I have a Kia Sorento. The seats don't have that curve on the edges. You might check into one of those.

I haven't had hip replacements, but I have the same problem with contoured desk chairs. The one I have now is nearing the end of its useful life, but I dread shopping for another because it's so hard to find a decent chair with a flat seat. Best of luck with your search!

Could you get a new (or newer) engine for your LaCrosse?

Check out Honda & Kia. Do these seats look better for you? If not I will keep looking.

Honda CR-V

And Kia Soul

How costly would it be to switch the seats in the LaCrosse and Avalon, could that be done?

Unless the seats are from another version of your car, installing new seats is usually a lot more work than it first appears: what looks like it might take a few hours often in fact takes a few days. Also, when changing seats, there are safety, legal and insurance implications.

Could you have a pad made for the seat? I do agree with a well maintained car should give many miles of service! I have two trucks that are over 20 years old and both are going strong! I do understand the peace of mind that a new car can give though and Toyotas are great cars! I would highly suggest a seat pad really, that may be your only answer because the new seats do seem contoured for "our comfort".

Last year I traded in my '02 Sonata for a 2011 Sonata. Mine had over 300,000 km on it (almost 200,000 miles). When the fellow started it, he was real surprised that it started to quickly, with no turn over. It was nicely maintained.

if you google what car to buy after hip replacement you'll find a lot of good threads

"Also, when changing seats, there are safety, legal and insurance implications."

Legal and insurance implications? Seriously? We have Fiero seats in one of our MG's and Chevy Cavalier seats in another. As long as they're properly installed, there's no issue.

I would think you could have custom seats installed, they should be professionally installed.

You could bolt an orange crate or half a wine barrel into an MG to sit on and the car would neither know nor care. I had an MG once, it was fun for awhile but there's a reason why they're not made anymore.

As far as real cars are concerned, seats are mostly not interchangeable from one to another. Perhaps within a given brand something might be possible (one Toyota to another, for instance), but seats in modern cars have different connection tracks and adjusters, sensors and connections for air bags, sometimes heat units, anchors (and sensors) for seat belts, etc, and the failure to have the right connection for any or all of these will throw off warning lights, check engine lights, etc.

Better to find a car whose seats are a better fit for what the driver is looking for. Pursuing a jury rig concoction is probably not the best idea.

Elmer...that is exactly what I have been told when asking about changing the seats.....no can do.

Maybe you posted the answer already and if you did I apologize (didn't see it) but, if you love your LaCrosse, why don't you just get a new one? Or a new one to you?

ETA:. You may just want to look at other Buicks as well because their parts are often times crossed over.. I also think Buick may share parts with Nissan so maybe the Altima?

Lukkiirish- Buick, GMC, and Chevy are all GM vehicles who share parts.

"... switch the seats in the LaCrosse and Avalon ..."

Skipping over the fact that (as has already been discussed) swapping seats from one make of car to another is not the best idea, Phoggie stated in the OP that although the Avalon looked good, the seats were not comfortable for her. That's one of the reasons I suggested putting a new (or newer) engine in her existing vehicle. Many places like Pick-n-Pull have cars that were junked because they were totaled in a wreck, even though they don't have many thousands of miles on them. As long as the engine wasn't destroyed, you can have the engine pulled from a wreck and installed in your existing vehicle.

Just because a vehicle is older, doesn't mean the engine will blow any time soon. There are so many other things that can go wrong besides a blown engine! There's transmission to name just one thing. We just spent over $2000 on our used car that we recently bought and it was only seemingly minor repairs...wheel bearings, suspension, radiator, water pump, transmission fluid flush, heater...etc.

Phoggie, sorry you are going through this. I think that at your age you need a reliable car, so I wouldn't try to recondition your old one.

I am wondering if a physical therapist would be more attuned to what would work in your situation?

It may just boil down to you making the rounds and sitting in the cars.

I know that I am really fussy when it comes to the seat in my car. When I was shopping for my Ford Escape, I did not want a white car, which was what was immediately available. The seat was comfortable so we went to a different dealership to see the same car in another color. Well, even my DH agreed, it was not as comfortable as the white car. So white, or as my DH says "It's not white, it's pearl!" it is.

