I drive a manual Skoda Fabia and am 6 foot / solid build.
I've been driving it for over a year now and originally found it fine for anything less than a long several hour journey, which is what I expected from a small car. But in the past few months I've developed a lot of pain in my left leg, both around the hip and in my hamstring.
It is as if A) the seat is too short and narrow and no matter where I angle myself (believe me I've tried) my hamstring is constantly being irritated by the seat when operating the clutch. I feel the hamstring pain all the time like a dull ache but it is exacerbated every time I drive the car.
I can't get the seat far enough back - it is already all the way back and I still feel my hip is all bunched up, and it feels tight all the time even when out of the car (but again is only really exacerbated in the car). The only solution to be is leaning the seat quite far back so I can get an extra inch or so away from the pedals. And C) The footwell is pretty small and the footrest for my left foot feels too far forward meaning my leg is feeling permanently cramped up. Though nowhere near as bad as some cars I've tried (Pug 207 was a total write off for the footwell alone) I just can't give my hip a rest.
I've been going to a physio and have hit my limit to what I'm willing to spend there. There was an initial drastic improvement (I was in a lot more pain before going) but then it really leveled out to the point where I just felt I was maintaining my comfort level but paying lots of money. I'm doing all the exercises, stretches, and have a foam roller that I use daily, along with a rolling pin. This weekend I bought an orthopedic cushion to leave on my seat, which in truth has helped slightly as it lifts my hamstring over the part of the seat that is directly bugging my hamstring. It hasn't helped with the hip bunching and I am still uncomfortable. I have also replaced old worn out shoes in the previous weeks so I can't see what else I can do at this stage, it pretty much must be the car.
I'm slowly and agonisingly coming to the conclusion I might just need to buy a different (potentially larger) car. Has anyone experienced this before and just found a car uncomfortable to the point you can't drive it anymore? There is nothing actually wrong with the car otherwise which is most annoying. It is economical and has proved 100% reliable, and easily fits all my gear in with the seats folded (or removed entirely). I'm in my mid 20s and don't have kids so really don't care about rear legroom, but I do really wish this seat could go further back. I had zero issues with leg pain with my previous car, which was an old Mistu Carisma - a family sized car which cost far too much in petrol but was far more comfortable to drive.
I don't even know where to start looking for another vehicle, or if it is even worth looking at the moment while I'm still in pain. I've got a lot of driving to do next week as I'm holidaying in Wales with my g/f, I'm looking forward to the holiday but I know I'm going to get annoyed with several hours of driving and she can't share any of it because she doesn't drive.
Comments
I used to get back pain in my old E34 5 series BMW, never had the same pain before or since, lovely car but it took me ages to find the best seating position in that car.
All by trial and error I'm afraid.
Sitting more upright might help. Also - take a break now an again to stretch your legs.
Feedback
Seriously: If you value it, take/fetch it yourself
I'm pretty certain the Mitsu seat was wider and had a less distinctive bucketing shape compared to the Fabia (not an actual bucket seat, it is just a standard model not a sports car). The footwell was also much larger in the Mitsu and I didn't have to cramp my foot to the side.
I can't even remember a trigger incident, I just remember things feeling less and less comfortable.
I honestly felt the Fabia was the most comfortable out of all the other small cars I tried, and had no problems for the first few months. Really gutted to be finding it so uncomfortable currently, as otherwise on paper it is the perfect vehicle for my current needs.
I've had a quick look, my options are direct replacement (no point) off the shelf 'classic' designs like they sell on this site (which look less aggravating but still bucket style) - http://www.sportseats4u.co.uk/returns-and-cancellations/info_8.html but they won't accept any returns if you fix and sit in the seat... or a custom build. I don't think commissioning a single custom seat makes any sense for a Skoda Fabia and it will probably negatively affect resale too.
Or the leg.
Supportact said: [my style is] probably more an accumulation of limitations and bad habits than a 'style'.
Seriously: If you value it, take/fetch it yourself
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Seriously: If you value it, take/fetch it yourself
I'm inclined to agree. If the clutch footrest is too far away that suggests to me the seat is too far away. Your leg should still have a slight bend when the pedal is fully down, and be actually quite bent when not pressing the clutch.