Upgrading daily driver seats

[Johnny2Bad]

It is absolutely required that you sit in any seat you are considering.

Like most model-specific non-oil questions, your best source of (fitment, in this case) questions, is the Ford Focus forums. The critical measurements are width at the seat base and at the shoulder bolster (typically the seat hits the window).

 

[dlayman]

Originally Posted By: Johnny2Bad
It is absolutely required that you sit in any seat you are considering.

Like most model-specific non-oil questions, your best source of (fitment, in this case) questions, is the Ford Focus forums. The critical measurements are width at the seat base and at the shoulder bolster (typically the seat hits the window).


Really just sitting in the seat not installed in the car isn't sufficient. You still have other issues like the angle it places the knee at when foot is on the peddle. How it handles bumpy roads, etc. Dynamic testing, in the actual car, is the only real way to know, and it may or may not be feasible. Often times the "seats" get blamed for what is really a driving position or other ergonomic issue which a new seat may not fix

 

[dailydriver]

Originally Posted By: HerrStig
I mention Recaro or Sheel and get the deer in the headlight look. Yes, you can buy a really aftermarket good seat of that's your only objection to a vehicle.


Their OEM supplied seats may be different, but I will NEVER, EVER AGAIN chance an aftermarket Recaro seat!!

It (SPD model) was the absolute WORST seat I've EVER used as far as durability/longevity goes (albeit was well bolstered and supportive, and comfortable over distances when it was in one piece).
EVERYTHING on it started falling apart after less than 3 years of daily use, and I was VERY careful to lift myself over the outside bolster so as not to crush the cushioning, nor wear out the fabric.
Not only did the cushions crush/lose their resilience, and the 'Avus' fabric wear right through to the cushion material in this time, but even the suspension under the seat collapsed, forcing me to stuff high density closed cell foam under there, and to try to re-wire the suspension with stainless tie wire so as not to be sitting on the floor!!!
I am under 200 lbs., so that excuse is also not going to work either.

So much for 'Recaro quality', and almost $800.00 down the drain!

I am also certain that it was NOT a 'counterfeit', and WAS a REAL Recaro, if one were going to suggest that possibility as a defense of what is supposed to be one of your
On top of all of this they REFUSED to either warranty their product, OR even sell me the bolster cushions and covers to fix it myself.
And, as was stated above, most automotive upholstery shops wanted MORE THAN the price of a new SPD to re-cushion and re-cover this one!!!!!

IF I ever buy another aftermarket street recliner type seat again, it will be a Cobra, or Sparco (Recaro actually LOST it's FIA safety homologation certification on their Profi racing one piece shell a few years ago, so they are even falling in THAT arena as well).

 

[Sequoiasoon]

I had a set of FloFit which came in some Saleen Mustangs that were awesome many adjustments and I put them in 2 different vehicles. Any fabricator shop could make adaptors to bolt up to slides.

Recaro Style XL these are the same that come in some of the Audi "S" versions. Not as heavily sculpted makes them more comfortable IMO.