NJay 10 Report post Posted January 28, 2020 The heating panels are stitched unto the underside of the leather seat covers. I guess the leather is thicker so doesn't transfer the heat as well as the alcantara seat base? Mine leather ones take ages and they were replaced less than 18m ago so definitely working......slowly lol Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gazza82 41 Report post Posted January 28, 2020 Just dug out my brochure ... MY15 spec ... apparently the only difference was the seats. SE: Sporty front seats (Fabric) SE LUX: Leather and alcantara with seat heaters 1 Lussoman reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lussoman 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2020 Brilliant stuff gazza, thanks for posting. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MartinT 514 Report post Posted January 28, 2020 The seat warmers do work well and I only ever need the low setting. I prefer the half cloth half leather layout as it grips you better than full leather seats. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BRZ-123 174 Report post Posted January 29, 2020 14 hours ago, MartinT said: Sooner or later I'll get an Android head unit so that I can install apps that are genuinely useful, like Waze. The Starlink will go in the bin if I'm feeling generous. If I'm not, then I'll read it some Vogon poetry. I just realised that your starlink is not Android Auto, Apple Car Play compatible. I think from 2018 onwards, they have had their head units compatible with these 2 technologies. Since you are an audiophile, i will not risk comparing audio quality across head units etc. 😀 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BRZ-123 174 Report post Posted January 29, 2020 13 hours ago, Lauren said: As someone who knows how to operate the heated seats (a lot of owners don't), I can confirm that they are better with the half leather/alcantara option. You have to push the button forward to initially heat them, then push the button bcack once warm. Mine are hot within a minute. I don't wear any extra clothes when driving in the winter as I'd rather feel the benefit of them. They are well worth it IMO and far nicer than the no option cloth seats. Full leather heated seats don't work as well as I've found. I wouldn't buy one without heated seats. Glad I specified it as an option. AFAIK, the BRZ seats are not retro fitted by Transcal at Portbury docks and are different to the GT86 ones. No known issues with them and they are on cloth/alcantara base (with leather bolsters) , and not full leather like the GT. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lauren 2259 Report post Posted January 29, 2020 2 hours ago, BRZ-123 said: AFAIK, the BRZ seats are not retro fitted by Transcal at Portbury docks and are different to the GT86 ones. No known issues with them and they are on cloth/alcantara base (with leather bolsters) , and not full leather like the GT. The early model seat is exactly the same with Alcantara base with leather bolsters. They may not be be fitted at Portbury Docks, though they may be, or they may be fitted somewhere else. Very few people have had issues with these seats in the GT. Though more have been sold so the odd issue is more likely, but far from common. The full leather option for the GT, was another option alongside the 'Pro' option which is the same as the Lux option effectively. There is no cloth option that are heated for either car. The cloth option is just cloth, not Alcantara. I am pretty sure, that the later seats are again exactly the same between GT and BRZ. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Church 209 Report post Posted January 29, 2020 IIRC only issue/complain for alcantara-leather ones reported in forums is by relatively low mileage visible wear on side bolsters leather. But yes, those seats certainly were in GTs too, after all they are here in mine (late MY2013) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MartinT 514 Report post Posted January 29, 2020 I just realised that your starlink is not Android Auto, Apple Car Play compatible. I think from 2018 onwards, they have had their head units compatible with these 2 technologies. Since you are an audiophile, i will not risk comparing audio quality across head units etc. If it had been Android Auto compatible I'd be happy. As it is, the US centric apps are useless and the sound is terrible.It's ok, the engine is my orchestra and I have the 'big rig' at home for proper listening.Sent from my LG-Q6 using Tapatalk 1 Lussoman reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lauren 2259 Report post Posted January 29, 2020 1 hour ago, Church said: IIRC only issue/complain for alcantara-leather ones reported in forums is by relatively low mileage visible wear on side bolsters leather. But yes, those seats certainly were in GTs too, after all they are here in mine (late MY2013) That does, happen, but really it is user error. Driving in coats and not taking care getting in and out will cause issues with the leather side bolsters. Mine still look good enough after 145K. There is slight creasing of the side bolster by the door and the Alcantara has gone a little shiny in places but you would expect that with the mileage. Regular leather treatment helps too. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
McDude 40 Report post Posted January 29, 2020 I personally rate the leather/alcantara seats in the lux, I think it looks much nicer than the cloth, but that is only personal. I also really like a heated seat, in my car the rocker switch is forward for high, back for low i.e. both ways on the rocker switches them on, you don't have to go to the high setting first. My car also has the arm-rest which I'd previously assumed was part of the Lux Pack, but maybe the previous owner had it fitted as an additional option. Either way, if I was buying another BRZ I'd get the Lux pack again. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Church 209 Report post Posted January 29, 2020 McDude: switch works that way for all with heated seats on all twins with them. It was more of operating advise/hint from Lauren, not different switch, how to get seats warm quicker, by initially choosing hotter mode for initial warmup, and then switching to low for rest of driving, vs starting in low, which may take longer to get up to temps. