jey
02-19-2006, 06:51 PM
http://www.jeyping.dynip.com/cars/subaru/seats.jpg
I know this has been done a lot but here's my experience/write-up:
I bought some seats from a 2000 Subaru Impreza RS Coupe. You have to have the rails that go with the seats, though - mine came with the rails and everything, which is good, because comparing my Legacy seats with the Impreza seats the rail system is very different. The installation difference is that there are 4 screws that bolt the seat rails into the car in the Impreza versus the 5 in the Legacy. The other difference to note is that the seat belt receptors bolt on differently, but they still use the same bolt size and thread. Since the Impreza seats didn't come with any extra bolts, I had to make a trip to Lowe's but that was no big deal.
When I installed them I sat in them briefly because I have heard WRX seats sit a little higher than Legacy seats, so I figured the GC8 is probably the same. Sitting in them briefly I was happy to see that I still fit in the car and my legs weren't smashed up against the steering wheel or anything. Having the front seats removed was also great for vaccuuming areas under the seat that usually never get touched with a vaccuum. Since I didn't have a portable vaccuum I ended up doing the seat install by the vaccuum at a local Shell station.
After the seats were fully installed, I started to drive and realized everything was moved all over. First of all, I could actually see the entire hood from my new, slightly taller seating position. The steering wheel was now a bit lower relative to my seating position, even with the tilt adjusted all the way up to the top. The arm-rests on the doors actually are in a position that makes sense now, instead of being like 1 inch higher than is really useful for putting the arm there while driving, and the extra little bit of height changes the way I feel next to cars - I don't feel like I'm driving a Miata anymore, more like an Impreza. Actually, everything about the driving position now - window sill height, space between my head and ceiling, steering wheel position, seat position, is now exactly the same as it was in the 2001 Impreza that I've spent a lot of time in - imagine that... Apparently the Legacy and the GC8 Impreza have fewer differences than I thought. I've always commented before on how the Legacy had a steering wheel position better suited for a 5'11" person like me than the Impreza, but apparently that has everything to do with the seats and nothing to do with the rest of the car.
Since I wasn't exactly miserable in the 2001 Impreza, I am definitely cool with the new height of the RS seats in my Legacy. Comfort-wise, they're a big upgrade - the side bolsters are perfect in that I can rest my elbows on them and still have my hands on the steering wheel. The bolstering, in general, feels great and more like a performance car than a late Buick. The headrests make more sense and are more comfortable. The ride quality of the car has improved dramatically too as it goes over bumps. And as you can see, they look nice - they're significantly darker than the existing seats, but they match the dark plastic trim that's all over the dashboard. Another bonus is that the passenger side has a coupe-only feature - the lever in the back that releases the seat from the rails. Kind of convenient when I'm loading something into the back seat. In general, those front seats slide forward a lot more because they are from a coupe.
I'd close by saying I would not recommend installing Impreza seats in a Legacy if you are over 5'11" and especially if you're tall and have a sunroof in your Legacy. You may want to get a test fit first - cause I can't imagine actually being ok with these seats if I were a bit taller.
I know this has been done a lot but here's my experience/write-up:
I bought some seats from a 2000 Subaru Impreza RS Coupe. You have to have the rails that go with the seats, though - mine came with the rails and everything, which is good, because comparing my Legacy seats with the Impreza seats the rail system is very different. The installation difference is that there are 4 screws that bolt the seat rails into the car in the Impreza versus the 5 in the Legacy. The other difference to note is that the seat belt receptors bolt on differently, but they still use the same bolt size and thread. Since the Impreza seats didn't come with any extra bolts, I had to make a trip to Lowe's but that was no big deal.
When I installed them I sat in them briefly because I have heard WRX seats sit a little higher than Legacy seats, so I figured the GC8 is probably the same. Sitting in them briefly I was happy to see that I still fit in the car and my legs weren't smashed up against the steering wheel or anything. Having the front seats removed was also great for vaccuuming areas under the seat that usually never get touched with a vaccuum. Since I didn't have a portable vaccuum I ended up doing the seat install by the vaccuum at a local Shell station.
After the seats were fully installed, I started to drive and realized everything was moved all over. First of all, I could actually see the entire hood from my new, slightly taller seating position. The steering wheel was now a bit lower relative to my seating position, even with the tilt adjusted all the way up to the top. The arm-rests on the doors actually are in a position that makes sense now, instead of being like 1 inch higher than is really useful for putting the arm there while driving, and the extra little bit of height changes the way I feel next to cars - I don't feel like I'm driving a Miata anymore, more like an Impreza. Actually, everything about the driving position now - window sill height, space between my head and ceiling, steering wheel position, seat position, is now exactly the same as it was in the 2001 Impreza that I've spent a lot of time in - imagine that... Apparently the Legacy and the GC8 Impreza have fewer differences than I thought. I've always commented before on how the Legacy had a steering wheel position better suited for a 5'11" person like me than the Impreza, but apparently that has everything to do with the seats and nothing to do with the rest of the car.
Since I wasn't exactly miserable in the 2001 Impreza, I am definitely cool with the new height of the RS seats in my Legacy. Comfort-wise, they're a big upgrade - the side bolsters are perfect in that I can rest my elbows on them and still have my hands on the steering wheel. The bolstering, in general, feels great and more like a performance car than a late Buick. The headrests make more sense and are more comfortable. The ride quality of the car has improved dramatically too as it goes over bumps. And as you can see, they look nice - they're significantly darker than the existing seats, but they match the dark plastic trim that's all over the dashboard. Another bonus is that the passenger side has a coupe-only feature - the lever in the back that releases the seat from the rails. Kind of convenient when I'm loading something into the back seat. In general, those front seats slide forward a lot more because they are from a coupe.
I'd close by saying I would not recommend installing Impreza seats in a Legacy if you are over 5'11" and especially if you're tall and have a sunroof in your Legacy. You may want to get a test fit first - cause I can't imagine actually being ok with these seats if I were a bit taller.