4th gen 4Runner's front passenger seat: Have you sat in it for long peroids?

[00void]

i should show this thread to my GF. she absolutely HATES the seats in my 4runner. she preferred the seats in my 2000 sport more.

i don't have a problem with the seats. they're comfy, but not incredibly comfy.

as far as being in the passenger seat, i couldn't say. the only times i've been in it was when i was too drunk to drive :beer: and my (sober) GF drove home.

 

[mav75]

My wife and I drive between Houston and San Antonio lately. I'm 5'7" and she's 5'5". While I dislike sitting in any passenger seat on principle, I didn't mind the right hand seat. She has no complaints either. It's just as comfortable as the driver's seat. I don't really play around with the lumbar support, and I never tried to change the height on either seat. I'm curious to see if you can do that with the power adjustments on the right. I'll find out tonight when I'm done working.

 

[Chris1515]

Jim_Chow, do you have more info on the recaro seats you put in? Pics, prices, etc?

I think there's a very strong correlation between height and compaints about the seats. I'm 5'10" and the seat cushion only comes to mid-thigh on me and doesn't offer support to the full thigh. Does anyone know what Toyota uses for "average height" when they're designing their vehicles?

 

[mav75]

Does anyone know what Toyota uses for "average height" when they're designing their vehicles?

About 5'3"??

 

[srpage]

I have driven in my 4runner for up to 8 hours on several trips and have been comforatble in the drivers seat.

When I am in the passenger seat I never seem to be able to get comfortable.

 

[Fro-Runner]

I still say these seats sux! My back starts to ache after about 300-500 miles and starts to kill me at 1000 miles. Also, like others here are saying.......there is NO mid thigh support because the seat cushion is too flat and "short" like those engineers. I am considering visiting a few auto dismantling centers (ie wrecking yards to the rest of the USA) in search for some leather seats from a wrecked 4 Runner! Please wish me LUCK!

 

[CGY_LTD_V8]

the passenger seat in the 4runner isn't really great at all. When i was with my ex, he used to drive my truck all the time and i would just sit in the passenger seat. maybe if it had more adjustment settings on the power seat, who nows. i think the seats feel like they are too low to the floor..

 

[claydoctor]

Several reviewers of the 4 Runner have commented about the seats being too close to the floor but I am not aware of it. I know that before I put mine in the lowest position, I would invariably bump my head on the door opening when I got in and I'm 5'11 1/2". As for the seats being too short, my wife has a Lexus RX300 and I noticed that her seats seemed much shorter than the ones in my previous car, a Ford Explorer. After reading this thread, I got curious and measured the seats in the 4 Runner. They are 1 inch longer than those in the Lexus. Never measured the ones in the Explorer.

 

[CVsGX470]

I have had my '05 Sport V8 for almost a year now. I've always been the driver, but recently I sat in the front passenger seat for close to 4 hours. It is the most uncomfortable seat ever. It seems as if the seat cushion is too short. I couldn't sit still for more than 30 mins without having to adjust my seating position.


I hope this is just not my 4runner. any similar experiences? Can I replace it with a similar driver's side seat?

I agree! My driver seat is so much more comfortable than my passenger seat. I think it has to do with the pedals and etc. Being their is no pedals on the passenger side, it just feels weird. It is almost like you have to keep your legs stretched out and flat to stay in the seat. IMO, it is too low to the ground.
CV

 

[Offroader]

I am 6'4", and I agree it is not the most comfortable seat. But it is not that bad.

You're 6'4"?????????
How do you fit into the T4R?????

Don't you have to open the sunroof to drive??????:bash:

 

[Offroader]

I don't know exactly what is so unconfortable about the driver's seat, but every time I start driving I re-adjust the height, tilt, distance, steering wheel, trying to find a comfortable position.

I still haven't been able to find it, so there must be a serious design flaw, or these seats were designed for unusually short people.

I'm 5'11".

On a funny side, very often when I get into the driver's seat, I find it in the most akward positions from my previous drive (or search for comfort), and I think to myself "what was I thinking?".

 

[seancgn68]

You're 6'4"?????????
How do you fit into the T4R?????

Don't you have to open the sunroof to drive??????:bash:

I agree. I am 6', and I have about a half inch of head clearance with the seat on the floor. Any taller, and I'd be in trouble. Must depend on how long your body is vs your legs.

 

[jajosan]

I concur - bad seats!!

I agree that the seats are horrible. My main problem is the shape of the back support. The kidney supports are painful and the upper part is unsupportive. I know I have nobody to blame but myself - I guess 3 test drives was not enough. My T4R will be gone by spring if I can't figure this out.

If anybody has details on Recaro custom seats or any other solution, please let us know.
thanks!

FYI I am 6'4" also...NO sunroof makes the headroom Ok.

 

[stevesoccer]

100% agree Jajosan.

 

[godsey73]

I am 6'7 and have no problem with how low the seats are or head rooom. However, it is the darn side bolstering. There simply isn't enough room for my back to fit between it. Therefore i am sitting on top of the side bolsters and it has my back all bent out of shape. The computer chair I am sitting in now has more comfort then these seats simply because they have no side bolsters.

 

[DanDLT]

i hear you guys.. the seats suck.. im getting new front seats next week.. i cant wait.. im getting cobra lemans seats they are awesome... the recaros are overpriced and not that comfortable i tried them both.. show ya next week

 

[tedcool]

Me too!

My wife drives pretty often when we are together - she doesn't like my driving

I find the drivers seat tolerable due to the height and lumbar adjustments. I don't like the passenger seat much - same issue with the side bolsters - My back is too wide. I also can never find a comfortable position for my feet.

My 1998 and 1988 4Runners were both more comfortable.

I'm thinking of having an auto upholstery shop strip off the covers and rework the foam.

I agree - Toyota really blew it with these. Sequoias are catching my eye more often lately...

 

[AlexJet]

i hear you guys.. the seats suck.. im getting new front seats next week.. i cant wait.. im getting cobra lemans seats they are awesome... the recaros are overpriced and not that comfortable i tried them both.. show ya next week

That's should be interesting. Post some pictures.

 

[Cornfed]

Worst seats in a vehicle I've ever had. Too bad, since my '85 Supra had some of the best. When I test drove the T4R they didn't feel right, but I thought I would learn how to eventually adjust them for comfort. I felt like I was learning to tolerate them, then had 2 back surgeries this winter, now I can't ride more the 20 min without adjusting them. We also have an Accord and a Montero and their seats don't cause me near the problems.

I'm definitely interested in how DanDLT's seat replacement works out. If I can't find a solution I'll probably have to trade the T4R in.

 

[WaterMan]

I am 5'7" and I have to say I appreciate the short seat length. I suppose if you are taller I can see where it would be an issue.
I had a 2000 Explorer for a couple of years and it took a while for me to figure out why my knees were killing me when I would get out after a long road trip. I went on a road trip in a friends 4Runner and I'll be damn if I didn't feel better afterwards. That longer seat was the culprit.
(Now just about every Ford I have ever been in feels like I am sitting in a church pew, but that Explorer with those crazy back angled seats...those were the worst.)
The 4Runner seats aren't the top of the line...but they are comfortable to me.