Had a 4 hour test drive of an 03 WRX yesterday and my wife and I both got lower back pain after about 2 hours - couldn't wait to get out of thing after 3 hours, which is a shame as apart from the crap stereo and the seats we loved it...

The seats were standard and if we bought we would go for the leather. Has anyone had the same problems? do you know if the leather seats make a difference - though it looks like they are exactly the same seats just covered with leather?

I have found the standard seats uncomfortable (similar lower back pains) in the 00-02 although I did find the bucket seats in the 03 STi very comfortable.

With the 01-02 (don't know for certain with the 03), you had the option of the bucket seats or the sports seats. The buckets feel identical to those on the STi 07 (although slightly different material). The sports seats are less comfortable IMHO, and with a lot less side support, particularly around the shoulder area. The sports seats had side airbags, the buckets didn't, but no cost option between the two. I went for the buckets and sod the side airbags!

My MY02 bucket seats are very comfortable - no back pain whatsoever after 4 hours at the wheel.

Having said that, it does take time to sort out the best driving position, especially with the stepped backrest, rather than a conventional European infinitely adjustable one.

I find the 03 wrx bucket seats exceptionally comfortable and supportive. and they also have side airbags now too. which is one of the differences between the my02 and my03.

go for a test drive with bucket seats get the stereo sorted and you have the car you are looking for.

cheers

Peter

The bucket seats on the 03 WRX are the most comfortable of any car i've driven in a long while.

The MY03STi seats are not so hugging as the MY02STI7 :rolleyes: maybe the MY03 is more suited to the 15Stone + ;)

Tony

really odd that you find that , have to say that the seats are ab fab in my sti 8 and think they are brilliantly comfy!

now the ride may be a little stiff but .....:):)

I find the new 03 seats much worse than my previous 99MY buckets.

The older seats were much more deeply dished and far more comfy. The new ones are not as buckety and the side bolsters are too far apart.

I'm quite thin and I find I slouch sideways really badly now. So the side bolster digs in my ribs and causes pain after a while. The top of the seat is too flat around the soulders (in fact is pretty much complety flat!) I never did this in the the earlier seats which kept me upright all the time.

Bring back the early seats......:)

Thanks for those responses folks

Sounds like we just didn't have the seats adjusted properly so I'm going to arrange another test drive this weekend!

Cheers

agree with pbee sats cool stereo speakers crap!

yep the stereo is cr@p, i've blown 2 speakers already (but managed to get the dealer to replace them as they were somehow convinced that the probloem was there at delivery) - the only way you can play the stereo properly is with loudness off and the bass reduced (!?)

regarding the seats, they ain't great at all. generally comfy, but not adjustable enough. i'm not the widest bloke in the world so i find that they ain't very supportive laterally, plus the seat section just ain't long enough, i think it should come out to the back of the knees but it doesn't.

other than that, i find it a great car, and am pleased with it entirely so far.

yeah im about 13 stone and my wide arse fits in the buckets perfectly, beter stop eating donuts or I might not fit anymore. :-)