Fold Flat Front Seat

[RV8 Mike]

This is my first post so we'll see how this works out. I'm new to VWs, unless you want to count the '59 bug I had in college. I have really liked the AWD Subarus, but wanted a diesel so have a '10 JSW TDI on order. Wish we could get the Jetta in AWD.

Now to my subject. I just got back from two weeks in Europe and while there talked to a VW dealer in Hamburg, Germany. Seems the Jetta has an option for a front passenger seat that folds flat; great for putting in long items, like my recumbent bike. But come to find out we can't get that option here in NA. Wonder if there is any way we can get non standard stuff like that. I was also told that there is a mod shop right next to the factory in Mexico that will modify you car after it comes out of the factory but before it is shipped to the US. But my local dealer (Bellevue, WA) has never heard of it. Anybody hear of such a shop?

 

[lrpavlo]

Someone much brighter than I on the forums figured out that with the sportwagens you simply take out the rear seat bottom then crank the pass front seat back all the way back to make the large opening!

Keep in mind mine is a 2009 but should be the same for 2010.

 

[frugality]

Welcome to the diesel world, Mike.

Yeah, the fold-flat front seat is not available here in order to keep the sticker price down.

I highly doubt the story about the shop near the Puebla, Mexico facility. It sounds far-fetched. I'm sure the cars stay in the VW compound until they are shipped and delivered to your local dealer.

Since this is your first post, a word to the wise: Make sure you use the proper oil. Make sure your dealer is using the proper oil when you take it in for the 'free' service. Make sure to drop in here and do some reading, because you will want to be more knowledgeable about your car than your dealer is. The horror stories abound here of dealer screw-ups! We have a whole bunch of 'gurus' here (see this thread for gurus near you) who, when the time comes to replace a timing belt or other major maintenance, can do it much more accurately as well as more cheaply!

 

[woofie2]

I have never heard of a "Mexican VW mod shop" the cars never leave the VW lot except on train or Truck to the port.

The holding lot for USA cars headed north by train-
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sou...-98.258677&spn=0.004394,0.006539&z=18&iwloc=A

or to the port and headed to Germany-
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sou...718,-98.252454&spn=0.004257,0.006539&t=h&z=18

to be fair here is the Wolfburg factory loading cars onto trains-
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sou...3524,10.753148&spn=0.005671,0.013078&t=h&z=17
(gotta love google maps)

I do know you can likely pickup the fold flat front seat as aftermarket or off ebay. Wasn't fold flat front passenger seat an option in the Rabbit or 2009 JSW?
I am already working on getting the GTI/GTD/R-line Leather seats for my 2010 Golf, but those will likely have to be boated in from Germany. another option I wish I would have had...

 

[RV8 Mike]

Thanks all for your help. The only current VW that has a fold flat front seat in the US is the Tiguan. Maybe that will fit the JSW. Thanks for the list of "gurus". Looks like there is one just eight miles from me. Glad I stumbled onto the site - a lot of good stuff on it.

 

[UberVW_TDI]

I found a website that sells North American and European Only VW parts. http://oemplus.com/
Some parts available are not normally available in the NA market. Specific example is the Mk6 cup holders.... Maybe you can call them and ask about the fold flat seat.


PS: Do you know why Subaru decided not to sell their diesel in the USA? I heard they were developing one a year or two ago...but then they cancelled their plans to bring it to the USA. Why? Same with the 2.2L Honda diesel. So VW has the sole market for affordable clean diesel in the USA. I also have a 2010 JSW on order. I'm going to be selling my 2004 F-150...I have some "I should be buying American" guilt, but if Ford or GM don't want to build a clean diesel passenger car for the US market, then I have a clear consious to buy the best product for me personally.

 

[frugality]

Soon VW will have a plant in Chattanooga, TN, so we will be able to buy American and still have our fahrvergnugen.

 

[woofie2]

I found a website that sells North American and European Only VW parts. http://oemplus.com/
Some parts available are not normally available in the NA market. Specific example is the Mk6 cup holders.... Maybe you can call them and ask about the fold flat seat.

there are a lot of places that sell VW Euro parts-
http://www.parts4euro.com/
http://www.worldimpex.com/


then some of the TDI club Vendors have access and abilities to get Euro parts shipped over-
I know Aaron at Bora parts can get seats, transmissions, motors ETC - http://boraparts.com/
TDI parts has a few Euro parts, but not as much of the big items, http://tdiparts.com

 

[RV8 Mike]

I found a website that sells North American and European Only VW parts. http://oemplus.com/


PS: Do you know why Subaru decided not to sell their diesel in the USA? I heard they were developing one a year or two ago...but then they cancelled their plans to bring it to the USA. Why?

I have contacted oemplus and they are looking into it. The diesel Subaru exists in Europe now, I believe in Ireland. My dealer, who also sells Subarus, thought they would be coming to the US later next year in the Outback model, but it's still iffy. I like the Subarus; they have been very reliable. I hope the VW will prove to be just as reliable as my two Subes were.

