Seat upgrade?

[BigRedZag]

I love my car but the seats are a sore point. I'm 6'4", 240. Since I commute 200 miles a day I'd rather look for more comfortable seats than to replace the car. Are the GLI seats more comfortable? I can pick up a set for about $500. Any other options?

 

[Seatman]

Any mk4 seats of that age as well as audi a3 if you got them all fit, best to try them out first though if you can, only way to tell for sure what'll suit you.

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

No Audi A3 of that generation in North America. Problem with GLI or GTI seats is they're heavily bolstered and you may find them too narrow. I have some GTI Recaros in my wagon and love them, but I'm 8" shorter and 80 lbs. lighter than you.

 

[davebugs]

Some of the OEM replacement foam is NLA.

On my 01 Golf the material is being reproduced and I wasn't able to get an extra set of seats to my local upholstery guy before winter.

But check with the local upholstery guy about having yours redone. We also looked at the seat foam from drivers and passengers side and other than a little cutout for the seat belt they seem the same. Since pass seats usually get less use foam from one could be a good donor if you upholstery guy doesn't want to make one from scratch.

Just some thoughts...

 

[LNXGUY]

You should fit nicely into any of the Recaros found in the GLI, 20th AE or the 337. Only problem is no heat from the factory.

 

[Seatman]

What about the gti ones? The not so recaro ones? They're pretty comfy, I found the proper recaros uncomfy over distance and a bit of an effort getting in and out over the seat bolster lol. I'm 6'2 and a good bit less in weight too.

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

I love my GTI Recaros. I was miserable on long drives in my wagon before I got them. My elbows would get sore because I was constantly propping my self up to get my butt off the seat. I can sit in the Recaros for 12+ hours with no discomfort. And I hate seat heaters, so that's not an issue. You might find a GTI for sale and try the seats. If you fit well in them I think you'll find them a big improvement.

 

[Seatman]

These are the one I have

Bolsters are smaller than the badged recaros

 

[davebugs]

Not to steal this thread but my other option is the seats out of the GTI I was almost killed in. EVERY airbag went off including the ones in the seats - the car has 90k on it. My upholstery guy said the way they sew them and place the airbags that usually the foam is o.k.

I put almost 200 miles on the car before the accident including a maybe an hour each way drive before the accident so I can't speak to them being comfy. I don't like leather and they had some great sheepskin covers on them for the winter.

I am 6'2" and 240 lbs. My butt must be boney because on teh left especially I feel the springs in my butt. The seat still looks o.k. though

My seat back above my left pants pocket has the upholstery worn thru now that I'm kinda stiff getting in and out of the car.

FYI with my donor parts my upholstery guy is guessing 300 bucks to get new material(both styles needed) for my light grey seat. And with over 250k and matching material I won't bother having the passenger or rear seats done to match.

So - it may be worth getting what you have fixed up - atleast exploring it.

 

[KrashDH]

Any mk4 seats of that age as well as audi a3 if you got them all fit, best to try them out first though if you can, only way to tell for sure what'll suit you.

Seatman...I have the same seats in red in my golf and they are definitely not stock. Have been trying to figure out what they came from.


For comfort they are ok. I'm 6'1" 185. I Would not want to be any more "broad" than I am as they already feel narrow. I haven't taken them on a long trip yet and I am used to my Cummins leather. These are def more sporty...

These are the one I have

Bolsters are smaller than the badged recaros

Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

Those seats were stock in MKIV Golf GTIs. I bought a set for my '99.5 Golf. I liked them, although as Seatman said they're a bit softer and wider than the badged Recaros I have in my wagon.

I wonder if the tracks for MKV and VI cars are the same as the IVs. If so finding some 2010 or later Golf seats may be a good option. A little bigger than the MKIVs, seem to ride well, and have heat.

 

[Seatman]

Tracks don't really matter so much, just your level of being able to alter them. I had the proper badged recaros for a bit but I really found them very uncomfortable over any distance, no give in the base cushion and to much effort climbing over the mountain of a bolster to get out lol.

 

[LNXGUY]

What about the gti ones? The not so recaro ones? They're pretty comfy, I found the proper recaros uncomfy over distance and a bit of an effort getting in and out over the seat bolster lol. I'm 6'2 and a good bit less in weight too.

The square bolstered sport seats? I've never sat in them, but I'm assuming they'd be just as good.

 

[BigRedZag]

Thanks for all the suggestions! I hadn't considered having the stock seat re-done. My car has 260k so its been well used. I think I'll explore that option before dropping the coin on entirely new seats.

 

[Seatman]

If you want to give the driver seat a boost just swap the base cushion with the passenger side, let the suffer the sore cheeks lol

 

[Perfectreign]

Thanks for all the suggestions! I hadn't considered having the stock seat re-done. My car has 260k so its been well used. I think I'll explore that option before dropping the coin on entirely new seats.

Might be a good idea. I have the GLS with the leather heated seats. I never use the heat but my beautiful young bride loves them. I'm also 6'4" and find the seats very comfortable for my 20 mile (1 hour plus) commute. So far the padding has held up well, mine only has 200K.

 

[duwem]

If you have some oober bucks to spend the R32 seats have awesome side bolstering in them.

I dont have them, I just have worn out 12 year old 261k mile stockers.

But they have heat, which rocks.

 

[LNXGUY]

R32 seats aren't good for a guy who's 6'4 and 240lbs. More for the 5'8, 170lb type, lol.

 

[Rdsoxx]

hijack - I have the cloth 2002 seats. I HATE VAC'ing them. it's impossible to get all the fuzzies off. anyone found the right attachment? I've tried the rolling brush attachment, pet attachments. all suck

 

[LNXGUY]

hijack - I have the cloth 2002 seats. I HATE VAC'ing them. it's impossible to get all the fuzzies off. anyone found the right attachment? I've tried the rolling brush attachment, pet attachments. all suck

A damp cloth works the best on those velour seats. I hate them as well.

 

[Rdsoxx]

Good call - I'll give that a try.

 

[RichmondKYtdi]

I dont know about you all but i love my recaros, my back definitely does. HOWEVER, I'm 6'0'' and i feel like they dont go back as far as the oem seats and would hate them if i was 4" taller. I guess you could like them if you dont mind reclining while driving but i am a bit of a sit up and drive kind of person.

 

[Seatman]

Yeh front bolster part of the base is to big for us tall people too imo, I found after 40-50 miles and I was suffering.

 

[BigRedZag]

My wife jokes I sit like a gangster I'm all the way back and tilted. If I sat like I do in my truck my head would be halfway through the roof...

My car is the base GL, no leather or heat. Had I known how long the TDI's take to warm up I might have sprung for a higher model. My lifetime hand-calculated mpg is nearly 47 in a PD so I can't complain too much. Car's been awesome for my long commute which is why I'm hesitant to get into another vehicle until this one grenades on me.

 

[GeorgeZ]

Old thread but has anyone ever tried relocating the driver's seat further back on MKIV Jetta? I barely fit at 6'2" (34" inseam) but my son at 6'7" doesn't fit at all!!! Maybe another model seat would give further rearward movement?