Recently I've developed this weird problem every time I drive my car. I feel uncomfortable with the seats no matter which position I try. Now before I go into details, is there a correct text book way of sitting? Like how far should your feet be from the pedals? Which part of your foot are you supposed to use to push the gas/brake pedals with; the toes, the bony part of your foot under your toes, or just push the pedal w/ your whole foot?

Also how far do you guys recline the seats? I tried with the recliner up like those non-reclining bucket seats and I've tried w/ the back reclined back but not really a "gangsta lean". Both ways are very noticeably different as I find it harder to drive the car "hard" if you're in a gangsta lean.

So my chief complaint is that I can't find that position where I can drive the car smoothly and be comfortable at the same time. If I have my legs stretched out a little too much then my shifts aren't as smooth...but if I have the seats pulled up too much then my leg gets uncomfortable. I used to think the s2k seats and seating position were perfect when I got to sit in them but now I'm starting to think it's not. The seats have no support and it kind of feels like the pedals aren't in the ideal spots either. I started to notice all this after sitting in the new bmw's...they really know how to make a comfortable and supportive seat.

 

back straight feet close enough to push pedals completely to the floor and arms slightly bent with hands on the wheel...pretty uncomfortable and goofy looking for an outsider,yet optimal for driving

 

but then again driving in comfort and driving in driving position dont go hand in hand,..just do what feels domfortable and natural

 

K so from what I have gathered from autocross books and autocross schools,
with the pedals depressed you should still have a slight bend in your foot. With your arms outstretched in front of you, your wrist should be flush with the top of the steering wheel. Your seat back should be straight up. Maybe a slight bend back but barely. Butt planted deep in the seat.
I push the pedals i use the part of my foot right under the toes. But tthat's personal preferance, not something someone told me.

 

Biomechanics are pretty individualized... I agree with dantediss: make sure you have full control of the pedals and steering wheel. Other than that, comfort is key.

 

i sit with the seat close enough for me to push all the pedals down all the way and my seat leaned back as far back as possible or "gangsta lean" i guess lol. even with the "gangsta lean" it is nothing compared to how i used to sit in my old car(s), which i really consider the "gangsta lean" but that is the more daily driving way..whenever i wanna have some fun and say hit the twisties, ill straighten out the back of the seat so that i feel like i have more control over the car

 

Thanks for the responses guys. I understand that the correct way to sit is for you to push the pedal all the way down but should my knees be bent even if I put the pedal all the way down? for example, i think my knees are still bent about 30 degrees the way I sit..

 

I was always taught the same thing dantediss said except your butt needs to be at the very back of the seats and the seat needs to be adjusted so that when you press the clutch all the way down your left leg is only half fully-extended. If you're having to stretch your leg out all the way to push the pedals it's too far. Arms, slightly bent at 10 and 2. The basic concept it to adjust the seat and your body so that you have access to manipulate the wheel, pedals, and shifter with the most ease and least complications.

BTW, Yes it does look goofy to an outsider but, after you get used to a correct position you'll never go back. Function over form.

 

You must be really short. I have only one choice for seating position: seat as far back as it will go.

 

Here's my standard regime when someone messes with my seat to get it back to normal:

start with the seat pretty much straight up,
move the seat forward so that you can put your HEEL on the clutch pedal and you're still able to fully depress it to the floor.

Then with reclining, I always have it so that if I make a fist, the whole thing passes the steering wheel-- so basically the steering wheel is at your wrist. I've found that this is the best position for driving aggressively, and heel-toeing.

It's different for everyone though. Depends on your knee placement when you drive.

Oh, and I'm 5'11.