Hi all,

Just bought a Disco 2 (facelift) and we're loving it, with one MAJOR exception - It is giving me a bad back ache after driving it from only about 20 mins at a time!

I don't know why this is - it could be the seats or possibly the clutch (which is heavier than the renault clio I used to drive - although, I am told, quite light for a Disco) putting strain on my back.

I've got an appointment with my doctor coming up but just wanted to see if anyone on here has experience similar or has any suggestions? (other than sell it!)

I have tried adjusting the lumbur support and also using an additional lumbur support cushion however this only seems to have made the problem worse!

ANY advice/suggestions would be very welcome indeed!

Thanks,

Toby

toby_2009 said:

Hi all,

Just bought a Disco 2 (facelift) and we're loving it, with one MAJOR exception - It is giving me a bad back ache after driving it from only about 20 mins at a time!

I don't know why this is - it could be the seats or possibly the clutch (which is heavier than the renault clio I used to drive - although, I am told, quite light for a Disco) putting strain on my back.

I've got an appointment with my doctor coming up but just wanted to see if anyone on here has experience similar or has any suggestions? (other than sell it!)

I have tried adjusting the lumbur support and also using an additional lumbur support cushion however this only seems to have made the problem worse!

ANY advice/suggestions would be very welcome indeed!

Thanks,

Toby

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you are not used to the clutch action yet,it is bound to be heavier than your clio,but you will get used to it.

Funningly enough I have the reverse problem with my D2. I suffer with constant back problems which goes away when seated in the car. Maybe you too have a medical problem.

I have arthritis in my spine and find I have no comfort problems in my 04 Landmark but mine is an auto.

I have had this problem before, I've had many vans with work, peugeots, vw's, ford connects, transits, mercs. When I have ever had a vw caddy it causes me so much discomfort I end up sleeping on the floor at night, I used to have my son stand on my upper back after work to relieve the pain but he got a bit heavy. I have never had this problem in any other vehicle, from bike to lorry and everything in between, even other Volkswagen's it's just the caddy van. I've had 4 in 8 years and they're all the same. However, if I had a disco 2 and it did it I would simply change the seat.

Hi Toby and welcome.
As someone who has had on/off back issues for the last 25 years I thought Id chip in with some comments!

Firstly you may want to think twice about seeing a Doctor, I have had MUCH better results seeing a Chiro, Docs will just dish out anti inflammatory drugs and pain killers but really cant do much else other than to refer you to a hospital/Chiro/Osteopath etc, you may then wait months for an appointment. Plus your back issue (if you do have one) will now be on your patient record, forever.

After my second injury I went to a Chiro who was great, paid £300 for an MRI, got it in 7 days, worth every penny!

Anyway you may not have a back issue so heres a few tips, gained over the last two decades!

As the others have said, you will feel a huge difference in the weight of the clutch, your left leg will feel stiff and ache for a few days, then you wont notice it after a while.

Driving position is very important, ALWAYS sit up straight, dont slouch to one side, have you noticed how many drivers seem to sit as though they have 200kg sitting on their left shoulder! Sitting upright keeps your pelvis level.

Make sure you are the correct distance from the steering wheel, sit up straight, shoulders against the back of the seat, arms out front, you should be able to put your wrists on top of the wheel, move the seat until you can, you will probably end up closer than you feel comfortable with at first, but it will stop you stretching.

I have the lumbar support fairly hard but everyone is different, so adjust as required.

If your driving for a while, take a break every 2 hours.

My Disco seats are ok, not the best, best seats for me EVER, 2001 Saab 93 hatchback, drove from Glasgow to London once, 5.5 hours, non stop, jumped out when I got home, perfect!! That was 6 months after being diagnosed with a prolapsed L1 disc!

Give yourself a bit of time, SUV driving positions are different to saloon cars, my D2 is a commercial so I still have to do the van drivers "craning" over the steering wheel at some junctions but I just got back from a drive to Germany, many hours driving, no back pain at all!

Hope this helps, PM me if you want some links to back stuff, Im sure I have some more info from when it was really bad!

Mark