I just got back from my first long trip in my new mini. At about 2 1/2 hours my posterior was killing me. I had to stop and get out to get the circulation going again. Anybody else think the seats are too hard for long trips? Anyone found a comfortable solution they can recommend?

I've got an 09 "S" with the standard sport seats.

 

Hard yes...too hard...nah. I've gone 5+ hrs with no discomfort. Compared to my 08 outback they are pretty stiff though.

Try one of these
http://www.amazon.com/Elegant-03715-...7787146&sr=8-2

 

Take at look at these solutions for driving comfort:

http://www.autosportcatalog.com/index.cfm?fa=c&cid=57

 

After 3+ hours I get a weird pain in the back of my leg. But that's when I set the cruise control and stretch it out.

 

saw a thread recently about lumbar inserts for mini seats . i have no problems 9 hr to & from vegas last spring. good luck !

 

They work for me... But Im 17 lol

 

The Mini seats are kind of hard and a little narrow. However, I find them much more comfortable than my 07 Miata seats, which had to be the most uncomfortable seats of any car I have owned. I literally had lower back pain for the <2 years I owned it. I have not had the same problem with the Mini and have driven for 7+ hours at a time with no problems.

But my worn-out 00 Jeep Cherokee seats are more comfortable.

 

Narrow! I found the seats in the R53 to be better suited for my... posterior. The R56's are wider and I have room to shift side to side. I guess I have a skinny backside... and I presume the Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart (with its heavily-bolstered Recaros) are not for you!

Try a cushion. The MINI's seats adjust down far enough that it shouldn't be a problem.

 

The worst seats I've ever sat in are the seats in our '01 Honda Civic. We can't be on the road for longer than an hour without stopping because they are so uncomfortable. Our Suburban's pretty luxe though. We love the seats in that. My first long trip will be in 1 month in my Mini. I can't wait!

 

Had been spoiled with my 20 year old Turbo-LeBaron's super comfortable seats.
(see my Gallery, Oldsmobile had nice seating too )

Went to MINI Dealer back in April, 2008 when they had a large inventory;
sat in all the interior options and they were all far too firm for me.

My solution was to cover several inches of Memory Foam with the Wet Okole Seat Kit.

Also have added (and padded/covered) the European MINI option Center Armrest.


Below was the passenger seat with Memory Foam:

Lighter tan is 4 Lb MF and darker is 5 Lb Memory Foam.
Driver's seat had much more MF that I doubled back
over 3/4 inch tubing below the kneecap area.

Armrest in 'Up' position, yellow tape over a rubber cork that
is now attached to rear of storage compartment, gives a 'springy'
and higher 'Down' position (had been 'sloped' for a Manual Shift).

You can see one of the pneumatic bulbs for the Lumbar Support
behind the red seat belt latch.

An eight hour driving day after the modification was less tiring
than a three hour drive before.

A consideration for cold climates is that Memory Foam will be 'stiff' for first few minutes after being cold soaked.

 

Yeah, I can't get comfortable in them either. I've adjusted the seats every which way and nothing works, when I'm driving I'm always fidgeting in the seat.