Yesterday evening I got to install my new seats. I opted for the A4s in leather with lumbar. The install wasn't bad. I didn't think it'd be too terribly difficult and it wasn't. A big thanks goes out to Toque and others on the forum as I borrowed some of their ideas when I installed my seat. The key ring was a great idea and so was the extra washers between the rail and the seats. One thing I did do that I haven't seen listed was I used a little cutting oil on the stock seat bolts just in case they had rusted themselves to the studs. I knew I'd be sick if I broke a stud and had to try and figure out that mess.
I know these seats have been reviewed several times by forum members and there has been good reviews and bad. I wanted to give my thoughts as well in case someone else was in the market and trying to do as much reading as they can before making a purchase like I was.
First, I'm not a large person. I stand 5'9" on a great day and weigh 170 lbs with a 33" waist. These seats fit me tightly. They are not too tight, but I couldn't imagine someone much larger than me in the waist fitting into these seats and being comfortable for very long. If you have less than a 30" inseam I would certainly sit in a set before you purchase if you have a manual transmission. I've got the seats all the way forward and I'd like to have another 1/2" or 3/4" more forward travel in the seats. I'm certainly making it work and I'm not too far away but like I said sit in the driver's seat if your inseam is shorter than mine just to make sure.
Now to the driving-
I was so excited to get behind the wheel that as soon as I put all my tools back up I jumped in the car to give the seats a go. WOW! was all I could think. I never understood why folks called seats a performance upgrade. Now I understand. I never realized how hard I fought to stay in my seat. These seats have changed how I drive my car. I've always driven the car hard as I don't see the point of having a Vette and sissy-footing it around corners. I found myself relaxed in the seat and focusing on driving rather than hanging on. It truly is amazing how fast and poised I can take corners now, but remain relaxed behind the wheel and focused on the road in front of me.
One other thing that I didn't count on was how much of my speed judgement around corners was based on how much I was sliding in my seat or better yet how tightly I was having to hang on. I'm taking corners substantially faster than I ever have in the past but my body isn't tight going through the turn and I don't have the perception that I'm flying through a turn. It's quite the opposite. I'm accelerating into a corner and think I'm taking it slowly until I look down at the HUD and then WOW, HOLY COW...I'm taking this corner this fast, really! It certainly doesn't feel like I'm out of control with the car or that I've even pushed it to it's limit.
All in all I'm extremely impressed with this upgrade and would do it again. There are certainly some things one sacrifices when going to a sportier seat like these, but the pros absolutely outweigh the negatives.
Thanks again to all the folks who's threads I read and re-read trying to make up my mind. You guys were right and I'm glad I made the purchase.

 

Glad you enjoy your new seats!

 

I just popped these in a couple days ago and I feel exactly the way that you do... WOW. I feel like I have a brand new car again. I fell in love with my vette all over again. =)

The engineers are IDIOTS for letting something as important as seats slip by them. The stock seats have bushings that wear down in a few years and give you loose seats along with having no support for side to side and you truly do slide around in your seats hanging on for dear life!

Enjoy. I know I will. =)

 

Glad your happy with the seats! It's amazing what a set of good seats will do for your driving experience

 

Pics?

 

Anyone know if a child seat will fit in the A4s?

 

I have three children all under the age of 5. I took my daughter to school this morning and used her booster. It fit just fine.
Funny thing, I asked Toque the exact same question. I love driving my car by myself, but having one of my kiddos in the car is a blast. My daughter scares me a bit. She loves it when I stab the throttle a little bit.

 

Hey Mike. The seats are great. A little tricky getting the bracket on the first seat, but once you get that figured out it's an easy install. I'm loving the seats still.
I was a little nervous since I have a bulging disc in my lower back, but I'm having no issues with pain in these seats.
They look great in the car too!

I'll have pics up sometime next week in another thread. I've done quite a bit of work to it since the last pic I posted. I've blacked out the exhaust tips(gloss black), removed the bsm's, new tires and coil overs go on this weekend. Wish I could show off the engine and diff work that was done in Feb but it looks no different than it did before. Sure is quite a bit faster though and sounds great with headers, no cats and GHL bullets.

 

Congrats !

You must have copied my post when I got my A4's....

I felt the exact same way when I first went for a drive after putting them in. It is a slap in the face as to how better you can drive your car with good seats that hold you in place. It felt like a whole new car to me (in a BETTER way!). Driving confidence went WAY up !

Stock seats just plan suck ! Any seat that holds you in place is a huge improvement over stock.

People don't understand how its a true PERFORMANCE upgrade until they experience it !

Be sure to invest in Zaino Leather In a Bottle. I have tried a lot of different Leather treatments, but this stuff is just amazing... I have actually had people at car shows walk by my car then stop and stick there head in my car and ask how I got the leather to smell like that.

http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/...oduct_Count=15



I have a booster seat for my 7 yr old that fits PERFECT in these seats. We got it at Walmart for about $30.





It will not fit right if you put it in the normal way.



If you turn it around this way it slides in all the way back and my son says it feels good to sit on. I tell him that the arms on it are handles when were doing donuts, drifting around turns, and driving fast... Of course I don't really do that with him in the car but its funny saying that in front of my wife....





Toque

 

Good to know, I was thinking of only doing the drivers seat if it was an issue.

 

Your new seats sound great.
How bout some pic's?

What seat is recommended for some one not so small in stature?
Another words for a FAT A-- like me?
5'-09" 190 lbs & a 36/38" waist.
Is there any out there or do I have to find a way & try to install my Lazy Boy???

 

You should look into stock C6Z06 seats; they might work well for you.

 

I dont own Corbeau's.. but I'm aware of the diffrence that a real bucket seat makes in these cars... makes you wonder why GM went the direction they did..

Congrats on the new seats

 

I suspect GM put these seats in our cars to accommodate all body sizes of folks that buy them. I think GM should have offered an optional seat for us folks that like a better supporting seat.

Toque

 

Hey Bumble. I'll have pics up next week after the coil overs go on.

I'm not sure what seats would work for you. The C5 is a bit tricky when it comes to seats. There's just not that much room. I'm pretty sure that's why the selection of seats is so slim. pun might have been intended

I agree with another poster that the C6 seats might work the best or if I'm not mistaken Caravaggio can "upgrade" your stock seats and give them a bit more bolster and shoulder wings.

If you can find a way to get your Lazy Boy installed I think you'd make a fortune. Especially if you can offer lateral support and an extra cup holder.

 

Does anyone know if the A4 sits lower (provides more headroom) than the stock seat? I'm 6'-1" and will be wearing a helmet. I appreciate your response!

 

These seats look great, but it sounds like they wouldn't be ideal for a guy my size (5'6", about 140lb) due to lack of forward travel. Does anyone have any good alternatives to these seats for a guy my size?

 

Mine were the same seat height as stock. It felt that way anyway. Get the "shaved seat" option if you want more headroom.

Toque

 

I'm pretty sure the seats sit very close to stock if not right at stock level. But if you have a long torso I would get the shaved base. It's not that much more and it'd suck if you needed it and didn't get it.

 

If you're intent on getting a reclinable black leather seat that looks stock-ish, the A4 is probably still your best bet, assuming there's a race shop in your area that can fabricate you a custom driver's side sliding bracket. If you have other requirements, though, then check out the offerings from Recaro, Sparco, and Cobra.