Thursday, April 23, 2015

WRX Seat Swap

IMG_6268
The transformation continues piece by piece!  This 2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Hatchback started life as a mere base model with a CVT.  While it's still getting me on-average 32 mpg (over the 43k miles I've driven it so far), it certainly doesn't look or feel like the econobox it started out as.  The suspension is firmer, the wheels are wider, and the interior and exterior have been subjected to many Subaru Legos.  Today another piece was swapped in from a 2015 WRX.
IMG_6265I have never really cared for the stock seats in the 4th Generation Impreza.  The seats are sort of gutless in that they don't have much support.  I've had to bring the car to Subaru 3 times for seat issues, too.  The first was the air bag sensor in the passenger seat getting thrown off by electronics.  The other two were replacing bad lumbar cushions in the driver seat.  So, when I got a chance to nab some sporty looking WRX seats, I jumped at the opportunity.

IMG_6266Thanks to the new 4th Generation WRX still being built on a 4th Generation Impreza unibody, the upgrade was simple.  Take out the bolts in the seats, disconnect the plugs underneath, do some well-needed cleaning, and put the new seats in.  The new seats are very comfortable, provide better support, and have good side bolstering to hold me in place when I'm taking tight turns.  They still provide the same safety features the Impreza seats did with Whiplash protection head rests and side-bolster airbags.  I'd be lying if I didn't also admit they make a major improvement to the interiors' looks!

These seats are hard to find and, in most cases, very expensive when you do find them.  Thanks to exuberant WRX owners reckless driving, a salvage yard might have a pair from a kid who thought it would be a good idea to test out the car on icy gravel with the stock Dunlop tires on.  You also might find a serious track day guy who is putting racing bucket seats in and no longer needs his stock seats.  Either way, if you can find a set and you have a 4th Gen Impreza you'd like to upgrade, it's a great fit.  Literally!

22 comments:

  1. I was wondering if you think if 2015 wrx seat rails would be able to mount to stock 2.0i seats. I'm looking for a way to lower the seats an inch or two and heard the rails on the wrx are a tad lower. Any help would be appreciated, Thanks!!

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    1. I could check and see since I still have my 2.0i seats... but I don't feel much of a difference in height between the WRX and Impreza seats. Perhaps if the cushion is taller on the WRX seat, the rails might be lower to give a similar stock height. If that's the case, this swap would actually work the way you want.

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  2. Just realized that the 2015 WRX uses the exact same seat rails as the 2.0i. I know the 2014 WRX uses different rails and subsequently lower rails. Wonder if the stock 2.0i seat would mount to a set of 2014 WRX rails?

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    1. Ah, I know from personal experience that the 2008-2014 rails won't work in the 2012+ Impreza (4th Generation). So, while the seat might mount to the rails, the mounting points to the frame are different.

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    2. Dang, alright, thanks for your help, appreciate it

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    3. Do you by any chance know of anyone who has been able to lower their stock seat in there 2012+ Impreza? Or do you have any ideas as how to possibly to do it.

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    4. Nope. I have yet to meet anyone who needs the seat to go any lower than it is already capable of.

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  3. Im looking to switch out my front seats with WRX or STi seats. Ive also been looking at JDM seats . I have a 2013 impreza sport wagon. How do i know what will fit?

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    1. Any Impreza from 2012-2016, any Crosstrek from 2013-2017, and any WRX or WRX STI from 2015+ will have interchangeable front seats. The mounting points are identical.

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  4. I want to know if I can put in wrx 2016, ​​impreza seats 2015. can i put them without changing the passenger side module?

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    1. Yes. Any Impreza from 2012-2016, any Crosstrek from 2013-2017, and any WRX or WRX STI from 2015+ will have interchangeable front seats. The mounting points are identical.

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    2. What seats will fit in my 2011 impreza wrx?

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  5. Thank you, but you can tell me something about the airbags module? Is interchangeable too?

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    1. The plug for the airbags that connect to the seat works on the WRX and Impreza.

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  6. I put on my wrx 2017, 2015 impreza seats and it works perfect only I changed the old seat airbag module if they want to know why I did it only because of impreza are more comfortable for wide people

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  7. Are WRX seats 2015+ directly compatible with 2013+ Crosstrek? Plug an play airbag harnesses, etc or do the harnesses need modification? Also, I would really love the 2018 Recaro seats from the STI. I am assuming they are different, but hoping they are not. Thanks.

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    1. There's no power seat in any 2013-2017 Crosstrek, so that's the only issue I see switching to STI Recaro seats in yours. The rest will plug in fine, but you'll have no way to adjust your seat.

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  8. Wondering if any rear seat swaps have been found

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    1. Rear seats will only swap between similar models. IE 2012-2016 Impreza Sedan rear seats will swap with 2015+ WRX sedan rear seats. 2012-2016 Impreza Hatchback rear seats will swap with 2013-2017 Crosstrek seats.

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  9. Old thread I know, but I can't find an answer anywhere: Will an '08-'14 WRX front seat swap into a '14 Forester? Thank you!

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    1. No, that won't work directly. For direct seat swaps, you'll need to find 2012-2016 Impreza, 2013-2017 Crosstrek, or 2015+ WRX seats.

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