Any thoughts on the seats?

[ckessel]

I may be interested in the new seat, cost depending. I'm sure it's expensive though.

I get real knee fatigue. Now, my legs tend to flop knees akimbo naturally, more so than the typical person (and I've got hip issues, in part, because of it). I like to rest my right knee on the console while I'm driving. With the Model S, there is no console and trying to rest against the center screen enclosure at any point either has my seat way too close or my knee is against a corner.

Sometimes I'll wedge a pair of gloves between my thigh and the seat side bolster support and that helps. So, if these new seats let me sink a little deeper which ends up giving more support from that side bolster, that'd be a big help.

 

[Gizmotoy]

I may be interested in the new seat, cost depending. I'm sure it's expensive though.

To just sink a little lower, it would take some convincing for me. The seating position is extremely high, IMO, with the post September seats, but I'm not sure it's worth what is certain to be the huge retrofit cost (the seats are something like $4.5k a piece currently).

Perhaps the more significant upgrade he hinted at would be worthwhile, though. I just want some side bolsters. My wife and I both long for the factory Recaros in our two previous cars when I hit the accelerator in the MS.

 

[HankLloydRight]

I wonder how standard the seat mountings are? I'd love to retro fit my M5 seats, which are awesome. I've only had my MS for a few weeks now, and only took one long weekend trip in it, and yeah, the seats are really lacking compared to BMW, Audi, or Merc seats.

I also would like to see what Elon is talking about, and how much THATS going to cost.

 

[ckessel]

The seating position is extremely high, IMO, with the post September seats...

What happened last September? I put my seat at nearly the lowest possible seating position now.

 

[gg_got_a_tesla]

What happened last September? I put my seat at nearly the lowest possible seating position now.

Something did change. I've had a couple of newish loaners recently where I couldn't get the seat to go as low as it does in my own car. My head was touching the headliner. Made for uncomfortable driving. @kevincwelch noted this as well.

 

[Bill D]

On a recent 400 mi drive, I found the harder MS seat acceptable, but significantly less comfortable than our MBs. My wife however (in only local drives) has been getting back pain from the MS seat, even though she's never had back pain from the SL500 she's driven for 11 years, from our S550 or from any other car.

Here's the full transcript of what Elon said in Oslo in Jan 2, 2014:

"Improved seat comfort? (Laugh.) I agree. The seats should be more comfortable. There is an upgraded seat that we're working on. Pretty sure it can be offered as a retrofit. [FONT=&amp]I think one element is going into production this week or next week.[/FONT] I'm 90% sure they can be offered as a future upgrade. Element... adjusts the springs on the seat. One thing that's not quite right about the front seats is that the spring force is too high under the center of the butt. Raises you too much out of the seat. By modifying the spring force you sit better in the seat. Fairly easy thing to modify for existing seats. Looking to see if we can offer this for a minor cost. Longer term there's a bigger seat upgrade but that's probably more like a year. Seats are harder to modify than you might think because of the safety aspect. Sensor pad for the airbag for how heavy, and where located in the seat to adjust decision on how to deploy the airbag."
​

What Elon said makes sense when I compare my MB and MS seats. Simply sinking lower in the seat would increase lateral support, increase thigh support and generally spread support over a wider area, reducing concentrated tailbone pressure (which may be causing her pain).

Today, my wife picked up a Winplus Ultimate Gel Seat Cushion ($19.99 at Costco) to try on her daily driving and on a 200 mi drive we'll be doing together next weekend. I'll report back on how it works.

 

[GDH]

There is a brown P85 at the Tigard SC that has the new seats and they are soooooooooooooooo comfortable. I am looking into retroing my car if I keep it.

 

[dennis]

I was told by a Tesla Product Specialist that there is a "seat fix" that can be done by the Service Center. Apparently there are 4 crossmembers in the seat bottom and they can remove the one closest to the seatback, allowing you to sink deeper into the seat bottom. I haven't had time to investigate this with my local SC but I definitely will and report back.

