any success with non VW seats installed?

[JBG3]

Biggest complaint about my mk2 now is generally the seats.  uncomfortable for long trips.  The yard has mk3 and mk4s available, but im curious if anyone has moved seats from another manufacturer over with any success.

The most comfortable long distance seats ive encountered over the years have been volvo seats.  Im thinking I might try and wedge a couple big volvo front seats in somehow

[Sierra94]

I have Volvo 480 sport seats in my Mazda. Very comfortable.

[CRSMP5]

recaro...... only word i say...

mk3 seats = junk... mk2 and old horse hair mk1 last better.. also too wide.. have to be modded...

b3 passat.. not b4.. imo has best stock vw seat.. but again too wide for mk2... b4 crappy material vs b3.. kinda like the cloth to foam just does not stick.. b3 go and go with burn holes and all... never get "loose" on the foam...

newer then that = air bags... so junk yard non blow ones not so simple...

[mystery3]

MkII recaros are pretty great though stupid expensive for a nice set.

Potentially find a set of sport seats from an e30 in the yard? They should fit and have reasonable bolsters and good overall support and adjust-ability, though again buying a good set used is costly. Looked at aftermarket?

[CRSMP5]

recaro deals do exist.. just got to watch... i have 2 sets.. 1st i got in 98 in my 84 coupe.. 75$ and other set i got in 09 ish for 150... those in my kubvan now... still need 3d set for my b3 wagon...

[R.O.R-2.0]

Recaro, or german seats are the way to go!!

my GLI has Recaros, and my GTI has german seats..

both are very comfortable on long trips, even with my messed up back..

[8v-of-fury]

What'd you do to your back k3VO?!

[wolf_walker]

Most of the seats in old cars are worn out.  Even if they have good looking material, at this date the foam is compressed weird and the firmness is wonky and just generally not cool.
Sure everyone has a preference, but I've never met a European car yet (an old one) that didn't have good seats when they were in good order.
Think about new foam and/or having a shop, or you, re-pad them with memory foam.  I did that with the stock one's in my 82 and they are as good as any
I've ever sat in now with the obvious exception of not much in the way of bolsters for cornering. 
Old Volvo's and Mercedes suffer greatly from this as well.  I've known more than a few people that disliked the entire car just because
of worn tired seats, that they didn't know were worn and tired since the covers were so long wearing.
As a general rule, good seats, like tires, aren't cheap.  If you can weld, take some measurements and hit the junkyard and see what there is to be had.
I've seen all sorts of stuff hacked into early VW's.

[shwak23]

MKIII heated leathers out of a GLX
Corrado leathers
Or Scirocco leathers
Are my favorite seats.
BMW recaros are nice as well. Anything with the word Recaros stitched in the back.

Sent from Outer Space!

[scrounger]

You guys are pretty wild with your modifications.
My buttocks are pretty insensitive, but my wife seems to find fault in the Mk2 seats.
How about some pictures of your seating?

[R.O.R-2.0]

What'd you do to your back k3VO?!

hereditary, car wrecks, more back injuries because of wrecks and other stuff, yadda yadda..

[R.O.R-2.0]

MKIII heated leathers out of a GLX
Corrado leathers
Or Scirocco leathers
Are my favorite seats.
BMW recaros are nice as well. Anything with the word Recaros stitched in the back.

Sent from Outer Space!

leather SUCKS when its cold tho...

[CRSMP5]

and when hot... i hate leather.. only owned 1 with and never again...

[R.O.R-2.0]

and when hot... i hate leather.. only owned 1 with and never again...

YEAH BUDDY!!

A2 GTI recaros!!

those ones out of a 4dr GLI?

or are the levers to fold them forwards just not pictured?

the 2dr and 4dr recaros were the same seat, minus the fact that the 2dr seats had the cables and levers for folding the seat forward..

if you manually release the latches, you can even fold the 4dr versions..

[CRSMP5]

   no.. gti have 2 levers per seat.. gli had 1.. all have flip forward levers.. those my 150$ gli set..