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New Car Blues

(Submitted by Jill Osborne, ICN Founder)

Here's my dilemma. I haven't bought a car in 10 years. Why? My IC is very car sensitive and, sometimes, even a short drive can provoke intense pain and/or pelvic floor muscle spasms. It's finally time for me to find a car that I can drive comfortably. I want to visit my friends and family who live more than an hour away again. I want to go on more family vacations and I want to be more mobile. But, it's been amazingly difficult. I've driven dozens of new and used cars with little luck. Because I know that I'm not the only one, I thought it would be helpful to assemble a list of cars that patients have found comfortable and/or painful! By the end of this article, I hope that you'll send me an email sharing your car suggestions and feedback.

My criteria are simple. I want a suspension that is soft and doesn't jar with every bump. I want a seat that is well padded and comfortable. I want my passengers and myself to be safe (i.e. front & side airbags) and the car reasonably reliable. I want to be able to carry cargo. Last but not least, I want it to be affordable. Is this too much to ask???

My first foray was with minivans. I thought that I could put a porta-potty in the back row, if needed, for long drives. I also frequently drive my elderly parents around town so comfortable seats was a priority. But, I quickly discovered that the third row seats were an obstacle. I wasn't strong enough to take them out by myself to make room for that porta potty. Luckily, two minivans had third row seats that folded into the floor: The Honda Odyssey and the Mazda MPV. Of the two, the Honda's suspension was awesome! It was the smoothest ride of any of the minivans but the seat cushions seemed very thin and weren't very comfortable for me. I also drove the 2002 Toyota Sienna, which had the most comfortable seats, but the suspension was worse that then Honda. (The new Sienna's also have a fold down third row seat). In any case, they were too pricey for me.

About six months ago, I decided to try small SUV's. Consumer Reports lists the Honda CR-V and the Toyota Rav4 as the best in the group. But, like the above, the Honda's seats were barely comfortable. The Toyota Rav4 was worse, as it had a truck suspension and bounced down the road. The Mitsubishi Endeavor, Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe were slightly more comfortable, but again, I was feeling those potholes all the way to my bladder. The Saturn Vue & Buick Rendezvous were contenders. Their ride was smooth and the seats were very comfortable. I was shocked to read, however, that the Saturn Vue, as well as most of the other small SUV's listed above, scored horribly ("poor") in the Institute of Highway Safety's new side crash results. The Buick has had so many recalls that it seems like a poor investment.

I've also driven a few sedans. The Volkswagen Passat & Jetta were quite nice but pricey. Last weekend, I drove a 2001 Volvo S80 (used, as there is no way that I could afford a new one) that was also very smooth. But the seats had bolsters (those cup like seats with higher sides) that were very uncomfortable. I've heard that Audi has an excellent suspension. Can anyone out there attest to that?

With respect to seat design, I find that flat seats with low side bolsters are the most comfortable. Many leather seats seem hard and, in the case of the Volvo, had an odd design in the stitching and cushions so that it felt like there was a brick right under my tailbone. Luckily, I much prefer fabric!

I'm hoping that you can help not only me, but other patients who are really struggling with car rides. If you're currently driving a car that is IC friendly, please send me an email to carsurvey@ic-network.com and share what type of car, year & model. Tell us why you like it. Are the seats comfortable? How's the suspension?? What else do you do to make your drive more comfortable? I also want to hear about cars that hurt. Hopefully, we'll be able to assemble a list that IC patients can use as a guide when they buy or rent cars. - Jill :)

Update 09/03 - After a year of trying, I've decided on the Buick Rendezvous. I went back and drove it again, and it was super smooth and comfortable. I'm concerned about quality but the ride was so good and so comfortable, that I think I'll risk it.

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