How to make the Vibe/Matrix a comfortable road car. A 6hr trip is very uncomfortable!!

[lexicon]

I just drove the Vibe/Matrix for 6hrs on Hwy 1 and 101 (Calif). The trip was uncomfortable, my comments:I am 5'9 190lbs. The seats suck for a longer than 3hr trip.My (removed) and back of my thighs are stiff due to the poor seats adjustment.The seat is too high off the floor and I much prefer my old Supra seats where you could stretch your legs without having the front seat hit the back The road was bumpy and noisy.What can be done to improve the seats so they are comfortable on a longer trip.For noise, I will add sound deadener.For the bumpy ride, I can not think of anything to improve the ride.Your (constructive )comments welcome.Thanks(posted on Matrixowners also)

[VforVIBE]

Well, hight has never been a problem of me (5'1) how ever this might help... http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=25988For a smother ride over bumps, it really depends how much you're willing to spend, you could get better shocks or tires OR just make sure your current tires are inflated correctly.For the seat, there's always pads or new seats all together...But it all depends on how much you're willing to spend

[Digger]

I am 5'7 and 170. I drove my vibe on a 12 hr trip and liked it better than other vehicles I drove. on the same trip in the past. I pump the seat all the way down. As far as the ride goes. Check the tire pressure. you might have too much air in them.

[LUVROK]

I drove from Niagara falls, north to Toronto and back home to MA through the Adirondacks and Green mountains totalling 14 hrs last weekend and agree that the Vibe seats are the most uncofortable seats ever. I'm 5'7" and 170 lbs also and my back and legs were hurting part of the time but more after the trip. Sittign for an extended time in any seat can do a toll on our bodies though. Do the leather seats come with adjustable lumbar support?The seats in my previous 84 Monte SS, 87 Pontiac Grand Prix and my current 86 and 2000 Jeep Cherokees and 1990 Jeep Wrangler are much more comfortable than these cardboard feeling flatback seats in the vibe, and none of those are leather or have adjustable lumbar support.

[CAN-AWD-VIBE]

you cant compare an 84 monte, 87 GP and two trucks to our little "import" vibe. Those seats are like lazy boy recliners compared to these. I dont find the ride to harsh overall however I do find the seating position brutal.Maybe that telescopic steering wheel would really be the answer. I am only 5'7" as well and find that on a long drive i am always "reaching" for the steering wheel. I cant lay back and cruise in this car. In town its fine but after a few hours its uncomfortable.I think that is a bigger issue then the ride quality.

[Tubaryan12]

Quote, originally posted by lexicon »I I much prefer my old Supra seats where you could stretch your legs without having the front seat hit the backYou are correct there. My ex girlfriend had one and it was the best long distance road car I have ever driven when it comes to comfort while driving.I can't comment on long drives in the Vibe because I only commute in mine. With that being said, I like the driving position only because the seat is so high off the ground that I dont have to climb up to get out of it when I'm done.On a slight side note, the best bang for the buck highway cruiser out there today in my oppinion is the Hyundai Sonata.

[lexicon]

You guys on the Vibe site are much more open minded and reasonable than the few guys who have answered my question on the matrixowners.com site.Severa guys LOVE their seats and think they are the best things in the world!! Seriously, read their responses! It makes me think these are different seats than in the Matrix , but they are the same.An option to be explored would be to lower the Vibe seat an inch or so, and perhaps have them re-upholstered with better foam padding in the right places.Thanks for your serious repliesMuch appreciated

[CAN-AWD-VIBE]

maybe its more previous import owners vs. more domestic owners.i have generally found my domestics to be more comfortable then my imports

[MRCN RCE]

i take my vibe on 4 hour trips to see my girl, and i don't have a problem with it... but yeah as people mentioned before, check the tire pressure. that's the easiest way to improve your ride quality, and upgrading the suspension could help too. like V said, it all comes down to your budget

[lexicon]

I started the thread.My tires are Stock Goodyear RSA @ 32psi (which is recommended)I took my 6 hr trip with the seat pumped all the way down,(at its lowest level), and for me, that is still too high .I would like the seats approx 1.5-2" lower because the seat still hits the back of my thighs and somewhat cuts out the circulation.Regarding upgrading suspension, most folks here add stiffer springs , which makes the suspension more stiff and bumpy.Perhaps the key is something like a BMW seat or Supra seat which adjusts to everyones preferences and is more ergonomic.Others apear to have used Celica seats, TRD seats, and there is debate on their comfort. (they may hold you in, but the roadworthiness is not great for longer trips).Perhaps an upholstery upgrade is in order!Thanks

[MRCN RCE]

this just hit me, i heard somewhere that the corolla seats are more comfortable than the vibe. and yeah i feel you about the height difference between your supra n the vibe, i had a 90 300zx and i felt the same way for a while.btw i wasn't talkin about gettin stiffer springs to improve the ride quality, i was thinkin you could soften it up. to me, the word "upgrade" means any modification that fits your personal tastes. others might not like it, but they're not the ones holdin the steering wheel

[Tubaryan12]

Quote, originally posted by lexicon »I took my 6 hr trip with the seat pumped all the way down,(at its lowest level), and for me, that is still too high .If your seats are like mine (only adjusting from the back and rotating up and down to change seat height) you may want to RAISE the seat to remove the pressure from the thighs. That way the rear of the seat will be more even with the front of the seat and that will relieve the pressure. My wife has the new Kia Optima and I refuse to drive her car anymore because the front lip of the seat is too low and doesn't offer enough support on the front of my thighs. It will also reduce the knee bend and make your legs more straight. You'll also have to recline the seat back a few more degrees as well.

