Car/SUV that suits someone with very bad back?

siobhan1983

Hi just wondering if anyone has any good recommendations on a good car or jeep for someone with a very bad back. Currently driving 12 Volvo S40 but finding it very low getting in and out of it. Seat is comfortable but I struggle getting in and out. Also need a decent size boot for sports gear, buggies etc. Can afford to put €5000 with the current car to trade in. Lots of back road driving to do and approx 250km a week driving. Thanks a million

bazz26

Since your driving a Volvo already why not look at the XC60?

lassykk

The most comfortable cars are French in my opinion. I don't have the world's greatest back and swear by the armchairs and soft suspension in my Peugeot.

An exclusive model C5 which comes with the air suspension would be my suggestion to test drive. A full leather version is more comfortable that the half leather equivalent.

siobhan1983

bazz26 wrote: »

Since your driving a Volvo already why not look at the XC60?

They are fairly out of my price range at the moment I’m afraid unless I go back in years. I love them though!

siobhan1983

bazz26 wrote: »

Since your driving a Volvo already why not look at the XC60?

They are fairly out of my price range at the moment I’m afraid unless I go back in years. I love them though!

kirving

For a bad back, has to be a Volvo. Driving a new Passat this week and I may as well be sitting on the floor as in the "ergoComfort" seat which is pure rubbish compared to my S40.

You may have to drop back a few years, but an XC60 would be in reach.

colm_mcm

Lexus NX has good seats IMO. Might be out of budget though.

AMKC

A Peugeot 3008 or 5008 if you want the boot to be bigger just leave the third row of seats down or what about a Skoda Octavia Scout or Superb Scout. All worth a look.

If you want something a bit leftfield I think something like this Fiat 500 is worth a look.

https://www.autotrader.ie/browse-used-cars/fiat/500l/used-2016-161-fiat-500l-1-3-multijet-county-londonderry-fpa-201710230571658

I seen one in white over the weekend a 131 and thought it looked really good and will not lose it easy in a carpark unlike so many other cars. They look much better in the metal.

zinzan

lassykk wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

We've gone through a few options over the years as my Mam has back issues so has similar requirements.

With bigger SUV types the highness of the car can also be a hinderance getting in and out - electric seats that you can raise and then lower for entry/exit may be a better bet.

I'd second the C5 from a comfort point of view though getting a decent nick one here with the hydractive suspension won't be easy. Ours is a Mark II - the latest version very rarely was specced with the hydractive suspension, esp. here in Ireland!

Another I'd suggest from experience would be the Volvo XC70? Not as soft as the C5 but still very comfortable and slightly higher than your S40 would be!

Mooooo

Would it be possible to replace/ adapt the drivers seat with one that can swivel to the right when getting in and out.? Perhaps a place that does things for wav' s and the like?

NIMAN

Can we ask what is wrong with your back, is it something long term and serious?

Perhaps if not, you should contact a physio and see if there is exercises or something which might help your back, rather than focusing on your car seats?

siobhan1983

NIMAN wrote: »

Can we ask what is wrong with your back, is it something long term and serious?

Perhaps if not, you should contact a physio and see if there is exercises or something which might help your back, rather than focusing on your car seats?

It is long term issues with my back. Some good weeks, some bad. I am attending treatment ongoing... you hardly think I’m going to change my car just because I’ve a brief occurance of a sore back?? I’m not that flippant about it and trust me I would rather not have to change my car. I’m just finding that my s40 is very low off the ground and I’m feeling the impact a lot. I’ve driven my parents v60 which is higher up and more comfortable that’s why I asked for recommendations not medical advice.Unfortunately I don’t have the budget for the newer v60 at the moment.

biko

I find Saab 93 seats great when I had a bad back, but yeah a bit low. Any SUV should be good as you pretty much just step into it.

AMKC

@OP Could you not afford to buy a car via hire purchase or PCP. There is great deals on PCP just important to make sure you understand it all and read the small print. You say you have 5k to put towards it that should more than cover any down payments on the car.
You could also look into getting a Credit Union loan maybe over 5 years. At least you would own the car then.

siobhan1983

AMKC wrote: »

@OP Could you not afford to buy a car via hire purchase or PCP. There is great deals on PCP just important to make sure you understand it all and read the small print. You say you have 5k to put towards it that should more than cover any down payments on the car.
You could also look into getting a Credit Union loan maybe over 5 years. At least you would own the car then.

I do too much mileage for a PCP. Have looked into it already. Have also heard bad things about those deals. Have credit union loan on existing car so that’s the way I’m going with it, just topping it up.

humberklog

Both myself and the OH have bad backs with on going issues. We'd to change car a fewer ago because of it (in particular needing an automatic as gears were no longer an option for her). We got a Suzuki Vitara and find it brilliant for our backs. Still have it- it's on '05 and we'll be reluctant to let it go but when we do it'll be Suzuki Vitara again more than likely and that's mostly because of our backs.

I don't know what the diesel engine is like in new ones, ours is petrol. But I'd recommend looking at Suzuki jeeps.

kerten

I would look at Nissan Quasqais and its variants.  I moved from a focus mk2 to 16 grand picasso last week and my occasional lower back pain is improving already

Edit: Missed existing car plus 5000 budget.