...the Ricaro seats. Put simply I've heard mixed reviews. Some reviewers think they're great unless you're fat, others say they're a huge pain even for short periods. Can anyone who's had them for a while comment as to how comfortable they are day-to-day?

I would have test driven one already, but the local dealership doesn't have any R3's, and that's a long trip to make to just check out the seats.

 

first they are not height adjustable
I'm 5'7 and kinda sitting low

they are narrow
Im 120lbs

but I love those seats. my body barely moves when I take hard corners whilst my old maxima I always found myself in the center of the car or against the door.

 

I'll buy the seats from you and trade you. I have an 09 GT. =)

 

I was fortunate enough to sit in an R3's Recaros a few times. 160 lbs and 5'10". Fits like a glove and more comfortable than my GT seats IMO.

 

I fit perfect imo, im 6'3" and 175

 

Amalinze, what is your height, weight, and body type?

I have the 2004 GT leather seats and I've always found them to be too wide and slippery, whereas Honda Civic and S2000 seats always fit me perfectly. It seems that Mazda was trying to accommodate the average American, who's taller and wider, with the regular seats. I've never sat in the Recaro seats but sounds like they fit more like Honda seats.

 

I've found the R3 seats to be very comfortable for my longer drives (~3 hours to a track day). For OEM seats, they do a great job of providing comfort and keeping you from sliding around during hard cornering.

BTW, I'm 5'7" and 130lbs.

 

I was worried about them too. But I find them to be very comfortable for any kind of driving. I'm 6'4" and around 180 lbs. My girlfriend says they hug her hips a little but I told her she could lose weight.

Get some leather conditioner. I've noticed that it's difficult for me to get out of the ca without rubbing/pushing down on the left side if the seat. It's looking a little more worn down then the other side. I condition it all the time to make it look better.

 

if you dont want them. we can trade interiors.. mine is red/black leather.

 

Is she still your girlfriend?

 

She's accustomed to my bluntness. I'm not sure she liked me saying it with the sales person standing there however. I got "the look."

 

yep getting out of the car is very hard even for a short person like me

 

I like the clotch + leather gives you grip in the seat and adds characterstics

 

Thanks for all the input everyone. I'll definitely consider swapping seats if I don't like them after having them for a while, since they seem to be in high demand :P . Right now I'm just figuring up the exorbitant cost of insuring one of these things. Even with a spotless driving record I'm looking at $2000 a year. Ouch.

 

Darn, I've got a R3 and a 90 MX-5 and with both I'm less than that a year.

 

Well for comparison, I have sat in the R3 a few times and it fits me like a glove (5'8" 182lbs of twisted steel and sex appeal).

On the flip side, I was driving my bosses daughters C63 AMG and they were a little too narrow for my taste and I felt like I was being squeezed so a fat guy would not be comfortable. In my bosses CL65 AMG they actually adjust depending on driving style I believe and that is awesome.

 

They are the best seats I've ever sat in. I'm 5'10" 170 lbs - and you are right. If you are fat these seats would suck. If you are not fat you will feel like someones hugging your ***.

 

I love them, but then I'm not an average-sized American.

Just be careful getting in and out because you'll rub against the side with your hip and wear out the leather pretty quick.

 

Don't forget to use mink oil on the leather... regularly.

 

Not to revive a dead thread, but I just got my '09 R3 on sunday! The seats are amazing! No idea what I was worried about, but drove 10 hrs from Atlanta to Shreveport as soon as I signed all the paperwork, and absolutely no problems. The whole car fits like a glove.


Best. Car. Ever.

 

Good to hear. I was playing around with an R3 the day I bought my 8. It was already marked as sold, but the salesman let me take it for a quick spin while they were waiting to hear back from my lender. I wouldn't have been too happy if I were the buyer; but hey, it worked out for me. At 6'2 and 180 lbs, I also fell in love with the seats.

I was also wondering if the bolstering/padding would be comfortable during a long drive, but I guess I have my answer. I have to say, the Recaros are like slipping into a finely tailored suit. The leather GT seats are more like slipping into a really good off-the-rack suit, but at the end of the day I still love my two-tone chaparrals. That, and I'm a ***** for heated leather...