Seat Bolster Question - Potential New Owner
 

Hello all,

I finally test drove a 2015 FRS and fell in love with it! Currently I drive a 2015 GTI PP with DSG. I was very close to making the trade but I found the side bolsters were jabbing into my ribs. I'm 6' 200lbs with athletic build (spend lots of time mountain biking, hiking and skiing). I've done some searching and found a thread about bending the bolster supports with brute force but I'm concerned about the airbags. Which also leads into a no go with aftermarket seats.

So, initially I find the seat really good but after about 30min the pressure on my ribs really starts to get bad. There doesn't feel to be much material between the support and the seat fabric so I'm not sure the seat will 'break in'.

I've also read of people using some back support to give them some room. I just don't want to get into a new vehicle and get setup for heartbreak when I realize the seats aren't gonna work. I talked with one local auto upholstery shop and it didn't sound promising with the airbags involved.

Any advice/words of wisdom? I'd love to make this work!

Thanks!

Hello BCFRS and welcome to our forum ..........:clap:

The only thing that I might suggest, would be to get a seat pad that would fit just in the center section of the back of the seat.

That may position your body "away" from the bolsters far enough that they won't bother you.

That worked for some folks over on the Miata forum.

NOTE: I'll call on our resident "big guy" @Ultramaroon for his input (although, I'm not sure he has an "athletic" build) .....:D


humfrz

Oh, there are plenty of big guys here. Your build must be just different enough to make it an issue. I'm 6-5 and notice the cavity down the middle but it doesn't feel uncomfortable at all. My shoulders are actually above and outside the bolsters.

Try what @humfrz recommends. Maybe start with a good stiff sofa pillow or cut out a strip of memory foam. If it seems to work, you can take the plunge and strap a good custom device in there.

Thanks for the info guys! I'll give it a try with some cushioning down the middle to see if it lifts me out a bit. There's one more auto upholstery place I'll contact and see what they say.

I'll report back when I find out more.

What I used in my Miata was a section of "closed cell" foam from a roll that backpackers use to sleep on. I cut a section to fit in between the bolsters (maybe two layers for you) that I covered with a black pillow case.

The only difference is, that I used it on the bottom of the seat, in the center section, to cushion my old tail bone and arthritic hips.

No athletic build here ...... :sigh:


humfrz

I think that's better than my memory foam suggestion. That stuff has too much give to it.

I might add that most people are not used to the aggressive side bolstering these seats provide. They really are good seats. Just takes a little time to mold your body into the tight space.

Honestly, my upper back felt sore for the first week driving it because of the bolsters (have a fairly wider build in the upper body) but you get used to it. Just keep at it OP before you change anything.

just buy a seat cushion

New seats always are uncomfortable. Took about 2 months farting on them to shape it.
I suggest you eat lots of gas rich foods and go on a long drive. By the end of your drive you'll have the perfect body molded seats.


Just don't take a passengers or small animals. And please do not smoke and crack a widow.

I love the seats. I'm just about your size with the same build and I love the hugging feeling that I get when I've sat in the 86/BRZ. I haven't sat in them for long periods of time tho. But my weight is more in my legs than up top. I get thrown around in my Murano.

I'm 6'2" and 195, and I definitely felt the bolsters compressing my lats if I really settled back into the seat. I don't know if it was the seats, me, or a combination of both breaking in, but now it feels completely natural, and most other car seats feel sloppy.

I did a six hour round trip within a month of ownership and a thirty hour round trip a couple months after that - one of the most comfortable cars I've owned.