To summarize what I learned after replacing the factory seats with full bucket seats, if you want to truly feel the driving performance of the GR Yaris RZHP at its core, then it’s absolutely necessary to install full bucket seats.
Because with standard seats that don’t fit in terms of size and position, you can’t accurately feel the car’s behavior.
When you can feel the car’s behavior at its core, any car becomes enjoyable, especially the GR Yaris. It’s incredibly fun.
Now, as the title suggests, I’d like to introduce my insights after installing full bucket seats in the GR Yaris and driving continuously for about 500 kilometers on the highway. (This page was written in March 2021, with the latest update as of April 2023)
I opted for the BRIDE ZEIG IV. I heard it’s suitable for short legs.
If you’re confident about the length of your limbs, other models might also be suitable.
In my case, I, Rikutsu-Kone-Taro, only installed it for the driver’s seat due to cost-effectiveness.
No aramid due to price constraints. I opted for the non-wide version to experience a tighter fit. The installation position is provisional, with the seat set as low as possible for both front and rear. (See photo 1)
The fit around the lumbar region still needs improvement. So, there’s room for improvement in this area as well. (See photo 2)
The seatbelt remains unchanged.
The first benefit of installing full bucket seats is being able to feel the car’s behavior with your core, but apart from that, as commonly said, it’s less tiring and less likely to cause lower back pain. That’s a definite improvement.
This is probably because the buttocks to lumbar region are firmly held by the seat, so the muscles in that area don’t have to work as hard. It’s probably because you don’t have to exert as much effort to maintain your posture.
Humans unconsciously engage a variety of muscles delicately to maintain posture.
By reducing the strain on the muscles with the hold of the full bucket seat, it’s likely less prone to lower back pain. So, “Rikutsu-Kone-Taro” speculates.
The relative position of the shift knob has improved significantly. Also, since the legs don’t spread apart even when relaxed, clutch operation is easier. Therefore, shifting gears has become incredibly enjoyable. (Later, I installed the CAE Ultra Shifter(Photo3), a quick shifter, which made shifting even more enjoyable. For details, click here)
I feel the visibility has increased due to the relationship between the angle of the windshield and the seating position. As a trade-off, the blind spot below the windshield has widened, making it difficult to see the road surface.
So, extra caution is necessary when driving on narrow, unfamiliar roads, especially on rainy or overcast days.
Oh, and it’s not widely known, but the rear of the room mirror has two joints, so you can adjust the height quite a bit. Therefore, the deterioration of rearward visibility due to the lower seating position is almost negligible.
After swapping the seats, I immediately drove continuously for 500 kilometers on the highway from Tokyo to the city of Hokuriku to assess the feel of the seats, and it significantly improved the ease of driving.
Also, this might just be me, but since the full bucket seats envelop your body, it feels inexplicably comfortable.
It’s like a dog (or cat) being cuddled by its owner and feeling secure… something like that.
Seeing the tightly fitted bucket seats when you open the door makes you think, “Wow, that looks cool.” That’s another benefit of installing them.
As for drawbacks, as mentioned earlier, the lower seating position makes it increasingly difficult to gauge the vehicle’s sense of space.
It’s not a problem when cruising on the highway, but on rainy or overcast days, when there are curbs or wheel stops installed in building driveways, it might be easier to hit the wheels. Check the qualification via the door mirror for the driver’s side in photo 4. (Especially regarding the blind spot by the right door mirror, click here)
So, I think narrow, winding mountain roads, especially muddy ones, are quite dangerous.
You might fall into the valley. (For the failure of “Attacking the corner dead and falling into the gutter”, click here)
Also, driving through unfamiliar streets with few streetlights at night might be quite dangerous too.
Today, Rikutsu-Kone-Taro drove from Tokyo to Hokuriku in the GR Yaris to assess the seat’s comfort, and it was seriously scary. It’s drizzling too.
I hardly experience this kind of fear with my beloved Peugeot 208 (old model) that I use for commuting. It’s a fantastic, well-made car that I can drive without tension. (Changed to a Nissan Note 4WD from April 2022)
It’s not as fast as the GR Yaris, but it’s still quite a fast car. It’s convenient for use from city streets to highways.
In “Manufacturer Options and Resale Value,” I wrote that safety driving assistance systems and navigation are not worth it in terms of resale value, but if manufacturer options can completely eliminate this fear, maybe it’s worth buying… That’s what I’m thinking now.
That’s all for this time.
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