Just for fun: What's your driving "stance"?

[Skibane]

Whenever someone slides into the driver's seat in one of my vehicles, the first reaction is usually a mixture of extreme discomfort and disgust, immediately followed by frantic operation of the seat and steering wheel positioning controls.

Apparently, my preferred driving position gives "normal" drivers fits.

In spite of being 6' 0", I prefer to have the seat moved forward enough so that my knees frequently brush against the IP, with the steering wheel extended as far forward and as low as it can go.

This may not be the most comfortable position for long-term trips, but it gives me the best view of the road and rear-view mirror for city driving, and just feels natural. Even out on the highway, the seat only moves back an inch or so. Basically, I'm just NOT a drive-from-the-back-seat kind of guy!

So, what's your preferred driving position, and why?

[xerexabante]

I hate it when people slide thier butts on the back of the seat. Makes me look if they have anything sharp that would tear up my seat. I take a lot of clients looking for homes. I am the same with you on seat position. I also love it when they fall asleep in the back seat.

[Logan76]

I HATE my seat being too far back, I like to be up on the wheel, all my freinds feel crowded when they drive my car and dont move the seat, but oh well.

[AZhitman]

I HATE the "gangsta lean".

I set mine straight up, about 1/2-way back, with the steering wheel at full low and extended position.

I like my arms at a 90-degree angle, so I can steer with my core, not my arms.. and my knees bent.

[fayceoff]

I don't think my "stance" is quite a gangsta lean, but I'm not really a racer. For longer trips I like my legs to be mostly straight and my hands on the bottom of the wheel. That may change when my car is done and I have the paddle-shifter, but in the meantime...

[DrewQ45]

Stereo pumping, seat leaned back, headrest leaned all the way forward, left hand TDC of steering wheel and right hand on my jock or the shifter....... all this as I cruise the blacktop menacingly scanning for victims for the Q to chew up and spit out.... Then all of a sudden from the back seat.... "Daddy, I hate that song! What are you doing and why are you driving so fast??? Fix yourself!!!"....

I "AHEM', quickly raise up the seat with a sheepish look on my face and mutter..."nothing baby, daddy is just tired".... now I'm in grandma position grabbing the steering wheel with both hands.

Damned kids!

[Jesda]

Seat all the way forward while hunched over the wheel, frightened.

My Lesabre is blue!

[Ozzie]

Stereo pumping, seat leaned back, headrest leaned all the way forward, left hand TDC of steering wheel and right hand on my jock or the shifter....... all this as I cruise the blacktop menacingly scanning for victims for the Q to chew up and spit out.... Then all of a sudden from the back seat.... "Daddy, I hate that song! What are you doing and why are you driving so fast??? Fix yourself!!!"....

I "AHEM', quickly raise up the seat with a sheepish look on my face and mutter..."nothing baby, daddy is just tired".... now I'm in grandma position grabbing the steering wheel with both hands.

Damned kids!

I have the steering wheel set low, and back, so I don't have to "reach" to hold the wheel.I have the back rest set more forward than most other people I know.... but it feels comfortable to me (Maybe it's just the way the Recaro's hold me??)Seat set forward enough to have a slight bend in my legs, but not squashed against the dash.....

And my kids usually tell me to go faster, not slow down....and that was also the case in my 12 second starion... (my son would actually cheer if I wound out first and second...... but he doesn't get his crazy from me, I swear!)

[96Qowner]

I've the guy that frantically adjusts your seat, Skibane.

Since I first started driving, I've always preferred what I thought was a sport driver's position - right leg slightly bent, right arm resting comfortably extended at the top of the wheel. Then I usually hold the wheel at the bottom, which is an easy natural position for me. I prefer the seatback to be fairly straight and the lumbar support fully extended. I'm average height, very lean, with long legs.

But then, mine's a highway cruiser, and I'll drive for 14 hours at a crack. In town, I suppose the seat would be a tad closer - more support in turns. But I can't stand feeling close to the wheel.

[maxnix]

Well, if you have ever drien an Italian car, your driving position is ruined for life. I am 6', 31" in seam and 35" dress shirt sleeve.

