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MG MGF Technical - a headrest

Does anyone find the standard headrest on a Y2000 cloth seated MGF too far away from the head to be of any use? (ie neck strechingly uncomfortable) and if so has anyone found a solution yet? I have e-mailed Mike Satur a question regarding this and the possibility of them producing a small tailer-made 'pad' in either leather or soft nubuck - so if anyone thinks they would like this solution please e-mail a supporting message and we might get them thinking about it. Plus any other ideas of course - like embosing an MG octagon on them?

Or perhaps my head was designed incorrectly...

Cheers
Mark
M J Roscoe-Hudson


Yes, I used to find this on my 96 F, so I agree with you. I think you'll have trouble getting an MG logo on it though - MGR are very protective over use of their brand marks.

Brian
2772 MY
Brian

Please remember they are NOT headrests they are Head Restraints to prevent whiplash in the case of a shunt and they do this without any problem - providing you have them set correctly.

BTW even in my Mkl brochure from 1995 (yes I still have it - sad git that I am) MGR refer to them as head Restraints.

Ted
Ted Newman

Ted

Wiplash prevention I would assume is a mandatory requirement in cars these days - so I'll call them 'head restraints' until I need to rest my head and neck on a long journey - then I'll call them 'headrests' until they are too far back - then I'll call them 'useless headrests'

I do understand your point though...

Mark

p.s. you don't happen to have a Y2000 brochure spare do you?
M J Roscoe-Hudson

Even if a head restraint adjusts horizontally and vertically, you still have to persuade people to adjust the things properly. Maybe it's time we had an aftermarket "smart" head restraint?

Chris

Chris

>Wiplash prevention I would assume is a mandatory requirement in cars these days <

Yes I would think so - that is why they are fitted, prior to this you got none!

Ted
Ted Newman

re - "prior to this you got none!"


...what you had before 'head restraints' were 'head rests' bought as an accessory...

...maybee not called by their correct name but a lot more comfortable and saved wiplash maybee?

...but then that's progress for you.
M J Roscoe-Hudson

>bought as an accessory< as I said you got none:-)

Ted
Ted Newman

Mike Satur says he saw a neck cusion arrangement on an Aston Martin a few yers back and had thought of developing one then - so seems re-inspired, and will have a look at developing one now. If anyone has any input please let me know.

Mark

Perhaps with a Mike Satur logo embosing!
M J Roscoe-Hudson

...."long journey..." "..rest my head..".....fall asleep !

Why not fit these pads and call them Heavens Pillows?
WiseOwl

...I thought a good driver is a relaxed driver, being able to anticipate and think ahead about road conditions and situations, while a stressed or tired driver is compromised in this ability and does little of this...? Falling asleep at the wheel is an extreemly nasty business only caused through someone pushing themselves beyond reasonable ability, and I would suggest that would be caused by some sort of stressfull need. So, surely, wisdom dictates that any ergonomic design which aids a relaxed driving environment would be a useful addition.
M J Roscoe-Hudson

But then you could argue that being able to rest your head, sit back and could turn a tired driver into a sleepy driver....

I would rather stay in an alert position and if I needed to relax, pull over.

Russky
R Goodman

<...."long journey..." "..rest my head..".....fall asleep !> perhaps the extra cushion would prevent the neck muscles from becoming tense on a long journey?
AO
Arseowl

...I would agree with that, but for the fact that everyone's in a hurry these days and stopping even for as little as five minutes would be criminal. I must admit to this thought myself, and as a biker (summer only these days) as well as a car driver, when I'm on the bike - I can't believe the way car drivers behave and when I'm in the car - I can't think like a biker and concentrate as much as I should. And having rambled my way through all this - perhaps your right - 'heavens pillows' maybee - perhaps wooden seats and no heating?
M J Roscoe-Hudson

....wait a minute, that sounds like my triumph daytona....!
M J Roscoe-Hudson

I read in Autocar the other week of the Euro Ncap (??? can't remember if this is the correct organisation, will have to check) rating of whiplash protection following a rear end impacts.

The MGF rates 2 out of 5. The Rover 75/MG ZT on the other hand rates 5 (which is excellent).

IMO I think that Mark is quite right - the MGF/TF head restraint is too far away from the back of the head to be of real use - especially to taller drivers (because when the h/r is moved upwards to the correct height, it also moves away from the back of the head).

Actually, the only time I think that the MG's head restraint IS in the correct position is when one is wearing a crash helmet...

