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Old 10-27-2009, 07:28 PM   #1
SubGal18
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Default 2009 Impreza 2.51 Seat Uncomfortable on Long Drives

My husband and I are basically happy with our basic Impreza. However, on a recent 3-hour trip, we both felt the seats were too stiff and hit us in the back at just the wrong spots. My husband was driving and had a backache at the end of the trip. We have a much longer trip coming up.

Can anyone out there with the same problem recommend some kind of cushion, backrest, etc. for more comfort? We're on the small side, pretty thin with no natural "padding." We've tried all different configurations for adjusting the seats, but the ride seems much stiffer than our old 2006 Forester. Thanks.
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Old 10-28-2009, 10:19 PM   #2
UI Vandal
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2006 Tundra DC

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Our major problem is the headrest that is a good 2-3" too far forward. THat in turn might make your back sore. To my knowledge that is no work around.
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Old 10-30-2009, 06:13 PM   #3
mshirzad
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2009 Impreza 2.5i
Silver

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Couldn't agree more with the head rest being too far forward. Seems like you have to deal with it. However, as for seats, I've been contemplating getting some memory foam and cutting it to fit the seat top, and slightly going up the seat back. Then I'd put on a seat cover, perhaps som Wet Okole covers or something similar.
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Old 10-30-2009, 06:33 PM   #4
Nakioki
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I got the 09 impreza (sedan) as a loaner car from the dealer. I thought it would be an okay car to drive and what not. And I wanted to see how N/A impreza would feel. First time I get on that car I find myself adjusting the seats... like NON-stop... I just couldn't find the right setting for me. Second, would be how stiff the driver seat is... third would be how static-y the seats are. When I sat on it I noticed something wrong. As soon as I put the key on the starter I get a quick jolt... As I drive the car I try not to move a lot to avoid being shocked.
10-20min of driving I noticed my back starting to ache... I would it was just me... but later I found out it's the seat. I tried to adjust it again while driving but no luck on that. Getting out of the car I tried my best not to rub around the seat a lot. But failed on doing so... zaap! Another shock touching the door.

I sat on wrx TR seats before... I'm use to wrx seats and thinking the TR seats sucks. But I was wrong. The new impreza seats sucks even more.
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Old 10-30-2009, 10:06 PM   #5
DeathSStar
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I love the seats in my '08 wagon. Coming out of a mid-90's Chevy, the buckets in the OBS are fantastic and support my back. I've moved the seat only a handful of times since getting the car much earlier this year, and am glad that the headrest is where it is as I can actually put my head on it, unlike my last car.

No complaints here.
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Old 11-02-2009, 10:40 PM   #6
Imprezzedwitsubies
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Crimson Red Pearl

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Quote:
Originally Posted by DeathSStar View Post
I love the seats in my '08 wagon. Coming out of a mid-90's Chevy, the buckets in the OBS are fantastic and support my back. I've moved the seat only a handful of times since getting the car much earlier this year, and am glad that the headrest is where it is as I can actually put my head on it, unlike my last car.

No complaints here.
Yea I have an 09 and the seats are waaayyy better than the ones in my 99 Chevy Malibu lol. The Impreza's seats do get uncomfortable after long drives though, but if you get out and stretch they're fine.
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Old 10-30-2009, 11:29 PM   #7
Mooneyes13
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the 08 wagon 2.5i seats are amazing

my wife and myself love em on long trips compared to my 06 wrx
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Old 10-31-2009, 12:04 AM   #8
gnode
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I have a 09 2.5i and I love the seats. Most comfortable seats I have had in a car. I have had no complaints either. When I drive my sister around she says it hard to stay awake cause it's so comfortable. I'm wondering if they are the same seats you have in your 09.
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Old 11-25-2009, 01:13 PM   #9
capsisking
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gnode View Post
I have a 09 2.5i and I love the seats. Most comfortable seats I have had in a car. I have had no complaints either. When I drive my sister around she says it hard to stay awake cause it's so comfortable. I'm wondering if they are the same seats you have in your 09.
i also have a 2009 2.5i and i love mine

just last week i took a 1650 mile road trip in it and had NO back problems
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Old 10-31-2009, 12:35 AM   #10
Magic Marker
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My 08 OBS seats are ok, but I found my 04 Civic EX seats were much more supportive.
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Old 10-31-2009, 01:42 PM   #11
nairbmik
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SSM