Seat all the way back and low, seat back up right, wheel not extended and positioned to view instruments.

I am amazed when I see people so close to the wheel they can rest their forearms on it wihtout leaning forward. Wonder how they fare when the airbag deploys?

[96Qowner]

I had a Fiat 124 Coupe that I just loved - gutless but agile - great fun to drive!

[elwesso]

The Q is still a bit of a cumbersome fit for me. Im only 6'2 but have bird legs. The car was not designed for tall skinny people, seems like either short and/or wide people

I usually have my seat back just slightly tilted from 90* and the seat bottom all the way down with the front tilted up a tiny bit. I have the steering wheel in the middle both ways.

When I drive long trips i usually bring my left leg up (meaning my foot ends up nearer to the seat than the dead pedal) and put the seat back a little bit more. When I do an auto cross or something like that I put the seat back upand the seat foreward.

[AZhitman]

LMAO @ Drew and Jesda.

[carfrk666]

it may be because im young, but i deffinatly like the "gangsta lean", seat all the way back, but the backrest mostly straight, not leaning all the way back so ppl next to you cant actualy see you cause the B piller is in the way, steering wheel extended out all the way, kinda in the middle of up and down, ohh and one hand on the shifter playin DJ with my headunit and the other hand on the wheel of course

[Skibane]

One of my biggest beefs with having the steering wheel at arm's length is the lack of leverage. If you're trying to turn something that is providing a lot of resistance (like a large water valve, a tire lug wrench, or a steering wheel on a heavy vehicle without power steering), the natural tendency is to move in close to it, in order to get more leverage. I would bet that you simply can't provide as much leverage at arm's length. I would also bet that less leverage = more arm muscle fatigue.

Also, in comparing sitting close to the IP to sitting back, there is a tremendous difference in the amount of area visible in the mirrors (on both sides, plus the interior one). With the seat fully back, the mirrors have much bigger blind spots. The Y33 has a rather high beltline, so side and rear visibility isn't that great to begin with. Consequently, any extra visibility you can wring out of the mirrors is welcome.

Good point on the effectiveness of airbags while sitting close to the steering wheel. In an accident, a couple of extra inches of istance could make a big difference!

[Haitian_King]

I love my Q seat, and I go nuts when mi padre drives my car. He never puts the seat back and always changes the mirrors.

I had a car accident a couple years ago in a Suzuki Grand Vitara. Because it was so small, I had to sit with the seat halfway reclined. After the accident, I was told that having my seat that way saved me from breaking my back and possible paralysis.

Since then, I always have my seat in a similar position, which will vary from car to car. 3-Series BMWs, Acura MDX (my other car), and my Q.

I drive with my left hand, either gripping the top of the wheel, or at the 8 o'clock position on the steering wheel.

Right hand, controls the radio or holds the shift knob.

[heywier427]

what notch or click do you keep you arm rest at. im a 3!

[StarPD]

I'm with Maxnix.Seat far enough back to have my right leg only slightly bent but still allow my left foot to rest on the dead pedal. Seatback upright enough to provide good vision in all directions but not tire me. Position has to allow for arms to be as straight as possible and level to allow full free movement of the wheel. Seat height high enough to see well in all directions but set with wheel arranged to see instruments clearly.

Rear view mirror adjusted so as to be able to see directly behind by flicking the eyes, WITHOUT moving my head. Side mirrors NOT set to see behind, that's what the rear view mirror is for. Side mirros set to see the blind spots alongside the rear quarters in traffic and when changing lanes.

I sit comfortable as far to the left as I can and still fit correctly in the seat and behind the wheel.

Elbows rest on armrest and console in cruising with hands at 5 and 7 o'clock, otherwise hands at 2 and 10 o'clock.

Resting the wrist on top of the wheel is a good way to kill or cripple yourself if the airbag deploys and blows your hand back into your face, which it will.