"I had an MG once, it was fun for awhile but there's a reason why they're not made anymore."

MG's are still being manufactured. Check your facts before you post.

I had a 1970 MGB. I thought the model came to an end 35+ years ago. BL went away because of the lousy cars it made.

I haven't noticed seeing any MG dealers lately. Not that I'd buy another, but I'm in the SF Bay Area, where can I find one?

A LaCrosse is the first car I tried....but after 20 minutes of driving it, I knew that was not going to work..:-(.

Eld161....Although my LaCrosse has been a wonderful vehicle.... at 75, I agree that I need a reliable car...I drive a lot of miles out of town by myself. it is just that I get nervous that it might start giving me problems. Just sitting in a vehicle isn't a real test....it takes an hour or about 75 miles to see how it feels. That Avalon felt great until I drove it home 100 miles.

I have always kept it serviced...even change oil more often than manual calls for. The mechanics tell me I don't need to be so concerned about the number of miles. I guess I just need to quit worrying about "the mileage" and pray it will always get me back home....because what I am wanting may not exist...the days of the wide console and narrow seats are here to stay!

phoggie - Go look at a Hyundai Sonata. IIRC, the seats are pretty "flat" and Hyundais are great car these days.

Elmer, if you're as much of a world traveler as you say you are, you should have seen MGs and MG dealers. :) Bless your heart.

Where can I find a dealer?

Your Southern curse adds nothing to the discussion.

What about a seat cushion likethis one? It swivels so it might make it easier for you to get out since it'll help with the twist you do to get out.

Phoggie my mother bought her car based on if her curvature of the spine could tolerate the seats. Have a friend drive you around. You will get a lot more information Carry on. No changing out seats. You'll meet people who are helpful and knowledgeable. It will work out fine. My turn next. Glad you are planning ahead.

Elmer, I couldn't have said it better. All car seats now-a-days are monitored by the computer.

Mine will not deploy an airbag if it senses the seat is empty. I also have side impact airbags in my seat bolsters & wouldn't dare mess with that.

Plus the liability, warranty & insurance complications alone would deter me. In the case of an accident it would be the owners responsibility for changing how the car was designed to operate safely.

Phoggie, I'm sure the car with the right seat is out there. Don't give up hope. If only you could afford the Mercedes S class. The drivers seat has 100 different options because it adds or reduces the seating using air. A little extra air here and more air there. Plus it has a fancy seat massager.

You're right tho, it takes more than a spin around the dealership to see how comfortable it really is.

Its also a challenge these days because most all seats are built to hold you in during cornering so the bolsters are thicker. I haven't had hip surgery, so I like a car with good bolsters. I like to feel snug as a bug in a rug while in the drivers seat.

Are there any cars, other than trucks, that still have a bench seat? I miss those.

Thanks Texas Gem, I do know that, but not all GM cars are treated equal. If she likes Buick, then Chevy probably won't be up her ally. (used to work for Blue Book) :c).

ETA:. Phoggie, cars are made to go much longer these days. If you've done your regular maintenance, I have to agree with the mileage thing. I have 234,000+ miles on my Jeep and it's still going strong; I have no plans on changing it until it starts having problems.

Maggie, thanks for the link...has anyone used these? When I had my last knee replaced, I sat on a chair cushion, but every time I turned to get out, the cushion fell out too! I wonder if these were leather (or something slick) that I could turn without taking them along with me.

mdln...The second picture is something that might work....Thanks!

MGs are now made in China. Not imported into the US. Nanjiang/SAIC has been renamed MG Motor US Ltd, only makes a few models.

Thanks for the civil tone, jakkom, which led me to look it up.

It appears a Chinese company bought a defunct brand name (MG) and is using it for a new line of Chinese cars. They could be branding the cars as being Stanley Steamers, DeSotos and Hudsons in the same way.

As I said originally, production of MGs ended decades ago.

The left side-bar of the page below tells of a very checkered history of the MG (Morris Garages) brand.

MG Car Company History