Ouch.. made a 100 mile trip this morning, my first in the mini. I was also stuck in traffic for about 45 minutes. Found out that these old bones weren't too happy with the mini seats... My lower back and upper thigh were abused by the hard seats... Glad I had cruise control so I could fidget in the seat.
Some things you just don't discover with a test drive..
Oh well... I have 2 other cars to use for long drives..

On the positive side, the car drives nice on the open road. Love the on-center feel. Mid-range power is amazing for such a small displacement engine. Oh well... still great for scooting around town..

 

I've noticed this too during long trips. Anything more than an hour in the driver's seat and my back starts bothering me... doesn't bother me in any otehr car we've had... and I don't have back problems...

 

Interesting how different the seats are for different people.

I drove 1700 miles in my first two days of ownership and my back was great. I spent a good amount of time adjusting and getting the position of my seat just right. Then all was good. Ended-up doing 3900 miles in my first two weeks of ownership and now with 9000 after 6 months I find the seats in our MCS to be the best I have ever had the pleasure to enjoy.

 

One of my friends got rid of their MINI because the seats were bugging them too much. They work great for me, but I can see how they would bother some people.

 

I ordered the sport seats with my MC, and after a 1400 mile road trip to break the car in, I was almost wishing I had stuck with the base seats. My back was fine after averaging 300-400 miles a day for four days, by my thighs would start to get sore or my legs would go to sleep after an hour or so. Nothing too terribly annoying, but I probably won't be spending 20-30 hours straight in this car on road trips like I have with some other cars.

-Keith

 

I have a bad back but have no complaints with taking long trips in my MCS. I've driven the 350 miles to LA, picked up my son and drove back the next day without a twich! And had no second thoughts when I had to do it again a month later.
But my wife cannot get comfortable in the seat. On our trip down to AMVIV2, in Las Vegas, we made more stops for her to stretch than for anything else.

 

Interesting how we are all so different. My wife and I just made a 1400 mile round trip to Big Sky Montana and had no back issues. I did find I needed the lumbar dialed all the way out for best comfort. Last summer we did a 6500 mile trip around the country and I think the MINI is a great over the road car.

 

Mini Seats, maybe you should have gotten regular size


seriously, I drove to florida (12 hours) and back, no problems, to st louis (8 hrs) and back. Now for tough seats, try the EVO, it's stiffer riding and the seats are a lot more bolstered. My back doesn't hurt, but I start getting stiff, since it is not easy to adjust. The secret from my dad is that you should vary your driving position slightly every so often and you don't get stiff or back hurting so much. you know, move it a click back, or forward, recline a little or set up a little straighter, raise seat height or lower it. It makes a huge difference.

 

Get yourself one of these, http://healthyback.com/store/sitting...barsupport.htm or the one made by Tempur-Pedic.

I bought one when I owned a Honda Civic because Hondas have THE worst seats. This little pillow is a back saver and I have back problems. I also use the heated seats in my '05 MC whenever I feel back discomfort and the heat takes the pain away .

MTFBWY,
--Will

 

My seats actuall SOOTH my aching back - I made a 600 run and it was rejuvinating! Maybe you just need to reposition your seat better.

 

My brother has a Honda S2000 and those have the sports seats and in comparison I find the Mini's seats to be very comfortable.

 

Use the seat heaters. Even in summer, use them. Your back and hips will thank you.

Bear

 

I bought my car in Ft. Lauderdale Fl. and drove mome to Atlanta after having flown to Fl that morning. I have a very precarious back but really no problems. I take my car to the mts for 3-4 hr drives and the only time I have a problem is if I rode my bike earlier in the day and then my left leg will hurt from my back down. I find the car pretty comfy with the PSS9s dialed pretty stiff at 3 in the front and 5 in the rear

 

im still glad i didnt spend the extra 300 bucks on the sport seats and out it towards the r83's :smile:

800 mile round trip from ohio to carlsile PA, no problems whatsoever, i even managed to sleep in it while moving and while sitting still!

 

I wish everybody responding on this thread would have specified whether or not they had lumbar support or not. Otherwise, it's apples and oranges.

In my case, I opted out of leather. Consequently, no lumbar. I was coming from my 99 Jetta that had it, and boy, I noticed the difference ! My 63 year old lower back suffers on 2 and 3 hour rides.
hs

 

I have the standard seats, which I think means no lumbar. I have a degenerative disk in my neck, and the MINI is about the only thing I can stand to drive on long runs, since the headrest is just right. My leg does tend to fall asleep, but that happens to me in anything.

Everybody's different, I guess.

 

Yep, it is interesting how different people find the seats. I'm 5'8" and have a bad back, but have found the sport seats on my '04 MC to be very good on long trips. No trouble. What exactly is it about the seats that is bothering the people who have problems? My Jeep Cherokee's seats are not very good for me because they don't have enough lower back (lumbar) support.

 

i dont like the lambar. i had it on a loaner MC and i hated it, i had to crank it all the way out till it felt like my standard seats again!

 

I have sports seats with lumbar support. I have driven 600 miles in mine with no problems what so ever. If you want your back to hurt, try driving that far in a Miata

Lois

 

Sport seats, no lumbar. I have one herniated and 4 degenerated discs.

 

I got a "blue collar back" aka lower back pain, but I haven't had any problems with the Mini.

I use the lumbar for support, but seat positioning is crucial. You have to sit closer to the pedals, so your knees are bent in a less obtuse angle. Riding low is fine, but watch out if you're cruzin' too far back from the pedals. Yes, the legs are stretched out, but your arms have to reach the steering wheel and that extra bend will produce more stress on your back.

Just the thought of driving in that strained position for a long period of time is making my back hurt.
Even worse if you're driving a stick.
Driving a stick in traffic.


Check your posture before you wreck your posture!

 

Ouch!

I couldn't drive more than 10 minutes in the wife's Miata without crippling myself. The problem with the Miata is there is no room to bend your knees without hitting the steering wheels or door handle.

Last comment- Try to drive with your left leg bent when the right leg is extended. This will also reduce stress on the spine. :impatient

 

seems to me that it took me a long time to figure out all
the adjustments and finally get a real comfortable long distance
setup for my seats.

(i was injured several years ago in a car accident and incorrect
setup makes my sciatica flare up in a major way)

that said, i've got no problem going all day in my sports seats/ no leather/ no lumbar.

 

'05 MCS w/ sports seats + lumbar: I'm very comfortable (after lots of adjustments). My wife is not comfortable after about an hour. Too much lumbar even with it all the way back . In her case I think it's the height of the lumbar adjustment.

 

Sounds like you are suffering from Sciatica. Pressure on the Sciatic nerve will cause this symptom.