Topic: Toyota Tacoma (and 4Runner) seating ergonomics suck!!

[ktm525]

I just got back from checking out the new 2005 Tacoma. It is a real nice truck, although a little pricy like Toyotas usually are. The interior materials, swithches and seats are top notch. A step above the new Dodoge Dakota for sure. What makes me mad and why I have to scratch the new Tacoma off my list (Dakota / Tacoma / Frontier)  is that the front seat ergonomics are horrible. The seats themselves are great, very comfy and well bolstered, however they are too low. They seat bottoms are only about 10"s off of the floor. It feels like you are sitting in a chair with the legs cut in half. Your feet are way out in front of you in a quasi horizontal position. I don't mind this in a low slung sports car but in a truck it just isn't comfy. Anyone close to 6' will have their legs way out in front of them so they have to reach arms extended to grab the wheel. I noticed this same seating postition in the 4Runner. I blame this on Toyota's insistence of a high ground clearence coupled with the traditional body on frame construction and the desire to keep the roofline low. The Highlander and the Tundra had a more "leg vertical position and were very comfy. Its too bad because I love the rest of the new Tacoma, just not the seating position.

[davidy]

I have the same complaint about the newer Corollas (2001 or 2002? model year)....seats on my friend's Corolla are too low for my taste...glad that I just ride it occasionally.

Too bad, I was looking forward to seeing how well the 2005 Tacoma and the 2005 Nissan Frontier performs.

Dave

[whistler]

The 2003 Corolla has bad ergonomics too.

It has that new raised seat design that a lot of cars come with now... The Echo, etc have it too. Ford calls it "Command Seating" on the Five Hundred.  

I think it is designed to give insecure people that "SUV command" feeling. It is great if you are a short woman, but if you are average sized or tall it just feels awkward and uncomfortable on long drives.

[ovr50]

Are there no short men that it would be "great" for also??? Why is it "great" only for short women?

[Mdxtasy]

Shnak Attack!  

[safristi]

Brigitte...cue up "Short People" music...now...

"they got little cars that go beep beep..."

[Brig]

At your service, my liege.  (Enjoy it while it lasts, buddy...)  
   
Short People
By Randy Newman

Short People got no reason
Short People got no reason
Short People got no reason
To live

They got little hands
Little eyes
They walk around
Tellin' great big lies
They got little noses
And tiny little teeth
They wear platform shoes
On their nasty little feet

Well, I don't want no Short People
Don't want no Short People
Don't want no Short People
`Round here

Short People are just the same
As you and I
(A Fool Such As I)
All men are brothers
Until the day they die
(It's A Wonderful World)

Short People got nobody
Short People got nobody
Short People got nobody
To love

They got little baby legs
That stand so low
You got to pick 'em up
Just to say hello
They got little cars
That go beep, beep, beep
They got little voices
Goin' peep, peep, peep
They got grubby little fingers
And dirty little minds
They're gonna get you every time
Well, I don't want no Short People
Don't want no Short People
Don't want no Short People
'Round here

[Mdxtasy]

That's funny.....nice one Bridge.

[ovr50]

Now Bridge has morphed into a Saffy !!! Good one, Bridge, composing (borrowing) songs and tearing a new ahole for the poor girl w the GTi. You're one tough cookie.

[Drivesideways]

No wonder Bugs is trying to sneak out of the picture!

[Brig]

I just got all excited because, FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, Saffy addressed me by name, and in a normal sentence, to boot.  Garsh.  I think he's sweet on me.

As for that VW clutch question... I've been told that I don't suffer fools gladly.  I try to keep a lid on that gremlin, but that post just threw me right over the edge.  

Reminds me of the time a female coworker pulled up to our building.  She drives an old but cute white Cabrio.  It was making a hell of a noise, like it had a seized rear caliper.  When I commented on it, she said, and I quote:  "That's okay.  I don't hear it when my window's rolled up."

I kid you not.

Brigitte

[ovr50]

Bridge - is that your Lab? What a good-looking dog - love dogs. Labs are so kind and moochy, gotta love 'em. Name?

[Brig]

Actually, it's not her, but certainly a dead ringer for her as a puppy.

Her name is Daisy.  She's the bestest dawg ever...

Brigitte

[whistler]

"Are there no short men that it would be "great" for also??? Why is it "great" only for short women? "

Cause short men don't drive those cars, they have big trucks

[Corey]

Interesting of you to point this out Ktm525. I've always liked the Toyota 4x4's (despite not really being a truck person) and checked out the 2004 version at last years Auto Show. I had exactly the same problem. Nice truck but as soon as I sat in it I realized I could never own one. The floor seems too high (or seat way too low). Very odd ergonomics.

[Shnak]

Welcome to my world! That's pretty much how I feel in EVERY vehicle I sit in.

[Drivesideways]

Corey, I noticed that when I sat in the original Pathfinder when it first came out.  It had a car-like seating position with your legs quite horizontal...at least compared to North American trucks of the day.  The outgoing Frontier looks like it would be the same.  It seemed strange to me then and I imagine it would seem even stranger now that more upright seating is the norm, even in cars.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Corey, ditto every word.