GTI seats a bolt in task....my *insert pofanity here*!!!!

[Zonka]

I puchased a couple Swift GTI seats to replace the Autotecnica racing seats I got a year ago.
Now, don't get my wrong the racing seat are great but I need a step to get in & out of my car (I aint short either) & don't get me started on the thigh supports.... talk about the atomic wedgie!!!!
Anyhow back to my rant.....

I've read all over the place saying "gti seats are sweet! You just unbolt your orginal rails & off you go!" I took a look at the seat I got yesterday & knew I was in trouble from the get go. The back support adjuster thing on the seats I bought aren't part of the seat base, they attach to the orginal swift rail. Secondly, the seat pan didn't have any pre welded nuts in the correct location for the sierra seat rails.
I've managed to get one seat in but the amount of work involed truly makes me wish I left the racing seats in.
My questions to you all is:
Was their a difference in seat design between models?
If so, what years are appropriate for the seat swap?

I'll get my seats in but if I can help someone else avoid the hard-ship I'm going through then this post is worth it.

Rant off.

[ronoor]

it should,nt be that hard just drill couple extra holes from memory. cheers ron

[Zonka]

Drilling a couple holes? Surely you don't mean tapping into the super thin seat base?!?!
I got my seats in with the original sierra rails (a little modification required on the sierra passenger mounting bracket) with the captive nuts I inserted into the GTI seat bases. This was the only way I could get the seats in so they utilises the factory mounting points. This meant no modifications to the floor pan & I can revert back to standard if I like (not bloody likely!).
I searched the net to see whether there were any pictures of other conversions but couldn’t find anything relevant.

[simobimo]

I had the same problem - ended up miggin the rail to the seat.

I had rails that were in good nick, so they aren't likely needin to be changed soon.

I can take a pic if ya need it.

Simon

[ninjadaniel]

i heard the same about GTI seats, after spending a couple hours at the wreckers with a measuring tape, i found that HONDA crx (del sol) seats are the ONLY ones that bolt straight into sierra (385mm bolt to bolt width) Otherwise autotechnica seats & universal rails will fit as they are 385mm too.

[TasZook]

my gti seats were basicly a bolt in. from memory i just had to re-drill a hole a little bit bigger in the rail and in they went. i got mk1 gti seats cos thats all i could get a hold of at the time

[GRPABT1]

Same here, I've got MK1 seats too, I think MK2/3 maybe different, they're different body styles afterall.