Seating Position

[alfadoc]

I'm about two years into 911 ownership, loving every minute, and still getting to know the car.

After driving Italian cars for decades, I've become very comfortable with the "arms straight out" posture that Alfas and Fiats put you in. I generally adjust the seat in my cars so that my left leg is fully extended with the clutch in. Anyway, to the point, I have found that on the 911, adjusting the seat as I normally would tends to make me a little lazy in getting the floor mounted clutch completely buried on every shift, and it impacts the shift quality. Sliding the seat up one notch changes everything, and the shifts are better. It feels oddly close, but I am adapting.

So, just curious, do any of you get a little cozier to the steering wheel in your 911 vs your other cars?

[J-Mac]

I believe the common guidance for seating distance is as follows - extend your arms straight ahead over the top of the steering wheel, your wrists should rest on top of the wheel at this point.

I sit quite close with decent bend in the arms, back to my racing days I guess. But not as close as the NASCAR dudes/gal. They're on top of the wheel like myopic grannies.

[JohnJL]

You can loosen the bolts through the seat rails to the mounts and move the seat a little fore/aft if 1 click seems too far an adjustment. The bolts thread to captive nuts that have some play in them. You can also open up the holes in the seat with a dremel.

The 911 is a sporting car, so its proper to have the wheel a bit closer and arms bent a touch. Alfas and Fiats...well those owners need to keep their arms fully stretched out so they can practice reaching all the oily bits deep down in the engine bay that continuously fall off/fall apart/self destruct! ;-)

[matthewb0051]

But not as close as the NASCAR dudes/gal. They're on top of the wheel like myopic grannies.[/QUOTE]

The NASCAR dudes/gal are grannies. They only turn in one direction, hardly consider that racing.

[porschenut]

The great Vic Elford provides a lengthy explanation of how to adjust your seating and body position for maximum performance in his Porsche High Performance Driving Handbook. You should be able to turn the steering wheel lock to lock (using both hands) without raising either shoulder off of the backrest. Both arms and legs should never be fully extended. Lots of great info in that book.

[Oh Haha]

Originally Posted by porschenut

The great Vic Elford provides a lengthy explanation of how to adjust your seating and body position for maximum performance in his Porsche High Performance Driving Handbook. You should be able to turn the steering wheel lock to lock (using both hands) without raising either shoulder off of the backrest. Both arms and legs should never be fully extended. Lots of great info in that book.

Should be required reading for any sports car enthusiast!!

I found myself sitting further forward in the 911 like others but once you get used it any other position feels awkward.

[mreid]

Being 6'4" when I replaced the interior in my 74 hotrod, I welded up brackets that allowed me to lower the seat and push it back several inches (no back seat). I then used a deeper dish steering wheel and extended the shifter slightly to balance arm and leg distances. It is now perfect for me, but my 5'11" wife can't drive it. Two birds with one stone.

[TheSt|G]

Arms straight out to the wheel and leg fully extended for the clutch couldn't be any more wrong.

Ideally you want a bend in your knee when using any of the pedals and your wrists to break cleanly over the top of the wheel when your shoulders are pressed into your seat back.

[alfadoc]

Maybe I'll move the seat in the S2 up a click too.

The Vic Elford book is on the short list. Thanks for the mention.

Originally Posted by TheSt|G

Arms straight out to the wheel and leg fully extended for the clutch couldn't be any more wrong.

Ideally you want a bend in your knee when using any of the pedals and your wrists to break cleanly over the top of the wheel when your shoulders are pressed into your seat back.

[Oh Haha]

and no "gangsta lean"!

[canamfan]

Do you have an extended hub or regular steering wheel hub? This may attribute to your position relative to pedals/steering wheel, seat, dash & overall comfort while appropriating the bent knee & arms.

[alfadoc]

Standard, 3 spoke wheel. About 2" from back of wheel rim to edge of dash.

Originally Posted by canamfan

Do you have an extended hub or regular steering wheel hub? This may attribute to your position relative to pedals/steering wheel, seat, dash & overall comfort while appropriating the bent knee & arms.