 

[gg_got_a_tesla]

Interesting, Dennis. I'd be interested in getting this done too as I've gotten very fidgety of late in the seat; the ergonomics just don't seem to be right (no, I've not gained any weight or anything like that :tongue: )

 

[spentan]

Car is going in for a few fixes in 2 weeks. More info regarding the seat "fix" would be great

 

[ElSupreme]

Something did change. I've had a couple of newish loaners recently where I couldn't get the seat to go as low as it does in my own car. My head was touching the headliner. Made for uncomfortable driving. @kevincwelch noted this as well.

Yes I had a loaner in February and the seat was much (~2-3") taller than my current (first generation non-heated cloth) seats.


When I first got the car I thought the seats were uncomfortable (compared to my 7 year old GTI's). But some seat adjustments, and a little breaking in, during the first few months. I think the Model S seats are wonderful, and don't have issues at all anymore.

 

[Bill D]

I was told by a Tesla Product Specialist that there is a "seat fix" that can be done by the Service Center. Apparently there are 4 crossmembers in the seat bottom and they can remove the one closest to the seatback, allowing you to sink deeper into the seat bottom. I haven't had time to investigate this with my local SC but I definitely will and report back.

This possible "seat fix" makes sense after I took a close look up under my seats with a mirror. The crossmember closest to the seat back is located under your tailbone, which seems to be the main place relief is needed. The remedial seat cushions have a cut-away notch for pressure relief in that same area.

However, all 4 crossmembers are made from one continuous piece of spring steel wire routed back and forth from side to side, so I'm not sure how easy it is to remove one of them.

Clearly, a retrofit solution done at the SC, as Elon inferred at Oslo, would be the absolute best solution. I'll also inquire, so we can compare notes.

 

[William13]

The seats are my personal biggest grip in a $100,000 car. I am happy to hear about a solution coming out. Tesla is just getting better and better. No other company keeps on giving updates and improvements like Tesla. Even if some cost money.

 

[jbruce]

Do the new seats look the same? I, like others, am disappointed in the lack of lateral support and the inability to get the seating position low enough.

There is a brown P85 at the Tigard SC that has the new seats and they are soooooooooooooooo comfortable. I am looking into retroing my car if I keep it.

 

[GDH]

Do the new seats look the same? I, like others, am disappointed in the lack of lateral support and the inability to get the seating position low enough.

I have textile seats so I am not sure if they look different from the current seats. They do look bigger and they are pretty comfortable. Not sure if they are the new design or not though.

 

[Greg06]

Hmmm, when I test drove a P85 with performance seats back in early March I remember adjusting the seat all the way down and still feeling like I was sitting up a bit higher than usual. This was compared to my Volt, so it should still feel like an upgrade and the Volt seats were a little hard! :smile: I'm still curious if there are any adjustments that were made on recently produced cars, as it'd be nice to sit down just a bit lower in the seat. Even so, I'm hoping it's not an issue once they are adjusted right.

 

[Username]

If anyone wants to upgrade to the newer seats when they come out, I would be interested in your current grey ones as mine are black.
Just let me know!

 

[Gizmotoy]

Hmmm, when I test drove a P85 with performance seats back in early March I remember adjusting the seat all the way down and still feeling like I was sitting up a bit higher than usual. This was compared to my Volt, so it should still feel like an upgrade and the Volt seats were a little hard! :smile: I'm still curious if there are any adjustments that were made on recently produced cars, as it'd be nice to sit down just a bit lower in the seat. Even so, I'm hoping it's not an issue once they are adjusted right.

I think the seating position change happened in September when they last updated the seats. The car I test drove sat low (VIN ~10k) vs my car (VIN ~25k). I rode in a friend's Sig a month or so back and it felt like I was practically sitting on the floor. Which I loved, given I'm fairly tall and even with the seats fully lowered in my car AND having the pano roof I'm still pretty close to the ceiling when sitting normally in my seat.

 

[jbruce]

My car is November production and the seating position does feel very high. I would love to have the old lower seating position. I wonder if it was the tracks or the mounts?

 

[mknox]

I am driving a fairly new loaner today and the seats are most definitely "softer". I did not find them high at all and, in fact, had to raise it up quite a bit before I headed out from the Service Center.