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Seat Comfort (an idea that may help others)

27573 Views 41 Replies 28 Participants Last post by  AussieRedQV
Thought the following simple idea may help some others....

Before deciding on Giulia, one of my biggest concerns was the comfort (and particularly the seats). Several reviews by Car Mags also commented negatively about seat comfort (except sport seats....but you have to want everything else associated).
In particular, they all wrote that the Alfa seats are too short to give adequate thigh support (and also little cushioning).
Furthermore it was whacky that a car of this $ value should not allow the seat to tilt back or forward (without going into a Ti and adding a approx. $2200 upgrade for Lusso pkg.). At least if it would tilt somewhat, we could try to compensate for the inadequate thigh support (by adjusting tilt back if you know what I mean). I also could not determine that the Lusso seat gave any better seat support/comfort. The seat frame/design itself did not look more substantial. To me it seemed like just a leather design upgrade, but not a better seat.

Even when I looked at the Ti, to me the seats were identical to the base.....not very comfortable.

I can't remember the last time I had a vehicle where the seat portion only had 4 way adjustment (up/down front/back) and no tilt.

Ultimately, I had to make a decision and figured I would have to try and "make it work."

Well, I spent the better part of my first week with the car being so uncomfortable (and I'm only 5'7") with the seat, that I kept longing for my Lexus GS back (MUCH more comfortable and supportive...not even close) and thinking what did I do?!
No matter how I tried to adjust the seat the inadequate seat design coupled with no tilt at all made it impossible to get comfortable.
I figured it was a lost cause until I discovered the following simple idea that made it "tolerable."

I tend to sit closer to the wheel than the avg. driver (I think). I found that by simply moving the seat back more, somehow? it resulted in getting just a little more of MUCH NEEDED thigh support. By moving it back I guess it just decreases the angle at which your legs are. I guess it allows more of the driver leg to rest on seat edge.
I'm pretty young (and not achy in general) so don't get the wrong picture here.

The seat is still inadequate, but hope this simple idea helps someone.....
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I too like to sit closer than the typical person my height and I agree that the seat seems a bit short and that moving the seat back seems to improve the feel. The steering wheel can be pulled out/forward quite a bit, allowing for you to potentially sit further back but still have the steering wheel close.

I also wonder if over time the seats will "break in" so to speak and lead to a better feel. I'd imagine just a like a bed or a couch , the padding will start deflect a bit and over time lead to the sensation of the butt sinking a bit leading to better perceived thigh support.
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I too like to sit closer than the typical person my height and I agree that the seat seems a bit short and that moving the seat back seems to improve the feel. The steering wheel can be pulled out/forward quite a bit, allowing for you to potentially sit further back but still have the steering wheel close.

I also wonder if over time the seats will "break in" so to speak and lead to a better feel. I'd imagine just a like a bed or a couch , the padding will start deflect a bit and over time lead to the sensation of the butt sinking a bit leading to better perceived thigh support.

Yes, slide back and move steering closer.
I know it is a cliche, but Italian car seating works better for shorter leg longer arm people, like me, also Italians tend to hold the wheel a bit lower down, not on top, so the reach is easier when the seats are back.

Also over time I got used to or actually maybe the seats improved in softness not sure which, such that I am not complaining (base car seats, which seemed overly stiff upon purchase)
I think my sport seats may have "broken in" somewhat. Lumbar (which I usually crave more of) no longer seems excessive, though bolster adjustability seems limited to the point of being unnoticeable.
My issue with the lumbar on the sport seats is it resets to zero every time the car is locked, possibly every time it's stopped. It's not part of the memory function, no idea why. Doesn't take that long to redo it every drive but why can't it be memorized?
Am I the only one here who loves my Giulia seats? Base AWD Giulia Q4 with sports package.
I have never in five decades of driving, cars, trucks and Semi (25 years) had a seat that was
so comfortable and non-fatiguing. Feels, after I made the adjustments, like it was custom built
for me.

