General Sliding centre seats....

[druidh]

I've just bought an '05 Dynamique and am loving it so far. However, I see that I can't slide the front centre seat forward at all. It's normally occupied by my 12 yr old daughter, so it could come forward quite a bit, thereby also improving legroom in the rear centre position or allowing all the rear seats to be mounted further forward.

Is there any way of resolving this (e.g. buy the bits needed off a higher-spec model and retro fit them)?

 

[SPONGEBOBMAIDENPANTS]

You can't move the same seat on my Eleganza so I wouldn't think you could get the bits needed from fiat.I know what you are saying though I have often thought the same thing.

 

[TinyUK]

It seems the later models have fixed seats, wonder if it was changed in the name of safety or economy?

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

On my 2001 model, the front centre seat does slide, but offers 'quite a way back' to 'too far back' It won't come forward enough to line up with the other front seats. Its all part of the design though -- the idea is that the centre seat sits back further than the outer pair so that your shoulders don't all touch. The centre rear seat will sit in line with the others, but is more comfortable if it is slid back too, to provide the same sort of offset as the fronts, which again stops shoulders rubbing and then gives same legroom as the outer seats --
Pete

 

[druidh]

Daft.

What's the point of being able to bring the rear centre seat forward if it leaves no legroom. If I'd wanted a 5-seater I'd have bought a Picasso!

 

[chr1s]

You can't move the same seat on my Eleganza so I wouldn't think you could get the bits needed from fiat.I know what you are saying though I have often thought the same thing.

My 54 new shape Eleganza does have a sliding front central seat, so you may be able to buy the necessary fittings from Fiat. Mine was registered in December 2004.

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

Daft.

What's the point of being able to bring the rear centre seat forward if it leaves no legroom. If I'd wanted a 5-seater I'd have bought a Picasso!

Other way -- fully forward it has 'enough' room, pushed back it has much more.
P

 

[druidh]

My 54 new shape Eleganza does have a sliding front central seat, so you may be able to buy the necessary fittings from Fiat. Mine was registered in December 2004.

Ah - that's what I wanted to hear!! Could I possibly trouble you though? I guess I need to know if the seat slides further forward than the fixed one or further back Any possibility you could measure the distance between the front of the seat and, say, the accessory power point, in both fully-forward and fully-back positions?

Thanks

 

[Pandabloke]

Hi Druidh. Just done this measurement for you on my 02 Elx. Measuring from the power outlet in a straight line to the seat: Fully forward the distance is about 12.5 inches and fully back on its runners the distance is about 15 inches.

Only a difference of 2.5 inches. A lot of work for two and a half inches (as the actress said to the bishop......)

Hope this helps mate.

 

[Pandabloke]

Incidentally, I'd been keen to know the answer to this one. I am collecting my '08 registered Eleganza on tuesday and as I use the car for chauffeuring I am praying that the seat is fixed in the front position (where there is plenty of room both ends) and not at its rearmost where it does restrict rear legroom somewhat.

 

[druidh]

Interesting. That distance seems to be 14" on my Dynamique. So, at best I'd only be getting the seat forward by another 1.5".

Thanks for that though. It's saved me searching.....

 

[Pandabloke]

Hoped it helped mate. However, could be the seat squabs are a different size as well, just to confuse the issue! lol

 

[Pandabloke]

Just as a matter of interest, I've done the measurement from the rear of the middle front seat to the back seat as well.

I folded the front seat back down on to it's squab. Then pushing the seat forward, from the back of the folded front seat back to the front on the seat behind it is about 9 inches. When it is slid back this reduces to about 6.5 inches.

Does this help at all!

 

[jcc]

There is a difference between my original 2000W Multipla and my current 2004 one as regards centre seats.

The old one's rear centre seat slid back, whereas my new one has another anchorage point further back instead

also, the new one's front doesn't get as close as the old one to the centre console.

However, with the rear centre fully back and the front centre back, the legroom is about the same as in the other two rear seats.

What FIAT should have done is fit less claustrophobic headrests in the front, as I get complaints about that

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

There is a difference between my original 2000W Multipla and my current 2004 one as regards centre seats.

The old one's rear centre seat slid back, whereas my new one has another anchorage point further back instead...

My 2001 model (and so I guess all the others!) has a sliding rear seat, but that seat (and the outer two rear seats too) can also be positioned in a second set of anchorage points to make the boot bigger. In fact, I think the middle seat can go in one of three positions on the floor. That sliding mechanism makes the centre seat very heavy to lift in and out of the car though -- maybe they've dispensed with it as too many people hurt themselves...?
Pete

 

[Pandabloke]

Ok. Just looked on the 2008 Eleganza. Middle front seat doesn't slide. Middle back one does but I can't really see the point. With middle back seat square to the others, there is 8 inches between the back of the front seat squab and the front of the back seat! Not the 9 as in the old model, but more than adequate.

I virtually always have the middle front seat folded down, but when it is up there is still adequate legroom both in front and back, though, as has been said, it's a little claustrophobic behind.

Now then. I have had a peer under the middle front seat. It does appear to be locked, BUT, it sits in runners. I am wondering whether, with further investigation, ie removing said seat and having a look, it is possible to release any catches on the runners and move it forwards or backwards. Have Fiat just removed the release lever?

I ain't having mine out I'm afraid as I'd only bugger up an otherwise immaculate car, but if you are really keen you could have a go I suppose.

Worth a look?

 

[druidh]

I had a look at the "runners". It would appear that both parts of the runner have actually been welded together:bang:

Anyroadup, the conclusion is that it's simply not possible to use the middle rear seat if it's brought forward into a different position. Shame., but there you go!

 

[Pandabloke]

Bugger, frankly. Thought I'd been clever there. Oh well.

The only possible reason I can think of to slide the middle rear seat forward is to use it as a table when there are people sitting in the rear. It sort of makes sense, but I would much prefer to have the rear middle seat unmoveable (apart from on it clipped floor mounts, obviously) and the front center seat on a slider.

I am an adult (I think). I want to decide where I have my front seats!

A shame, that.