Aftermarket Seats for the 08?

PortlandSTI · 09-13-2008, 07:27 PM

Has anyone switched the seats in their 08 to a more useful seat? Which brands and models are good and work well with the cars? You cant run a quickfit harness on our seats because they are too soft, in other words, useless.

note: I know there is the crazy japanese edition seat for the STi, but i could buy a pair of seats with harnesses for the price of one of those! Price is a concern, but I also want a really nice clean, pro look to the car.
Thanks!

LaW · 09-13-2008, 07:42 PM

The only downside is losing the Airbag, and I have seen some people have changed seats already. I am looking at Recaro Sports or Recaro Sport Toplines myself. Just debating how much I need them vs how much I don't need airbags

Cant wait to see some pictures in this thread hopefuly

impressive · 09-13-2008, 09:09 PM

sr6 recaro saw this already installed in a 08...very nice...

PortlandSTI · 09-13-2008, 10:49 PM

No air bag?! That's stupid, why cant it be worked in to the car? Confused.

LaW · 09-13-2008, 10:57 PM

Are you serious? Well if you are, the seat is designed with the airbag in mind. So that means the material and where the airbag is located and how it deploys. You cannot just get a seat and transplant the airbag in the seat because proper operation is not guaranteed nor could you expect it to work at all. Again we are just talking about the side impact airbag here... If you wire the airbags up to trick the system correctly your front airbags and side curtain airbags will function normally.

You also have to transplant the stock position sensor and seat bladders into the new seats, this is not that hard. A resistor is used for the airbag plug to "trick" or disable it.

Also, even if you were to find an aftermarket seat (Evo seats) with airbags they will not be compatible with Subaru's system.

Your options really are to stick with the stock seats until the Recaros come to the US (If that ever happens, maybe 2010 model year) if you want airbags or lose the airbags and go with an aftermarket seat.

PortlandSTI · 09-13-2008, 11:15 PM

I didnt realize they were talking about the side airbags. Misunderstood... thanks for the info.

09-13-2008, 07:27 PM	#1
PortlandSTI Senior STI Driver Car: DGM 08 STI Fav Mod: Turninconcept pedals Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 305 IWSTI Addict since: Mar 2008 Trader Rating: (0)	Aftermarket Seats for the 08? Has anyone switched the seats in their 08 to a more useful seat? Which brands and models are good and work well with the cars? You cant run a quickfit harness on our seats because they are too soft, in other words, useless. note: I know there is the crazy japanese edition seat for the STi, but i could buy a pair of seats with harnesses for the price of one of those! Price is a concern, but I also want a really nice clean, pro look to the car. Thanks! This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

09-13-2008, 07:42 PM	#2
LaW Professional STI Driver Car: 2008 White STI Fav Mod: Harman Motive Sway Bars Location: Pewaukee, WI Posts: 459 IWSTI Addict since: Mar 2008 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Aftermarket Seats for the 08? The only downside is losing the Airbag, and I have seen some people have changed seats already. I am looking at Recaro Sports or Recaro Sport Toplines myself. Just debating how much I need them vs how much I don't need airbags Cant wait to see some pictures in this thread hopefuly

09-13-2008, 09:09 PM	#3
impressive STI Driver Fav Mod: in transit Posts: 200 IWSTI Addict since: Dec 2006 Trader Rating: (2)	Re: Aftermarket Seats for the 08? sr6 recaro saw this already installed in a 08...very nice...

09-13-2008, 10:49 PM	#4
PortlandSTI Senior STI Driver Car: DGM 08 STI Fav Mod: Turninconcept pedals Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 305 IWSTI Addict since: Mar 2008 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Aftermarket Seats for the 08? No air bag?! That's stupid, why cant it be worked in to the car? Confused.

09-13-2008, 10:57 PM	#5
LaW Professional STI Driver Car: 2008 White STI Fav Mod: Harman Motive Sway Bars Location: Pewaukee, WI Posts: 459 IWSTI Addict since: Mar 2008 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Aftermarket Seats for the 08? Are you serious? Well if you are, the seat is designed with the airbag in mind. So that means the material and where the airbag is located and how it deploys. You cannot just get a seat and transplant the airbag in the seat because proper operation is not guaranteed nor could you expect it to work at all. Again we are just talking about the side impact airbag here... If you wire the airbags up to trick the system correctly your front airbags and side curtain airbags will function normally. You also have to transplant the stock position sensor and seat bladders into the new seats, this is not that hard. A resistor is used for the airbag plug to "trick" or disable it. Also, even if you were to find an aftermarket seat (Evo seats) with airbags they will not be compatible with Subaru's system. Your options really are to stick with the stock seats until the Recaros come to the US (If that ever happens, maybe 2010 model year) if you want airbags or lose the airbags and go with an aftermarket seat.

09-13-2008, 11:15 PM	#6
PortlandSTI Senior STI Driver Car: DGM 08 STI Fav Mod: Turninconcept pedals Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 305 IWSTI Addict since: Mar 2008 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Aftermarket Seats for the 08? I didnt realize they were talking about the side airbags. Misunderstood... thanks for the info. This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

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