How Did a Headrest Almost Ruin One Man’s Dream Car?
Hannah DeWitt
· 3 min read
You can do all the research in the world when
buying a new car
, but it’s hard to know what little things could bother you once you take it home. Something like footrest placement or a strange gear shift might not be annoying during a test drive, but it can drive you crazy with everyday use.This is something that Drew Magary from
Road & Track
experienced. When he bought his dream car, a 2022 Hyundai Tucson, he found that something about his seat was so uncomfortable that he could barely stand to drive the car.
Why was Magary’s Hyundai Tucson so uncomfortable?
Magary spared no expense on his new Tucson. It had a leather interior, air-conditioned seats, extra cameras, and a fancy touchscreen. It was even in his price range. He’d done his research, and he knew this was the one. However, once he drove it home, Drew realized something was off.
The driver’s seat was uncomfortable. Drew thought it was simply a matter of adjusting to his new car and tried to bolster his back as best he could, using pillows and wadded-up t-shirts. After a few weeks, though, he realized that something about the headrest was making the whole seat feel awkward.
Headrests are an important part of
car safety
that keep your head from overextending past the seat and protect you in an accident. However, the headrest on Magary’s Hyundai Tucson was turning out to be the bane of his existence.Let Jerry find your price in only 45 seconds
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What was wrong with the headrest?
MORE: It's Never Too Late to Find Your Dream Car
The headrest jutted out over the driver’s seat, forcing his back into an uncomfortable hunching position—not ideal for someone with a history of back issues. There was also no way to adjust the depth of the headrest, only the height.
Magary didn’t want to return the car because everything else was just what he wanted. So, he began trying to fix the problem. Drew tried flipping the headrest around, trying headrests from different cars, contacting Hyundai to find a different headrest, and attempting to get it reupholstered and shaved down, all to no avail.
One day, a friend finally suggested something genius—switching the back and front seat headrests. It’s important to note that headrests are designed for where they’re placed. The fact that they work safely in the back doesn’t mean they’re equally effective in the front. But, Magary found that the headrest gave him ample support and protection as well as relief.
Somehow, this simple plan was his car’s saving grace. Drew could now drive his dream car around pain-free.
The importance of car comfort
MORE: What You Need to Do After Buying a New Car
You probably want a comfortable car as your daily driver. It’s a good idea to keep a sharp eye for any little features that bug you when looking for a new car.
Even if it’s a car you really love, consider how much its issues could bother you on a regular basis and whether it's still worth it. You might not be able to find an elegant solution like Magary, so you should think carefully about what car issues would be a dealbreaker.
When looking for a new car, it’s also important to keep car insurance in mind. If you want cheap car insurance quotes fast, go to
Jerry
. A licensed broker that offers end-to-end support, the Jerry app gathers affordable quotes, helps you switch plans, and will even help you cancel your old policy.
