I've had my slightly used 2012 P4 for about 6 months now. Love the car, but cannot get the 8 way seat comfortable, even with added cushions etc. (It never ocurred to me this car would have fewer adjustmenst than a Toyota Versa!) I think I can find a 14 way seat, but no one, including dealer, knows if it would work because of the electronics/programming. . Since it was an option, seems like there must be some way to make this possible. any thoughts on 1) if possible, 2) how do it, or 3) who might know or help - even from Porsche folks? thanks in advance .

 

14 ways blow. Absolutely miserable place to do an extended driving stint..

https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/...era-seats.html

 

I'll be honest the seats aren't great... As I was told keep trying to adjust them until you find the right fit.. The way I got mine to feel Okay was by reclining it more.. By doing this it stopped the lumbar from hurting my back.. Hope this helps..

 

8 way seats here, drove 12hrs straight from California to Washington near Oregon. No problem.

 

yep, lots of different butts and backs. unfortunatley this is the only ride i've had i just cant get comfy - though admit i got spoiled with my previous audi s7 whhich i could (and did) drive 12 hours easyily totally relaxed.

 

The Cayenne though I feel is much more plush and comfortable. In the times my car has been in for check up, I have been given a Cayenne.

 

I have never liked Porsche standard seats I have changed them in almost every one I have ever owned. The answer is yes it can be done, though sometimes it does require moving some wires in the connectors around.

 

With older cars after market seat replacement not big dela. but with airbags and electronics and seat memory etc felt like. my only option was other panamera seats. but either way, no one ive talked to including dealer service and parts people, seems to know if it can be done. Any thoughts on how to figure it out? i wouldnt mind really nice mechanically opeated seats - but i do think id be an idiot if i screwed up the aiebags. (They saved my *** in my totalled s7).

 

s2p, you've got multiple people with 14 ways telling you they suck, too.

do you have direct experience with them, to the extent where you KNOW they will suit you better?

 

very good point. i have tried the 14 way and thhouhg i can see what people say - not real comfortable either. But at least they have more adusting capability- lumbar and thigh extension for eg. The 8 way. have about as much adustments as my dads 1958 deSoto. So while im not looking for perfectiin, i do have hopes rhat more adjustment means greater chance of being able spend more than an hour in the car without real pain.

 

Good point. I have tried the 14 ways briefly and see what they mean - not a great seat. But at least they have more adustments than mu current seats. - lumbar and thight depth for eg., The 8 way has about as much adjusment as my Dad's '58 De Soto. My hope is not an ideal seat but at least enough adjustment i can drive more than an hout without real pain.

 

Both of my current cars have 18 way adaptive seats, if I am not mistaken the draw back for some was that they could be vented (at least in 2010, not sure if that is the case still) and since they were more expensive I was told many dealers did not order them on the early cars. The 06 997 cab came with heated 8ways, I hated those seats and in their place I put none heated adaptive seats from a GT3, much lighter much more comfortable. So here is the part that gets tricky, you can switch to 18 ways, your dealer (or probably any dealer) will tell you either it cant be done or they cant do it. You are going to have to find an independent who knows about these cars. Not many people are going to want to do this or have my attitude of oh well I will figure it out, but then again I like taking things apart, plus I tend to pull fuses just make sure certain systems are not powered, though you will throw some codes once you are done (easily cleared and they will not come back) I'm sure you could probably find one 18way in your color and unlike my 997 you might not even need to rewire the adapter, and seat memory will likely still work. If I was doing this first step would be to get the wiring harness of the 8 way and whatever seat you are going to get. I get the feeling that they did not use 3 different harnesses for these cars, and the wiring you will need is already there.

 

wow - very interesting and helpful. i did talk to an indepenent guy (in the washtingon DC area) who seemd just the type to rise to this challenge and this info could be very useful. Sounds like if i decide to go this route my first step is to locate the seat(s) which he seemed confident he couod help with - and to gamble buying them on the hope that it really works, othewise, I'll end up with the coolset, most expensive porch furniture in Arlington.

 

It can be done believe I have owned 40 Porsche's over the years and done many things to them that dealer service people said could not be done. Keep this in mind service techs are trained to fix things not to modify them. There are some options that would likely be difficult to retrofit but my guess is that the same wiring harness is used on all seats. The adjustments are part of the seat controls not the harness. The only problem would be heat or ventilation since those controls are on the console. There are three things about a car that your body comes in contact with, the seat, the steering wheel and the shifter, I have to comfortable with all of them, which is why very few of the many, many cars I have owned did not have at least one of those things replaced. good luck

 

thanks much for your insights and thoughts. Last question: what about airbag connection? i dont undertand relation of airbags and seats except that seat seems to trigger ahether airbags engaged. id be willing to givs uo heated seats, but would worry about not having airbags function properly.