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I agree with the headrest bit, but the seats are actually pretty comfortable.
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Old 11-03-2009, 12:20 PM   #12
subyski
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68 Impala, 15 SantaFe

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The 08 2.5i seats are pretty comfortable. The passenger seat is little too low.
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Old 11-05-2009, 12:57 AM   #13
FLZ_Boy
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The 2.5i suspension is too soft. The seat probably isn't the best, but serviceable.
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Old 11-18-2009, 01:49 PM   #14
mshirzad
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I've determined a quick and relatively inexpensive solution to those who are complaining about the headrest of these cars being too far forward: swap out the headrest for one that does not protrude as far forward as the OEM headrest. I had success swapping in a '05 Forester headrest that suits me.

Alternate idea from a Forester thread: Straighten the stock headreast.

(1) Remove the headrest from the seat by first angling the seat back to clear the roof
(2) Locate the zipper - unzip and remove the covering
(3) Place the headrest on a solid workbench and use a piece of decking wood and C-clamps to hold the foam upper piece secure to the table. The posts should clear the edge of the workbench table.
(4) Using a 2 ft or so gas pipe 1/2" or 1/4" dia, slip it over one post close just before it angles into the foam. You may have to push back about 1/2" on the foam.
(5) Lift the pipe to move the headrest post the desired new angle. I went almost parallel to the table.
(6) Do the same for the other one
(7) Put the cover back on and re-install - done!

Last edited by mshirzad; 11-18-2009 at 03:58 PM.
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Old 11-20-2009, 05:06 PM   #15
abstractnic
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Newport Blue

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I too find the headrest is too far forward. I've tried having it at all possible heights and also adjusting the rake of the backrest to make it a bit better.

I won't muck around with trying to modify it as it is one of those active headrests like in Volvos. That's one thing that annoyed me most about the car when I got it, if you bounce your head back onto the headrest with some force you can feel the 'active' mechanism in the seat hit you in the middle of your back.

I've done 2x 16 hour return interstate trips in my 09 Impreza hatch and think I must have got the seat in the right position for me, as I find it quite comfortable for long trips now.
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Old 11-20-2009, 06:04 PM   #16
smokeyandthebandit05
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I just get back from a trip to Rochester, NY and the seats in my 2010 OBS were fine. My back didnt hurt at all and even my friends said they were nice
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Old 11-21-2009, 06:53 AM   #17
CHEWY11
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green

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my 05 RS seats hurt(I try to keep trips under 30 min or I have a sore back)
my 04 OBS seats are awesome (did Montreal to Calgary and back and was comfy)
my 99 Legacy Brighton was comfy

BIG disapointment about the RS
I really should find some heated seats used at a scrapper off an OBS or WRX
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Old 11-21-2009, 10:11 PM   #18
gnode
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I have a 09 2.5i Sedan and my buddy has a 09 2.5i Hatch. We both have the premium package. The hatch version has the headrest more forward and the seats feel different. We both bought our cars from the same dealership. I wonder if the seats are different from Sedan/Hatch?
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Old 11-23-2009, 09:56 AM   #19
.HaVoK.
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OBP

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I actually think the seats are pretty comfortable but we all have our own preferences.
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Old 11-29-2009, 02:04 AM   #20
fstbckgt
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swap in some wrx seats, idk about 09 but my 05 wrx wagon had pretty comfy seats, much better than the ones in my FC
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