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Volvo V70 vs back pain - vintagew
I have for year driven Volvos, mainly because the seats allowed me to travel reasonably comfortably (I have arthritis). I traded up to a V70, buying from a garage who have known me for years, and now have a car with sports suspension, wonderful road-holding, and a very painful jarred spine.
I need to find a car which has both driver and passenger seats that adjust to give a horizontal base, with lumbar support. The seats I know to be ideal are in the new Volvo 4x4, the Toyota Landcruiser and the Lexus people carrier, but I can't afford either to buy or to run any of them.
Has anyone else had to move from Volvo because of the re-design? I'd be very grateful for advice about spine-friendly alternatives. I'd be reluctant to move to a much smaller vehicle, although I use the full capacity of the Volvo only when I fill it with wine in France!
Thanks.
Volvo V70 vs back pain - Adam {P}
How much money have you got to spend?
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Adam
Volvo V70 vs back pain - vintagew
£10,000 ideally, absolute maximum £15,000.I need to check the book price for the V70.
Thanks for fast response.
Volvo V70 vs back pain - Xileno {P}
It sounds like it's the low profile sports alloys and sports suspension that is causing the problem. My Renault is a bit hard on the road.

If you like the V70, maybe get a model with standard wheels?
Volvo V70 vs back pain - vintagew
You're right about the hard ride, but they also subtly changed the seats. I should test drive a V70 with standard wheels before giving up on it.
Volvo V70 vs back pain - BobbyG
Might be a lot cheaper to try and source a Volvo seat that you do know has the comfort you require, possibly from a breakers or whatever. Obviously dependant on electrics, side airbags etc but maybe worth exploring if you like everything else about the car?

I remember a few years ago my boss had a bad back and bought a Recaro orthopaedic seat and fitted it in.
Volvo V70 vs back pain - RichardW
If you want dead smooth ride, it's got to be a Citroen C5. Although I can't comment on the seats, it's got hydropneumatic suspension which is unrivalled for ride. Self levelling too for when you take it 'home' and fill it with wine...!!
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RichardW

Is it illogical? It must be Citroen....
Volvo V70 vs back pain - Flying Red
I second the C5 HDi. I drove back from Toulouse last week in a day with just a couple of stops. Very comfortable seat (in the Exclusive version) despite absence of lumbar support.

The hydractive suspension is great at smoothing out the roads. The C5 hasn't got the fashionable firm sporting suspension set up so has been marked down in reviews but there's no doubt it's a practical and comfortable cruiser.

I've had a few niggling problems but I've never been stranded at the roadside at my dealer has always sorted them promptly.

Otherwise I'd suggest you look at a nearly new Saab 9-5 because the ride is good and the seats are comfortable. The new 9-3 has great seats too and used are available below £15k.
Volvo V70 vs back pain - mike100
I thought Saab seats were generally recognised as the best for spine support - better even than Volvo. Also some A3 models have extendable horizontal bases on seats that are very supportive but also can be quite restrictive if you are of "broad" construction.
Volvo V70 vs back pain - cheddar
I have occasional back problems and generally find well shaped car seats (i.e. most now days) to be the best place to be. Approx 8 or 9 years ago I was laid up for a week or so, eventually managed to lower myself into the company Vectra SRi, everything was then in the right position and I was the most comforatble I had been for days.
Volvo V70 vs back pain - Happy Blue!
Any modern car with sports suspension is set up for the super smooth German and French motorways. No need for much suspension travel.

Try a V70 with 16" wheels and you may get a better ride. Possibly the cheapest way forward. Ask your dealer if he has a spare set of standard wheels, or a spare car with them on you can borrow, or even swap the wheels for a day. You may be surprised and there will be lots of people with base modesl looking to get the smarter wheels, who will pay you to swap over.
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Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive?
Volvo V70 vs back pain - NARU
Saabs are supposed to have great seats, but my back was agony after a couple of weeks with my 9-5 Aero. I switched to a BMW 3-series with the optional electric/sports/heated seats which was fantastic. I'm now on a Mondeo which is somewhere in the middle.
Volvo V70 vs back pain - vintagew
I'm sorry if this sounds ungracious, but if I could travel in 'most car seats' I would not have the problem I have asked for help with.
Volvo V70 vs back pain - cheddar
I'm sorry if this sounds ungracious, but if I could travel
in 'most car seats' I would not have the problem I
have asked for help with.


Apology accepted, I think the point is that most modern car seata are fairly sympathetic to back pain sufferers however it might be simply that the combination of your physique and symptoms are not compatible with the Volvo seats, yes you could try a V70 with different wheels etc however I suggest trying a wide range of different cars.