 

[frugality]

I like the Subarus; they have been very reliable. I hope the VW will prove to be just as reliable as my two Subes were.

You must read this thread:

So long and thanks for all the fish!

I'm not at all against Subaru, and I have always thought they were more reliable than VW overall, but you should read WDM's experience.

 

[RV8 Mike]

[

quote=frugality]You must read this thread:

So long and thanks for all the fish!

I'm not at all against Subaru, and I have always thought they were more reliable than VW overall, but you should read WDM's experience.

[/QUOTE]

Just read all the posts. Very interesting. Never had problems with mine but, no matter, I've committed to the VW. Hope their 2WD traction control works well in the snow.

How do you guys get the grey box around the quoted matter anyway?

 

[frugality]

How do you guys get the grey box around the quoted matter anyway?

By clicking the little box in the lower right hand corner of the post that says, 'quote'. You'll notice that it puts some stuff before and after in brackets, which doesn't show up, but tells the computer how to display what's in between them.

 

[RV8 Mike]

Thanks UberVW TDI and woofie2 for your vendor references. Josh at OEMplus is familiar with the seat and he can get it, but...the cost will be $3,000+. Don't know if I want it that badly. I haven't gotten responses from the others yet.

Got it on the "quote" process.

 

[Ol'Rattler]

The 06 A5 has the folding passenger seat. Wrecking yard or maybe you could order the 06 parts an retrofit them on your seat.

 

[RV8 Mike]

The 06 A5 has the folding passenger seat. Wrecking yard or maybe you could order the 06 parts an retrofit them on your seat.

Hadn't thought of that angle. I'll do some checking. Of couse it would have to be in primo condition, which may be hard to find. Used to be a big wrecking yard out toward Monroe; don't know if it's still there.

Thanks.

 

[lrpavlo]

Mike one of the things you seem to not thinking about is: before you fold down the rear seat back you have to lift the bottom cushion that that sticks straight up and down in the rest position. So you have to unhook that bottom cushion and put it somewhere.....That makes cranking the front seat all the way back not that much more of a big deal.
I was just livid when I found out my sportwagen did not have the fold flat front seat but so far I've only used it one time anyway.

 

[Ol'Rattler]

Hadn't thought of that angle. I'll do some checking. Of couse it would have to be in primo condition, which may be hard to find. Used to be a big wrecking yard out toward Monroe; don't know if it's still there.

Thanks.

Campbell Nelson has a wrecking yard for Dubs in Arlington, as well.

 

[RV8 Mike]

Mike one of the things you seem to not thinking about is: before you fold down the rear seat back you have to lift the bottom cushion that that sticks straight up and down in the rest position. So you have to unhook that bottom cushion and put it somewhere.....That makes cranking the front seat all the way back not that much more of a big deal.
I was just livid when I found out my sportwagen did not have the fold flat front seat but so far I've only used it one time anyway.

That's how the back seats in my Suburban work, but I thought in the VW the rear seat back just folds down on top of the bottom cushion so that you end up with a slight "up" angle to the seats. 98% of the time no one will be using the front pax seat; I wonder if one can just detach the seat back.

 

[lrpavlo]

Mike the rear seat bottom comes out very easily. Just squeeze together the wires it pivots on. And yes you could just leave it out of the car. Certainly that would be easier than seat back removal!

 

[woofie2]

Mike the rear seat bottom comes out very easily. Just squeeze together the wires it pivots on. And yes you could just leave it out of the car. Certainly that would be easier than seat back removal!

this is different on different years,
the MKIV Jetta & Golf had the wire seat bottoms, yet the Wagon has a different attachment, so the seat bottom has to lay forward behind the front seats,
you do have to take the head rests off (but they fit nicely in the back of the spare tire well)

 

[ATLSilverTDI]

As may have been said already, the 2006 Jetta, specifically the Diesel and Special Editions had the fold flat front seat. I have one and honestly I have never used it yet, I have to figure out how to use it.

Go check around junk yards to see if you can find a match for your car. They should be about the same.

 

[ErikR]

The fold-flat front seat is a very nice feature, pm me if you are still looking as I have an extra.

 

[BentJay]

Fold flat seat in 2010 JSW?

No, my 2010 JSW TDI has power recline on both front seats. I think the fold-flat option would be a major hassle to install.

Jay

 

[RV8 Mike]

I have determined that a fold-flat seat would not work for the the purpose I had intended it for. My wife's sister has an '06 Jetta sedan TDI, and we just discovered Saturday that she has the fold-flat front seat. She's had it for three years and never knew it. But anyway, I've ended my search.

Mike

 

[woofie2]

I have determined that a fold-flat seat would not work for the the purpose I had intended it for. My wife's sister

I am not sure squishing in-laws is a good intended use...

sorry but it's all in how you read the breaks in the text.