Worrying problem - Plus seats hurt my knee

Since taking delivery of my lovely new Plus, I've have a seen the return of a problem with my knee that I haven't had since owning a new vectra back in 1998. Which had (supposed) ergonomically designed seats.

Basically, the driving position of the Plus seats is raised higher than those in a standard 20VT.

I get this really sort of burning/aching pain in my right knee, and, I can only get relief by pushing the seat right back making my leg straighter, of course, this is not a good driving position ... obviously. Never had the problem with the lower 20VT seating position.

Has anyone else suffered this? Maybe these plus seats are not right for me! Not good news!

Never heard of it before, you could try jacking the seat up at the back with washers, to see if that helps, it would straighten your leg marginally.

Or you could try a beaded seat cover, cabbies wear by them

Like the washers idea Jim, will try that one

It might be twisting in to the seat is slightly different in the plus which is aggravated by the different seating position. I have more of a problem in the coupe than my old Rover owing to having to twist around the steering wheel to get in (my legs fit under in the Rover)

another plus item you may have to get rid of phil...

maybe swap them with nigel's hyundai seats which are also very nice? you will certainly need to be comforable with them driving to.from and around spa!

I don't think it's the twisting szkom, it's the position or angle of my leg/knee when driving - you know, it's pretty static when doing this. Shame it's not the clutch leg as you can at least move this one!

If there were a way to lower the seat, I'm sure this would help!

Proccy, don't get me thinking that way!

With me though I twist my knee when getting in, I can feel I've set it off, then it hurts to have my knee at a certain angle, but better when straightened. Maybe a physio could give you some exercises to do to help?

I have had knee problems in every car I have ever owned bar the coupe and the bravo. The Mr2 was by far the worse with a spreading burning pain developing after 1+ hour of driving.

With me it looks like its a height issue, the lower I am the worse it gets

Patch - you're welcome to come and try my Hyundai seats - they have an adjustable seat base, so you can alter the angle of the seat - it makes quite a bit of difference on a long drive

Next thread will be "I dont like the red bits, spoilers and the honeycombe grille on my plus" lol.

Never had a problem with the driving position. Have you tried a laying the seats backs more and adjusting the steering wheel (up down and forward back) ? and also knocking the seat back and forwards to see if the problem with your knee improves.

I'm not looking to lose the Plus seats Nigel. I just need to find a solution to prevent the knee issue. Thanks for the kind offer though

Sugarbear - I have tried many seat positions/adjustments before bothering to post the thread

they give me backake

I used to get the burning/aching pain in my knee when I had my Fiesta if i had to drive it for more than an hour.

With the Coupe, I find I can usually go about 2 hours before this happens now.

Haven't driven a Plus on long distance though, so don't know how long it would take before my knee started hurting in one. I'm sure I'll find out in June though

if it's not broken again!!

I've been thinking about mentioning this for a while now - It's not my knee but my right foor.
I find it uncomfortable to hold my foot up on the accelerator.
my calf aches because it feels like I have to my foot it up very high. Also travelling on the motorway just aches because the pedal is too light.
I have found myself rolling my foot over to the right so that it also rests on the carpet.
How does anyone else find this - any tips?

It's much worse in my citroen , but then I get to use crise control

Funny how you only think it's you with the problem, until someone else mentions it.

I do the same with my foot and I think that's what causes most of the problems.

I only realise when I'm in pain and then re adjust my foot, etc, to get it squarely on the accelerator again and try not to slip back into putting my foot over onto the carpet.

Well, driving back from Wales tonight, I took off my trainer, the pain was still there but it seemed more bearable! Seems that the difference in foot height between wearing it and not wearing it helped a little - how bizzare!

On the one long journey (300 miles) undertaken since I bought my 16v last week - I had exactly the same....I ended up placing a neck cushion (bought at the services and horseshoe shaped) under my rigt leg at the end of the seat squab...not sure if the squab is too short or if I can adjust the seat to compensate but the basic problem seems to be a lack of support...

try taking out the rubber mounts the seats sit on,and put in rubber washer,and you'll be that half inch closer to the ground.

Another great suggestion - cheers zonta

I dont have any problems with my recaro's, but then again im younger than you lot

You young whipper snapper, enjoy it while it lasts.

i'm older than you lot, but i have no problems either - mainly cuz it's nearly always off the road....

how many days is that now then proccy!

what, on or off the road? still off at the mo, waiting for the aa to take it to motormech

Thats most annoying

What is wrong with it now Steve?

Your car is pi55ed that you stripped it of its wheels.

bought an uprated fuel pump - and it failed after 31 miles

Lol i have a differant height issue as im 6ft 7 and find myself cramped up in nearly every car i sit in bar the coop

..and back on topic

Thinking about this has given me an idea - I am going to experiment with applying elastic bands between the accelerator and bulkhead or seeing if I can uprate the return spring.

If I can improve the amount of resistance in pressing the pedal it should be able to hold the natural weight of my foot and leg without me having to twist my foot to stop getting calf strain.

I'll let you know how it gets on.

What could go wrong?!



I would pay good money for cruse control on my coupe

Never rains but it pours huh... Just bad luck I presume? Sorry to hear that matey.

Shouldn't modify it

that's it, get the cheap dig in - it wasn't a mod so much as a safety (fuelling) move. anyway any fuel pump can fail, i was unlucky - and now she's flying again

update,if you do this remove the all mounts, and replace the rear mounts with front mounts (there thinner)then use rubber washers for fronts,i just fitted my carellis like this and iam very happy.

also use front bolts for rear and you'll need shorter bolts for front

Proccy it was not a dig honestly

performance or safety a mod is still a mod

On a more serious note I'm sorry about the bad luck you are having. You seem to be having more than your fair share.

When I first got my coupe I used to get a really bad pain in my right hip if I was driving for any more than 45-50 minutes.

I used to twist so I was facing the door sligtly inorder to ease the pain. I didn't do anything about it and after a few months, the pain just went away.

Had my Coupe for about 6 months now and recently I have been having the same problem in my right knee. Have any of those ideas worked for you? (because as you know it kills!!!)
James