[Stewie]

Here's a review posted by Jalopnik. http://jalopnik.com/the-fiat-124-spider-is-actually-the-perfect-city-car-1789702628

 

[berndv]

It is true the seats are lousy.
For my Fiat 124 I am looking to get the Recaro seats that are available for the Abarth model in some countries. Unfortunately they are not on the option list here in the Netherlands.
So I went to a Mazda dealer the other day to try them in an MX5 Miata. And although I spent only a very short time in them, they immediately felt so much better.
The dissapointment came when they told me what the price would be, should I want them: A staggering €7500 / $8000 / GBP 6300. And that is for just the driver's seat. At least Bose audio and heating are included.

 

[RBH58]

Nothing wrong with the Abarth's seats apart from the lack of adjustment available.

 

[iamz]

The cloth seats in my Classica fit me perfectly. In fact, they are the best seats I've ever had in any car in 35 years of driving. I'm guessing the author is, umm,...bulkier than I am.

 

[Dabixi]

Yep, I like the seats as well. Did several multi-hour trips already and the seats just feel great. (6ft1)

 

[Amante]

I'm not lovin' the leather seats in my Lusso. The driver's seat bites me in the butt. It feels like I'm sitting on the seat frame, but I'm not. The side bolsters on the seat bottom are really hard. I'm hoping they - or my butt - will break in as I put more miles on the car.

 

[Stelvio]

I haven't tried the standard seats but I have the Recaro in my Abarth and I can tell you they are very comfortable. I like that under sporting riding, you never feel "thrown" to one side of the car or the other as well. And yes they are heated and have the speakers in the head rests.

 

[LongBeachJim]

Hilarious when when she suggested that the fake dimples on the hood were "the equivalent of drawing abs on your stomach with a sharpie".

The seats sort of remind me of the feel you get when sitting on canvas directors chairs. Not that that is a bad thing. I'm only at 600 miles of local driving so I'm awaiting my first road trip before I throw in a verdict. Thus far the seats have been fine.

 

[oliverpull]

Hilarious when when she suggested that the fake dimples on the hood were "the equivalent of drawing abs on your stomach with a sharpie".

The seats sort of remind me of the feel you get when sitting on canvas directors chairs. Not that that is a bad thing. I'm only at 600 miles of local driving so I'm awaiting my first road trip before I throw in a verdict. Thus far the seats have been fine.

I have the same "director's chair" sensation from the leather sport seats; they remind me of the "buckets" that were standard fare on British roadsters. But they hold you well and I had no ill effects from them after several days of driving the Pacific coast.

 

[fiathead]

I've been quite happy with the seats in my Classica. The longest stretch in them has been a 3 hour back road tour south of the Indy area and I came away feeling fine. That same trip in my '69 Spider has me aching for a day or two afterwards, but still smiling.

 

[drbjaz]

I'm very happy with the comfort and feel of my Spider seats. I wouldn't own a Spider if my wife had found the seats at all uncomfortable. We have a Lusso with leather seats. She was against the purchase until the test drive and found both the ride and the seats surprisingly comfortable. We've taken a couple of rides in the range of five hours each and both times she reported that she felt no discomfort at any point - not something she says about most other cars we've owned over 38 years of marriage. I also enjoy the seats. I took an extensive test drive in a Classica with cloth seats. I preferred the leather and think they are an upgrade, not only in material but also in comfort, but I found the cloth acceptably comfortable as well. My wife and I are both relatively small. I'm 5'8" and she's 5'4". Maybe that makes a difference. Interesting how some people have such a different experience/sensation with the same thing.

 

[JFernald]

I love the seats in my Lusso. I have put 7500 miles on it, mostly via long highway drives from Albuquerque to San Antonio: 700 miles & 10 1/2 hours each way.

I injured my back in 2003 and had sciatica for years afterward. I had to have a car with great seats in order to be able to stand up after a long drive. Seats were the number one priority in selecting a new car. With proper exercise my sciatica subsided, but I kept insisting on great seats in my cars. When I first sat in the Spider, I knew the seats would suit me fine on long trips, and they have.

