Replace Cloth Seats w/Recaro?
 

I just test drove "my" car. All set to buy, moved money to checking for the downpayment had financing, everything was a go. Then I drove it. It had cloth seats and they were a horrible fit for me. After 10 minutes I couldn't imagine myself in them for a hour. The side bolsters were a bit narrow and grossly underpadded. I got my deposit back.

I had driven a leather car earlier and didn't notice this. I sat in a leather car at the dealer and they felt much better. I would go for leather but I DO NOT want the roof.

Anyway, the point is does anyone know of an aftermarket seat that would fit? I'm considering getting the car and replacing the driver's seat. Any thoughts, ideas, pitfalls?

You could probably special order the leather without the roof since there is no restriction of leather + moonroof in Canada

No, you can't - at least not in the US. Leather brings automatically the Grand Touring package, which contains the sunroof. I should know - since due to my height, I can not have the sunroof either. I would want the leather, and pretty much everything what the GT package has - except for the sunroof.

I think the only choice is to either replace the seat(s) with comething else or - what I'll do if I get the car - get one with the sport package only, and retrofit the leather. Costs a pretty penny, but there's no other way. I asked Mazda already - but they won't break up the package. There is no "special ordering" available.

I realize that's what the website says, but there's always special ordering available. A number of Celica GTS owners had the same problem and were able to order their cars straight from the Japan with no roof and the 180 HP engine.

Really?
 

If that's the case, I'd be most interested how would that work with Mazda, because I tried to ask several dealers and Mazda's Customer Service 800 number multiple times (just to get a different person on the phone), and the answer was always negative.

Does anybody have an idea how to organize this 'ordering straight from Japan'? Any good phone number to call or address to write to?

Thanks.

Two more questions about seat replacement. I don't recall; is there an airbag in the seat and is the slider bar bracket on the floor that the front seatbelt anchors to connected to the seat? Either one could complicate a swap.

Heh. We should swap parts. I love sunroofs, but can't stand the leather. Had my first test drive of an eight yesterday, and I kept trying to figure out if the bunwarmers were on -- the leather is *hot*.

Also, I can't stand electric seats. Hey, thanks, I'll take the option that works slower, takes up more space, has moving parts, and requires tons of fiddling to get right... I was jealous of the passenger's manual seat.

Speaking of the passenger -- my wife's head is not at a good height for the indentation in the seatrest. <sighs>

Hey, as long as we're swapping parts, can I have your mirror? I'd really like more of a view of the road and a little less silly features attached to a mirror, please.

And add me to the [long] list of people who think that the digital speedo is annoying and silly. I don't think that with practice that I'll be able to tell speed by the tach, either, since there are so many gears with such a broad range for each one ("hm... 5,300 RPM means that I'm either going 34 MPH in 2nd or 43 MPH in 3rd or...")

Kind of a disappointing test drive, really, although it's possible -- just possible -- that my expectations for angels singing and roadway epiphanies was a big much. You guys really boost standards, ya know?

SO TRUE...
However, it is the best 4 seat sport(y) RWD car out there for the money. I still want it but I need to see if there are other seat options or learn to live with it.