Sports Bucket Seats - Lumbar Support

[anonymous-user]

Hi Everyone

I've got a Cayman R with sports bucket seats and while I love them, they can be quite unforgiving after long drives. I'm heading off for several days of driving soon and am a little concerned about how I'm going to feel about those seats come day four or five. I just wanted to canvass opinion and see if anyone else had arrived at a good solution to this?

The options I can find are:

http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/performance/seat-acc...

http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/performance/seat-acc...

The adjustable Sparco doesn't seem to be available anymore and I ended up with the backrest cushion which I find too dense as it forces my back forward into an unnatural position. If it was a little more forgiving, it would be fine.

Any thoughts, recommendations or comments gratefully received.

Thanks



Alex

[mrdemon]

You should NOT be able to feel the lumber support in a seat, a mistake most people make.

A good design does not need them or now day has them as people miss use them and make things worse.

are you sure it's support you need in that area.

[graemel]

I've used them with race car seats before. Not the adjustable type. Just try it in different positions in the back rest and see if it works for you

[anonymous-user]

mrdemon said:

You should NOT be able to feel the lumber support in a seat, a mistake most people make.

A good design does not need them or now day has them as people miss use them and make things worse.

are you sure it's support you need in that area.

I agree but the problem is that my lower back does start to ache because there isn't anything to support it. The sports bucket seats have no adjustment and the lower pad barely touches my back unless I wedge myself right in which isn't that comfortable for motorway driving. Allegedly, I'm the perfect height for the car at just under 6ft. It's like it needs a spacer to bring the pad forward a bit.

[Zyp]

Mutema said:

I agree but the problem is that my lower back does start to ache because there isn't anything to support it. The sports bucket seats have no adjustment and the lower pad barely touches my back unless I wedge myself right in which isn't that comfortable for motorway driving. Allegedly, I'm the perfect height for the car at just under 6ft. It's like it needs a spacer to bring the pad forward a bit.

Exactly what I found after a 30 min test drive.

Hence I have the sports seats in mine.

[SGBrown]

I've put those adjustable Sparcos in my buckets (you can actually get them behind the seat foam so they don't even look out of place) and they work greatly to reduce the problem that you are experiencing. As you say, they are nigh on impossible to buy now, but ISTR that Corbeau do something similar - maybe worth looking into?

[Roadrunner996]

Do your 'cushions' pull out (possibly held in with velcro) ? If so, there should be a cushion behind that can be moved up and down.......but you may have tried that already ?

[jontymo]

I suffered shoulder ache when i first got my CR, someone on here recommended the 2nd cushion on your list which i got in black, i pulled the top of the seat cushion out and slipped the cushion on, this does push you forward slighty but works great. Managed 4k miles around Norway not so long ago without any issues.

[DS240]

Buckets in the Spyder, but no issues with back pain, in fact very impressed at their comfort over 4-5 hr driving stints to south of France last year. Other than being less practical getting in and out, they are the best seats I've experienced in a car. (Elise ones were good also, similar theme). I'm 5'10.

Sorry, not much help to your issue.

[nsm3]

Lower back pain can be directly related to problems in your hamstrings.

Proper support at the back of your thighs (not just floating in mid air or feeling pinched) can play a big part, not just the lumbar support?

[adamb]

I found the buckets in my 997.1 GT3 dreadful for this, ended up using 2 of those sparco cushions as lower back support, except when on track.

[MadMark911]

The adaptive sport seats will rectify this (as they are just) so adjustable and they are the most comfortable seats I've ever sat in! I never could understand why so many people rave about the buckets .....

[Zyp]

MadMark911 said:

The adaptive sport seats will rectify this (as they are just) so adjustable and they are the most comfortable seats I've ever sat in! I never could understand why so many people rave about the buckets .....

Apparently, buckets are a must-have if you want to enjoy real Porsche motoring (not to mention the lack of them making certain cars absolutely worthless ).

It's well known on here that some Porsche PH'ers actually have bucket seats scattered around at home instead of plush settees...

[V8KSN]

nsm3 said:

Lower back pain can be directly related to problems in your hamstrings.

Proper support at the back of your thighs (not just floating in mid air or feeling pinched) can play a big part, not just the lumbar support?

Thats what I found too.

This may sound silly but get a small towel, roll it into a roll shape and put it under your legs behind your knees and go for a drive. You may have to experiment with towel/tea towel size etc but it's a cheap (free?) solution that may help you isolate the problem.

[Trev450]

When I was getting myself to fit the seat in my single seater, I purchased an exercise mat from a sports shop for around £15 and cut it up to suit. The material is very dense and consequently you don't need to use much as there is less give than in foam rubber.

[DiscoColin]

Personally I have always gotten on very well with Porsche's bucket options (particularly the type of which the OP writes), however the enduring tip from here in the past (which IIRC may have been from flemke - not positive) was simply to adjust the fit of the seat by putting bubble wrap behind the velcroed on seat cushions to suit the shape of your spine. An elegant, cheap and apparently effective solution to the problem I thought.