Does any body know if there are any front seats from other fiat models or any other make that will fit straight into a basic MK3 Panda?

I want to replace the drivers seat as I am finding it very uncomfortable on long journeys - could do with more padding/support and height adjustment.

I would be surprised if the 100HP's seats are not a straight swap. They offer increased support and are height adjustable [the small lever on the LHS]:



What year/model is your car?

I have tried for ages to get hold of 100hp seats but no joy they seem to be snapped up when a car is scrapped, so looking for more readily available alternatives

500 seats fit in with small mod - see my post on how here. A pair of these Abarth seats went for £150 brand new on eBay last week. Total bargain I reckon!

NottsCharger said:

I have tried for ages to get hold of 100hp seats but no joy they seem to be snapped up when a car is scrapped, so looking for more readily available alternatives

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Tbh the 100hp seats are rubbish really in terms of support. Well, unless you really like your pork pies, then they may be slightly better than useless.

If you want a supportive seat, I'd seriously think about looking for a second hand Recaro.

thanks lewey for the link to your guide on Fiat 500 seats good work there. Thats definately an option.

Recaro's would be good if I know the right sized seat to look at.

NottsCharger said:

thanks lewey for the link to your guide on Fiat 500 seats good work there. Thats definately an option.

Recaro's would be good if I know the right sized seat to look at.

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It might be worth remembering though (look at how the seats are shaped) that they aren't going to be anything more than an aesthetic improvement really.

Well generally the stock size is going to be fine for most. I guess if you were ever anywhere near Demon Tweeks or Autosport International, you could go and try some Recaros. I'd say though (I've had a few cars that had Recaros as standard) that the ones out of the DC2 (96-00 Integra Type-R) are simply excellent, though they are not cheap, even second hand. If you are a standard-ish size, I'd say they would be fine. Then you'd need to work out how to mount them. New Recaros start around £500 IIRC.

Agree the Abarth 500 and 100HP seats are miles off racing seat support, but they do offer a little more in the way of comfort and a touch of support over the standard in my opinion. I am average weight and height 29 year old and do find the seats offer a little comfort upgrade over standard as I say. Just don't have your expectations too high in this regard.

I'm not looking for racing type support, I used to own a Honda NSX and for a sports car that had superb seats both for road and track days but the panda isn't that type of car.

Also I'm not perhaps a normal size panda driver in that I am 6'5" and a muscular 16 stone, yet I like my panda this being my second mk3 one. l am comfortable with the space I have inside, I wear it rather than sit in it but the standard seat is perhaps straining under my bulk and feels flat with no support and little adjustment.

I sometimes drive 300 or so miles in a weekend in my panda and the car performs great but drivers seat feels like a waiting room chair at the end of a long journey.

I've got recaro bucket seats in my Beetle drag racer but they are the type to strap yourself in for short runs and getting in and out of them is an art form

I've sat in a 500 Abarth liked the seats in that so is definately an option but want to see if there are any others.

There aren't going to be any other seats that bolt in like the Panda and 500 seats can be made to. You would be talking experimentation with metalwork and random seats or perhaps off the shelf rails for racing seats, which doesn't sound like what you want. Only the Sabelt semi-race option seats for the 500 offer more support than the Abarth. If you find a set under £1k, let me know!

No I will stick with Panda or 500 seats then. I have fabricated seat subframes for cars in the past but don't want to mess around with the Panda too much.

Just a replacement seat or new foam padding would probably work wonders as looking at the driver seat today it looks steamrollered compared with passenger seat!

NottsCharger said:

Just a replacement seat or new foam padding would probably work wonders as looking at the driver seat today it looks steamrollered compared with passenger seat!

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There's an idea on a budget then. You can swap the seat rails over between your front seats and use the passenger as the driver seat. The seat belt mounting is part of the rail and the mountings are handed, so they need to be swapped. It is only four bolts for each rail mech and unclipping/clipping of plastic bits.

I had a go at swapping the front seats over and everything nearly worked except the backrest adjuster was on wrong side and not enough room next to B pillar to fit the seat.

Was good practice though as have just bought a height adjustable drivers seat from an Eleganza, car was a 54 plate but had only covered 7000 miles seat looks and feels like brand new, sorted

Thanks for the advice.

hi all,

i've just acquired my 1st 100hp.....with a dodgy drivers seat.

thanks to this tread, its all sorted!

the issue seems to that the hdf wears against the seat backs lower bar...and then is cut by it.

a trip to the local upholstery shop for a little hdf (30x5.x8 cm) and a little hessian and all seems good again.

when you have access to the seat frame, wrap the lower seat bar in hessian and secure with hot glue of gaffa tape. cut a 2cm quarter off the hdf (so you end up with a "L" Section. Glue/Tape this on top of the hessian.

Hot glue and tape the original HDF back together and jobs a good one.

Whilst i was in there i fixed the seat back spring too, removed the broken bit, and used cable ties to join it back to the frame and back together.

Hope this will help someone fix their seat too!

Hi , and welcome,

good tip, took me a few seconds to figure out - High Density Foam..

Charlie - Oxford