The secret of perfect lumbar support

The Oily Bits S2 Specific Topics
1

Anyone interested in knowing how to achieve perfect lumbar support in a Probax seat?

Well, having stumped up XX,XXX quid for an Exige S, and then having spent two miserable months trying (and failing) to “adapt” to its errr, “Probax” seats (pronounced “piece of [censored]”), I complained bitterly to both Lotus and NuBax (the developers of the P.O.S. seat). IMHO this seat does not even come close to providing either sufficient lumbar support or lateral support. And, in a car costing this much and capable of generating 1.2 lateral g, this really is not acceptable.

So, what do you think their response was? In a word, I was stonewalled. Lotus offered to have the seats re-upholstered (at MY expense!!), and NuBax quoted from their “successful” user trials, which they claim demonstrate measurable improvements over the original Lotus seat. God knows what they measured - the time of day perhaps.

Anyway, when I probed NuBax further, it turns out that all participants in the user trial were Lotus employees. Youch, talk about preaching to the converted!!

Ok, the bottom line is that, having been thoroughly pissed off with the corporate indifference that perfectly describes both the Lotus and NuBax responses, I set up a re-development program that slowly and carefully adjusted the seat over a period of about 4 weeks. It took this long because the process is basically trial and error, adding and subtracting support until (yes), that Eureka moment which achieves perfect lumbar support.

Lateral support is still minimal but, overall, I think the seat is now demonstrably, and significantly better than standard. In fact, I recently did a 250 miles round trip with not a single ache anywhere.

Want to know how I did it?

2

Pulled the Probax bit out completely and sat on a cushion???

My pre probax seats are okay? The piddly side bits pinch my bum abit though? Whats probax all about?

Lets do a bulk buy on Recaros…

3

Used the pump on the side of the seat

4

Used the pump on the side of the seat

I didn’t think probax had that? I’ve got to say that I had a play with mine last night though (oh err missus) and it was perfect, hadn’t lost any pressure whatsoever and deffo made a nice difference

5

The ProBax bit is supposed to provide a channel for your spine and support the muscles at each side of it. Also, its supposed to promote extra blood flow to your legs whilst driving, thereby reducing fatigue.

In fact, it turns out to be three strips of foam glued to the standard shell. Scandalous.

6

Ive not had mine long enough to comment on the probax but with regards to the latteral support, when i went from my o2 elise to the 54 exige i noticed a suttle change. The sides of the seats on the back rest seem more parrallel with the car sides, ie although the overall seat width is the same but its as if theyve widened the back cushion, if that makes sense!They dont give anywhere near as much support as my old elise seats!
Gav

7

The thing with lumber support is people dont know how to set it.
Ie most set it to much.

A: do the pump untill you can feel it on your back.
b: then let a little air out so you cannot feel it at all.

in no way should you be able to feel the lumber support after.

Also ajust the seat so your wrists can sit on top on the steering wheel, as most people seem to have it to far away.
this will cause you to move in your seat putting pressure on your spine and hips.

I did a whole course with saab about ajusting seats because every one in the company was taking leave due to back problems being in the car all day.

Is amazing that we found 80% of people had there seat wrong.

I have done many many miles in mine and brands is 300 mile round trip which i do with no stops, I think the seat are great.

8

Anyone interested in knowing how to achieve perfect lumbar support in a Probax seat?

Well, having stumped up XX,XXX quid for an Exige S, and then having spent two miserable months trying (and failing) to “adapt” to its errr, “Probax” seats (pronounced “piece of [censored]”), I complained bitterly to both Lotus and NuBax (the developers of the P.O.S. seat). IMHO this seat does not even come close to providing either sufficient lumbar support or lateral support. And, in a car costing this much and capable of generating 1.2 lateral g, this really is not acceptable.

So, what do you think their response was? In a word, I was stonewalled. Lotus offered to have the seats re-upholstered (at MY expense!!), and NuBax quoted from their “successful” user trials, which they claim demonstrate measurable improvements over the original Lotus seat. God knows what they measured - the time of day perhaps.

