Here's a weird question...

Though I haven't tried yet (the nearest one is about an hour drive away) I'm fairly certain I won't much like sitting in the seats in the R3. I LOVE the way they look, I'm sure I'll kick myself everytime I go to the track, but the other 99% of the time, I don't think my 6'3" 190lb self will fit all too well.

But I love the looks and the wheels of the R3 better than the GT. In fact I doubt think I would even consider a 2009 model if it's not the R3, I'd just go with an '08 new (there's still a few out there) or a used model.

So, that said, I got to thinking what it would take to swap the R3 seats out for the standard seats, preferably power ones. The fact that they're worth about $3000 each could undoubtedly put a little extra coin in my pocket as well (though it would make selling the car hard, so I may just keep 'em)

Now, in most cars thesedays, the harness for all features is there whether you pay for the option or not. So there would be a plug for power/heated seats under the seat, whether you got them or not. Does anyone know if the '09 RX-8 has that?

And I would have to think the R3 uses the same seat rails. But can anyone confirm that?

 

the R3 seats cost $6000 a piece good luck getting anyone to buy them at cost,,,
And the dont come as a power option...

even at $3k a piece good luck gettting anyone to buy them you can get the Recaro Sportster CS for around $1500 dollars which is the same seat, different upholstry pattern and without the airbags, or you can add a universal airbag for anouther $400 apiece..

 

Never said I could get anyone to take them at any particular price. Just that they'd put extra coin in my pocket, which they undoubtedly could. There's a lot of people on a lot of Forums from all different car types that have inquired about the source of the R3 seats. I'm sure few would be willing to pay anything close to their cost, but they'd undoubtedly sell for a nice price. The Sportster CS is also not the "same seat". It's similar, as many racing seats are, and closer than most, but it's not the same one.

And I know they're not powered, hence my question on whether the plug is actually there under the seats, as most cars thesedays do.

 

i think if you got the r3 and wanted to swap seats for what ever worked. you would have a huge line.

btw, i have about an hour in that car and seats. from you description of body type. they were made for you..

beers

 

again its the same seat different upholstry pattern a little extra coushining for maunfactuer specs and airbag option,,,
the seat can also be found on the Audi ClubSport quattro Concept, the Audi RS4 and RS 6
Such is the case manufactuers like Mazda and Audi has access to this as well as other custom patterns for a few years before it will be released within the universal aftermarket design, this is the way many seats have come into existance over the years,,,

 

Those pictures speak for themselves.

The Audis, the R3, and the Sportster are each cleary different in the shoulder bolsters, lateral bolsters, seat area (particularly in thigh support) and slightly different in the leg bolsters. They share the same general design, that's it.

I've sat in a Sportster in an MX-5 and briefly sat in an RS4. I promise you that they're in no way the same seat. The Sportster is MUCH tighter than the Audi seat is. I also presume it to be tighter than the R3 seat is, considering that the Sportster fits into an MX-5 but, according to MX-5 owners, the R3 seats do not. If the R3 seats are close to the RS4 seats, I won't worry about being comfortable in them. If they're closer to the Sportster, I would. From pictures and comments from those who've driven them, I guesstimate them to be somewhere in between.

Here's a better picture illustrating the differences between the Audi seats and the Sportster (couldn't find an R3 seat from the same angle). Clearly illustrating why the Audi seats are far more comfortable. They're positively mammoth in comparison.



But really it's a flippin' moot point. I don't care if they're the same damn seat or not. All I want to know is if the '09 RX8s all have a power seat plug under the seat or not.

 

For sure!! I would be more than happy to swap my 2004 Power/Heated leather stock seats + something for the R3 seats

 

Really? Is that seriously what Mazda charges for them?

 

yup, $1400 for the bottom of the seat and $4400 for the back, yeah when I was at the dealership and went to the parts area and had the guy pull it up just out of curiosity I figured ya know its oe so tack a couple hundreds dollars more on top of your typical aftermarket seat so I guess $1800 and he guesses $2200,,, he alnost choked when he pulled it up,,, and thats just one seat...

 

There goes any and all thoughts I ever had about swapping out my seats with R3 seats.

Mazda is high as f*%k.