hard seats

[ugg327]

Wondering why the seats are so hard in my passat...After 2 hours driving my bum is killing me... the wife says the same thing and she has more meat on her bum than me....... We had a ford ghia for 10 years and drove on trips a lot, no problem, We bought this about 4 weeks ago for going around aus when I retire in a few months.. But the way it is.. no way... My friends have all commented about how hard the seats are as well.... My mate has a jetta.. I will check his seats out.... It is a 2008 model with heated leather seats.... could it be the heating elements or something.... Is there some place I could get the seats altered.. Has any one else noticed this... Love the car, but if I can't solve the seating problem, it will have to go...

[PassatB6]

I must say I have never heard anyone complain about the seats in the same way. Often people have said VW seats are firm and come to appreciate this over long distances as its usually soft seats which lead to back and butt pain and fatigue. I would check out the same seats in another Passat and see of they feel the same.

[nivek]

Which version of Passat do you have?

Certainly the R36 seats feel a little on the firm side, but I've never had issues with bum pains . In fact, they're probaly the best seats I've had in a car so far.

[ugg327]

Passat Type 3C MY08 SED TDI 2.0D....... I thought I was buying a jetta, When we seen this we took it for a test drive and loved it. Only then did i find out it was a Passat.... Shows what I know.. We just love driving it and even looking at it... But after about an hour is my but sore.... I cant fault any thing else in the car.. It's got every thing. Maybe its like a new bed and you have to get used to it...

[Leagle]

Lol, I have just commented that one of the main reasons that I didn't buy a Ford Falcon G6ET (over the VW Passat CC) were due to the fact that the Ford's seat looked old (read: saggy) after a few 1000 kays. IMHO one of the best things about the VW's are their seats! If you have ever driven (or ridden) in other premium German cars (including but not limited to 7 series bimmers and S class Mercedes), you will notice that they rarely do "soft" (saggy) seats, they do nice firm seats that give plenty of support over long drives. Take time, you will learn to appreciate that firm seats can often be more comfortable that those big, bloaty seats that other manufacturers do. Its a bit like comparing nicely sprung, firm mattresses to old saggy mattresses. Sure the old saggy mattress will be a little more comfy initially...

[Rocket36]

Don't know about other models but the R36 seats are one if it's biggest selling points from a comfort point of view. Without a doubt the best (OEM) seats I've ever sat in, in ANY car!

[ugg327]

I hope you blokes are right..... Might go for a few more 3 or 4 hr drives, plenty of time on my hands.

[R34]

It could be you're used to slouching in the saggy seats and these seats are correcting your posture and causing the initial pain.
Hopefully more driving and it will feel better for you
Cheers

[tryingavw]

i dont find them too hard, but the tdi 2008 seats are the biggest disappointment of the whole car IMHO. just not enough support and i am starting to feel all the ridges and bumps. Leather quality is however very good. just drove back from philip island last night 1 1/2hrs and theyre not great. the R36 seats are way better as are the passat cc. PLUS the current model tdi has upgraded seats.

check out a brand new car... better seats. or get the CC....

[passatpout]

For my wife and I, the Passat seats were one of the clinchers for the deal. We were both comfortable in them straight away, and in her opinion the Passat was much better than the Peugeot 307, 308 and 407. We've also done quite a few long distance trips (55,000km in about 18 months), and have never had an issue with the seats. The first time I took it long distance, I stopped in Jugiong for lunch, then drove non-stop to Newcastle (about 4 1/2 hours). I was planning to stop in Pennant Hills, but found myself turning onto the F3 and still feeling fresh and comfortable, so went for it. We've also travelled from Holbrook to Melbourne non-stop (forget dogs, let sleeping babies lie), and again no problems. I've also just driven about 2800km in a work Hilux in 7 working days, and the seats in it are shocking - others in our fleet have had new Recaro seats installed to give some modicum of comfort (in a fleet which averages replacement after 150,000km or 2 years - so they are clocking up some distances) - not to mention all the other things that make me appreciate my Passat..

Also, seeings as by your post you're new to VWs, try playing around with the adjustments - the Passat is the first car I've seen or used which has had height adjustment for the lumbar support, as well as depth. The only adjustment which isn't on my seats that I wish they had was seat base tilt - but then I'm planning on electric seats for the next set of wheels.

Having said that, seats are a personal thing though, so what's good for one isn't good for another, and I hope your experience with the seats and the car improves. If you want to compare with mine, let me know and we can arrange a time.

[Highlander]

Seating comfort

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Also, seeings as by your post you're new to VWs, try playing around with the adjustments - the Passat is the first car I've seen or used which has had height adjustment for the lumbar support, as well as depth. The only adjustment which isn't on my seats that I wish they had was seat base tilt - but then I'm planning on electric seats for the next set of wheels.

Couldn't agree more. Took me ages to find a really comfortable long distance setting for the driver's seat in my CC. Initially I was quite disappointed as, in all honesty, I could not find a position that didn't give me a little lower pack pain RHS after about an hour's drive. Even more disappointing when I have to give our 13 yo, 240,000km Corolla Seca hack (dog transport) seats plus marks for long distance comfort. (Please don't flame me for being honest.)

But persistence and endless fiddling with the seat adjustments sees me now with a seating position that almost makes me want to sleep in the car when I get it home in the garage. Thank heavens for the seat memory.

[ugg327]

Passatpout.. Does yours have the heated seats...?? I put a foam cushion in it last night and went for a 4 hr drive... much better, The cushion was given to me by a mate that has them supplied by the trucking company he works for.. All the cars I have had and never enjoyed driving as much as this car. Just love it..

[ugg327]

Seat memory??? I don't think mine has that! Only a lever for the tilt of the back and a 4 button thing.. It's not a full electric seat..

[passatpout]

Re: hard seats

Yep, mine has the electric male sterilizer elements wrapped up in some dead cow skin.

[rearrange]

I share your pain ...

I have a new Caddy and the seats are the only disappointment. I went away at Easter and after half an hour my bum was numb and my lower back was in pain. There is no lumber adjustment on the Caddy's seats, which is unfortunate because there is little lumber support where you need it. I've tried adjusting them in all sorts of different directions, but cannot find a comfortable position. My partner also finds them painful.

I do have a bad back and I recall having the same problem in my Golf VR6. However it isn't just a problem with my back, as for the past couple of years I've been driving a Smart fortwo, which has no lumber/tilt/height adjustment, yet amazingly it was comfortable for me even after 12 hours per day driving it from Queensland to Adelaide in two and half days when I first bought it.

I've thought about changing the seats but I want to keep the side airbags operational so options seem limited and annoyingly expensive with no real guarantees of greater comfort.

I feel like an old man even asking this, but ugg327, you mentioned a cushion given to you by a friend, do you know the manufacturer and where I might buy one?

Cheers