Over at MazdaForums someone recently posted that they might have to sell the $40,000 CX-9 they just purchased because the seat became very uncomfortable for them after a few hours. They ended up getting an upholstery shop to trim back some excess material in the seams and add some padding, which helped some. But the fact remains that a seat that feels comfortable during a brief test drive can feel very uncomfortable after a few hours of driving time?

Why does this happen? How can you keep this from happening to you?

First, why this happens. People come in many different shapes and sizes. One of the most difficult tasks faced by any manufacturer is to design a seat that works well for everyone. A seat that feels great to one person will feel unbearable to another. Of course, some do a better job for more people than others. So why don’t manufacturers identify the best solution, and keep using it? That question I cannot answer…

Second, how to keep this from happening to you. Many dealers, if you are serious about a car, will let you take it for a day, or at least an afternoon. If there’s any chance that seat comfort could be an issue for you, do this and drive (or at least sit in) as much a possible. One alternative with some cars is to rent that car for a day. It might cost you $50 or so, but this is much better than taking a big hit when you need to trade in a nearly new vehicle.