General Croma driving position, centre console in way

[davidthelodge]

Hello all Croma drivers. I have just been to test drive one and I have one question. Being 6' 2" tall with long legs I found the centre console in the way, it was bashing my left knee and my knee was constantly resting against it. If I moved the seat back I still did not get a comfortable position, also then it was a stretch to reach to engage 1st/3rd/5th gears. I dont think I have ever driven a car where the footwell seems so narrow/centre console so wide.

Has anyone else found this issue and if so did you get used to this ? I drove it for 40 mins and did'nt. Got back into my Stilo and nothing is in the way of my left leg/knee. Thx David

 

[bobbyblue]

David, I am 6ft 3in and 19 stone, I have had my Croma for 3 years and I find I am able to get a pretty good driving position by a combination of fine adjustments to the seat squab and height and steering wheel rake/height, the only gripe I have is that I find the seats a bit narrow....I suppose that's down to my fat backside though. Of course we are all different shapes and sizes and manufacturers cater for the 95th percentile male body, if you fall outside of this I'm afraid its unfortunate.

 

[DoIDon'tI]

Mate, you should try a BMW X1 if you think the Croma's bad

Surprised you didn't comment about the offset steering wheel (about 1"). As BB says, they either fit you or they don't...

 

[Doofer]

I'm 6'2" and consider myself a fussy bugger when it comes to seating positions. However, I find the Croma to be the best-fitting car I've ever had. Having said that, I did think it felt a bit awkward on test drive - I've no idea why now though.

Did you try adjusting the seat base height and angle, and backrest angle? It should be possible to get your legs comfy while still being able to comfortably hold the wheel. As the roof's so high, you can take it pretty high while having your head nowhere near the roof. This straightens the knees up.

If you need to pop your knee out to the side then it doesn't sound like the seat's adjusted right. Perhaps you're just used to driving cars that are too small for you. I often rest my left knee against the side of the centre console while driving, but out of choice - not because I have to.

 

[davidthelodge]

Thx Doofer, to answer your question no I didnt adjust the seat base angle, only the seat height, back rest and steering angle. I think I would get used to it, I think its just a case of getting used to the console being so near to my left knee.

 

[Doofer]

The angle's probably the most important one. If you're tipped back then your backside is too near the pedals and your shoulders are too far away!

Hopefully it's adjustable in all models, not sure though. Mine's a Prestigio, and there are two up/down adjusters on the side - one towards the front and one further back.

 

[notorious]

Im 6 1 ft and over 210 lbs and fit fine, if you want to see an obtrusive center column try the Volvo S/V 50...

 

[kitch]

6,4 here!
One of the main reasons of buying the croma (about what I strongly regret...) is that I fit in and there's still room for the rear passengers (my kids)!! ( I tried a 159 = no way!)

A bit tricky to find the good position, specially due to the fact that one of the adjustments (the seat, not backrest, angle) goes back to the initial setup after a few days for any reason...

 

[Doofer]

A bit tricky to find the good position, specially due to the fact that one of the adjustments (the seat, not backrest, angle) goes back to the initial setup after a few days for any reason...

Yours must be broken. Both my front seats work fine.

 

[kitch]

Thanks Doofer,
Maybe its broken, well, I'd better say 'possibly' seeing the overall quality of the car...

but I saw this same issue mentioned by BrianMcL in another thread:
https://www.fiatforum.com/croma/246045-whats-broken-yours-then.html

Since I got mine with 42 miles on the clock pre reg from the dealer, despite paying them lots of money to service it as required I've had the following go wrong on my 56 plate, 46k mile 8v 1.9
1 x ECU
2 x alternators
2 x boot catches
1 x pair of front driving lights (actually they've never worked)
1 x EGR failure (manifesting as a DPF issue requiring over £400's worth of oil and extra servicing)
1 x drivers door latch
1 x glass sunroof motor set
1 x drivers seat (honestly - it winds itself down)
10 x software reflash (at least)
2 x rear parking sensors
3 x alarm system resets (goodness only knows what this involved but the check vehicle protection system message was displayed for month s after I bought it)
3 x batteries, One of which wasn't even attached to the car by anything stronger than gravity becasuse it wasn't a Fiat battery and didn't even fit! The dealer denied that this might have damaged the electrics
1 x rusted tailgate gas strut
1 x drivers side windscreen washer nozzle (it kept popping out until I sealed it in place with silicone)
1 x fuel sensor (If I leave the key in the ignition when I'm filling it up it doesn't register as having being refuelled.)
2 x roof bar mounting points not threaded (fixed with a tap and die set I bought from B&Q)
1 x broken key fob

Is this the least reliable / worst built car ever?

And the dealer even managed to scratch it and then crash it getting the scratch repaired.

And then leave a polishing rag in the top of the engine bay after they'd fixed the bodywork they repaired after they'd crashed it. But not before they lost the handbook.

Still, could be worse.

And no doubt by tomorrow it will be.