Has anyone made these seats more comfortable for long duration trips?

[Zeffy94]

About a year ago, I had issues with feet and leg pain culminating to back pain when driving this car. The good news is, the leg pain has mostly subsided - the back pain however remains a real issue.

While the CTR seats work very well for short term trips for me, whenever I start going on 3+ hour drives, they start to wreak havoc on my back. I'm almost certain this is due to the fact that the seats have 0 lumbar support. Last weekend I ended up driving around for about 4 hours to burn off some steam. A few hours after getting out of the car, I had some pretty severe sores in my lower back and upper neck area. This has actually lasted for more than 5 days now, but as a point of caution, I also seem to have caught something as I have other symptoms of illness I'm dealing with simultaneously. However, the pain on long range trips for me has been noted several times in the past.

I'm extremely skinny for my age and height, but I am moderately active now and stretch frequently. I've tried the lumbar support pillows you can buy, but although they work a bit, they aren't a miracle. They also seem to constantly move underneath me, and they make it so I'm sitting in a more awkward position to where my neck loses support (I naturally lean forward). The way I sit is about the best I can make it to where I'm not overextending my legs when pressing the clutch, but to where I'm not on top of the wheel either. I've pulled out the wheel as far as I can go to make the seating position work as best as I can. It's worth noting my family has a vivid history of back-related issues, so I already have a genetic predisposition to these kind of problems. Chiropractors are great but I don't really like having to keep making time for them to deal with the increasing frequency of this pain.

I have really struggled with this problem. Some people have suggested swapping the seats out - which would be a drastic move - but to what could I swap them out to in the first place? I looked at the regular Civic and Si seats, but I'm not certain those are going to make a huge difference (assuming they fit). Some people have noted that the regular market Civic seats are uncomfortable for them on long trips as well.

Unfortunately, I only know of a few people that have said the CTR seats are uncomfortable for them so I know I'm in a minority. Still, I'm just trying to think of ideas of how to solve it at this point. There are probably very few CTR owners that have swapped out seats for obvious reasons.

If anyone has any ideas on how to potentially tackle this it would be appreciated... not being able to enjoy long trips in my CTR is pretty sour to me. Thanks guys...

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[Zeffy94]

Yeah, the lack of a head rest is also another bad thing about the CTR seats. The lack of head rest is probably what propels me to naturally lean forward when driving, which is most likely not doing me any favors.

My only concern with swapping seats to a regular Civic is I'd probably have to pay someone to do that because I'm 100% clueless on how to do it myself. Also, I feel like the regular Civic seats would look very out of place in the red-adorned interior of the CTR.

Ultimately though, I think the car is very comfortable for my tall, fat body type and I've done 10 hour driving days in it so I don't know how much I can help out. Just throwing ideas out.

Yup, most people have no issues with these seats. I am one of the very few who does, which sucks!

 

[brownman]

someone would probably trade seat with you in a heartbeat knowing they are out of a ctr

 

[Zeffy94]

someone would probably trade seat with you in a heartbeat knowing they are out of a ctr

I'm sure they would, but I would probably want to keep the seats just in case they don't work out lol

As for actual swapping, you just get a big ass socket and a big ass breaker bar and get it out. I've taken my seats out and it's trivial if you have the right socket.

My mechanical knowledge is paltry - I only know the very very basics of sockets and wrenches. I don't have a breaker bar.

 

[brownman]

Sounds like a great excuse to buy a Harbor Freight electric impact

hands down the best option!!

 

[MediaMaster]

AS someone who also has had back issues over the past ten years my suggestion would be to first of all work on increasing your core strength while maintaining your flexibility. I've had one major back surgery and have been through three separate back traumas since - the last one took me 8 months of rehab to overcome - but I avoided surgery each time. I religiously practice the flexibility and strengthening everyday. Any good rehab specialist can evaluate and start you off with a program that can progress to what you may need.

The other thing that you may have to accept, as I have, is that I can no longer just sit for longer than 2-2.5 hours at a stretch. When I'm traveling a long distance I simply keep track of of time/distance and either pull over so I can get out and stretch/gas up and then go again. On a 1000 mile trip this only adds around 30-40 minutes of travel time and I don't think it's too much to ask to keep me pain free. Besides we are driving a car that can make up distance very quickly.

I also agree that these seats are great short term and really help when I'm driving sportily. There definitely is a market for a seat cover with built in lumbar support. If I could find someone who knows how to produce these I would be interested in going further. I'm pretty sure I know how to make it work for most of us.

 

[MadMage]

Have you tried different seat angles? Or even every hour or so adjusting the seat to a new angle?

Just a work around, but might help.

