Ok, I’ve looked at and driven a handful of XKRs before I made my choice.
Every single one had this.
And I’ve gotta know.

Why oh why is the seatbelt never in the seatbelt guide?

( NOTE: I pulled this rando pic off Google and even it has the seatbelt out )

 

My seat belts are ALWAYS in the guide. It'd drive me ape-**** if they weren't.
Maybe people who go into the rear area often don't want to be bothered with unhooking the clip, you know, because it takes 1-1/4 seconds to do so.

 

As the king of ADHD meets OCD, this is why of all the things to notice on every XKR I drove, this was the thing.

Maybe someone less OCD (is that possible owning a XK?) who lets the seatbelt fly free in the wind will explain why.

 

Mine’s always in the guide too (or I cuss after getting in the car and it’s not there) as it is harder to reach the belt if it’s not in the guide.

 

Hate to pile on, Circumnavigator, but when I bought my '09 XK with 48k miles, the belts were in the guide.
Don't the belts easily slide back in?

 

Not piling on at all. Was just marveling at how of the 6 XKRs I've looked at for sale, not a single seatbelt, either side, was ever in the guide. This is dealers and individuals.
Wondered if maybe there was a design bug or a height problem, so thought I'd ask.

Thought maybe it was a thing. Seems not being in the guide is an equal pet peeve across owners.

 

Whoever did the Sale Prep for those cars had to get into the rear seat areas to freshen them up, so the belts had to be detached to flop the seats. Nobody bothered to hook them back, or didn't realize they SHOULD be hooked. Didn't care???

 

Or maybe the seat belt was dirty and didn't photograph too well, or maybe the seat looked better without the sb showing or probably ceejay is correct.
wj

 

good point.

 

I've had two, coupe and convertible new and always put the belts back in the guides, BUT they do have to be removed for rear passenger access. I reckon that's a possible reason.

 

As with many things ergonomic, it depends on the use case. For me, whose seat back is as far back as possible, without hitting the pillar, the guide is pointless. But for the person whose seat back is further forward, the guide makes the seatbelt easier to reach.

 

I think it is a poor design, but that could just be me. My wife drives the car most of the time, anytime I get in the car the belt is always out of the holder. I assume that she may be putting packages in the back seat and when she does it comes out. I know nobody is riding in that back seat. It does bother me also.

 

Over the years I've noticed that women oft times relocate the seat belt angle since it crosses their upper torso and for many it is uncomfortable.
wj

 

wymjym that could be the explanation, it definitely could be an issue for my wife.