I sat in a few of my friends cars (g35, 350z, s2000) and noticed that they all had a much lower seat position than the Mini, almost like I was sitting on the floor. I sat back in my car and felt like I was driving a tiny bus and wondered if it's possible to lower the factory seat any further. I feel like the lower position instantly makes the car feel more sporty and grounded.

P.s. If you're about 6 foot like me, pump the seat up as high as it goes. If you can drive like this it's fun to see peoples reactions to Andrea the Giant in a Mini.

 

You could always get some racing seats. i had Recaro's in my last MINI and they sat about an inch lower than the factory seats.

Not sure if you can lower the factory seat anymore. But I would think not. Unless you can take out the height adjuster part maybe? I don't remember how that all bolted together the last time that I looked at it.

 

I'm not 6', but I think it's rather the other way around. Dispite the small outer dimensions of the car, the MINI does have a relatively high roofline. Sitting more upright provides a more comfortable (IMO) seating position, a better view of traffic, and perhaps the most important, from a design standpoint, more rear seat legroom in the same length of car. But it is subjective. Race cars (and more sporty cars) seat you lower to lower the roofline,for a better coefficient of drag, resulting in less horsepower used for propelling the car the same speed, higher top speeds, and increased economy (less pit stops). None of this is too much of a concern to me. I like my sport seats, responsive steering, and awesome brakes.

 

there's that lever on the front and side that adjusts angle of the seat, which inversely also lowers the seat. (btw my 6' 6" uncle had plenty of head room left when he rode with me)

 

I think the stock seats are absolute garbage. They offer little support and no bolstering to keep you from sliding. They're only redeeming quality is the vinyl is easy to clean. Get a set of Sparcos you won't regret it. unless you use your back seat. In that case just get on for the drivers side.

 

The seats in my MINI are the most comfortable, supportive seats I've ever had in a car. Mine are set on the lowest setting, it feels fine to me!

Dave

 

yeah, i noticed my butt sliding off the seat whenever i wear shorts or swimtrunks

 

I love my optional factory sport seats - especially since they are trimmed in cloth. Comfy and grippy. Mine don't have the adjustable lumbar option, but it's not needed for me. I just wish I had the cold weather package.

 

I do hate my stock non-sport seats, but a new set of seats would cost more than I'm willing to put into it, and getting just one would look weird. I don't feel they're too low though. I do like to sit mostly upright and have a good view out the back, etc.

 

I also wish that the seat can be adjusted lower than the present limit. Not sure about the traffic lights in US, but here in Switzerland, I always face the problem of not being able to see the red & amber lights when I end up as the first car at the lights.

Basically, I have to contort my body to peek under the roofline & hoping the darned lights will turn green asap!

 

There's a product called "Light in Sight" that people seem to swear by for that problem. It's a reflective strip you put on the windshield, I think. Allows you to see the lights without tweaking your neck

http://www.lightinsight.com/

 

I just stop back farther from the traffic light, so I can see it, usually about a half a car length from the stop line.

Dave

 

It's more like a car length and a half, for me (MINI length, that is). But the reason for that is because my seat is jacked up to the max, hehe.

 

+1 no problem here Premium leather and loving it but I'm only 5' 6"

 

Cool stuff.

 

I tend to do that as well. But sometimes it just slips my mind. And I'm back to contortionist mode again.

 

Basically how I feel, I drive pretty aggressively and it seems like I am proping myself against the door or center console to keep stable. Hmm new seats might be in my future. Has anyone transplanted seats from another car into the Mini? Keeping the seats heating element is important to me also.

 

Now this is funny, because I always have to pull up close to the light and look out the sun roof to see when the light turns green

 

Hey! I reckon that works too!

 

It's amazing how many posts there are in here that have absolutely no help to the OP. Complaints just take up space.

 

Now back on topic...

Do you have the sport seats or the standard seats? Because that makes quite a big difference in how well the seat hols you in.

So far I have seen a set of S2000 seats and Evo8 (I believe they were 8) seats put into a MINI. Both had to have custom brackets made though I'm pretty sure.

 

I am pretty sure I have the sport seats, but their support is mediocre at best. I test drove an S2000 the other day, I would love to have those seats but I doubt they come cheap!

 

My friend got them for a pretty good price on craiglist or an S2000 forum. I don't remember which one. The key is to just find someone that wants to get rid of them. Or you may be able to get a good price at a junk yard type place.

 

I've thought many times about getting aftermarket seats for my mini so that I could sit lower and be able to sit up straighter. I am 6'6" with a long torso and the way I sit is comfortable and I still have headroom but I would like to be able to sit up a little more straight.

 

Bolt some bucket seats to the floor then it will feel low