A pad, a la Rover P6, might be just the ticket, although designing such an important safety 'device' is fraught with difficulties - not least from a legal point of view :o(
Rob Bell

thanks for that Rob

I am going to photograph 6 competitor cars for a new Honda tomorrow (not that fanatical about this - it's part of my job as a graphic designer)- I'll have a good look at the different 'head restraints' systems - the new SAAB 93 in particular.
M J Roscoe-Hudson

Just had to drop in.
Head restraints become excellent head rests if you wear a brain bucket (crash helmet)

An accessory - yes many years ago you could by head restaints as an accessory - they pushed onto the seat with two "U" shapped brackets. Bloody uncofortable but did the trick. This was at a time when only real up market cars had them fitted.

I have only had one seat where trhe restints worked as rests and that was a tomb stone style "Huntmaster" seat - English made. Had these fitted in my old MGB
David

...just had a look at new; BMW 3 series, Volvo V40, VW Passat, Audi A4, new Honda Accord. All had horizontally adjustable 'Head restraints' making them all comfortable for a 'head rest' - maybee instead of a 'pad' the MGF needs a horizontally adjustable modification. Will ask Mike Satur if that's possible. Does the new mgtf have this? - it's a shame MGR don't involve us lot in study meetings, if not at design stage, maybee after first production - after all we live with their products day-to-day.
M J Roscoe-Hudson

>Actually, the only time I think that the MG's head restraint IS in the correct position is when one is wearing a crash helmet...

So Rob, problem solved, if you want to rest your head on a long journey, wear a crash helmet. Will come in very handy if you fall asleep because you are so relaxed and crash.
Tony

Erm, thanks Tony... (?!)

If I wanted a relaxing chair then my livingroom sofa would be the place of choice to nod off.

The question is the location of the headrest relative to the back of the head in the event of a rear-end impact. Looking at the design of the so-called 'head-rest' on the F and TF (they're the same BTW Mark, with no fore-aft adjustment) is that they are too far away to be truely useful - and probably the reason why our favourite MG scored so badly in the whiplash score.

Trouble is, without knowing all about this subject, putting together a homemade solution could make matters worse rather than better. :o(
Rob Bell

...I agree with that Rob, that's why I suggested asking Mike (Satur) if he thought a fully considered modification ala the cars I mentioned, might be better than a 'pad'... don't see why that can't be possible, or even a simple 'permanent' mod ie. a 10° bend applied to the support bars just at the point where they protrude from the base of the 'rest'. 'Homemade' a no no here.

There seems to be a difference of opinion here as to driving style/safety etc... all I can say is I have suffered from neck problems for years and would benefit from just such a solution as well as reducing any whiplash movement.
M J Roscoe-Hudson

Pull out the head restraint, place it in a vice, give it a good few wacks with a rubber hammer to bend it a bit and Bobs your uncle.

Alternatively go back to Halfords in 1970 and buy one of those add on headrests that fits on the back of the seat.

"Head rests" have always been "head restraints" it is just that some people have misunderstood the purpose of them, I have never driven a car where the head restraints were in a position to successfully rest your head on them. They have always been designed to stop your head going too far back in an accident. They have never been designed as something to rest your head on. If a seat is designed well you should not need something to rest your head on anyway. We spend most of our waking lives supporting our own heads without problems so why should it be different in a car.

I did 6000 km around Europe over two weeks a couple of years ago and the only thing that started to ache were my sholders from holding the steering wheel. Maybe I need arm rests that keep my arms at steering wheel height?
T.E.D.

"Maybe I need arm rests that keep my arms at steering wheel height?"

....adjustable steering column?
M J Roscoe-Hudson

>>Maybe I need arm rests that keep my arms at steering wheel height? <<

I'm sure I could oblige you there Tony - would something in plaster of paris suit sir? ;o) ;o)

Mark, I suspect that having the head restraint that close to the back of the head - such that it could be used as a rest - may be too close for safety.

As Tony says, almost no car is fitted with a restraint that is close enough to be used as a rest - which would suggest to me that there is a very good safety related reason why (and not one born of a collective sadistic intent!)
Rob Bell

>....adjustable steering column?

Unfortunately not on a MKI, maybe longer arms may help...:-)
T.E.D.

Rob

Refer to earlier post: All six cars with 'fore-aft' adjustment. I drove them all - very comfy.
M J Roscoe-Hudson

Don't these cars also incorporate some sort of 'give' in the fore/aft plane to compensate for the adjustment Mark? (I don't know - I haven't sampled the cars you've mentioned)
Rob Bell

they are all softer than the MGF's - but I think 'give' could equal springy = bad.
M J Roscoe-Hudson

This thread was discussed between 25/10/2002 and 31/10/2002

MG MGF Technical index

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