I keep hearing how "rare" the Recaro seat option was and wondering how many on the Forum have them and in what color? I have the Ivory Recaro seats in my 2005 XKR Coupe.

 

I also have ivory Recaros in my 2005 XKR coupé - they look superb, but if I had paid the $$$ for them as a factory option, I wouldn't be too happy, because I really don't think they're that comfortable. For a start, the headrest part is way too far back for me and can't be adjusted...

 

Exactly the same seats as Frog in my XKR.
Headrest is poor, also if you move them right back they hit the rear seats and squeak all the time.
I don't find them uncomfortable though.

 

They're not uncomfortable per se, but you would think that for £3000 on top of the standard seats, they would be something really special... and IMHO they ain't.

I was expecting levels of comfort and support like this

 

Recaro seats are not shown on my car's printout as an 'extra'.

 

For the final models in the UK, they were listed in the brochures as standard in the XKR and options in the XK8.

However, a buyer could select to have the 'standard' seats substituted so there's no certainty all XKR's will have Recaros.

Graham

 

The UK brochure I have on the run-out 2005 cars says they were a £3000 extra even on the XKR.

 

I think we've got the same brochure (the hardback book).

The INTERIOR, TRIM AND SEATING section shows R Performance Sports Seats as 'not available' for the XKR (because it's included) and as a linked option at £1700 for the XK8.

On the next page under OPTIONAL PACKS, the XKR-S pack includes Recaro R Performance seats with contrast stitch at an additional £3200.

What is the difference between these two types of Recaro seat other than the stitching?

Graham

 

Well, rather interesting, I was expecting more replies for : yes I have the Recaro seats. Thus far only three as original equipment and all in Ivory color. So, baring a lot more positive replies I believe we can consider the Recaro seat option to be rare indeed. I would have to agree in part on the comfort issue. I find the backs to be comfortable but the seat bottom proper needs additional cushioning. When I have the drivers seat redone I plan to have an orthopedic gel pad installed. I think that will make a considerable improvement, particularly on long drives.

Cheers!

 

My 2003 XKR coupe with the "Performance" option has the Recaros in it. I think the color is called 'Dove."

I agree with Steveinfrance about the squeaking - I hate it! The fronts actually touch the rear seats when slid all the way back. Also, I will say that after an hour or so of driving my left thigh gets kinda sore from the seat bolster pressing so hard against it. I wish I could bend it out or down about an inch - but I can feel the metal support structure under the padding and it's not going to be bent (I've tried). I'm not "that" big of a person either! I guess I just have "big" legs for a guy.

I don't mind the head rest not being adjustable, but I will say that the 1995 and 2001 XJRs I have owned had equal (if not more comfortable) seats IMHO.

My wife, however would disagree. She LOVES the Recaro seats! She says every other time she rides in our XKR for longer than 20 minutes that she wants me to find a set of Recaro seats out of a salvaged Jag and set them up on mounts in our living room to use as television watching chairs!

 

I have a 2004 Portfolio with the Black Recaro seats, blue inserts, and contrasting stitching. They fit me fine. I had a '98 XK-8 with the older seats and didn't like them as much. Love the look.

 

On my 05 XKR, Recaro seats are shown as a $2000 option on my window sticker.

I love them. They're far more comfortable than the stock seats. They do squeak, and the headrest is set back so you probably won't use it, but otherwise I have no issues with them.

 

I was one of the lucky ones. When I got my 2K XKR Vert it had the black stock bucket seats.

I managed to find a set on Craigslist from a 2005 XKR Coup in Black. I've transplanted the front seats but I need to do some work on the back seats to get them to fit as they are for a coupe and I have a vert. I'm still woking on that.

IMO, The recaros are better for me. The seat pad on the standard buckets are not semetrical. I felt like I was slightly leaning to one side, causing a minor backache and one of my legs would fall asleep. The downside is that they are bulkier and heavier and cuts down on the rear seat leg room. Also since the side airbag was not an option for my year I had to disable the side air bags on the recaros.

 

Having worked in two dealers, I can say that I only saw one car with the Recaro's at the dealer. A new 2004 XKR Portfolio in that stunning blue. I loved the fit of those seats. Being 6'4", there are not many seats that fit me very well. Those Recaro's I remember as fitting my like a glove.

I have seen them on another 2004 Portfolio in Red at the June Concours in West Chester PA.

That's all I have seen so I imagine they are relatively rare.

Enjoy

 

I have a 2006 XKR with black interior and non-Recaro seats. Given the other options the original purchaser selected I highly doubt they were standard and suspect that they were not even available on the California spec. model.

Has anyone done any serious driving on both seat types? Do the Recaros offer significantly more lateral support than the standards? I enjoy spirited driving in the mountains and find that there is not as much lateral support as I would like. The passenger side is worse still (mostly because the seat has sagged less than the drivers side) so my passenger ends up sliding around some. I have considered getting a pair of after market seats but the standard ones are so comfortable I'd be concerned about losing that. Perhaps the OEM Recaro option would be the best choice.

Thoughts?

 

I haven't tried the standard Jaguar seats, but I can tell you that my XKR's Recaros offer significantly less lateral support than other 'sports seats' I have owned, including a 2008 BMW 330 (sports seats option) and a 2010 VW Golf GTI (standard seats).

 

I have driven in every type of seat from the original to the later seperate head rest and the Recaros, for me I prefer the original, I drove 500 miles and got out as fresh as a daisy, the Recaros gave me back ache after 150 miles

All the same though I have them in my XKR!!

 

I have the same back pain issues with the Recaros.

 

Does anybody know if it's possible to fit X308 XJR seats in a XK8/XKR? The seats in my XJR are the best automotive seats I've ever been in, with a great combination of comfort and lateral support. The XKR seats, on the other hand, are rather disappointing when it comes to support. Especially given the XK's much more sporting character overall.

 

I looked at aftermarket seats for my XK-8 but couldn't find anyone that had a mount for the car. I even contacted Recaro, zip. Now in my XK-R I actually like my Recaro seats but agree they don't adjust as much as I'd like (for instance if I want to take a snooze while the wife is shopping) and it would be kind of cool to have cooled seats in that car. Would love to find someone who did a custom seat install but so far I haven't.