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BRZ-123 174 Report post Posted January 29, 2020 The early model seat is exactly the same with Alcantara base with leather bolsters. They may not be be fitted at Portbury Docks, though they may be, or they may be fitted somewhere else. Very few people have had issues with these seats in the GT. Though more have been sold so the odd issue is more likely, but far from common. The full leather option for the GT, was another option alongside the 'Pro' option which is the same as the Lux option effectively. There is no cloth option that are heated for either car. The cloth option is just cloth, not Alcantara. I am pretty sure, that the later seats are again exactly the same between GT and BRZ. This is too specific now but continuing for fun and accuracy. Subaru has had 3 seat upholstery , all in pics I took from auto trader today. Only 1 is common with GT86 also in pic. Toyota had full leather not available for brz and Toyota has 2 colours of stitching, silver and red. Brz only red. Sent from my SM-G970F using Tapatalk 1 Lussoman reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MartinT 514 Report post Posted January 29, 2020 My BRZ stitching is red but also the BRZ logo in the alcantera/leather seat back is red, unlike in that photo. 2 BRZ-123 and Lussoman reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Church 209 Report post Posted January 29, 2020 Toyota also had cloth seats with red inserts (where orange parts in your last brz seats pic are), at least such was gt86 of my collegue. 1 BRZ-123 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gazza82 41 Report post Posted January 29, 2020 2 hours ago, McDude said: Either way, if I was buying another BRZ I'd get the Lux pack again. That's all you can get in the UK now .. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lauren 2259 Report post Posted January 29, 2020 3 hours ago, Church said: McDude: switch works that way for all with heated seats on all twins with them. It was more of operating advise/hint from Lauren, not different switch, how to get seats warm quicker, by initially choosing hotter mode for initial warmup, and then switching to low for rest of driving, vs starting in low, which may take longer to get up to temps. This is how the button works: Pressing foward is rapid heat. Pressing button back is for when it's heated up to maintain the heat. So push forward to get it hot quickly. Then after about five minutes press it fully back to maintain it. If you leave it pressed forward it will just cycle on and off. There is not a high and low setting. RTFM. 👍 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lussoman 0 Report post Posted January 29, 2020 5 hours ago, MartinT said: If it had been Android Auto compatible I'd be happy. As it is, the US centric apps are useless and the sound is terrible. It's ok, the engine is my orchestra and I have the 'big rig' at home for proper listening. Sent from my LG-Q6 using Tapatalk 👍 I'm with you on that. I don't do enough boring motorway journeys these days to be bothered about any music other than what's coming from the engine. 3 hours ago, BRZ-123 said: This is too specific now but continuing for fun and accuracy. Subaru has had 3 seat upholstery , all in pics I took from auto trader today. Only 1 is common with GT86 also in pic. Toyota had full leather not available for brz and Toyota has 2 colours of stitching, silver and red. Brz only red. Sent from my SM-G970F using Tapatalk Love the one in the third pic - from the limited edition model. Gives that sombre-looking interior a much needed lift IMHO. I don't think there's many of those around. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NJay 10 Report post Posted January 29, 2020 5 hours ago, Lauren said: This is how the button works: Pressing foward is rapid heat. Pressing button back is for when it's heated up to maintain the heat. So push forward to get it hot quickly. Then after about five minutes press it fully back to maintain it. If you leave it pressed forward it will just cycle on and off. There is not a high and low setting. RTFM. 👍 Unfortunately, with leather mine is not up to temp in 5 mins, probably a good 10mins is required. That's with me sitting on them. The heating panels were only changed under warranty 18m ago as before that they didn't work full stop. Transcal/Toyota said the leather ones have less heating effect too which I took to mean they don't get as hot presumably as the alcantara variant The gt86 has had various versions of the all leather too as my 15 plate has totally different design rectangles down the middle of seat (seen in a black aero previoi for sale on here but not sure how to link photo from the thread lol) to my14 plate of another club member on here whose has diamonds lol Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Test Drives Unlimited 278 Report post Posted January 30, 2020 My Custom Leather Seats heat up with no issues, including while am defrosting the car Also the Passenger Seat heats up without someone sitting there, which is useful if you want to keep your Fish and Chips hot....lol Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
McDude 40 Report post Posted January 30, 2020 21 hours ago, Lauren said: This is how the button works: Pressing foward is rapid heat. Pressing button back is for when it's heated up to maintain the heat. So push forward to get it hot quickly. Then after about five minutes press it fully back to maintain it. If you leave it pressed forward it will just cycle on and off. There is not a high and low setting. RTFM. 👍 That logic would suggest that going straight to switch backwards would do nothing, this isn't the case as it does switch the seats on. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MartinT 514 Report post Posted January 30, 2020 I only ever switch mine backwards. Forwards is too hot and I don't mind the longer wait for it to warm up. Ruth, on the other hand, would prefer a position of 'scalding hot near the core of the sun' setting on her seat. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lauren 2259 Report post Posted January 30, 2020 48 minutes ago, McDude said: That logic would suggest that going straight to switch backwards would do nothing, this isn't the case as it does switch the seats on. Not really. If you have it all the way back it heats up still, albeit slowly. As I've said many times before, RTFM. 👍 1 Test Drives Unlimited reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Test Drives Unlimited 278 Report post Posted January 31, 2020 ...........of course if people bothered reading the Manual Lauren, then it's all explained in there what the buttons do 1 Lauren reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MartinT 514 Report post Posted January 31, 2020 I do RTFM when I get a new car, but it tends to be the controls, warnings and dials that I'm interested in, not the heated seats! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites