Wife too short for the Sportwagen

[Funguy]

I replaced my wifes dying Subaru with a 2013 sportwagen TDI (of course). I was real excited like a kid to have such a great car for her. I think I did well on the price too and it only had 12,000 miles.

Anyway she is not comfortable in the car. At 5'2" she needs a pillow to sit on or else she can't see over the steering wheel and she says if she lowers the steering wheel it blocks the gauges and computer. The headrest pushes on her hair (tied in a bun for work) and I was surprised that it doesn't pivot backwards or forwards like my MK-IV.

I am not sure that a pillow is safe and I regret that she would not be able to use the heated sit with it coverd like that. Any other shorter folks or ladies with hair buns have these issues with these cars and can offer me advice. It is kinda of taking the joy out of the whole thing for me/us.

 

[greengeeker]

And you have the seat adjusted all the way up? Did she have issues in your mk4?

 

[Funguy]

Yeah it is all the way up. I really thought that would do the trick but nope. She never drove the MKIV since it is a stick. The new one is DSG. I guess it will have to be a butt pillow. Surprised me that the headrest doesn't adjust fore and aft.

 

[ATR]

It has been my experience that cars from Asia are better suited for shorter folks. One of the primary reasons I went with my Golf was due to the fact that I can fit much better then many other cars on the road (I'm a tall guy at a bit over 6 foot). And that's coming from a 2006 Honda accord as my last car.

 

[greengeeker]

You can swap headrests from a 2007 or older mk5 jetta to solve that issue. Bummer on the height deal. Not sure there is anything that can be done. Maybe look into some other style of seat that can swap in that sits a little higher? Maybe from a Tiguan?

 

[2011tdiproject]

It really does take out any joy that might have been present otherwise when you don't fit properly in a car. I'm a lanky 6 or 6'1", I was driving around for a while with no headrests, they hurt my upper back so bad. I finally cut and re welded the stalks on the headrests to move them back, (posted pics of that somewhere on here). I also have the steering wheel all the way down. Otherwise I feel like I'm completely disconnected from any steering feedback, and have zero confidence with winding roads. But with the wheel all the way down, it slightly blocks the upper right part of the speedometer, so I have the MFD on mph. I really like the big digital motorcycle-like mph display, keeps me from speeding less horribly than I otherwise would. If your wife can fit with the headrests swapped and see the MFD on mph, she might be good to go.

My biggest problem with my 2dr Golf is the visibility out of it, that aspect of the car is flat out dangerous in my opinion. Set the side mirrors to show just the edge of the car, there's a blind spot sufficient to hide an entire car on each side. So you turn your head, and then all you see is headrests and the C pillar. Set them to show the adjacent lanes and they don't show anything close to the car. Horrible. Same with the view out the back/sides when backing up. All I see is headrests, and I can't turn my upper body in the seat, and I have no sightlines to keep the car straight. I hate it! I can back up a pickup towing a boat easier than this damn VW, not even joking. I doubt the JSW is as bad as the Golf 2 door, but still, how well can your wife see out the sides/back of the car?

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

Some cars just don't fit some people. The headrest is expected, as they've lost adjustment to improve safety, putting them closer to the passenger in the seat.

And I've never liked the visibility out of my Golf compared to my MKIV wagon, especially to the rear. I bought an aspherical mirror that eliminates the blind spot, which is a big help. But parallel parking isn't easy: I end up doing the same thing my daughter does, which I call standing up in the car to see out the back.

 

[Funguy]

It always gives me pleasure to see the reasoning power of the members here. Some good suggestions thanks every one. I am going to consider the proposed solutions or let her just sit on a pillow and change her hair for now. The headrest swap sounds like a possibility. Maybe my MKIV headrest will fit. Lots to think about. 2011 I am bummed for you with your steering set up and the loss of feel. Sometimes it pays to be just 5' 8" like me

 

[ATR]

It really does take out any joy that might have been present otherwise when you don't fit properly in a car. I'm a lanky 6 or 6'1", I was driving around for a while with no headrests, they hurt my upper back so bad. I finally cut and re welded the stalks on the headrests to move them back, (posted pics of that somewhere on here). I also have the steering wheel all the way down. Otherwise I feel like I'm completely disconnected from any steering feedback, and have zero confidence with winding roads. But with the wheel all the way down, it slightly blocks the upper right part of the speedometer, so I have the MFD on mph. I really like the big digital motorcycle-like mph display, keeps me from speeding less horribly than I otherwise would. If your wife can fit with the headrests swapped and see the MFD on mph, she might be good to go.

My biggest problem with my 2dr Golf is the visibility out of it, that aspect of the car is flat out dangerous in my opinion. Set the side mirrors to show just the edge of the car, there's a blind spot sufficient to hide an entire car on each side. So you turn your head, and then all you see is headrests and the C pillar. Set them to show the adjacent lanes and they don't show anything close to the car. Horrible. Same with the view out the back/sides when backing up. All I see is headrests, and I can't turn my upper body in the seat, and I have no sightlines to keep the car straight. I hate it! I can back up a pickup towing a boat easier than this damn VW, not even joking. I doubt the JSW is as bad as the Golf 2 door, but still, how well can your wife see out the sides/back of the car?

For the visibility out of the sides I bought these from ecs shortly after buying my car:
http://www.ecstuning.com/Volkswagen-Golf_VI--TDI/Exterior/Mirrors/ES1892098/

They helped ton!

 

[skromfols]

I found the head rests were a significant impediment when looking for cross traffic at some intersections, so I removed them. It made a real difference

 

[LaTuFu]

I haven't owned a Jetta for 10 years, I had forgotten how low they are from a seating perspective. Even my Passats felt "higher" in the cabin, and certainly were much easier to get in and out of for me. Either that, or I really am getting a lot older than I thought and it is just more difficult for me to get in and out of cars.

Another possibility would be to see if you can get a Tiggy seat or a Passat seat to slide in for her on the Driver's side. Or, maybe have the driver's seat removed, and have a welder increase the height of the seat with some spacers? Not sure how this would affect the seat's integrity in the event of a collision, but if that could be done without sacrificing her safety, that might be an option. It would certainly seem to be a safer option than a pillow.

 

[Graham Line]

If she is the sole driver of the car, you could fabricate spacers to raise the overall seat cushion height. Might be enough downward adjustment to accommodate others.

 

[murphyslaw]

My wife is 5'4" and fits my '14 JSW. But she jacks the seat up, moved way forward. She is used to driving her Jeep thou. And is likely used to having to reach a little to make things work. She does not lower the wheel thou. She usually raises it up a tad so she can sit closer to the wheel with out it rubbing her legs or impeding the gauge view.

 

[ATR]

I found the head rests were a significant impediment when looking for cross traffic at some intersections, so I removed them. It made a real difference

God forbid you ever getting rear ended!

For folks who think the headrest is uncomfortable try adjusting the seat back to a position to the point where the headrest just touches the back of your head. I found that when adjusted this way the seat is quite comfortable even on 3-4 hour Road trips.

Here's a good video on this topic with some tips near the end of the video.
http://www.velocity.com/tv-shows/fifth-gear/videos/preventing-whiplash/

 

[dnslater]

Amazon has a whole slew of Adult booster cushions for cars. I also like the other users suggestion about raising the seat. Surely it wouldn't be hard to add shim's beneath the seat to raise the entire assembly a few inches.

 

[TDIAustin]

My wife is 5' 4" as well and has no problem whatsoever. She raises the seat up of course but not all the way. Rather than a pillow, I would try one of those thick pads or seat spacers, whatever they are called. Some are made for circulation and so constructed of a straw or wicker like material that might provide a firm seating.

And perhaps solving the hair problem might give her a different perspective when looking at the dash so she can better adjust the steering wheel.

Just some thoughts, good luck.

 

[nakkers]

.......

 

[Funguy]

A lot of very good suggestions. I think for now at least we will go with a seat cushion and she will do her best to adjust the seat for her hair. I am also considering getting her a different car and keeping that nice sportwagon for me. Now that would be a win win except for the bank account!

 

[Conrad -JSW]

How attached are you to your wife? It might be time for a new model, perhaps one that's a bit taller?

 

[smosh]

My wife is also 5'2" (and a half, as she reminds me) and she's had no problem in her JSW. She's close enough and high enough and far enough. It should adjust to a good place for your wife.

i even find i can use her setting for shorter trips (i'm 6'), but longer ones i simply move hte seat back. Mirrors are another thing...

 

[VeeDubTDI]

Try removing the seat and shimming it up higher with washers between the body and the seat frame. You may need to use longer bolts.

 

[whitedog]

I figured out what has been bothering me about the tread title. I keep reading it as "Life too short..."

 

[VeeDubTDI]

I figured out what has been bothering me about the tread title. I keep reading it as "Life too short..."

That's true, too. Go on a road trip and see/experience something!

 

[Funguy]

My wife is also 5'2" (and a half, as she reminds me) and she's had no problem in her JSW. She's close enough and high enough and far enough. It should adjust to a good place for your wife.

i even find i can use her setting for shorter trips (i'm 6'), but longer ones i simply move hte seat back. Mirrors are another thing...

I guess that half inch makes all the difference to fit in the car. I am only 5'8" and I also use the car after my wife for short trips but sometimes I forget and hit my head and knees getting into it.

 

[Funguy]

How attached are you to your wife? It might be time for a new model, perhaps one that's a bit taller?

No way bro. Best thing I ever did was marry her. Besides if she really hates the car I may have to take it off her hands and keep it for myself!

 

[Funguy]

VeeDub I am a little nervous about messing with those bolts but I am going to give it a look when warmer weather arrives. Tnx

 

[Conrad -JSW]

No way bro. Best thing I ever did was marry her. Besides if she really hates the car I may have to take it off her hands and keep it for myself!

There you go!

 

[dubStrom]

The booster cushion idea struck me right away. You can get a couple of inches from a cheap flowered dining room table chair booster. They are wide enough to roll in on the car seat bolsters for additional lateral support too. We use them on wooden chairs as pads, and it boosts the kids up too.

 

[ericy]

Anyway she is not comfortable in the car. At 5'2" she needs a pillow to sit on or else she can't see over the steering wheel and she says if she lowers the steering wheel it blocks the gauges and computer. The headrest pushes on her hair (tied in a bun for work) and I was surprised that it doesn't pivot backwards or forwards like my MK-IV.

For what it is worth, my wife is 5'2" and she is as happy as a clam with her 2015 Golf. She tolerates my 2014 JSW (her main complaint is that she doesn't like the radio as much as in the 2015 - nothing to do with the seats).

For her, pumping the seat is the starting point, and adjusting the steering wheel certainly. But she doesn't wear her hair in a bun, so that's one difference. The salesman mentioned that some people remove the headrest and put it in backwards so that it doesn't push on the hair.

 

[Funguy]

That is something I can try, headrest backwards. Thanks. I think my wife is getting used to the car now and the pillow is working for height. Takes her awhile to warm up to a new set of wheels. She does say that it corners nicely. I am surprised she noticed since she drives so gently.