Recaros Available for non-V-Series Cadillac CTS

"Okay, sorry, that's a bit of a sore point with us."

would you buy the vette if it had better seats? No. So stop whining about the seats.

CTS was obviously designed for Recaros from the start. Someone from Chevy said existing racing seat will not fit inside Vette since it wasnt designed for them from the start. The interior would have to be modified and new government certifications would be needed to get new seats.

"We think the fact that the Recaros look as if they're wearing shalls around their necks is more than offset by the adjustable thigh-support. Another victory for those long-of-femur."

Arent they similar to whats in the S5 and S4?

1487, one of the editors put non-Recaro racing seats in his Corvette. The standard Corvette seats are awful. GM messed up if they designed it so better seats couldn't be put in. No reason to not acknowledge that.

+1 stovt001

The Vette should have the best seats and not be parts sharing with the Cavalier for the steering wheel.
People are buying a premium sports car, not excuses.

Vette is for old fat butts. Thats the problem.
Thats what they said recently here.

The Vette is a gorgeous car, however. I haven't tried the seats and I haven't driven it, but the performance and looks really are attractive. The Cadillac is great and practical, but the looks do just aren't there for me. Interesting, but not lust worthy. that's the one piece Cadillac could improve in the next generation.

I love Recaros; I have a pair waiting to be installed in my 2002. Come on Spring!!!

Having driven the C6 (and C5, and C4), I concur with Daniel. It makes a huge difference. The ZO6 at the very least should have sporting seats.

After spending 3 years with a C6 the seats are not one of the cars strong points nor is quality in general.

GM puts craptastic seats in the Vette because of the Vette's demographic. Young guys and gals don't buy Corvettes. Here, in Metro Detroit, Vettes are a dime a dozen. And I never ever see a person younger than 40 driving one, ever. They are either garage queens for retired auto workers and execs, or daily drivers for folks during the summer. And the only Z06 or ZR1's I see have manufacturer plates on them.

Not because the Vette isn't a sweet car, because it is. It's the MSRP and the fact that young guys like myself would buy an M3 or an S4 for Corvette money.

That folks is why we get fat old guy seats in Corvettes.

When you consider the amount of engineering that went into the Corvette's performance, I don't buy the arguement that it would be too difficult to fit better seats.

They could if they wanted to but chose not to. For money reasons or just to suit the aging boomers that actually buy Vettes can be debated all you want.

Audisport is right about the demographics thing. My question is, what could GM do to make the Corvette more appealing to young people. I'm in my 20s, and I'd love to get a used Vette a few years from now, but I understand I'm in the minority.

"GM messed up if they designed it so better seats couldn't be put in. No reason to not acknowledge that."

Never said better seats wouldnt help. I question how much typical owners really have issues with the seats in regular driving. Track driving isnt regular driving.

Well how many people need 430 hp and a performance oriented suspension in regular driving? This is a sports car, not a Buick. Besides, even carving up a nice canyon road calls for body hugging seats that really hold you in place.

It's funny you mention that, Audisport. A coworker of mine bought a 'Vette last year and he's my age (28). To be fair, he traded in his Buick. ;-P

The only reason NOT to offer properly bolstered and adjustable seats in a sports car is because you think that your target demographic is too fat and/or too stupid to care- or just isn't the slightest bit concerned about serious driving.

"A coworker of mine bought a 'Vette last year and he's my age (28). To be fair, he traded in his Buick. ;-P"

Now that's a REAL conquest sale...

"When you consider the amount of engineering that went into the Corvette's performance, I don't buy the arguement that it would be too difficult to fit better seats."

What I said was existing Recaro seats will not fit in the car. re- engineering the structure for new seats after 3-4 model years isnt going to happen. The other option would be to get a custom seat made which is probably not worth the effort considering the low volume of the Vette. Does anyone know if owners actually complain about the seats? I don't think most owners spend their time behind the wheel on a track.

"The only reason NOT to offer properly bolstered and adjustable seats in a sports car is because you think that your target demographic is too fat and/or too stupid to care- or just isn't the slightest bit concerned about serious driving."

Astute as always. The man with all the answers graces us with his presence once more.

"Besides, even carving up a nice canyon road calls for body hugging seats that really hold you in place."

Owners say this? when the car first came out there were few, if any, complaints about the seats. This issue has become prevalent over the last 3 years or so. The seats definitely have serious bolstering but the complaint seems to be they aren't rigid enough when cornering on a track. A canyon road still isn't a track. Interestingly enough only a handful of cars have fully adjustable sports seats. When you look at the sports seats on Ferrari or Porsche models they lack the adjustability of the BMW sport seats or the Recaros in the CTS. I would tend to think an accessible sports car like the Vette needs seats that can fit a wide range of people.

There's no reason Chevrolet can't offer two seating options to suit both the mid-life crisis cruisers as well as serious enthusiasts. And I'd think that those who glean their automotive insights from seat time at the auto show would especially welcome the variety.

"When you consider the amount of engineering that went into the Corvette's performance, I don't buy the arguement that it would be too difficult to fit better seats."

What I said was existing Recaro seats will not fit in the car. re- engineering the structure for new seats after 3-4 model years isnt going to happen. The other option would be to get a custom seat made which is probably not worth the effort considering the low volume of the Vette. Does anyone know if owners actually complain about the seats? I don't think most owners spend their time behind the wheel on a track.

"And I'd think that those who glean their automotive insights from seat time at the auto show would especially welcome the variety."

I'd think anyone with a shred of common sense would agree that if adding new seats in the middle of a product lifecycle were easy or cheap it would happen all the time. But then again, when you have folks who are well versed in auto engineering, government testing and all other related matters I guess its best not to question their "expert" judgement. Surely, posting on IL and owning a few vintage cars qualifies one to know more than people who design and engineer Corvettes for a living. I mean its only common sense. With so much free advice and deep knowledge out there one has to wonder why vaunted experts such as the author of the above aren't consulted by veteran auto industry execs daily. They don't know what they are missing.

Still waiting for some sort of verification that owners of the car have a major issue with the seats. As with many issues (such as "steering feel" in family cars) I have a feeling this is much bigger in the minds of BMW fanboys/corvette haters than actual owners. Could be wrong.

"Surely, posting on IL and owning a few vintage cars qualifies one to know more than people who design and engineer Corvettes for a living. I mean its only common sense. With so much free advice and deep knowledge out there one has to wonder why vaunted experts such as the author of the above aren't consulted by veteran auto industry execs daily. They don't know what they are missing."

Boy, the bitterness shines through loud and clear. Life in the cubicle must REALLY be miserable this week. In any case, let me know when YOU get quoted in the Detroit News or Automobile magazine.

"Boy, the bitterness shines through loud and clear. Life in the cubicle must REALLY be miserable this week. In any case, let me know when YOU get quoted in the Detroit News or Automobile magazine."

Not at work. Nice try though.

Never been quoted by Detroit News but I have had letters published in Automobile and Car and Driver before. You? I'm sure you've been quoted too many times to count considering your bounty of knowledge.

"Never been quoted by Detroit News but I have had letters published in Automobile and Car and Driver before."

Impressive- especially considering the strict criteria for publication.

"You?"

One letter to CD back in the '80s. I'm 1 for 1.

"I'm sure you've been quoted too many times to count considering your bounty of knowledge."

Thanks for noticing.