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2011 Hyundai Elantra Touring Seats
I just bought a 2011 Hyundai Elantra Touring GLS Manual. Great car overall, but has one problem which unfortunately I did not sense during a brief drive at the dealership - seats from hell. Perhaps I have been slacking off on my intake of Crispy Creams, but my bony behind hurts so much after driving for a while, I can't find a place for myself. On top of it, even a drive to a local store results in my legs vibrating for a while from some nerve irritation. That worries me. I don't know who at Hyundai decided that seat cushions made of fabric wrapped around articulated concrete were a great idea, but there has to be some remedy, otherwise I won't be able to drive this car.
Has anyone tried some clever cushions that might help? I would hate to have to rip the seats out of a new car and replace them with different ones (if I can find some that would fit and someone who could do it). I tried various improvised solutions like thick folded towels, pillows, etc, no help. If I find a thick enough pillow, it impairs the driving position.
Any pointers will be appreciated.
Has anyone tried some clever cushions that might help? I would hate to have to rip the seats out of a new car and replace them with different ones (if I can find some that would fit and someone who could do it). I tried various improvised solutions like thick folded towels, pillows, etc, no help. If I find a thick enough pillow, it impairs the driving position.
Any pointers will be appreciated.
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I do know that on my SE if the seat isn't just where I like it, I just don't feel comfortable. But when it is right, I can drive all day long with no problems.
You might try talking to the dealer if this is a vehicle you just purchased. They might be willing to move you to something that works?
> You might try talking to the dealer if this is a vehicle you just
> purchased. They might be willing to move you to something
> that works?
Have you actually ever seen a dealer that would do that after they sell a vehicle?
Yep, the local Hyundai dealer. There has to be a penalty for several reasons, the big one being the 10/100K warranty not transferring. But in cases where a vehicle is just not working, and the dealer is looking beyond the end of the month, it can happen.
How about a seat replacement with the SE seats? Or drive an SE and see if the seats work, and if they do, change out the mechanicals to get the height and lumbar?
Just throwing out ideas here. I do understand. We owned a 2004 Yukon that had the most uncomfortable seats I ever tried to ride in, especially the back seat. We had the thing about two months when we took off on a 1800mile road trip. The only reason we didn't dump it after the trip was because it was the wife's primarily, and she was comfortable in it.
I have owned many cars in the past (Fords and imports), never had an experience like this even though I have always bought standard seats. Like I said, lesson learned. Too bad on Hyundai. You know what they say, once bitten twice shy.
Why don't the reviews mention the "three-bounces-on-a-pebble" suspension? Do all reviewers only drive on perfect freeways?
Hm, I am thinking... I'm 6'3", 185 lbs (that's 190 cm, 84 kg for the metric-inclined). Perhaps if I threw four 50 lb sacks in the back that would help settle the suspension?
It wouldn't do wonders for the cargo space, though.
Now I will have to wait for an hour to settle my stomach.
In the reviews of the 2010 touring I wrote
Makes me car sick
Written by: Car sick on 05/09/2010
The good news is. The stiffness in the supension gets much better after a few thousand miles and a few heavy loads. My buddy who has a Versa, thinks my Touring is a much better car. I like the car now except I keep killing the engine when trying to engage 1st gear. The ride is real jerky in 1st gear when trying to maintain 10 mph. This happens when stuck in freeway traffic.
That's good news. How heavy? Should I carry sand bags in the back to get the suspension to settle down a bit? Does it ever learn to absorb minor imperfections in the road, or does it just soften and still remain bouncy?
I didn't notice that, but I suppose I don't keep it below 2K.
I like the fit and finish inside. Drive by wire is not bad either, as far as that goes.
The only time I have an issue with it is in stop and go traffic, or trying to run 30mph in 5th gear. "Pearl" really, REALLY doesn't like that, so I just stay in 4th below 40.
Ive found with the auto tranny on occasion will shudder between 20 - 25 mph.
Talk about a slushbox... lol. BTW no resolution on the pulling. Though my low tech abilities of putting between 1-2 psi more in the right hand side tires helps about 30% or so.
