Wise people will tell you never to scrimp and buy cheap when it comes to shoes or mattresses, because you’re spending the majority of your days using one or the other. For the long-suffering commuter, vehicle seats might be another product to add to that list.
Most drivers suffer, and not always in silence, because on even the most basic vehicle, seats are usually filled with electronics that don’t like it when you tamper with them.
Side airbags, occupant sensors, seatbelts and their warning systems, and heated pads are all tied in, and modifying a seat runs the risk of disturbing something, which can set off a warning light.
Even the lowly slip-on or tie-on seat cover has been shown the door, as few of these aftermarket protectors are compatible with the seat airbags that deploy from under-specially sewn factory upholstery. Adding another layer of material to the outer sides of a seatback equipped with an airbag runs the very real risk of inhibiting the bag’s inflation. That leads to less protection in an impact. There are a number of companies that now offer “sideless” front seatback covers to remedy this situation.
Staying in place
The problem with most seat covers is similar to other add-ons, such as aftermarket lumbar support cushions — they seldom stay in place, no matter how well-tied-down they might be.
If all you need to get into your groove behind the wheel is a little support, consider gluing some foam wedges directly to the seat-cushion foam under the factory cover. This can be done on the bottom or back with little effort and expense, and may give you the comfort you’re looking for and with none of the slip-slide side effects. Most factory covers have enough stretch to allow for some additional foam padding. If not, then at least with the bottom cover, it’s relatively easy for an upholsterer to modify it to work.
No moving around
Avoid the urge to achieve more legroom by drilling new holes in the floor and remounting the driver’s seat. The engineered design and placement of a seat’s factory mounting has been crash- and stress-tested, to ensure it stays in place in a collision. Plus, moving yourself too far back from the front airbags may reduce their effectiveness.
Aftermarket comfort
Consider a new aftermarket seat. Companies like Recaro have been making seats for decades, and no, they aren’t just for racing. In fact, more of its product line is dedicated to comfort and specialty ergonomic solutions, as well as commercial applications, than sport driving. These seats can represent more of an initial investment over minor modifications, but some of its products have been known to outlast several vehicles, as their users simply transfer them into their new autos at trade-in time. And that way, each one is comfortable to drive.
