Yaris Cross Design Drivers Seat

[Jimota]

I’ve now had my Yaris Cross design for 18 months and still think it’s the best car in my long line of car ownership.  However, some of you may be aware that I posted a few comments last year in relation to the lack of lateral support down the left side of the drivers seat.  At first, it wasn’t too bad but following a recent beautiful drive through the Dukes Pass between Aberfoyle and Loch Katrine in the Trossachs region, I felt as if I had just came off a roller coaster ride.  The Dukes Pass is a very challenging road for drivers with its ultra tight bends, steep gradients and uneven cambers.  The scenery is spectacular.  Anyway, back to the subject of the drivers seat.  
 

My wife has no problems with the drivers seat and she has pointed out that my posture has changed and it’s not a design flaw with the seat support cushions.  She’s half right, my posture has changed but the drivers seat lateral support cushions are not the same width.  The right side is 6 inches wide but the left side is only 5 inches at their widest points as seen in the attached photo.  Under normal driving conditions the seat is comfortable with good lumbar support but the Dukes Pass highlighted the lack of lateral support which caused me to slide across the left side of the seat. 
 

I was wondering if there are any back rests available which improves lateral support but had a quick look in Halfords to no avail.  Also checked online but most of the back rests were designed to improve lumbar support which is not a problem for me.  Has any other member experienced this problem and if so, what did you do to improve the seating position.  I might also have a look in some of specialist mobility showrooms to see if they have anything on offer.

Final point.  I highly recommend a drive through the Dukes Pass but don’t do it in winter and never, ever do it in a Morris Marina.

[Gren]

1 hour ago, Jimota said:

  I highly recommend a drive through the Dukes Pass but don’t do it in winter

 

I also recommend that route, the scenery is fantastic.  I've also done it in winter... they don't grit that road for a reason 😱

[CPN]

3 hours ago, Jimota said:

I highly recommend a drive through the Dukes Pass but don’t do it in winter...

Used to live close to it and went regularly on scenic drives up to the Trossachs. Beautiful place...

[Cyker]

Bwaaa you northerners are so lucky! You get all the most fun roads!  

As for the seat, maybe look for some sort of memory foam back cushion?

One side effect of my lumbar cushion is it provides extra seat grip around my hip area because of the way it wedges in between the side bolsters, and when my lower back has imprinted itself into the foam I'm sortof locked into place  

 

 

[TonyHSD]

Lol what a beautiful place to drive through. Don’t know about the seats if I can offer any help but thanks for the idea of what seems to be a great road travel holiday 👌👍

[Jimota]

3 hours ago, Gren said:

I also recommend that route, the scenery is fantastic.  I've also done it in winter... they don't grit that road for a reason 😱

Yes that’s right.  There’s no point in gritting the road as the snow gets too deep.  It’s one of the first roads in Scotland to close after it snows.  It can be closed for weeks as even the gritter vehicles can’t cope with the conditions.

[Jimota]

Still surfing the web to see If I can find the miracle product that can comfortably keep me in my seat.  My wife has recommended a strait jacket!  I have driven through the Dukes Pass on many an occasion over the years and it really is an exhilarating experience.  A very popular route with bikers from the continent, especially those from Holland for obvious reasons.  When I did the trip in a Morris Marina 1.8 TC with the go faster stripes, it was difficult to keep the car on the road from Aberfoyle to Loch Katrine.  On the return trip, the heavens opened up and the severity of the rain was of biblical proportions. When the epic journey was complete I had white knuckles for a week.

[Rhymes with Paris]

1 hour ago, Cyker said:

Bwaaa you northerners are so lucky! You get all the most fun roads!  

If you ever decide to brave the land of witches and dragons, the road from Market Rasen to Tealby is a marvel of older road engineering.

We used to call it the roller coaster 🎢.

All fast bends and hills over the wolds, not been on it for a couple of years, but the cambers were just right both ways to enhance the road holding of just about any old banger.

I first drove it in a Ford 100e with cart springs on the back, even with that old heap it was good, well to my 18 year ago old self at the time.

In my old lexus is200 with the rear wheel drive it was a great drive, no slipping at all, and on a bike too.

Aah, memories.

[anchorman]

8 hours ago, Jimota said:

I’ve now had my Yaris Cross design for 18 months and still think it’s the best car in my long line of car ownership.  However, some of you may be aware that I posted a few comments last year in relation to the lack of lateral support down the left side of the drivers seat.  At first, it wasn’t too bad but following a recent beautiful drive through the Dukes Pass between Aberfoyle and Loch Katrine in the Trossachs region, I felt as if I had just came off a roller coaster ride.  The Dukes Pass is a very challenging road for drivers with its ultra tight bends, steep gradients and uneven cambers.  The scenery is spectacular.  Anyway, back to the subject of the drivers seat.  
 

My wife has no problems with the drivers seat and she has pointed out that my posture has changed and it’s not a design flaw with the seat support cushions.  She’s half right, my posture has changed but the drivers seat lateral support cushions are not the same width.  The right side is 6 inches wide but the left side is only 5 inches at their widest points as seen in the attached photo.  Under normal driving conditions the seat is comfortable with good lumbar support but the Dukes Pass highlighted the lack of lateral support which caused me to slide across the left side of the seat. 
 

I was wondering if there are any back rests available which improves lateral support but had a quick look in Halfords to no avail.  Also checked online but most of the back rests were designed to improve lumbar support which is not a problem for me.  Has any other member experienced this problem and if so, what did you do to improve the seating position.  I might also have a look in some of specialist mobility showrooms to see if they have anything on offer.

Final point.  I highly recommend a drive through the Dukes Pass but don’t do it in winter and never, ever do it in a Morris Marina.

I’ve been to some extraordinary places in a Morris Marina and my Trossachs were aching at the end of it.  Those bolsters are packing different sized airbags, a big one on your right and a compact one on your left.  Modern seat bolstering is the bane of my life.  Give me old Lexus LS armchairs any day.