Sitting upright comfortable with seat, wheel, and mirrors set to allow full easy control and vision is not only the most comfortable, but the safest and allows best control of the vehicle. Trying to make an emergency move from the "gangsta lean", whether too far back or leaning over the console will make a believer if you've never had to do that. So will climbing up onto the steering wheel.

I hate it when the dealer car hikers adjust the seat, wheel and mirrors to move the car 100' after the battery has been disconnected and the memory is lost. It takes me two weeks to get everything just right.

[szh]

I am amazed when I see people so close to the wheel they can rest their forearms on it wihtout leaning forward. Wonder how they fare when the airbag deploys?

One of two things, generally (I have read up on this, and have been trying to get my wife to sit a bit further back then where she is - not so bad as forearm leaning on the wheel, but still too close):

- they get killed by the exploding air bag that slams into their head.

- or they break their thumbs and/or wrists when the bag violently shoves their arm sideways and their hand is caught inside the steering wheel.

People need to sit back from their air bag deployment area. It would be silly to get killed in a low-speed collision where you would have survived without a scratch, but being too close to the airbag kills you.

Z

[szh]

Rear view mirror adjusted so as to be able to see directly behind by flicking the eyes, WITHOUT moving my head. Side mirrors NOT set to see behind, that's what the rear view mirror is for. Side mirros set to see the blind spots alongside the rear quarters in traffic and when changing lanes.

Exactly right!!! That is the best way. The side mirrors should supplement the rear-view mirror - not display just the same stuff!

I set my side mirrors so that, if being overtaken, as the back of the other car "disappears" from the rear-view mirror, the front has shown up in the side mirror. And, then when it "disappears" from the side-view mirror, it has shown up in the left (or right) view out the car window (with just a quick glance, or even in my peripheral vision).

I always want to know where other cars are in relation to me. Has saved me a bunch of times with emergency maneuvers.

By the way, my optometrist is surprised by the fact that my peripheral vision is an amazingly wide 175+ degrees (and, yes, I wear glasses) for moving objects and close to it for static objects. I cannot read at that angle, of course, but can "see" enough to recognize what the object may be - also has saved me on occasion (avoided something heading for me).

Z

[StarPD]

One of two things, generally (I have read up on this, and have been trying to get my wife to sit a bit further back then where she is - not so bad as forearm leaning on the wheel, but still too close):

- they get killed by the exploding air bag that slams into their head.

- or they break their thumbs and/or wrists when the bag violently shoves their arm sideways and their hand is caught inside the steering wheel.

People need to sit back from their air bag deployment area. It would be silly to get killed in a low-speed collision where you would have survived without a scratch, but being too close to the airbag kills you.

Z

A traffic safety specialist told me that he's attended scenes where a driver had his wrist hanging off the top of the steering wheel when the bag deployed. In every case, it completely shattered the hand and wrist, destroying the small bones in the hand, and fractured the nose and skull of the driver, sometimes killing them. He cautioned me to never keep only one hand on the top of the wheel when driving. It may be comfortable and convenient, and it may look cool, but it's deadly.

I hope none of our members drive using that dangerous practice.

[StarPD]

Exactly right!!! That is the best way. The side mirrors should supplement the rear-view mirror - not display just the same stuff!

I set my side mirrors so that, if being overtaken, as the back of the other car "disappears" from the rear-view mirror, the front has shown up in the side mirror. And, then when it "disappears" from the side-view mirror, it has shown up in the left (or right) view out the car window (with just a quick glance, or even in my peripheral vision).

I always want to know where other cars are in relation to me. Has saved me a bunch of times with emergency maneuvers.

By the way, my optometrist is surprised by the fact that my peripheral vision is an amazingly wide 175+ degrees (and, yes, I wear glasses) for moving objects and close to it for static objects. I cannot read at that angle, of course, but can "see" enough to recognize what the object may be - also has saved me on occasion (avoided something heading for me).

Z

Well, you're one of the few people who are aware of this and who set your mirrors correctly. You, myself, and my wife are the only ones who do this.I too have been saved in an emergency maneuver because I was able to see another vehicle in my blind spot as I started to swerve to avoid a different car. Those side mirrors are, as you stated so correctly, not to duplicate what you can already see in the rear view mirros, but to see the rear quarter blind spots, which of course, if one has their side mirrors adjusted correctly, are no longer blind spots.

