OK, I have jump in on this minority thing, now there are 2 crossfire owners. I have been adjusting and readjusting the seat up/down, back/forth steering column in/out trying to find the perfect comfortable sitting/driving position. Not quite there, yet. I have a coupe, not a roadster. Have owned the coupe for less than a year. I'm 5'7". Glad this issue of raising the seat got posted. One 2 hour drive, my left thumb was numb for 2 days after driving from the grip on the steering wheel. Maybe the combination positions of seat, the seat back angle, the steering wheel position, there is a solution. I do a bit of squirming and found I have to take my wallet out of my back right pocket for comfort. I hold the steering wheel the same way with other cars, meaning hands on steering wheel position(s). I thought of getting a pillow to sit on to see if sitting higher may be a fix. Keep posting, this is very interesting and THANKS.

 

The easiest solution I have found for long trips is an office type gel cushion.
The one I use is about 2" thick ( before you sit on it awhile and it warms up )

 

Everyone is different. When in Melbourne Mark got to see how I drive my GC: semi-reclining, arms out, just leave the wheel full down & have no problem entering/exiting though I do use the step to get in.

Back before reclining seats, my cars were two-doors so had seats that folded forward, I'd remove the stops so it went back a little further and add 1/2" nuts under the front rails to tilt a bit. Just checked and Judge has that mod and is at 38 degrees, RV is at 40.

Cant speak to my back, just have dropped bikes and flown Corvettes, & once on a Honda 160 stopped at a light, a '73ish Monte Carlo didn't stop. But can drive 1,000 miles NP as long as I can recline, have always driven this way, can almost completely relax.

Computer is somewhat the same, have been know to program for 20 hours at a stretch but very careful about position and center of monitors (I use three when working) is at eye level

So am curious why recliners are considered bad. I have one for watching TV. Of course TV in family and bedrooms are mounted close to the ceiling so do not need to crook my neck, have worked hard to keep my back straight.

Will probably get to sawzall next weekend, figure a 45 degree cut/ramp should allow another 3" of travel for reclined seat & put wheel/pedal orientation about right still leaving about an inch of headroom, will need to see if headrest/headliner becomes an issue that far back but may be able to lower a little, right now is full up with another 1/2" at the back of the rails to maximize rake when it hits the crossbeam.

Anyone know any tricks or gotchas for removing the top plastic trim piece ? The U shaped one that goes all of the way across.

 

With the raised seat another issue popped down, the seat belt buckle is now buried somewhere around the gluteus.

Thanks to another member I contacted Seat Belt Pros and ordered a "mini" 410681Abl that is rigid and extends just enough to be easy to reach.

May need to call to make sure you get the right one but fits nicely.

 

When you have a Sawzall in your hands you do not need to know any tricks. ZZZZZZIIIIIPP! Done

 

So am curious why recliners are considered bad. I have one for watching TV. Of course TV in family and bedrooms are mounted close to the ceiling so do not need to crook my neck, have worked hard to keep my back straight.


They are not designed by orthopedic engineers so they don't give support to your lower lumbar area allowing your back to curve opposite of it's natural curve leading to chronic pain in the Psoas muscle and stretching connecting elements. Good posture is something that most persons with no back issues usually have. We tend to like soft fluffy chairs, mattresses etc. but they are not good for the long haul. Another issue is large wallets in back pockets, I have carried mine in front pocket for years.

 

We are about the same age and have been reclining seats in cars since the '60s. Healed up from having a Monte Carlo hood ornament embedded in my back (had to sleep on the floor for about a month but that was a few decades ago).

With 40-45 decrees slope on the seat I can almost completely relax and go for many hours. Less and I feel it after about an hour.

Put the wallet syndrome down to the exceptionally narrow seat, plan to have a good upholstery shop recontour more like the Reatta bucket.(whole car seems to be designed for very small people).

Did note that the early road tests all mentioned things like leaving the driving to someone who was 5'7".

BTW 180 I tend to be very gentle when modding & plan to remove the trim plastic intact before changing the crossbar. Looks like the two plastic pins just pull out & think I have seen replacements in the HELP section at the local FLAPS.

 

Removed the plastic & felt, did a little panel beating and got another 1/2" and 35 degrees & 29" from seat to wheel Feels almost comfortable & may not need the sawzall after all. Gonna try it like this for a whille but need to come up with a cover for the crossbar since plastic no longer fits.

Ideas ?

ps if removing side plastic be gentle. It come straight up but has plastic fingers in metal clips with teeth so is easy to break the fingers off. Think I'll make the new cover two pieces so the side panels do not need to be removed.

pps: exchanged hammer for a 5lb sledge and have another 1/3"