Backache

[vicmel]

Almost every car I drive other than the 'new' style Range Rover gives me serious backpain. Does anyone know of any vehicle cheaper to buy and run that is as comfortable.

[alphamale]

Absolutely, a Jeep Cherokee Ltd (so should have leather seats). This is the most comfortable car I have ever driven. You can get these at quite good prices in good condition. I have done 700 miles in 13 hours on a few occasions now, then I leap out at the other end, empty out all of the luggage and straight off down the beach. I think my old style Landcruiser was the worst. I thought I was dying by the time I had only done about 300 miles. I had a stiff back, sore bum and I was car sick.

[Buenchico]

I used to deliver vehicles for a living and drove everything from battered old Transit vans through to brand new, top-of-the range BMW's, Jaguars, etc. Your idea of comfort might not tie in with mine but, for what it's worth, here goes:

The most comfortable cars, albeit with a fairly high price-tag, I ever drove would have to be any of the Audi A-series (A4, A6, etc). Alfa Romeo was another manufacturer who I always rated high in the comfort stakes as well (although their low seats might not be right for your back problem). Other names with fairly high prices that I liked were BMW, Jaguar and (especially) Saab. If I was looking to buy something from that list (but I wanted to keep the purchase and running costs down) I'd opt for a 2nd hand Audi A4. (Not too expensive and decent fuel economy but, like everything in that list, spares and servicing don't come cheap).

If my budget was lower, and comfort was the main criterion, I'd be looking to buy a 2nd hand Rover. (75 model, if the budget stretches. 45 or 25 otherwise). I know that Rovers have hardly been popular cars - which is why they went bust - but for comfort they're hard to beat. (I often picked up Rover cars from the Lotus car factory in Norfolk - Lotus used Rovers for their company cars and drove them to a depot near Dudley. I never wanted to get out of the car at the other end - I felt so comfortable!).

Just for the record: The most uncomfortable cars I ever drove were the Suzuki Swift and (worst of all, by far) the Subaru Impreza.

Hoping this helps,

Chris

[KebabMeister]

I found Vauxhalls gave me serious backache.  I never had problems with Range Rovers though.  Have you lumbar control fitted to it?

Buenchico, I also found Rovers among the most comfiest, I think they were voted among the most comfiest seats back in the early 90s I think?

[KJN]

Make and model depend on your good self, Kebabmeister hat hit it on the nail, buy a car that has lumber support and all the seat adjustments you can get and there you have it, model the seat to your likings and you cant go wrong, The Vauxhall Signum has a good reputation for comfort, I own one and have never got out of the car with a problem as I am also a back sufferer, Good Luck

[mootyster]

vw passat. excelent value and some serious power engines.

[lucy-fur]

After owning a number of cars and driving neumerous others,an developing back problems I now have a Fiat Punto, the seats are adjustable and it has a "City" button which lightens the steering even more, this was designed to help park in tight spaces, but on days when my back is not so good it is useful during ordinary driving. I also find it very economical to run.