Seat Comfort

I'm kind of a skinny shit ~185 - 6' and I find the Tacoma very comfortable for my skinny ass. Everyone's ass is different... Oh, if I did not find a vehicle comfortable, I would not buy because I would never enjoy driving it.

 

I see alot of guys complaining about wanting to raise the rear of the seat, but that would turn into a sliding board for me, I would want the front of the seat raised if anything. I am sure if these seats simply had more adjustability it would eliminate most complaints from people.

 

OP, I really think some people on here don't get it. When test driving, it is not like you are sitting on an iron spike and you instantly know the seat is uncomfortable. I did not really feel the discomfort until 2hrs into a 3hr trip. Having come from a 4Runner, I knew it was the seat and or lack of adjustabillity.

Lucky for me, a simple cushion helped me greatly, but that would not have been an option had i had a longer torso. The extent that people defend the indefensible is crazy to me.

Anyone who tells you to take your time and make sure the truck fits your needs is doing you a favor.....the crappy attitude of some forum members is distasteful to say the least.

At first, I thought how weird it was that none of the packages had a power seat with full adjustability. Not asking anyone to invent a new seat, just use the seat from a 4Runner right?

As I looked into it, I realized that it is a space issue, which lead me to look into safety issues. There are already NHTSA complaints regarding drivers striking their heads and there is an active investigation into a recall. These investigations can take years and Toyota may have to recall just about every Tacoma ever made due to head trauma caused by the low slung seat (compared to the seat belt), & the probability of head injury during a collision.

 

I think that's really it, the lack of adjustability prevents finding a more comfortable seating position.

 

Both are lightyears ahead of the '12 CRV that we had.

 

So are you saying the current Tacoma seats are not safe?

 

Ever notice that people who are 100% sure that they are right are almost always wrong?

 

5-10 here. I log about 1,000 miles a week on average and don't have any complaints. I might move it forward or back a notch or two, but thats mostly because I spend so much time in the truck.

 

I was also surprised at lack of adjustability. I came from a Trailblazer with power seats. Micro adjustments in every direction. What that lead me to was a never ending search for the right feel. And god forbid if anybody moves my seat I can never get it put back exactly right and I feel weird driving for a week.

 

Show of hands.....

Does anyone who has sat in a 4runner with full seat adjustability believe the Tacoma seat is more comfortable?
Does anyone think it is a bad idea to offer that seat as an option (not standard, but optional)?

In my opinion, there was a proper way to respond to the OP, and an improper way.

Proper: Well, I too have had that experience.....or I have not had that experience.
Improper: My feelings.....my butt hurts.

 

To be clear, I do not know if they are safe. What I am saying is that the NHTSA is soliciting feedback from the public, and sequestering service information records from dealerships related to head strikes in the Tacomas.

My personal observations are that head clearance is a source of inquiry as they asked about height/weight of passengers and drivers. I also noticed they asked about the seat belt engaging which lead me to hypothesize that they may be asking about the role the seat belts play in restraining the front passengers. Finally, they asked about what speed, and the circumstances that lead to the incident asking about (A) Bump (B) Terrain (C) Speed (Medical treatment sought).

As far as I know, there has not been a conclusion.

 

I’m not sure why they don’t include even at minimum a manual seat height adjustment. Seems utilitarian enough.

 

That is too funny, but to offer an explanation.

1. The most comfortable position for me in the Tacoma is nowhere near where my numerous other vehicles have their position.

• The seat creates a weird angle for my femur, and it causes pain in my ciatic nerve.
• In other vehicles, I move the seat up or down to change that angle.
• In the Tacoma, I need to keep it further back and in the original seats, I had a tendency to slide forward. I added neoprene covers to fix that.
• The ciatic nerve pain can be linked to lower back pain that pulls on your glute, then your hamstring etc.

2. I will never undervalue the price of electric seats ever again.

 

A small head strike at low speed that does not hospitalize you, could be catastrophic or fatal if the force was increased even modestly.

 

I'll have to pay more attention to these seats. I suppose age and physical condition/injuries also play a role in things. I bet a lot more seats were comfortable at 16 vs. 36 yo. I generally find lumbars in the wrong spot for me. Usually too low and pressing on my tailbone. Like how does your spine curve start at the base of the bottom seat? Seems impossible

 

I had never, ever messed with the lumbar setting on any vehicle. Never needed to.

I got in a car wreck (while in an Uber) last year and now i feel like every mm of adjustment matters. It is hard to sit in a classic car anymore.

Anyone looking for a well restored AC Cobra or 911? Ha.

 

A good portion of us probably have some degree of anterior pelvic tilt from sitting too much which messes with your spinal arch. Possibly bad slouching posture as well. I've also noticed lifting weights can change back shape - upper back becomes thicker so it touches the seat before my lower back so my lower would have to curve in a hunched manner if I don't adjust the lumbar. That being said, I still have no particular complaints about the seats as of yet. Or at least that I know of until you guys make my OCD start noticing things.

 

My truck took some adjustment on long trips. Not so much regular DD.

If you are not comfortable now... I doubt you ever will be.

 

We have both. Plus we have a Ram with fully adjustable power seats and a shit load of room to stretch out in. I can honestly get comfortable in all three.

Having had two third gens, currently owning a fifth gen T4, owning a loaded to the balls ram and having a 2nd gen in the family I get nothing but entertainment from these threads. I'd love to have more adjustments on the Tacoma, but it is not worth a fucking thread a day harping about it.

I'm convinced there is a tangible difference between the third gen and other gen taco owners. Many of the issues that generate two to three PMS threads a day on the third gen forum have existed through all three gens, yet you'd think they were endemic only to the turd gen. I'm beginning to think the increased bitching and whining says something about us as a group or how the demographics have changed over the years.

FWIW, the T4 seats are nothing special. In comparison with the Taco, they have more adjustments. They are not better bolstered or cushioned and they do not offer any more support. The interior geometry of the taco is much different than the T4. If you put a set of power seats in there you'd have very little ability to raise the front until your quads hit the steering wheel. If you raise the back uo high enough, your ass would be constantly sliding forward.

 

I share your observation that the 3rd Gen forum is repetitive, and largely commentary vs. utility.

Having been an active member of FJ Crusier Forums and Landcruiser Forums in general, I have seen that as vehicles age, the day to day is less complaint related and more of a request for info or help on DIY projects.

Maybe the 3rd gen is still too new to generate those kinds of topics on the daily, but your observation about older gen Tacoma forums being a little different fits my theory. Time will tell if it is correct.