I'm 6-4 and 225lbs and my wife is 5-1 and 115lbs. We both find the seats very comfortable.
Our Giulia is 3 months old with 2500 miles. We recently took a 370 mile round trip drive up
to the mountains. Mix of freeway, country and mountain roads. It was a 12 hour trip with
about 9 hours of driving with numerous stops for sight seeing. I have some issues at times
with lower back problems. On this trip and other drives in the Giulia I have experienced zero
back discomfort.

Giulia's got my back! :smile2:
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My issue with the lumbar on the sport seats is it resets to zero every time the car is locked, possibly every time it's stopped. It's not part of the memory function, no idea why. Doesn't take that long to redo it every drive but why can't it be memorized?
Hmm, my lumbar does not reset, I have a TI with sport seats.
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My standard Quadrifoglio seats are phenomenal. Most comfortable seats ever.
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I have a Ti with the Lusso package and the seats are phenomenal. People who try them out always tell me they are the most comfortable seats they've ever tried.
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Hmm, my lumbar does not reset, I have a TI with sport seats.
Don't get me wrong, love the sport seats they are super comfortable. Very supportive, good diving position and with no sunroof plenty of headroom. I just don't like the fact that the lumbar resets, I had accepted that it was currently a bug for everyone after being told by the dealer that the sport seats don't memorize that setting. But if it's just my Giulia that doesn't do it and the dealer lied then I have two problems. So can anyone else confirm that their lumbar setting on the sport seat is memorized?
..... So can anyone else confirm that their lumbar setting on the sport seat is memorized?
It is on mine......
I think mine just stays in last position, I'll have to check if it is saved in memory.
Thought the following simple idea may help some others....

Before deciding on Giulia, one of my biggest concerns was the comfort (and particularly the seats). Several reviews by Car Mags also commented negatively about seat comfort (except sport seats....but you have to want everything else associated).
In particular, they all wrote that the Alfa seats are too short to give adequate thigh support (and also little cushioning).
Furthermore it was whacky that a car of this $ value should not allow the seat to tilt back or forward (without going into a Ti and adding a approx. $2200 upgrade for Lusso pkg.). At least if it would tilt somewhat, we could try to compensate for the inadequate thigh support (by adjusting tilt back if you know what I mean). I also could not determine that the Lusso seat gave any better seat support/comfort. The seat frame/design itself did not look more substantial. To me it seemed like just a leather design upgrade, but not a better seat.

Even when I looked at the Ti, to me the seats were identical to the base.....not very comfortable.

I can't remember the last time I had a vehicle where the seat portion only had 4 way adjustment (up/down front/back) and no tilt.

Ultimately, I had to make a decision and figured I would have to try and "make it work."

Well, I spent the better part of my first week with the car being so uncomfortable (and I'm only 5'7") with the seat, that I kept longing for my Lexus GS back (MUCH more comfortable and supportive...not even close) and thinking what did I do?!
No matter how I tried to adjust the seat the inadequate seat design coupled with no tilt at all made it impossible to get comfortable.
I figured it was a lost cause until I discovered the following simple idea that made it "tolerable."

I tend to sit closer to the wheel than the avg. driver (I think). I found that by simply moving the seat back more, somehow? it resulted in getting just a little more of MUCH NEEDED thigh support. By moving it back I guess it just decreases the angle at which your legs are. I guess it allows more of the driver leg to rest on seat edge.
I'm pretty young (and not achy in general) so don't get the wrong picture here.

The seat is still inadequate, but hope this simple idea helps someone.....
Wife and I test drove all 3 seats in the 2.0 Giulia.
Almost 300 miles total.
FYI, we're both between 5'7"-5'9", 120-175lbs.
The sport seats felt great for about 15 minutes. Then they were too snug, no where to put your elbows, especially for the passenger.
The base seats were ok.Not bad, not great, but.....
The Ti Lusso Cannoloni Luxury Leather were the best by far.
Since this will be our daily driver, long haul road trip car, comfy seats for long distances are a must.
I have a QV.
In reply to stating “sport seats are too snug”, which I am would think are similar to the QV seats.

I am 250+ pounds, 6 foot tall a muscular - I find the seat to be a good fit, very comfortable, and not too snug. They certainly would hold well on a race track - no question.