[Tubaryan12]

Quote, originally posted by CAN-AWD-VIBE »maybe its more previous import owners vs. more domestic owners.I would bet this is correct.

[DopeVibeGT]

I'm only 5'7" and a stick, but I've rode for hours in the Vibe and it rides nice and the seats are more comfortable than a lot of economy cars. Cant compare them to a luxury car or SUV, though. My sport seats in the GA were a lot more comfortable though. The Vibe is the first 'import' I had, and find nothing wrong with the seat after being use to domestics.

[cmhj2000]

At 6'2" and 285# I have had no problem with 16 hour drives. I'm also in good physical shape, which makes a difference.

[nygiantzz1]

I think part of your problem is the Goodyear RS/A's driven on the 101. That road is in pretty rough shape. I used to drive it frequently for work (road warrior). The Goodyears seem to apmlify the bumps in the road. I personally can't wait to wear them down and get new tires. I always had rental cars when I went to CA. and none of them rode nice on the 101. A touring tire might help you get a softer ride and some of that memory foam on the seat might absorb the bumps. It's a tough call to make, the roads are different in CA because of heavy volume and the warm, dry climate. I don't think I'd like my Vibe for 6 hrs on the 101 either, but 11 hours on I-95 and 13 from NY to VA last month was a breeze. The roads are better.

[jimincalif]

Quote, originally posted by Tubaryan12 »If your seats are like mine (only adjusting from the back and rotating up and down to change seat height) you may want to RAISE the seat to remove the pressure from the thighs. That way the rear of the seat will be more even with the front of the seat and that will relieve the pressure. Agree, play with these adjustments, I think the seat angle is more important than the height. I just drove my Vibe from Orange County to Clear Lake and back 3 weeks ago, 9-10 hr drive each way on I-5. I was very comfortable, and for me the seat height is more comfortable than in lower cars.

[Mavrik]

I drove my car 8-10 hours straight a day only stopping for gas on my trip across canada. No discomfort what so ever and I'm 6'3"Thing to keep in mind is don't have anything in your pockets. I kept the seat in one setting too. I couldn't have asked for a more comfortable ride.

[Katscan]

Im 5'10" and 175lbs and I drove on several long trips. 2 8Hr trips and another that was 4 hours and I thought the ride was rather fine and the seat comfortable. I would pass this off that some people like certain aspects on how a seat fits. We each have our quirks.

[Jahntassa]

I've done GA / NJ about 10 times in the Vibe, 13 hr trips each way. I've noticed with mine I have to have the seat all the way up or my knees kill me.Just curious, have you checked your tire pressure before you leave? Having your tire pressure at the proper PSI will help the ride tremendously.

[joatmon]

I've done some long trips in the Vibe, and for me the front seats are quite comfortable, even on a long haul. The back seats, however, become uncomfortable after a few hours, that is if the ratcheting seat belt of doom back there doesn't get you first

[Tubaryan12]

Quote, originally posted by Mavrik »Thing to keep in mind is don't have anything in your pockets. This is soooo true with these seats. Even on short trips.

[TRDman]

You could try gas shocks (if there are any that will fit the Vibe) for the ride. If you have the OEM 17'' wheels or any large (17'' or above) aftermarket wheels, those might be part of your problem as well. Switching to the 16''s would probably help smooth out the ride.

[the1stacekiller]

I've done 4hour trips in the Vibe and I find them very comfortable.. especially the nice high seating position.. but if you find them uncomfortable I would look into some high end aftermarket seats.. and for ride comfort.. maybe try switching to Micheline Harmony I hear they have the best ride comfort & quietest ride.. and for rough ride maybe some high end struts and shocks?? But once again I'm really happy with the ride.. but I haven't been inside a mercedes or an audi to compare

[Merzbow]

I'm thinking about Trekking down to FLA this spring from Detroit....gotta get a Bra or I'll have a custom paint scheme (peeling off) by the time I get there. Some of this info I will have to consider.I've been on 5 hour trips before and I thought it was very confortable. The suggestion of emptying your pockets is probably the best idea especialy if it's during the warmer months. I have a pair of TRD seat-belt shoulder pad things that wrap around the seat belt and those actually help. I'm not sure if anyone else has this problem but I'm about 6'0" and 175lbs and the pad helps prevent hte seat belt from digging into my throat while I'm driving. The bulge sometimes gets on my nerves but it's a heck of alot better than arriving to my destination with lacerations allover my throat

[1fstramand1slovibe]

Im 6'4" and about 325 pds and my wife is only about 5'2" and we have both made the 4.5 to 5 hour drive from bowling green to main eastern kentucky where most of our family live. and compared to other vehicles which ive made the trip in the vibe is the most comfortable( others include 96 lumina, 94 ram, 98 jp xj, 02 impala) now i will admit the impala and lumina had a little softer suspension but as far as how i felt after the drive i must honestly say that the vibe is the only one that i could make the drive in without haveing to stop halfway and get out. now i have an 04 base model with hankook v rated tires but even on the stock conti's it still was the same. like others have mentioned i would recommend checking your air pressure and if nothing else you could have more padding put in your stock seats. also some aftermarket struts like kyb or koni premium that are tuned for a softer ride but better body control would help. and the type and size of your tires could play into the situation. do you run stock tires or aftermarket wheels and tires? i know a lot of this might have already been mentioned but just thought i would put my 2 cents in.