 

[Finny]

I threw a Gelco lite seat cushion on my seat and it makes not only the bottom a lot more comfortable, but positions me better for a little bit of lumbar support. Obviously in this car if you're tall it wouldn't work.

I'll probably have foam added by a professional eventually. Shouldn't be hard the leather is zipped up in the back.

 

[Delilahbear]

I have a Lusso with leather seats. Both my husband and I have found them comfortable. Just did a 500 mile 9 hour drive each way from Florida to Atlanta the past weekend. Only 2 rest stops each way and the entire drive was comfortable. Plus the fact that I am only 4 months from a total knee replacement it was a good trip.

Only problem I have is that there is already wear at the point I hit when sitting in the car. I am short so the seat is pulled up. I could slide the seat back when I get out but then I have to adjust it again when I get in which isn't happening when I am running on the late side to get to work so I am lazy and keep the seat pulled forward. Do miss automatic seats that we have in our Jag S-Type. Now that we have the Spider the poor Jag sits lonely in the garage. I suppose I should take it out some day - LOL.

 

[Cherryman]

I am 6'3" tall with a 36" inseam. In the last 7 years I've had two back surgeries. Finding comfortable seats was therefore a priority for me. When test driving the Spider I told the sales person that it was important for me to spend a considerable period of time in the car to make sure I could fit in the car and that the seats were comfortable. After 1 hour I was convinced that it would work. When I purchased my Abarth I didn't even think that the leather seats would fit me differently than the cloth seats in the Classico that I test drove. By the time I drove the 100 miles home after purchasing the Abarth, my back was tired and sore. The problem seems to be the fixed lumbar support that presses into my back in the wrong spot. I've found that I can get good relief by putting a small pillow in the space between the bottom cushion and the seat back, thus eliminating the curve that forces my back to conform to the seat. This, however pushes my knees closer to the dash then I would like, but it's the best solution that I've found. Since my seats are black I've asked Santa for a black pillow case with an Abarth patch sewn on the cover. It's no fun getting old!

 

[wedgewa]

"Do miss automatic seats that we have in our Jag S-Type."

Proof these things are all personal and subjective. I turned off the automatic function in my Jag S-Type (all the way back and down was not helpful for me getting in and out). And the stock Classica seats feel great to me. My wife doesn't like them as well, but that seems to be because the passenger side has less legroom. She's more comfortable on the driver side. Or maybe she just likes driving the Spider....

 

[pikeman]

My wife is impossible to please with car seating, she drives a Volvo and the seats in that car are amazing. I was very surprised when she remarked how much she liked the seats in the Abarth! We've had some nice day trips in the car and been very comfortable.

 

[spilner]

My wife is impossible to please with car seating, she drives a Volvo and the seats in that car are amazing. I was very surprised when she remarked how much she liked the seats in the Abarth! We've had some nice day trips in the car and been very comfortable.

That has me thinking what her take would be on these seats if Mazda didn't have any involvement in them, as in different seats, completely from Fiat, not Mazda.

 

[DanRodemsky]

My 2 cents. I love the seats in my Classica! It really is a case of personal preference. Everyone is a different shape.

 

[RBH58]

My wife is impossible to please with car seating, she drives a Volvo and the seats in that car are amazing. I was very surprised when she remarked how much she liked the seats in the Abarth! We've had some nice day trips in the car and been very comfortable.

My C30 T5 R-Design had the most comfortable seats of any car I ever owned. Our BRZ is a pretty close 2nd but with a better driving position. Our Abarth 124 is pretty good, the problem is lack of adjustment range if you are even semi-tall. The moment you push the seat back the range of recline becomes very limited. I have the seat slightly closer to the pedals than I'd ideally like so that the back rest is at a reasonably comfortable position and I'm close enough to the (annoyingly non-adjustable for reach) steering wheel. The BRZ's seats are slightly more comfortable and it has the better driving position.

Passenger side though...when I have the seat in a comfortable position there isn't an abundance of legroom (I'm 180cm/5'11" and 150lbs/68kgs so I'm not a big guy). My wife had her 6'3" boss in there the other day and she said he looked ridiculous and quite uncomfortable.