Added: 11/04/2005 |
Car Choice: Back car seats driverCar Choice: Back car seats driver
What you want is a new(ish) small car for under £12,000 with supportive but not rock-hard seats, which is capable of both short and long journeys.
The question is without doubt the most common Car Choice conundrum. Motor manufacturers should take note because the majority of buyers seem to tolerate their car seats and never properly get comfy. That is why trying a car for size is utterly essential, and telling which is going to be the most comfortable is almost impossible. Saabs do indeed have brilliant seats. There is one option, though, which means that you can drive the car you like, and that is by fitting orthopedic car seats. The only suppliers are Recaro (01926 414111). They would recommend that you go along to their factory for a fitting. Also, as these casr seats do not fit every car, ideally you should speak to Recaro before choosing a car. The car seats are not cheap, starting at £960 and rising to £1,750 if you choose a fancy fabric, or want a climate pack (which has a heated seat cushion, just like an old Saab in fact).
Alternatively, a specialist fabric travel seats supplier like benefitnowshop.co.uk has coccyx cushions and pelvic tilt seating wedges that start from £18.00.
A CAR FOR THE HEAD
You'd go for the full orthopedic seat option, which is why it's worth consulting the Recaro seat frame guide and matching that against requirements for a quality built smaller car. You could ask to take another look at the Volkswagen Golf. An older model will be within budget. Although regarded as a little bit dull, there is no denying that the Golf is finished to a satisfyingly high standard, especially inside. It will take a Recaro seat comfy and easy to adjust.
We could recommend to go for the higher specifications (at least the SE) because, after a well-equipped Saab, no air conditioning or electric rear windows is going to be something of a disappointment. Where the Golf does stack up is on safety, with a well-designed body, plenty of airbags, and a four star rating in the Euro NCAP crash tests.
A CAR FOR THE HEART
If the Saab remains the individualists choice, the Audi A3 is the sportier and sexier version. Not that the A3 is an idiosyncratic or rare car; it's the company car of choice for all thrusting executives. Again you could find the A3 easy to be comfy in, but a replacement Recaro seat will fit just fine and in the sportier Audis you will actually find Recaro seats fitted as standard.When new, the Audi was expensive compared to the Golf and the situation is still pretty much the same. Both models are better value now for the simple reason that they have been superseded by newer versions. The Audi, though, will cost a bit more and you'll have to balance the sporty appeal of an older A3 against a slightly younger and more staid Golf. A 2002-model A3 1.9 Tdi 130 SE with 40,000 miles on the clock would be £11,300, whereas a Golf in 1.9 GT Tdi 130 form is £9,900. If you prefer the idea of petrol, then the A3 1.8T is a hot hatch and a classy one at that, the perfect replacement for a Saab.
Please write to Car Choice, Features, Independent House, 191 Marsh Wall, London E14 9RS, or e-mail James Ruppert at carchoice@ independent.co.uk, giving your age, address and contact number, and details of the type of vehicle in which you are interested.
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