This certainly isn’t a 1970 Buick or Cadillac seat - like a living room sofa...
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Apologies, back to the lumbar setting memory - jwq2 and riparke both have lumbar that remembers. I think mine stays in the same position vertically but the amount of lumbar support resets to zero. I should have been clearer about the aspect of the lumbar I was talking about. I was given a printout by the dealer headed 2017 - GA -Alfa Giulia - 2.0L i4 Di turbo engine w/ESS complt that says in part

" The Comfort Seat Wheel Module (CSWM) is installed on the front part of the drivers seat on the lower side. The module carries out the following functions:
* It manages the drivers seat movement buttons
* It directly controls the drivers seat movement motors
* It receives signals from the seat memory switches (1-2-3)
* It manages the driver's sear position memory and the position of the wing mirrors
* It controls and manages heating of the driver's and passenger's seats and of the steering wheel
For further information on the CSWM, (refer to 08 - Electrical/8E - Electronic Control Modules/ MODULE, Comfort Seat and Wheel / Description and Operation).

The lumbar position movements for both seats are managed directly by the switches (one per seat)

The backrest width adjustment for both seats is managed directly by a pair of switches (one per seat)"

So I would expect that the lumbar and backrest width to stay the same and you can't memorize different settings that will change when you push a memory button to recall a position setting which is all fine. But I wish it also kept the front to back amount of lumbar support. I'm thinking it doesn't because the amount of lumbar is provided by some sort of inflatable bladder at least that is what it feels like on mine not a piece of padding that is being motored into place.

Perhaps its just AR providing us with a set of pre flight settings to make to give the engine a few seconds to start to come up to temp? Disable auto engine stop, check. Reset lumbar support, check... etc
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Apologies, back to the lumbar setting memory - jwq2 and riparke both have lumbar that remembers. I think mine stays in the same position vertically but the amount of lumbar support resets to zero. I should have been clearer about the aspect of the lumbar I was talking about. I was given a printout by the dealer headed 2017 - GA -Alfa Giulia - 2.0L i4 Di turbo engine w/ESS complt that says in part

" The Comfort Seat Wheel Module (CSWM) is installed on the front part of the drivers seat on the lower side. The module carries out the following functions:
* It manages the drivers seat movement buttons
* It directly controls the drivers seat movement motors
* It receives signals from the seat memory switches (1-2-3)
* It manages the driver's sear position memory and the position of the wing mirrors
* It controls and manages heating of the driver's and passenger's seats and of the steering wheel
For further information on the CSWM, (refer to 08 - Electrical/8E - Electronic Control Modules/ MODULE, Comfort Seat and Wheel / Description and Operation).

The lumbar position movements for both seats are managed directly by the switches (one per seat)

The backrest width adjustment for both seats is managed directly by a pair of switches (one per seat)"

So I would expect that the lumbar and backrest width to stay the same and you can't memorize different settings that will change when you push a memory button to recall a position setting which is all fine. But I wish it also kept the front to back amount of lumbar support. I'm thinking it doesn't because the amount of lumbar is provided by some sort of inflatable bladder at least that is what it feels like on mine not a piece of padding that is being motored into place.

Perhaps its just AR providing us with a set of pre flight settings to make to give the engine a few seconds to start to come up to temp? Disable auto engine stop, check. Reset lumbar support, check... etc
Lumbar support is usually implemented with a bladder that is inflated or deflated by a pump. If your lumbar support is resetting to 0 while other folk's holds the last setting, you most probably have an air leak.
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One car with Lusso seats would add a bunch to my payment it’s $4k more
Lumbar support is usually implemented with a bladder that is inflated or deflated by a pump. If your lumbar support is resetting to 0 while other folk's holds the last setting, you most probably have an air leak.
Your diagnosis was spot on I did have a leak and the whole inflator system and bladders were replaced. Now it works as designed and provides support for more than a minute at a time.
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I would love it if someone figured out an OEM+ way to affordably retrofit my Ti Sport seats with the seat angle adjustment (tilting) feature available on the Lusso? seats.
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Sparco seats in my QV are perfect. So darn comfortable.
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