Leather seats uncomfortable

[rmargoss Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close rmargoss]

I've had a VX Prado now since late 2007. I must say that the standard leather seats are pretty uncomfortable. My wife has been complaining for a while and as my father recently told me after a trip to the snowy mountains, he finds the airline seats more comfortable and sitting on a log comparable to his experience sitting in my car. Given he has a bad back but he drives a beaten up Magna and he loves the comfort.

That got me thinking. The seats are pretty uncomfortable. My wife has a Calais and the leather seats are outstanding. They feel soft and you almost melt into the seats every time you sit down. The Prado is as hard as a rock.

I live in Sydney, does anyone know of any feasible option to make them more comfortable? Would it involve changing the foam or the leather?

[Davros Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Davros]

Re: Leather seats uncomfortable

Have you thought of a set of very good quality sheepskin covers?

[karrathaprado2 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close karrathaprado2]

Re: Leather seats uncomfortable

Or even changing the seat from the one vehicle to another if the mounting points are the same?

[HGMonaro Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close HGMonaro]

Re: Leather seats uncomfortable

soft seats usually feel nice and are fine for short trips, but hard seats are generally better for longer stints at the wheel.

I'm one of the few people that hate leather seats.

[Guest Close Guest]

Re: Leather seats uncomfortable

I have a bit of trouble with the leather seats on my 03 Grande too. I can't seem to find a comfortable driving position. the lumbar adjustment doesn't quite help my back and the thigh support isn't high enough when I raise the seat. One day I'll get it right. It's only been 6 months of ownership.

[hoppy Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close hoppy]

Re: Leather seats uncomfortable

I've had a VX Prado now since late 2007. I must say that the standard leather seats are pretty uncomfortable. My wife has been complaining for a while and as my father recently told me after a trip to the snowy mountains, he finds the airline seats more comfortable and sitting on a log comparable to his experience sitting in my car. Given he has a bad back but he drives a beaten up Magna and he loves the comfort.

That got me thinking. The seats are pretty uncomfortable. My wife has a Calais and the leather seats are outstanding. They feel soft and you almost melt into the seats every time you sit down. The Prado is as hard as a rock.

I live in Sydney, does anyone know of any feasible option to make them more comfortable? Would it involve changing the foam or the leather?

I to have a late 2007 VX and love the leather seats. They took a little getting used to but they are great on long trips. For a little extra padding I have recently put sheep skins seat "inserts". Basically they are a strip of sheep skin that sits in the middle of the seat. Bought them from super cheap auto and they just give enough extra padding whilst still allowing for the seat airbag deployment.

[OldGreyGuy Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close OldGreyGuy]

Re: Leather seats uncomfortable

I have the Grande and I find the seats pretty good BUT like everything what fits one person may not fit the next.

The thing I was going to point out is to be careful if you are planning to fit any sort of covers, depending on the year/model your leather seats may have side air-bags which could cause problems of fitting sheepskins or something. The inserts that hoppy mentions may be the only suitable type if you have the air-bags.

Cheers OldGreyGuy

[gwatts21 Member Find all posts View Profile Close gwatts21]

Re: Leather seats uncomfortable

I have a bit of trouble with the leather seats on my 03 Grande too. I can't seem to find a comfortable driving position. the lumbar adjustment doesn't quite help my back and the thigh support isn't high enough when I raise the seat. One day I'll get it right. It's only been 6 months of ownership.

It's a pity the electric seats don't have a memory because as soon as you get it right somebody will borrow the car and change all the settings. Then you have another 6 months of getting it right. :-)

[Rusty62 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Rusty62]

Re: Leather seats uncomfortable

Funny that what some find comfortable. We have upgraded out 06 120 series GXL for a VX 120 last year with leather seat and find them more comfortable than the standard seats, particually on long trips. The one thing to remember it to always park the car with the sun on the back as the seats can become, to put it one word HOT.

[Guest Close Guest]

Re: Leather seats uncomfortable

I love the leather, compared to all my mates GXL's they are way more comfortable.

[photoprado Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close photoprado]

Re: Leather seats uncomfortable

I like Recaro's

Bit of a pain to fit to the Prado though, with all the Airbag engineering etc.

[rmargoss Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close rmargoss]

Re: Leather seats uncomfortable

I love the leather, compared to all my mates GXL's they are way more comfortable.

having previously owned a 90 series vx with velour seats and sheepskin covers, those seats would eat for dead my current rock hard vx leather seats. as i mentioned, the foam padding used if that is what it is is much harder than other high end spec vehicles i've been in including among many the calais, bmw and top end challenger. as an earlier poster said each to their own I guess.

[-Junior- Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close -Junior-]

Re: Leather seats uncomfortable

having previously owned a 90 series vx with velour seats and sheepskin covers, those seats would eat for dead my current rock hard vx leather seats. as i mentioned, the foam padding used if that is what it is is much harder than other high end spec vehicles i've been in including among many the calais, bmw and top end challenger. as an earlier poster said each to their own I guess.

Can I ask a silly question, but is it the foam cushion that is hard or has the leather started to harden?
Reason I ask is that you can get leather conditioner to keep it soft. Just an idea.

[michaelweare Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close michaelweare]

Re: Leather seats uncomfortable

I guess everyone is different but I find my 2006 Grande seats to be the most comfortable seats in any car I have owned (Calais as well). Always feels like a lounge chair when I get in them, and definitely no problems on long trips as well.

Currently also have an Aurion Sportivo ZR6 with leather seats but these are hard compared to the Prado, but everything in the Aurion is hard (sporty) as well.

PS - I do condition them with leather conditioner a couple of times a year and the leather itself is very soft.

Cheers
Michael

[Ozpat Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ozpat]

Re: Leather seats uncomfortable

I find my vx leather seats adequate but like amts says it takes ages to find your ideal position after another driver has stuffed them up on you. Had to go for leather as handbrake needed it to easily slide her bum hip across. One thing I've noticed after only 6 mnths and 8k on the clock the leather has started to wear, even in the back which hardly ever gets used. And I had them treated as well when new. I had a leather seated Forrester for 7 years without any problems and am disappointed with Toyota over this one. Anyone else had this problem?