I owned a 2003 CL Type-S for 2 years and 2 months before it got totaled in an accident 2 weeks ago. Now I need a new car before the end of this week. My dealer was kind enough to lend me a TSX/navi (what I'm looking for) to keep until tomorrow after work.
I sure miss the 260HP/232ft-lbs of the CL-S, but the TSX will have to do because I need something safe, comfortable, reliable and not too expensive, since I'll be buying a condo in the next month. I think the TSX fits all that. One problem... The seats.

When I sit in the driver's seat it feels fine but after 5-10 minutes I can barely tolerate it. It feels like the lumbar support is fully extended, but it's all the way back. It's got a bump on the lumbar area and honestly I don't think I can take it. I test drove an Accord Coupe over the weekend and it had a similar problem, but more pronounced. I had a TSX as a loaner once a few months ago and don't remember this problem...

Anyone else find this painful after a while? Any suggestions on how to deal with it? I'm hoping to get it at or under $28k either tomorrow or thursday.

 

If you mean the seat bolster you are definitly not alone...it took me about a week to get over it...i just had to change my seat position and shift differently--i shift from the top of the knob instead of the side now

I think if you mess with the seat controls enough and drive it more you will probably get used to it.

 

Adjust the angle of the seat. It helped a few people.

 

I have a problem with the seats, too. I don't have any suggestions, except maybe one of those lumbar support pillows that they sell for people with back problems. At the moment I'm putting most of my miles on my old '98 Volvo (terrific seats!) but leaving my new car home and in the driveway defeats the whole purpose of buying a new car, doesn't it?

This was completely unexpected, I've had absolutely no problem with the seats in my wife's Honda Oddy. Never before in my life have I traded a car in prematurely.

 

I moved from a 2000 Accord Coupe to the TSX, and I know what you mean... the seat just has a different geometry. I tilt the seat back further now, but I would not say it was uncomfortable..and I shift from the top as well, but I think that is because of the high armrest.

Now on the other hand, the RSX seats are painful on a long drive. The need a numb-ass smiley for that one.

 

I think I adjusted the seat every day for the first month I had this car. Took a while, but finally got teh seat where it is comfortable.

 

me too, i feel your pain

 

Did you notice the seat moves up/down?

Just checking...

 

It took me about a half hour of fiddling to get my seat position just right after I took the car home. But once I got it, I'm totally comfortable. I've been on drives of 2 continuous hours without problems. I love the seats. Of course, I tend to have a very upright seating postition, which most people don't do.

 

Ditto here. But then my wife took the TSX to the store and scrambled all the seat settings. Damn, why could't Acura give us memory seats? WHY?! Now I go through this exercise after every time my wife drives the car. It takes me a good several minutes of fiddling with the settings before I get it back to where I like it.

 

I don't know man, I think the seats are great.

 

For the first three months I could not stand the seats in my TSX. Driving any longer than 30 minutes would give me lower back pains no matter how much I adjusted the seat. I think I wasn't used to such a GOOD seat honestly. I had GM products before with the mushy seats and I think it screwed with my back. I kept with the TSX though and with mutliple adjustments and some breaking in after about another two months I got the seat just right.

I actually love my seats now and I agree about the RSX. Those seats are really bad.

 

Hehe...exactly why I don't let anyone else drive my car

 

Thats why we bought two...lol

 

TSX's that is

 

post 69...woot!

 

Heya, just a thought, but maybe you guys with back pain might want to consider seeing a chiropractor about some of this.

For those who wanna flame me for suggesting that, make sure you understand what we really do.....most people don't.

Anyway, the thing is that this may be a sign that you have some alignment issues in your pelvis or lumbar spine that are not that problematic for you yet, and may never be, but I have been in the TSX seats and have driven Honda for years and found their seats to be designed very well ergonomically (from a spinal health standpoint) so this could be telling you more than just "TSX seats hurt me".

Any questions, feel free to ask.

Cheers
Dave

 

Back when I was a pup and when I drove a '74 Dart, I actually had to SEE an Orthopedic Surgeon (who, thankfully, restrained himself and told me to just buy a car with better seats).

