To ask for a car for tall DHs back

[DHsPoorBack]

Bit of a weird one.

DH is very tall and has to do a lot of driving for work. He needs a car big enough for him to sit in, so things Fiesta sized are way out, and we've slowly worked our way through various estates and 4x4s, all of which have given him terrible back ache.

He's essentially after a sofa on wheels, uber comfy. Debating a landcruiser, but they are pretty hard to come by and quite dear for what they are. So, can I ask, if you have an extra large DH, what is the comfiest thing they've driven?

On the tried and "no" list so far:
Audi Q7
Nissan Pathfinder
VW Amarok
Volvo XC90
Mitsubishi L200
BMW estates
VW Touraeg
Range Rover (all models, bar Velar)

He finds the seats too hard on everything, and lacking in any real support, and anything over a 2hr drive can render him quite seized up and immobile for the next few days. Not too fussed on whether it's a 2023 or a 2003 plate, comfort is the key.

Thank you in advance!

We test drove one of those...found that the very elevated position of the foot operated hand brake smacked our shins.

Skoda Kodiaq

Have you ever thought of becoming a counsellor?

I’ve got a very bad back and a very tall DH who has back problems.

Our current car is a VW Tiguan Elegance. It’s a 21 plate. It’s the most comfortable car we’ve ever had. It’s the only car I’ve had in the past 15yrs that I can sit in for more than 2hrs and get out without crying

It doesn’t have leather seats, which I find is better because it means I don’t slip around. It does have heated seats which helps immensely with the pain. The seats are neither hard or soft, height adjustable and have lumbar support so there’s lots of potential to make them fit.

We had a BMW prior to this. It was comfortable to a point, but the seats were leather which I found slippery so I tensed myself to keep still IYSWIM which caused me more pain.

DH is 6'7 and our old car was a Citroen cactus. That was great when it was just us.

Now with kids we have a Skoda kodiaq which is super comfy.

My Peugeot 5008 is amazingly comfortable x

Could you change the seats? Might be a stupid suggestion but when I had a fun car the rest of the club were forever swapping standard seats for sportier ones, so wondering if comfy aftermarket seats are a thing?

Try the Mazda 6 - it felt like sitting in an armchair in front

It’s huge but we have a Mercedes Viano - the seats in ours are leather and heated with arm rests so they really do feel like armchairs! The heated seat is key for my back, even in summer I put it on low for long journeys it seems to help with that horrible spasm pain when I’ve sat for too long in the same position.

Was going to suggest a Mazda 6. My husband has one and loves it. For me it's too 'armchair' like- I prefer to be more upright.

Any Volvo SUV. They have the most comfy seats and are built for tall scandis!

Yeah. I'd put money on this being more at the core of the issue than the car seat.

I'm not a physio, but I am a personal trainer. Men — especially taller men — have a tendency to slump when they sit with their shoulders rounded forwards. This puts pressure on certain points throughout the back, around the hip joint, and parts of the ribcage.

It's especially common in blokes who aren't especially physically active. (No aspersions cast on your husband there — you don't say whether he's physically active or not; I'm talking more generally.)

With driving especially, because you've got arms elevated from the shoulder joint (to grasp the steering wheel) this will exacerbate all of the above issues too.

It's suggesting this to me because you've tried so many different types of car, including Volvos and larger Range Rovers, both of which generally have very supportive seating. So I'd be inclined to think it's postural with him, not a car problem.

Dp whose tall swears by his jag. It's 20 years old, reliable as anything, drinks the petrol of course but is emission zone compliant thankfully.

I prefer my smaller modern car because I'm more interested in Apple airplay and cup holders to be honest, the passenger seat of the jag is comfortable though, just hate driving it as I'm too short!

Should add the jag is considerably more comfortable than my modern mid priced car (just no way to play Spotify!)

My DH is 6.5 and we have a Honda CRV. He's says it's the only car he's ever been comfy in!

My ex is 6'6" and currently drives a ford kuga but also got on well with a cmax in the past

I find heated seats, massage function and an auto all help my back.

Sorry, but I don’t think the issue is the seats in the cars or his height, I think he should get his back checked out. He may have something like a slipped or swollen disc. He shouldn’t be seized up and immobile after a two hour drive.

Volvo V90 cross country. Seats are Uber comfortable and if you get air suspension, it drives like a dream

My Ex DP is 6ft6 and finds the Audi a4 and BMW's comfy

He needs a Back Friend. It fits on chair and is really very very good. Can't recommend enough

My DH is tall and I have a serious back problem caused by illness. I agree with pp recommending the CRV, Lexus ES and Tiguan for decent lumbar support. A very soft car seat won’t help support DH’s spine in the right way.

It’s really important that your DH takes short breaks between his journeys to walk around and stretch his legs whatever car he drives.

Him losing weight and getting medical care for his back is going to be easier and cheaper than trying to find a car to fit him as his issues will just get worse over time as he ages until he becomes incapacitated.

Try gp, diet, exercise, physical therapy, chiropractor.

Mitsubishi outlander

I know it sounds odd but have you tried a mini? They are actually really tall cars (have high roofs) and the front seats can have loads of room once the seats are pushed back, my front seat goes all the way to the back seat. My dad is tall and he was really surprised at just how much room there is

@gogohmm You could get a new head unit put in, which will do the ‘mirroring’ for iPhone or Android, and also up-to-date satnavving from Waze or Google Maps. I’m thinking of doing that for my old jalopy.