Ok.... the mustang was an automatic... hence no need to work a clutch... AND it had huge mushy seats... So I had the seat as far back as it would co with my legs practically straight!

anyways... more to the point... i'm still wresting with seating position in the GTI... I had originally set it at what I thought was a comfortable position... it was deffinately alot closer up than the mustangs! I did have to twist me hips a bit to the right and stretch to push the clutch all the way to the floor though. I drove to denver like this... even though its all highway , no clutch usage, the back-hip-knee pain was excrutiating.. to the point I could not drive anymore.

So the other day we were discussing seating position on vortex... someone mentioned putting your foot between the brake and gas and adjusting the for and aft so your knee is slightly bent.... and you can fully depress all pedals and your knee remains... slightly bent. Well what the hell does slightly bent mean?? When I was stretching to get the clutch depressed my knee was still slightly bent... Of course... for my leg to be straight my foot would be up in the dash

anyways... you were also supposed to be able to lay your wrist on the top of the wheel while keeping your back and shoulders against the seat. So I adjsuted the seat back as well.

Well I felt cramped and had trouble shifting like this for a day or two... THEN I noticed I felt like I was still reaching and stretching to fully depress the clutch... So I moved the seat up one more notch.

now I feel REALLY cramped... note that my knees never hit the underside of the dash or wheel.... thats not what I'm meaning... I mean I feel like my feet are going to get all tangled up in the pedals or something... even though they dont. But I can know get the clutch depressed with the ball of my foot.. instead of stretching my leg out and using my toes...


I know this sounds stupid and all... but I have no clue as to what a proper seating position is? I dont know if i'm too close... still too far? need to go up or down or what. I just want to be able to work the clutch pedal correctly so I can quit fudging the shift from 1rst to 2nd ( I bounce the car really hard when I let off the clutch... even when I do it smooth?) and I want to be comfortable on long trips

 

the proper and correct way to adjust a seating position so you are both comfortable and have complete control of the car:

You want to do each of the following things. Keep in mind you will end up sitting closer than you are used to. I am 6'2" and sit VEY close, but am comfortable, don't bang my knee on the steering colmun and have control of the car.

Take your RIGHT foot and depress the clutch with it. YOu want to be able to fully depress the clutch with your right foot. YOu don't want to be depressing the clutch with your tippie toes, but firmly where you have control of the pedal. You don't want your foot 100% straight and knee locked, you should know what I mean. When you have set the seat so you are able to do this, then using your LEFT foot you should be able to fully depress the clutch and your knee with be slightly bent. By slightly bent I am talking of the following:

If your leg is locked straight and we call that 180*, then slightly bent would be 160-170*, make sense?

NOw once you have the seat distance adjusted from the pedals next work on the steering wheel. You want to adjust the seat back so you are comfortable, but you should be sitting as straight as you are comfortable. Don't use the "Ghetto Recline", you have ZERO control of a car if you are laying down onto the back seat. You want to be able to droop either wrist over the top of the steering wheel without having to lilft your shoulders off the seatback. Understand?

If you can't drape your wrist over the steering wheel, then use the telescoping wheel and pull it closer to you, or if the wrist is hitting the wheel where your watch is, then move the wheel farther away from you.

Obviosuly the other setting is the back of the seat going up and down. This is also for comfort, because I am tall I drop the seat down all the way to the floor. You might be comfortable with the seat all of the way up, but however you set the seat, make certain you redo the pedal setup and the steering wheel setup.

I hope all of this makes sense, if not let me know and ask what needs to be explained further.

 

I had the same trouble in the TT. Found out (almost the hard way) that I was sitting way to relaxed for "canyon" dricing (was being flung around in the seat!).

Of course, everyone is different but here's what I did.

1. Make sure you have as close to 10" of gap between your chest and the steering wheel. No I am not being rude, it's for the air-bag, they recommend this gap to be a safe one.

2. With regards to steering wheel (ie seat back position) you should be able to grip the steering wheel (slightly rolling your wrists over the top of it) and have your arms at about a 45% angle (they should NEVER be straight or stretched.

3. As for the "slightly bent" legs what I think they mean (and what I did) was to adjust my seat so I could depress the cluth all the way without streatching my leg. Again, the angle is about 30-40%. You only need to line up the clutch as this is the one you're going to depress the most.

You'll get used to it once you find the right one and with your great seats (miss my old GTi) I'm sure you'll be fine

Good luck

 

I had set my seat positioned so that I could get the clutch all the way down without having to extend my foot or twist or anything. The problem I was having was that my left leg would hit the bottom of the steering wheel when I shifted which was getting uncomfortable. So, I finally dropped my seat all the way down(not sure if seat height is an option on the GTI)> and after a day or so of getting used to this position it is much better. I get work the clutch more smoothly now and the shifter and steering wheel seem to be better positioned as well. I had not lowered the seat before because I was a uncomfortable with the sightlines over the hood while sitting that low. Now that I'm used to it tho it's not a problem at all.
Also, I came across the attached link awhile ago. Pretty much states what LarryTT and TTigg have typed but with some pics for reference.<ul><li><a href="http://www.turnfast.com/tech_driving/driving_seating.lasso">http://www.turnfast.com/tech_driving/driving_seating.lasso</a</li></ul>

 

All this positioning stuff is VERY important. Here's a tip from someone who loves driving long distances... and yes, this is positioning...positioning for your mind.

Makes sure you can relax (but don't drop your guard). The key to long-distance driving is being able to relax enough of yourself so that you aren't stressing out. Find the balance...don't fall asleep because you are too relaxed...and don't fall asleep because you aren't relaxed enough that you get too tired.

I find driving in a rain storm or snow about as tiring as anything when driving a car. Night driving isn't as bad as driving through a storm. These conditions strain my ability to spread out my focus as widely as I like to.

So, find a way to relax in order to stay alert. If you are anxious or tentative in your decisions on the road you are a danger to everyone around you including yourself. And always make sure you know of a way to get away from any potential danger.

I know you weren't asking for this level of detail, but some don't think about this and I hope someone will benefit from this added info.

The thread is about long distance comfort, which I see as covering both the mental and physical.

 

I love driving at night and also actually enjoy driving in the rain, especially at night! So long as the roads are not crowded.

 

but already I notice a huge difference in control and comfort. Thanks! Hey... got any clutch tips?

 

When I drive long distances, I find myself going faster and faster if I don't have my foot position just so. If I can't relax my right foot and set in my speed with my foot I find I just keep speeding up until I get to that relaxed position. :-) Is this a legal excuse to speed? ;-)

 

for that reason, I'm a cruise control junkie

 

Seriously, I'm glad you find this seating position comfortable and more in control. Been driving like this for 15+ years and always raced like this too.