Thought I'd get round to reporting on a couple of things I've been trying out recently. Lumbar support.

People (probably like me - long of tooth and weak of back) occasionally post complaining of backache after a few hours at the wheel with the original high back seats. Most of you will know that you can get behind the central part of the backrest, and I have long experimented with stuffing towels etc in there to provide more support - never very successfully.

I find the standard seat comfortable at the start of the day, but want more support as the miles roll by. Well, I've found the perfect answer - the Sparco Lumbar Support blow-up cushion (see Demon Tweeks red catalogue page 67). It comes with straps for external mounting, but you can tuck it behind the backrest central cushion.

Then after a few hours and you want a bit more support, a couple of puffs on the bulb make things that bit firmer. I found during my three weeks in France that if I blew it up a bit every few hours, I got out of the car after 500 mile days with no trace of backache. Next morning however, it feels unbearably hard - so a press on the release button and you're back to standard feel.

Someone on miata.net offers a similar thing, but our very own Demon Tweeks sells 'em, and I've been using mine over the last couple of months and about 5000 miles. Seriously recommended - and usual disclaimers! (including no connection with DT or Sparco!) (8/00)