General How do you lot get comfy

[JTD Monkey]

Just been down to the Fiat dealer to have a look at Stilo's as I am thinking of changing my car soon.

I can't believe how uncomfortable it is, the 3 door in particular. I found the drivers seat too high, even in it's lowest setting and lack of anywhere to put my left foot was really uncomfortable. The transmission tunnel (with no transmission in it...) was pushing on my left leg. After a few miles I would have found it incredibly annoying

The 5 door seemed to be slightly better as there appeared to be more space between the seat and wheel, but the left leg was still pushing on the transmission tunnel.

I remember having a look at a LHD Stilo when they first came out and that had loads of space with a proper clutch footrest, but this appears to have been forgotten in the conversion to RHD

I am sure the Selespeed is better because you have more free-play with you left foot, but it is still pretty poor in an otherwise well developed car.

Shame, I remember the Bravo had a brilliant driving position

 

[Koa]

I have no problems at all, in fact i find it the most comfy car i have ever driven

 

[Stilo Multijet 140bhp]

I must agree that when i bought my Stilo (3 door) I also thought it was rather uncomfy but it actually really grows on you. In a matter of weeks it felt like the seat was pretty low (even after getting in a BMW where you practicly sit on the road) and the seats (mine are the sporty ones) seem very comfy and hold you in place really well!!
As for the leg stuff, mine came with a really good foot rest for my left foot (it's quite a high foot rest so it's relly easy to get to the clutch real fast) and i don't seem to have any trouble with my other leg. Mind you, i live in spain so my car is a left hand drive and i like to lean my right leg (accelerator) against the transmission tunnel.
Well, all in all, i must say thet even though i was not very happy at first i've come to love the stilo's driving position, the only drawback i can find is that if u put the seat down to the lowest position a gap appears betwean the actual seat and the backrest (because the backrest doesn't come down) which leaves a not too nice draft against my lower back so always remember to pull your t-shirt right down before you sit down!!
Hope this helps

 

[1.8Stilo]

Ive got to say; my stilo is also 1 of the most comfortable cars i have owned and fink the seat are well shaped to hold you in your seat! Oww, well everybody has different opinions i suppose! But i bet you'd get use to it and fink its quite comfy after driving it a few times!

 

[Stu DemonD]

I too find mine really comfy, but I suppose it does all depend on your stature.

FYI, I have a 5 door, leather trim, and selespeed, so this may all be factors for more space.

What car are you coming from? You mention the Bravo, but how recent?

 

[JTD Monkey]

I have a Punto JTD at the moment. The Bravo I drove was a 80SX on a 51-plate (I had it for a weekend and thought it was brilliant!)

When I bought my Punto I was unsure about the lack of clutch-footrest (my 1st generation Punto 60S had a perfect driving position, despite no wheel or seat height adjustment) but there is plenty of space to the left of the clutch for me to relax my foot in the JTD. I can drive to see mum and dad (230 miles away) and get out at the other end feeling fine, even if I have not stopped en-route

Other cars don't have a clutch footrest (307, Ford Fiesta etc.) but I have never found this a problem. The Stilo just felt very uncomfortable to sit in For info, I sat in a 1.4 16v Active 5dr and a 1.6 16v 'X-Box' 3dr. It can't be because I am 6' 4" and 17-stone as this would not affect my left leg!

It's not that I wanted to dislike the car, I really do like the 3 door Stilo I just couldn't live with the driving position!

 

[StiloBoy]

Took a bit of fudging about with my seat/steering wheel arrangement and i'm very comfy in my 3-door. I also don't run the passenger seat on its lowest setting, probably closer to middle setting, i'm 6ft. As for foot rest, yeah its a bit crap there isn't one, i put my foot under the pedal. Even my mini has room to put my foot when its off the clutch.

 

[wolfracepunto]

When I test drove the JTD 5dr and 3dr I found the seats/driving postions so much better than the Punto im used to! The 3dr I liked the most though, probably because of the armrest (5dr-Active Sport/3dr Dynamic)

Very comfortable imo, even though it was only for half an hour

 

[pjp]

Took a bit of fudging about with my seat/steering wheel arrangement and i'm very comfy in my 3-door. I also don't run the passenger seat on its lowest setting, probably closer to middle setting, i'm 6ft. As for foot rest, yeah its a bit crap there isn't one, i put my foot under the pedal. Even my mini has room to put my foot when its off the clutch.

