else is back too far.
I should have such problems, sigh, sure wish I was closer to 6' than to five, but I love the car and wouldn't trade it for most all that are out there.
Zapp

 

[socks]

I drive slouched to the right, with my left arm at 12 oclock on the steering wheel, turned ever so slightly enough to flex my tricep. All while wearing a white T with the sleeves cutoff, or a white tank top.

 

[Wagonbacker9]

I prefer to sit.