Anyway, when I probed NuBax further, it turns out that all participants in the user trial were Lotus employees. Youch, talk about preaching to the converted!!

Ok, the bottom line is that, having been thoroughly pissed off with the corporate indifference that perfectly describes both the Lotus and NuBax responses, I set up a re-development program that slowly and carefully adjusted the seat over a period of about 4 weeks. It took this long because the process is basically trial and error, adding and subtracting support until (yes), that Eureka moment which achieves perfect lumbar support.

Lateral support is still minimal but, overall, I think the seat is now demonstrably, and significantly better than standard. In fact, I recently did a 250 miles round trip with not a single ache anywhere.

Want to know how I did it?

Ok I’m curious - how??

9

Hi glad you got the seat to your liking, but I think it’s a little unfair to be so scathing of the standard seats.

Having swapped my standard seats because I wanted harness straps, it was surprising that there was so much variation between aftermarket manufacturers and even models. The ones that looked the best was just not right for me, as in comfortable.

10

It was always obvious to me that the whole pro bax thing was a marketing diversion to stop anyone noticing that Lotus had reduced the cost of the seat (by deleting the air pump lumbar) and in doing so simplified their logistics by having no difference between driver and passenger seat.

Having said that as a designer of automotive seating i was actually surprised at how comfortable they were/are. Where i feel they are lacking is in side support.

11

Where i feel they are lacking is in side support.

Isn’t that a necessity if you have the one seat size that is supposed to fit everyone from a thin stick up to 16+ stone?

Is was mostly the difference in sizing of various aftermarket seats that gave me the correct side support I was after.

12

Anyone interested in knowing how to achieve perfect lumbar support in a Probax seat?

Well, having stumped up XX,XXX quid for an Exige S, and then having spent two miserable months trying (and failing) to “adapt” to its errr, “Probax” seats (pronounced “piece of [censored]”), I complained bitterly to both Lotus and NuBax (the developers of the P.O.S. seat). IMHO this seat does not even come close to providing either sufficient lumbar support or lateral support. And, in a car costing this much and capable of generating 1.2 lateral g, this really is not acceptable.

So, what do you think their response was? In a word, I was stonewalled. Lotus offered to have the seats re-upholstered (at MY expense!!), and NuBax quoted from their “successful” user trials, which they claim demonstrate measurable improvements over the original Lotus seat. God knows what they measured - the time of day perhaps.

Anyway, when I probed NuBax further, it turns out that all participants in the user trial were Lotus employees. Youch, talk about preaching to the converted!!

Ok, the bottom line is that, having been thoroughly pissed off with the corporate indifference that perfectly describes both the Lotus and NuBax responses, I set up a re-development program that slowly and carefully adjusted the seat over a period of about 4 weeks. It took this long because the process is basically trial and error, adding and subtracting support until (yes), that Eureka moment which achieves perfect lumbar support.

Lateral support is still minimal but, overall, I think the seat is now demonstrably, and significantly better than standard. In fact, I recently did a 250 miles round trip with not a single ache anywhere.

Want to know how I did it?

Ok I’m curious - how??

So not going to tell me then??

13

i like them. must be an age thing

14

Where i feel they are lacking is in side support.

Isn’t that a necessity if you have the one seat size that is supposed to fit everyone from a thin stick up to 16+ stone?

Is was mostly the difference in sizing of various aftermarket seats that gave me the correct side support I was after.

You are correct of course, my issue is that even if you are the perfect size for the seat, its still has almost no side support. Look at the Porsche GT3 seat (which was previously the Carrera GT seat) for those of us who cah fit in that seat it has very good support. Of course some will be too fat or too thin, but for most it offers good side support. the Lotus seat offers nobody side support.

15

Where i feel they are lacking is in side support.

Isn’t that a necessity if you have the one seat size that is supposed to fit everyone from a thin stick up to 16+ stone?

Is was mostly the difference in sizing of various aftermarket seats that gave me the correct side support I was after.

You are correct of course, my issue is that even if you are the perfect size for the seat, its still has almost no side support. Look at the Porsche GT3 seat (which was previously the Carrera GT seat) for those of us who cah fit in that seat it has very good support. Of course some will be too fat or too thin, but for most it offers good side support. the Lotus seat offers nobody side support.