If you buy a Selespeed you get a wicked footrest StiloBoy!

 

[kingchris]

My 5 door is very comfy in the front,

When I'm doing town driving I have the seat on its highest setting to get maximum visabilty,

On longer runs I like to lower it and relax more.

The back seat seems very hard but I've not sat there whiles driving.

However the armrest can leave a pain in my arm the next day if I've used it a long time.

 

[Stilo Multijet 140bhp]

I only use my armrest for motorway driving, i find it anoying even in the lowest position. I like to have my seat in teh lowest position, even for town driving, i guess it makes me feel more racey !!
As for the foot rest, i don't know what u guys get over there in the UK but here in spain all stilos (selespeed and non selespeeds) come with a very good footrest!!
Maybe it's because of the left hand drive thing??? Maybe they can fit a footrest over the left wheel arch easily but have problems with space if the atatch it to the transmision tunel???

 

[dillinger39]

i have never owned a stilo but the passenger seat aint that comfy i owna cinq and thats comfy but the pedals are rubbish i end up resting me foot on the floor as there is no foot rest in that.

 

[JTD Monkey]

Mulitjet, the driving positions Left Hand Drive (LHD) to Right Hand Drive (RHD) are very different. As I mentioned earlier, the LHD I sat in was very comfy (which is what you lucky blighters on the continent get) but RHD Stilos (apart from the Selespeed) don't get a dedicated footrest or anywhere to put your clutch foot (unless it goes under the pedal). LHD cars get a free space for the footrest (As you say, on the wheelarch) but RHD cars don't and some manufacturers forget to take account of this when converting to RHD :bang:

But the discomfort was caused by the transmission tunnel being so (needlessly) bulky rather than the lack of footrest.

Shame really, as a 3 door Stilo had much appeal

 

[thomash]

I find that in Punto's i'm constantly adjusting my self in my seat, adjusting belt tension around me, position on seat etc...

Just can't seem to get 100% comfy most of the time.

 

[Vimto2000]

I know after long drives my right foot gets a cramp as teh accelerator pedal is too high.

And the no foot rest is really annoying..but you learn to live with it!

 

[timr69]

I don't have any problems getting comfy in the seat but I'm sometimes aware that the side of the centre console is limiting the space for my left leg.

The seating position on all 3 models is slightly different.
The 5 door is 5cm higher than the 3 door and the MW is 5 cm higher than the 5 door.
Dunno if that makes a massive difference to comfort though.

 

[paulmacs]

Your probably best not getting to comfy - sure the fabric in the Stilo either fades (black) or ripples (passanger seat) or is that just me?

 

[StiloBoy]

Can someone explain why lowering the seat would improve comfort on a long drive? I'd have thought quite the opposite, afterall you'll be peering over the steering wheel, unable to see any of the bonnet!

If your 6ft or under sitting with the seat on the lowest setting is pointless, unless you like the Chav, just able to see out the window look!

As for a Selespeed to have a foot rest, seems a fraction excessive just for a silly foot rest. Afterall the pedals are all quite high, so loads of room to put your left foot under the pedal! And anyway, you guys have a pedal missing, don't get me wrong i like auto's, great invention. But you can't beat good old left foot traction control!

 

[James M]

All in all, I find the Stilo comfy, yeah the pedal box is a little cramped, but I don't have too big feet so its not a problem.

One thing though is that with such a range of adjustments, height, incline, slide, lumber, steering height and reach, it is going to take a bit off fiddling to get your best position, not like in a more basic supermini, where it seems like a case of sliding just back or forwards to get it right!

 

[Stilo Multijet 140bhp]

i have always found he lowest seat position the most comfortable, it's te position in which my body is most relaxed and even though i can't see the bonnet, i don't need to either cause i know where it is anyway!!!!!!! I'm not especially tall (1.7m)(don't know in feet) but i hav no visibility problems in the lowest position.
Guess it's just a question of taste or what you're acustomed to