While my peripheral vision may not be quite as good as yours, and I have to turn my head slightly to see the right-hand side mirror, I CAN still catch movement there. A driver should not have to move their head to see the view the mirors present. Just flicking the eyes should do it.

Congrats on being so wise, and safe.

[bone_stock_240]

I have my seat all the way back as far as it can go, with the back being close to vertical. It is alot easier to find a comfortable adjustment now that I have the skyline GTR seats in my car. That handy little knob makes adjusting the back a piece of cake. I only have my seat all the way back because I am kind of tall, and the S13 is kind of small. I usually have one hand on the gear shift, and the other hand at 7 or 8 with my arm on the arm rest.

A traffic safety specialist told me that he's attended scenes where a driver had his wrist hanging off the top of the steering wheel when the bag deployed. In every case, it completely shattered the hand and wrist, destroying the small bones in the hand, and fractured the nose and skull of the driver, sometimes killing them. He cautioned me to never keep only one hand on the top of the wheel when driving. It may be comfortable and convenient, and it may look cool, but it's deadly.

I hope none of our members drive using that dangerous practice.

Holy crap. I knew airbags could be insanely destructive, but I didn't realize they had that much potential for bodily harm or death. Freaky.

[DrewQ45]

A traffic safety specialist told me that he's attended scenes where a driver had his wrist hanging off the top of the steering wheel when the bag deployed. In every case, it completely shattered the hand and wrist, destroying the small bones in the hand, and fractured the nose and skull of the driver, sometimes killing them. He cautioned me to never keep only one hand on the top of the wheel when driving. It may be comfortable and convenient, and it may look cool, but it's deadly.

I hope none of our members drive using that dangerous practice.

hand TDC of steering wheel and right hand on my jock or the shifter.......

Dammit! I know no other way to drive! Between you and my kids I'm going to just park the Q.

Thanks for the advice though.... well noted.

[MinisterofDOOM]

I'm pretty much a gangsta leaner, but I don't have the seatback tilted all that far back (my torso and head aren't behind the b-pillar like a genuine "gangsta lean").

Long legs and I HATE feeling cramped, so the seat goes all the way back. I also don't like sitting close to the wheel--makes my arms uncomfortable because there's nothing to rest them on. I lean back enough to actually use the car's armrests. I like to rest my elbow on the open window sill (unless I'm in a newer car, all of which are bathtubs with 9-foot-tall beltlines and it drives me nuts). I'm a 1-handed driver out of habit due to previous manual transmission cars.

I like to be comfortable in the seat...relax. I can't do the granny drive...very uncomfortable. With the Max's low-slung seat slid back and reclined a bit, it's like being in a nice La-Z-Boy.

[bone_stock_240]

In my area, middle aged and older chinese women have the granny drive perfected. Sometimes there is as little as 1 foot of separation between the torso and the steering wheel. That usually goes hand in hand with driving half of the speed limit and wandering from lane to lane without signalling. But I digress. New cars piss me off so hard with their super high beltlines. I feel like a dip**** trying to rest my arm on the window sill when I am driving by buddies G35.

[fayceoff]

A traffic safety specialist told me that he's attended scenes where a driver had his wrist hanging off the top of the steering wheel when the bag deployed. In every case, it completely shattered the hand and wrist, destroying the small bones in the hand, and fractured the nose and skull of the driver, sometimes killing them. He cautioned me to never keep only one hand on the top of the wheel when driving. It may be comfortable and convenient, and it may look cool, but it's deadly.

I hope none of our members drive using that dangerous practice.

In EVOC (Emergency Vehicle Operator's Course - police/fire/ambulance driver's training), we're taught to hold out hand at 5 and 7 o'clock positions for that very reason. Luckily my 240 is an '89, so all rationale involving airbags is out if I'm not in uniform driving a GOV (Gov't Owned Vehicle).