Standard Seats vs electric adjustment or comfort seats

[jonclare]

Getting close to ordering A6 Avant SE and have had an extended test drive over the weekend. The standard seats are difficult for me to get comfy in - main issue seems to be the angle of the seat base.

I can't find a way to adjust this using the manual controls. Can someone who has the electrically adjustable seats confirm whether the angle of the seat base can be adjusted or whether only up and down is available. The brochure says this is possible but I'm not sure why electric is possible but manual is not - I would have thought both would be available or neither.

Also, those with the comfort seats, it says that the seat rake is adjustable, only I'm not sure what the rake is - can someone advise!

Finally, for those that went for either electric or comfort seats over the standard seats, what made you chose the option you went for.

Thanks in advance.

Jon

[Gwynmawr]

Jon, sorry can't answer re electric, but I share your frustration with the standard manual seats. See my previous post here

Driving position, SE spec.

The seat base angle is, as you say, the issue, combined with lack of lumbar support. If I was ordering from new I'd be tempted to go for the £650 sport seat option which give far more comprehensive adjustment.

[diecastsink]

I have comfort seats, main reason was the ability to set leg support (extending from seat base) correctly to shorty Mrs. In sports seat, this is hard part extending towards steering wheel, a bit upright direction and thus taking too much distance from backrest even if pulled backwards. In comfort seat, it is a curved one rolling out from a base, which makes the feeling much better. Also you have adjustment for front/back of seat base (angle) plus side support for your but and back. Great, I would say.Price 3500€ with Milano leather.

[ukgroucho]

The seat base angle is adjustable on the sports seats - I think this is what seat rake means, although in some cars it is just the front of the seat, not sure if it's just the front or the whole seat base with the sports seats but I do know that it made a huge difference to my comfort on long distance runs when I finally worked out I could change it and pulled it up a few notches. Also the length of the seat base is adjustable on sports seats, allowing you to get the right amount of support along the length of your thigh out towards your knees.

Sadly all of this is manual adjustment (my old C6 A6 had electric seats) but in reality not a big deal unless someone else will drive the car frequently - you tend to get it set to your own best position and leave it.

The sports seats also have better support at the sides (abdomen and thigh) and also electric (go figure) lumbar support.

I'm a pretty average build and 5'10" and have been able to get the seats set up so I am comfortable even on pretty long runs (longest so far is just shy of 3 hours in one hit). My old C6 A6 seats were comfy but after that length of run I'd occasionally get out and have a niggly hip, no so with the sports seats.

I'm sure that the comfort seats do all of the above and more - you can also opt for the seat ventilation option (I have heated seats all round)... I'd quite like the ventilated seats having tried them in a rental SUV in the US. BUT comfort seats and ventilation are both £££... If the sports seats give you enough adjustment options (and they do for me) then the extra cash is available for another toy or two.

[Allroad_2013]

If you go for the sports seats, you'll get the tilt adjustment and you can extend the front edge of the seat under your thighs. They are also nicely padded too, so not like the very rigid sports seats you get in some cars.

If you're thinking of heated seats then you'll have to add the electric lumber adjustment (lord knows why!) for the standard seats, which is standard with the sports seats, making the upgrade about £395.

See if you can find an A6 at the dealers with the sports seats (S-line?) and try them out.

[ukgroucho]

The optional sports seats are the same as the standard S-line seats except they do not have the S-line logos.

[ScottyA6]

The S-Line/ Sport seats are a lot more comfortable than those in my (soon to be ex) Jag XF Diesel 'S' even though in the Jag they are all electric adjustment, heated & cooled.Plenty more shoulder support, wider in the squab, just more comfortable really. I drove an SE with standard seats and that was the main reason I went for the S-Line.

[Passatier3]

I generally go for sports seats in any car I have for the longer seat squab (I'm 6'1") and better support and the sports seats in the A6 don't disappoint.

I've done Warwick to York, half hour stop, and then back again and had no problems comfort wise. I haven't even tried extending the seat squab out, it's fine as it is.

[jonclare]

Thanks all. I will try out the sports seats this weekend.

Final question - with memory seats, I know the memory is in the key, but is there also a button to press as my wife and I often share the driving on long journeys and wouldn't want to have to change keys if we could avoid it.

[diecastsink]

There is a memory for two keys, remembering (if allowed in MMI) seat, air cond, steering wheel, ext mirrors and drive select status for both. In the driver's door are two memory buttons, which can be used to change the set of seating related settings (not air cond and ADS) while "the other key" is in use. The memory can be locked to prevent someone changing the settings permanently. Current positions are stored when you lock the car, but the stored setting remains in button memory. So when you fine tune your seat, exit car, return, it stays but the "original" stored can be fetched with memory button.

Passenger seat has own memories, which are not affected by the key used to open doors, so store your own settings as "1" and hers as "2" for both door's memories. Passenger seat can also adjusted from driver's seat buttons, or matched with the current driver's seat position. After the other key has been used, by unlocking and opening driver's door, driver seat et al are set so wait a second to run the seat automatically into correct position. Steering wheel, when easy entry activated, lowers down when you start The Engine and raises up when shut down & open drivers door.

I wonder, who first invents eye/sight detect feature for rear view mirror to be adjusted correctly?