 

[Zeffy94]

Sounds like a great excuse to buy a Harbor Freight electric impact

I have no idea what that is - that's how not well versed I am in this

The other thing that you may have to accept, as I have, is that I can no longer just sit for longer than 2-2.5 hours at a stretch. When I'm traveling a long distance I simply keep track of of time/distance and either pull over so I can get out and stretch/gas up and then go again. On a 1000 mile trip this only adds around 30-40 minutes of travel time and I don't think it's too much to ask to keep me pain free. Besides we are driving a car that can make up distance very quickly.

I also agree that these seats are great short term and really help when I'm driving sportily. There definitely is a market for a seat cover with built in lumbar support. If I could find someone who knows how to produce these I would be interested in going further. I'm pretty sure I know how to make it work for most of us.

Yeah, it just sucks because I sometimes get into a rhythm after a few hours, and not to mention, I have to drive a decent bit to find a good stretch of good roads made for the CTR anyways. I have considered just finding a place to rest every once in a while after 2 hours.

RE: The seat covers with lumbar, hell yeah, I would jump on that in a heartbeat.

Maybe try modifying the Dream Automotive covers? I have a pair of them and they fit SUPER well. Maybe you could sew in a permanent support?

Didn't think about this, but I haven't sewn anything since middle school.

Have you tried different seat angles? Or even every hour or so adjusting the seat to a new angle?

Just a work around, but might help.

Problem with different seat angles is the one I drive in primarily makes sure that:
A) My legs are able to depress the clutch pedal fully without overextending
B) My knees are bent slightly when pushing the pedals
C) I am not on top of the steering wheel

If I move the seat up it pushes my leg into the plastic underneath the wheel, if I move the seat down I feel like I have to extend a bit too much to make sure that clutch is in fully. If I move the seat forward I'm way too close and if I move it back I feel like I'm too far away - I don't get it either!

 

[ApexEight]

Maybe try this: https://www.civicx.com/forum/threads/are-the-type-r-seats-hurting-your-back.22838/

 

[Zeffy94]

Maybe try this: https://www.civicx.com/forum/threads/are-the-type-r-seats-hurting-your-back.22838/

If you're talking about the support pillows, they do help a bit, but I've found that if the road is rough enough (which in PA is almost a certainty), the vibrations from the bumps seem to induce fatigue faster even with the pillow. Maybe a neck support pillow would help, or a combo of both.

 

[samji]

About a year ago, I had issues with feet and leg pain culminating to back pain when driving this car. The good news is, the leg pain has mostly subsided - the back pain however remains a real issue.

While the CTR seats work very well for short term trips for me, whenever I start going on 3+ hour drives, they start to wreak havoc on my back. I'm almost certain this is due to the fact that the seats have 0 lumbar support. Last weekend I ended up driving around for about 4 hours to burn off some steam. A few hours after getting out of the car, I had some pretty severe sores in my lower back and upper neck area. This has actually lasted for more than 5 days now, but as a point of caution, I also seem to have caught something as I have other symptoms of illness I'm dealing with simultaneously. However, the pain on long range trips for me has been noted several times in the past.

I'm extremely skinny for my age and height, but I am moderately active now and stretch frequently. I've tried the lumbar support pillows you can buy, but although they work a bit, they aren't a miracle. They also seem to constantly move underneath me, and they make it so I'm sitting in a more awkward position to where my neck loses support (I naturally lean forward). The way I sit is about the best I can make it to where I'm not overextending my legs when pressing the clutch, but to where I'm not on top of the wheel either. I've pulled out the wheel as far as I can go to make the seating position work as best as I can. It's worth noting my family has a vivid history of back-related issues, so I already have a genetic predisposition to these kind of problems. Chiropractors are great but I don't really like having to keep making time for them to deal with the increasing frequency of this pain.

I have really struggled with this problem. Some people have suggested swapping the seats out - which would be a drastic move - but to what could I swap them out to in the first place? I looked at the regular Civic and Si seats, but I'm not certain those are going to make a huge difference (assuming they fit). Some people have noted that the regular market Civic seats are uncomfortable for them on long trips as well.

Unfortunately, I only know of a few people that have said the CTR seats are uncomfortable for them so I know I'm in a minority. Still, I'm just trying to think of ideas of how to solve it at this point. There are probably very few CTR owners that have swapped out seats for obvious reasons.

If anyone has any ideas on how to potentially tackle this it would be appreciated... not being able to enjoy long trips in my CTR is pretty sour to me. Thanks guys...

