05 Limited Uncomfortable Driver's Seat

[Ted99]

I just completed an 1800 mile trip with my 05 avalon Limited. Both front seats were considered very uncomfortable, by my wife and I. I believe the Heat/A/C mechanism, in the seats, are making them uncomfortable, and I also believe that the side support is weak. Other than that, I found the car to be just what it is, a luxo cruiser with some zip, and very good gas mileage. I used high test all the way, and averaged 28 doing city and highway driving. Any comments?

Ted

[05v6solara]

oh please post more about the car!

Great car as far I understand!

We have an 05 solara sle v6 and the seats are great. Maybe your Avalon's seats need to be broken in? Sorry for speculating.. but I'm interested too in hearing all criticisms and pros of the new Avalon as my brother and I are trying to help our parents out on one.

[johnd]

Ted,

I tend to agree that the Limited seats aren't as comfortable as those in my 99 Volvo, but are MUCH more comforatble than in my last 2 MB.
I guess part of it is that the Volvo was 'rump sprung' to fit us after 7 years and the Limited isn't 'form fitted' yet.
It is my firm conviction that unless you need the extra couple of horses, the high test is a waste of money. I've run test in every car that I've had that gave the option and it never helped in mpg. The MBs didn't give the option, the Volvo did.

[Ted99]

John

I'll try regular gasoline to see if it makes any difference in mileage or performance. With prices continually going up, though, I'll probably stick with it, regardless!!

As for the seats, when you sit in them for 10 hours, your rear end is sore. We ended up putting a towel down to alleviate the discomfort! And yes, we have enough butt padding!!
As i said, this wasn't the case with my 02 Avalon XLS. My mission, in the near future, will be to look for a thin cushion or mesh padding, to soften the ride, while utilizing the A/C seats.

Ted

[05Limited]

The first few weeks the seats were all I complained about but I guess the wife and I have molded our bod's around the seats because it is not as bothersome anymore.

As for gas mileage it does NOT seem to make any noticeable difference if you use 87 or 91 octane. Others on this board told me this when I first got the car but I had to prove it to myself and they were right. Save yourself the money. Also read the earlier threads, I posted a message from Toyota and they said that using 87 octane is fine.

[preskev]

The longest trip I have taken in my car is 2.5 hrs. The seat felt just fine just like my 00 GS300. I do have one issue with the back portion of the driver seat where the leather folds over into the bottom and top portions. The top portion was sticking enough to hit my spine at certain seating positions. Overtime, this discomdort has disappeared.

[Phantomdaz]

Originally Posted by preskev

The longest trip I have taken in my car is 2.5 hrs. The seat felt just fine just like my 00 GS300. I do have one issue with the back portion of the driver seat where the leather folds over into the bottom and top portions. The top portion was sticking enough to hit my spine at certain seating positions. Overtime, this discomdort has disappeared.

My only complaint with the seat is that the head rest seems to push my head too far forward for my compfort.

I wish it had a back to front adjustment

[peekpoke]

I also think it's the heat/air in the Limited 2005 seats, there cannot be as much cushioning as in the regular seats.

You don't notice it at first, but after an hour or more your butt will start to go numb from the lack of padding.

As for the headrest, I have the opposite problem, I have to lean my head way back to touch the headrest at all. I tried tilting my seat upright (less of a recline), and my head is closer to the headrest, but then it's not as relaxing a position. I'm sad the headrest doesn't have a tilt forward and back.