Im officially more disenchanted with Hyundai than the car itself.
even my race cars ride smoother than this thing , it literally bounces for days after a crack in the street.
the seats are awkwardly positioned which leads to everyone complaining , which just makes things worse.
downshifts feel like the car is about to break
i do like the xm radio , but whats up with having to stretch to reach the volume knob
?( if you werent using the wheel controls )
ALSO , i searched online minutes ago (which led me to this thread / forum ) just to see if anyone has had this same issue. There is no way that im the only person that feels this.
PS : this car is the first car that has ever made me car sick ( with me driving even! )
hyundai , who are you ?
were you designed by monkeys?
it also blows my mind that this same relative bought this car and said " i love how smooth it rides" haha
For your information, part of the problem with GLS with a stick is the horrible seats with next to no adjustments. Huyndai does not offer popular package on GLS stick, only on an old woman version.
One thing I can confirm is the tightness of the MT especially in 1st gear. I've stalled it a couple of times even though I've been driving MTs in most of my vehicles for 42 years. I live on a canyon side, so uphill stops are a common occurrence, and that's tougher to do with this car than any other I've owned.
SE has different seats from GL manual. Alas, on GL they were only available on automatic. I wanted to buy them as an option (Popular Option #2), but Hyundai did not offer that option package on manual transmission with GL. I think that is a bad marketing mistake, as it soured me on Hyundai, and I suspect my next car will be one of their competitors where I can pick my options and am not treated like a pariah just because I want to drive a stick.
Yes, the first gear is tight. The good news is you will get used to it soon, but it's giving my wife fits (she is trying to learn stick
The mileage I got was 31.5, and this included the obligatory stop-and-go freeway mess for more than an hour just to get out of LA (and getting back in), as well as an average speed of 80 MPH on the desert freeways. The little four banger seemed just fine on the upgrades and passes, even with the extra weight of passengers and bags, only needing me to downshift once at near the top of the Cajon Pass and once just after crossing the NV/CA border as I headed to Mountain Pass.
The car was a pleasure to ride drive and ride in, though a couple of stretches of NV I-15 concrete made the tires hum.
All in all, happy with this car.
When I folded the easy-to-do rear seatbacks down we slid both JBLs in from the rear with no problem, and could have put a third one in through the side door if need be. Both he and I were impressed, plus I got to say, "Told you they'd fit."
The 18" subwoofers didn't complain at all about either the ride or the back seats.
Also the brakes are a bit spongy now. I think they were less spongy when I bought the ET as they were never really all as firm as I'd want, but not enough to scare me from purchase. Should I bleed them out and start fresh? I'm leaning that direction.
I will likely keep it for a while and then trade it in for another make. Pity, because there are many aspects of this car I like a lot (utility, interior quality for the price, etc). Alas, if I have to look forward to getting out of the car and letting my bones settle down after longer driving, it is no fun.
1. this will sound dumb but the cars come from Korea with over 45 pounds of pressure in them to prevent flat spots on the journey over to the US. Please make sure the tires are at 32 psi. Most dealers have no clue and don't take the pressure down to what it should be. As a result, many have commented (as did I) about the harsh test ride. It was all in the tires.
2. If you have the larger tires (SE model) with alloy wheels, you naturally will get a harsher ride. The smaller tires on the GLS with steel wheels provide a much better ride.
As for my seat, it was defective and they replaced the cushion. The new cushion didn't fit right and, so they are ordering a new one again. I think they are going to have to replace the whole bottom seat frame kit but I'm letting them do what they got to do.
Some other things which I'm seeing in all new cars is a brake pedal is too far from the firewall to comfortably heel toe the gas brake, making you move the seat back more, the telescoping steering all the way out (thank God I have this option), only to find you have to stretch your arm straight to reach the radio and AC controls. I've found this is just about all new cars in the compact, and subcompact class. To help fix this there are some who suggest tilting the seat up at the two front seat bolts with washers, which I haven't tried but have considered it.
That means you have an automatic with Popular Option. Those seats are different than the ones on GLS Manual.
> Please make sure the tires are at 32 psi.
Yep, first thing I did.