Part of the problem seems to be that the Probax seems to raise you about 1" from the bottom and back of the seat so there is less at the sides to hold you. Maybe they should have redesigned the seats completely for Probax but that would be ����

I’m not sure whether it is just the Probax seats or possibly changes in the pedal positioning with the new box but it took me a while to get a comfortable position. Seems like you need to have your right heel further forward compared to my old Elise.Anybody else feel the pedal position/angle may be different or is it just once again the subtle difference in seat height?

Bruh_La, (Ian isn’t it?) Did you ever succeed in lowering your seat altogether?

16

I’m not sure whether it is just the Probax seats or possibly changes in the pedal positioning with the new box but it took me a while to get a comfortable position. Seems like you need to have your right heel further forward compared to my old Elise.Anybody else feel the pedal position/angle may be different or is it just once again the subtle difference in seat height?

Spot on. Haven’t owned or driven an Elise but have had a VX NA, an VX turbo and a VXR and with all of these I easily managed to find a comfortable driving position. Still can’t get it quite right with the Exige S though, and I do find I have to have my right heel further forward than I would like.

Other than that, personally I do find the probax seats suit my shape better than the VX seats or the 340R seats in the VXR.

17

I’ll post the details tonight. Sorry, I ran out of time over the weekend.

18

I thought I was on to a winner, when SWMBO announced that after slipping a disc, she would never go in my S1 Elise again.
So I bought the Exige as my every day runabout, and she says that the seating is much better than the Elise, and doesnt mind travelling in it, though would likely refuse a long distance tour.
So I’ll just have to go touring on my own

19

Isn’t that a necessity if you have the one seat size that is supposed to fit everyone from a thin stick up to 16+ stone?

Is was mostly the difference in sizing of various aftermarket seats that gave me the correct side support I was after.

You are correct of course, my issue is that even if you are the perfect size for the seat, its still has almost no side support. Look at the Porsche GT3 seat (which was previously the Carrera GT seat) for those of us who cah fit in that seat it has very good support. Of course some will be too fat or too thin, but for most it offers good side support. the Lotus seat offers nobody side support.

Part of the problem seems to be that the Probax seems to raise you about 1" from the bottom and back of the seat so there is less at the sides to hold you. Maybe they should have redesigned the seats completely for Probax but that would be ����

I’m not sure whether it is just the Probax seats or possibly changes in the pedal positioning with the new box but it took me a while to get a comfortable position. Seems like you need to have your right heel further forward compared to my old Elise.Anybody else feel the pedal position/angle may be different or is it just once again the subtle difference in seat height?

Bruh_La, (Ian isn’t it?) Did you ever succeed in lowering your seat altogether?

Yes i did, at the time i was not sure how to post pics on exiges.com so i posted on Elisetalk. here is my thread.

20

You are correct of course, my issue is that even if you are the perfect size for the seat, its still has almost no side support. Look at the Porsche GT3 seat (which was previously the Carrera GT seat) for those of us who cah fit in that seat it has very good support. Of course some will be too fat or too thin, but for most it offers good side support. the Lotus seat offers nobody side support.

Part of the problem seems to be that the Probax seems to raise you about 1" from the bottom and back of the seat so there is less at the sides to hold you. Maybe they should have redesigned the seats completely for Probax but that would be ����

I’m not sure whether it is just the Probax seats or possibly changes in the pedal positioning with the new box but it took me a while to get a comfortable position. Seems like you need to have your right heel further forward compared to my old Elise.Anybody else feel the pedal position/angle may be different or is it just once again the subtle difference in seat height?

Bruh_La, (Ian isn’t it?) Did you ever succeed in lowering your seat altogether?

Yes i did, at the time i was not sure how to post pics on exiges.com so i posted on Elisetalk. here is my thread.

How to lower the drivers seat | The Lotus Cars Community >

Thanks for that but the safety aspect puts me off nipping to B & Q for a couple of bits of angle iron. Can’t be long before the americans are making some magnesotitaniumcarbonfibre kit to do the job.