I'm in the same boat (had back surgery awhile ago on my L4/L5) and thought I don't have any solutions for you, I wlll advise you NOT to go to a chiropractor for back issues. Especially if its a private practice. Unless your orthopedic doctor recommends you one, don't do it on your own! Most of those people are in it for the money and will try to sell that you NEED an adjustment. One of the biggest red flags is the 'doctor' (most do not have a doctorate or even a college diploma) saying he'll go ahead and give you an adjustment without even taking an X-Ray's or MRI.

What I have done besides a lumbar pillow is to wear a back brace if I know I will be on a long drive. I have the mueller one from Amazon and it works okay to keep my lower back straining somewhat and will buy me an hour or so of painless seat time. I try not to use these on the regular as it can be counter productive if you start relying on it, but as long as you're doing core exercises you should be fine.

 

[Zeffy94]

I'm in the same boat (had back surgery awhile ago on my L4/L5) and thought I don't have any solutions for you, I wlll advise you NOT to go to a chiropractor for back issues. Especially if its a private practice. Unless your orthopedic doctor recommends you one, don't do it on your own! Most of those people are in it for the money and will try to sell that you NEED an adjustment. One of the biggest red flags is the 'doctor' (most do not have a doctorate or even a college diploma) saying he'll go ahead and give you an adjustment without even taking an X-Ray's or MRI.

What I have done besides a lumbar pillow is to wear a back brace if I know I will be on a long drive. I have the mueller one from Amazon and it works okay to keep my lower back straining somewhat and will buy me an hour or so of painless seat time. I try not to use these on the regular as it can be counter productive if you start relying on it, but as long as you're doing core exercises you should be fine.

You're not the first person to warn me about them lol, I'm skeptical as well. Haven't considered a back brace, especially because sometimes I drive shorter or longer just depending on how I feel - a lot of my trips lately are of the "I'm bored and need to get out" variety.

 

[samji]

You're not the first person to warn me about them lol, I'm skeptical as well. Haven't considered a back brace, especially because sometimes I drive shorter or longer just depending on how I feel - a lot of my trips lately are of the "I'm bored and need to get out" variety.

Then I would just keep it in the car as insurance in case you're out longer than expected. It takes like 5-10 seconds to put on and off and you can fit it into your glove box. I may try out the lumbar cushion that looks like a "Y" where it forms to the contours of your spine. It looks uncomfortable but I think the herman miller chairs have that weird bump that feels uncomfortable at first but you realize your back doesn't hurt after sitting for like 8 hours.

Here's what i'm talking about:
https://www.amazon.com/KULIK-SYSTEM...ds=car+seat+lumbar&qid=1594239525&sr=8-4&th=1

 

[MediaMaster]

I have no idea what that is - that's how not well versed I am in this



Yeah, it just sucks because I sometimes get into a rhythm after a few hours, and not to mention, I have to drive a decent bit to find a good stretch of good roads made for the CTR anyways. I have considered just finding a place to rest every once in a while after 2 hours.

RE: The seat covers with lumbar, hell yeah, I would jump on that in a heartbeat.



Didn't think about this, but I haven't sewn anything since middle school.



Problem with different seat angles is the one I drive in primarily makes sure that:
A) My legs are able to depress the clutch pedal fully without overextending
B) My knees are bent slightly when pushing the pedals
C) I am not on top of the steering wheel

If I move the seat up it pushes my leg into the plastic underneath the wheel, if I move the seat down I feel like I have to extend a bit too much to make sure that clutch is in fully. If I move the seat forward I'm way too close and if I move it back I feel like I'm too far away - I don't get it either!

There is also an angle adjust with the seats. I've found that raising the seat to the highest position (pulling the lever up repeatedly) puts me into a better position. Still the best remedy is better lumbar support with something from the aftermarket or home made.

 

[Zeffy94]

There is also an angle adjust with the seats. I've found that raising the seat to the highest position (pulling the lever up repeatedly) puts me into a better position. Still the best remedy is better lumbar support with something from the aftermarket or home made.

In the highest position my knee is inside the steering column lol, I'm like 2-3 clicks down from the highest right now which is my "comfortable" position.

Then I would just keep it in the car as insurance in case you're out longer than expected. It takes like 5-10 seconds to put on and off and you can fit it into your glove box. I may try out the lumbar cushion that looks like a "Y" where it forms to the contours of your spine. It looks uncomfortable but I think the herman miller chairs have that weird bump that feels uncomfortable at first but you realize your back doesn't hurt after sitting for like 8 hours.

Here's what i'm talking about:
https://www.amazon.com/KULIK-SYSTEM-Innovative-Cushions-Patented/dp/B07W52PTGK/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=car+seat+lumbar&qid=1594239525&sr=8-4&th=1

Yeah, I've seen these floating around and I was intrigued by them. Might also look at the brace.

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