Suggested driving position please.

[Tiggy]

I've had my manual Tiguan for a month now and am having trouble finding a comfortable setting. I've got lumber problems. My back aches even after a short drive. Which of the seat adjustments should I focus/adjust?

Thanks.

[ralp2dam]

I've had my manual Tiguan for a month now and am having trouble finding a comfortable setting. I've got lumber problems. My back aches even after a short drive. Which of the seat adjustments should I focus/adjust?

Thanks.

Mate obviously a personal thing. I'm 6ft 6 and suffer minor scoliosis. As such input my seat as high as it goes, lumber fully extended out and seat as far back. The steering week is not extended at all and as high as it goes. Not sure if anyone will have the answer for this, but here's hoping. Good luck.

[Tiggy]

Thanks ralp2dam .... copy what you meant ... and perhaps other members may have a practical solution (that i might not have noticed/tried doing) ... appreciate your contribution ..

Mate obviously a personal thing. I'm 6ft 6 and suffer minor scoliosis. As such input my seat as high as it goes, lumber fully extended out and seat as far back. The steering week is not extended at all and as high as it goes. Not sure if anyone will have the answer for this, but here's hoping. Good luck.

[Ryan_R]

Maybe not comfortable, but advanced driver trainers all say that we should sit low down (don't need to be able to see the bonnet) and close to the steering wheel so that when sitting back in the seat, your wrist comfortably rests on top of the s.wheel, with your knees bent as if you were sitting on a normal chair. I always found good for sporty driving but then always put as far back as possible for normal driving so I could stretch my legs. After a recent training session at Phillip Island circuit 3 weeks ago I've stuck with this position and excluding getting in/out I've gotten pretty used to it. Not having to reach as much when steering sometimes prevents back pain as well.

[tigger73]

I went to the VW Driving Experience in Adelaide this year and totally changed my driving position. I sit a lot lower in the car, a little closer to the wheel and have my seat more upright (support for shoulders).

I can't say whether it's going to help your bad back, but if you're reaching for the wheel it's definintely not going to be good for you.

[Tiggy]

Would the abovementioned tips be applicable when sitting in a compact utility vehicle , Tiguan, as well?

How does one apply or attend the VW Driving Experience? is this per invitation only?

cheers ....

[team_v]

Would the abovementioned tips be applicable when sitting in a compact utility vehicle , Tiguan, as well?

How does one apply or attend the VW Driving Experience? is this per invitation only?

cheers ....

They pop up on the VW Aus website every year.
It's $250 for the basic one and $350 for the same thing but with a Golf/Scirocco R.

Re: the seat adjustments.
It also depends on what seats you have as the leather ones are more adjustable than the cloth ones from memory.

[tigger73]

As team_v said the VW driver training is an annual thing. They advertised it at the start of the year. There were 3 levels of courses - basic, intermediate and more advanced. I think they may even consider a higher course next year - depending on demand/feedback.

Course is open to anyone, however if you're a VW owner/driver they do give a discount.

You can register your interest for 2013 event on the website:

https://www.volkswagendrivingexperience.com.au/

Just go to the location, click through to book a session and you can register interest for the 2013 courses.

Hopefully you then get an email/alert when the events are coming up.

Some locations they fill up pretty quickly.

[99Reza]

I have bad back (visit chiro every month to adjust my spine) and I found the seats (leather) on the Tig to be excellent for providing lumbar and back support (they do have adjustable lumbar support). Whatever seats it is, you will need to push your bum as far back as possible into the seats, this will help with the curvature of your spine. I found this easier to achieve by increasing the angle of the bottom seat (possible in leather model), this will push you more into the chair which also provide bent on your knees. Also, more upright position to prevent slouching. The problem I have with the seat is the lack of neck support, I'm a short guy and the head rest doesn't give the support needed for extended driving.

As per others recommendation, the advanced driving thing is well worth the money. I went with Merc one and it completely changes the way I seat and behave while driving, for the better of course.

[spyder]

Just to add my 2 cents worth, re: driving position...

Around six weeks after I got my manual Tig, I started getting a pain in my left shoulder which was radiating down my arm. I brushed it off as a bad sleeping posture, but after about 1 week of uncomfortable ache while sitting down, (especially while driving) I saw a GP who subscribed some anti inflammatory tablets and to see a phisio.

It finally clicked, after I spoke to the phisio, that it might be related to repetitive strain injury through using the manual gear shift. So, I played around with all different seat settings to make it as comfortable as possible. I found that by raising the center console a fraction, and resting my arm on it between gear changes, makes a big difference.

Two months later, I still get a bit of a dull ache through my arm but I think my seating position is as good as it gets.
I had my last car for nearly 10 years, and it was an Automatic......but saying that, I love my manual Tig!