Since then I've driven a couple of Saabs and a Volvo and even a Porsche with Recaro-built seats and I've had absolutely no trouble with car seats. Until the TSX. So the evidence would suggest that the problem is with Honda's design of the standard TSX/Accord seats.

BTW, has anyone thought that this is just a wonderful excuse to buy a pair of Recaros? Any idea how to obtain the ones from the JDM Accord Euro-R?

 

that looks sweet

 

Just to clarify, I do like the TSX seats a lot. Its just that in my old Integra and Camaro and just about any rental car I drive it seems to be a matter of quickly adjusting the seat to a position that is comfortable. On the TSX, for whatever reason, I'll adjust the seat and then have to keep fiddling with the adjustments before I get it right. Of course once I do then it feels great and I've had no problems on long drives (2-3 hours) whereas the rental car seats start to feel uncofortable after about an hour in them. I think the TSX seats are great. I just wish they came with position memory.

 

Man, I feel pretty much the opposite of everybody here. Aside from my Grand Cherokee, I can't get comfortable in any other seat other than the TSX. In fact I sat in both a Camry and Taurus this last week and almost cried :'( I love my TSX.....

 

The tsx seats are formed properly and they arent heavily padded like most seats.. if you are used to big cushy seats that let you get away with improper posture the tsx seats will bother you for awhile.. it took me about a month to get used to them and now i can drive for hours and hours without any strain...

 

Except that the TSX seats fit me like a glove, and the bolsters hold me just like a good woman should. The shape of the TSX seats may not be perfect for your body shape and posture, but they're a perfect fit for other people.

I'd suggest that people who are uncomfortable in their TSX to raise the front edge of the seat up. That'll help keep your butt from sliding forward, and will rotate the pelvis and help keep your spine straighter. That might help a LOT with lower back pain.

 

And PLEASE try not to sit on all of your big fat wallets - - terrible for your back. Take it out of your pocket when you get in the car or get in the habit of using a thin front pocket wallet. Makes a big difference.

cheers
Dave

 

the seats used to kill me too. i was even calling sparco and recaro to get prices on putting in some aftermarket seats. now i find them to be comfortable. took some time though.

 

And if JiggaMan says they're ok for booty then you know its the truth.

 

i think that i'm getting a reputation around here...

 

getting?

 

yea for some reason, the seats on the tsx feel really stiff, not sure if it's the layout of the seat, the leather or what, but if you spend some time and adjust to the right positions, it'll be fine, just takes a few getting used to.

 

The TSX seats are actually very, very good...once you get used to it. I've driven other cars with bigger, flatter seats, they are fine for short trips, but in long trips they actually cramp out your back, etc..due to the poor ergonomics. In contrast, the supportive seats in the TSX actually promotes good back support. I am never fatigued after driving extending periods in my TSX (1 hour or more), while I get a cramped and uncomfortable in other cars when I drive for a long period (the 1997 Odyssey come to mind)

 

Seats wasn't enough to turn me away and I need a car by Friday so I just bought an 04 TSX with Navi (Carbon Grey/Ebony) for $28,000 plus tax, tags, etc.
Hopefully it'll be here by Friday. Dealer knows I'm on a rental because my CL-S (which I bought from the same salesperson) was totaled so he said they'd give me a loaner to drive around till the car comes if it's not ready by then.

 

KEwl...congrats!!

 

Most excellent.

 

Make sure the lumbar support (bulge) is off or flat. The seats are leather and will soften and break in over time. I have Recaros in my other vehicle and at first the TSX seats felt rather hard and uncomfortable. After a few months though, and a few adjustments they've conformed to my contours and are close in comfort to my Recaros now !
If the seats really do bother you, you might consider a Recaro seat , I'll have to say, the Recaros with the thigh support support you like no other

 

i like the leather seats in the TSX, but i can't say too much since my previous 99 accord had only cloth interior.

 

Personally, I prefer cloth for sporty driving. It's less slippery. However, I enjoy having leather in the TSX.

 

Actually, I prefer cloth overall anyways... plus new car smell with cloth smells better also for some odd reason

And for those of us that have colder seasonal temps, can't forget about the heated seats