How are the standard seats?
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6'4", 230 lbs. here. In general the standard seats are fine for normal driving but out Rav 4 Prime has more side bolstering. Even with the bolsters moved in as much as possible, it's not as much support for lateral moves as I'd like. Of course, if you're not racing the car it's not an issue.
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52 Posts
I’ve owned both versions. If you’re just daily driving or doing straight line stuff the regular seats are fine. They’re more comfortable for daily activity and noticeably easier to get in and out of due to less bolstering in the butt/base of the seat. Longer trips that are 2-3+ hours are much more comfortable as well due to the base seats having a longer thigh support.
The regular seats can only adjust the side bolstering of the torso. It helps a little but if you’re taking corners aggressively you will slide around. You’ll be using your core muscles to stabilize yourself and controlling the steering wheel will take more effort. With the recaros I was pretty much glued in place and steering was much easier/less effort. For example there’s a highway exit loop ramp near me that I’ll take at speed sometimes. I enter around 50-55mph and build pace steadily up to around 60-65 as the ramp straights out. With the recaros I was glued in, I felt much more in control, steering was easier and therefore the car felt more planted. With the base seats I’m sliding into the door panel, I’m obviously in less control and therefore the car feels less planted on the road even though I know it’s not.
If you’re only occasionally doing driving like I described above the base seats will be fine. However I can’t recommend them simply because resale value and some people refusing to buy a V without the recaros. My advice would be only get the base seats if you’re driving the car a lot AND not going to the track/testing the cars cornering capability frequently. Even if you only drive the car occasionally or on the weekends and don’t drive aggressively, I would recommend the recaros. The seat is what your body touches most in the vehicle and the recaros will give you much more of a sports car feeling every time you sit down. Also the recaros look better/more sporty. To swap recaros in your car you’ll be looking at $2000+ if you can find them. So if you go Recaro and decide you want the base seats you will be able to trade with someone who has the base seats and get some cash out of the seats as well. If you find a car you like for the right price but it has the base seats, you’ll have to weigh that out. That’s what happened to me and I purchased a base seat car.
The regular seats can only adjust the side bolstering of the torso. It helps a little but if you’re taking corners aggressively you will slide around. You’ll be using your core muscles to stabilize yourself and controlling the steering wheel will take more effort. With the recaros I was pretty much glued in place and steering was much easier/less effort. For example there’s a highway exit loop ramp near me that I’ll take at speed sometimes. I enter around 50-55mph and build pace steadily up to around 60-65 as the ramp straights out. With the recaros I was glued in, I felt much more in control, steering was easier and therefore the car felt more planted. With the base seats I’m sliding into the door panel, I’m obviously in less control and therefore the car feels less planted on the road even though I know it’s not.
If you’re only occasionally doing driving like I described above the base seats will be fine. However I can’t recommend them simply because resale value and some people refusing to buy a V without the recaros. My advice would be only get the base seats if you’re driving the car a lot AND not going to the track/testing the cars cornering capability frequently. Even if you only drive the car occasionally or on the weekends and don’t drive aggressively, I would recommend the recaros. The seat is what your body touches most in the vehicle and the recaros will give you much more of a sports car feeling every time you sit down. Also the recaros look better/more sporty. To swap recaros in your car you’ll be looking at $2000+ if you can find them. So if you go Recaro and decide you want the base seats you will be able to trade with someone who has the base seats and get some cash out of the seats as well. If you find a car you like for the right price but it has the base seats, you’ll have to weigh that out. That’s what happened to me and I purchased a base seat car.
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11 Posts
Thanks man. How much of a pain would it be to program in the recaro's if I tried?
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52 Posts
No idea man but I know guys have done it. I could be wrong but from what I remembering the seats bolt in no problem. Any potential issues arise with wiring/CUE since your car wasn’t manufactured with the extra controls the recaros offer. If you search around you might be able to find info on it
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