Hey all, I'm late to the 2005-2009 forum. I'm selling my 1999 Mustang and have just bought a 2009. One annoyance I've found, and I hope there is a solution: I drive the car daily, and stow my laptop bag behind the driver's seat. In the '99, I could use the seat release to put things in the back, and the seat returned to my preferred position. On the new car, it seems that the seat back release causes the seat to return to its upright and locked position. Am I doing something wrong?

 

Nope, it's just a crappy design. One of my major pet-peeves about this car.

 

Also if you even look at it wrong it will break off. I've been through 3 of em on the driver's seat, now I just use the lower lever and dont have a **** on that seat.

 

Well, that sucks! Like I said, my ten year old Mustang got it right! Plus, on the '99 there's enough room between the seat back and the front edge of the back seat that I don't often have to use the seat release.

 

i just use the back of the top part up seat pull up and deposit put back where I need it or plan "B" if the top is down just toss it in somewhere !

 

I just push the trunk button on remote.Stuff is out of sight and safer incase of a accident.

 

I don't really know the answer so this is just speculation... but I think it could have something to do with not crushing your back seat passenger unintentionally. Notice that when you push the seat back without the lever, it stops you when the seat is at a forward position that you would never sit in. Just a thought.

 

If I could change one thing about this car, this would be it! I do the exact same drill every morning with my laptop bag.

 

Same here...how is it that the seats in a car designed after 2000 have an inferior design to those in other Ford cars designed in 1990 (Ford Mondeo - sold as the Contour/ Mercury Mystique in the US; Ford Escort; Ford Focus; Ford Fiesta)...?

 

This is my biggest annoyance with the S197 as well. Drives me freaking nuts. When i move it, the first mile of driving consists of my going up and down with the seat trying to find that sweat spot.

 

though that'd be quite easy in VA, especially in the summer...lol



sorry...I'll get my coat...

 

doh!! "SWEET" , my brain wasn't functioning this morning.

 

it sucks...after a few weeks you'll get used to it- the first day I got mine I was wondering if the tip/slide rails from our windstar would fit- with kids was a pain at first, but soon you can get it back 'by feel' the first try

 

+1, it really sucks.

 

Yes, I just try not to move it, very annoying.

BTW they fixed the breaking thing in '07 and now they're completely indestructible.
You can’t even remove them if you want to.

 

I use the seat belt retainer strap as a guide, myself. Power seat, by the way, in case that matters... more on that in a second.

As the seat is being leaned back from the foward position, I keep the latch open. I move the back until the seat belt retainer strap is taut, then back off just a little so it slackens just a little bit. That's the position. Easy as cake.

The seat I don't move up and down, tilt... but I do move back and forth for cleaning, and when the back is in that position, the armrest on the console just matches right up to the bolster where they meet.

That's it. Awesome's driver seat positioning for houtex 101.