Electric seats a gimmick?

[PNW yota]

Thinking about this the other day, and I have to say for us 3rd gen owners that electric seats are nothing more that a gimmick. (aside from lumbar support, which I like but have seen as a manual operation on other vehicles).

No heat

No memory for multiple drivers

Much slower to operate than just pulling a lever and moving the seat. Nothing like going to recline for a snooze and taking 15 seconds to get there...

As with any electrical motor can be prone to failure

Take up potential storage space under the seats

The only plus someone could argue is there being more fine tune adjustment compared to manual seats that have limited notches.

 

[JayRolla]

Its because toyota usually is behind everyone on features. Your 2000 has the same style electric seats as my 96. Which in 96 was not bad. But most 2000 or newer vehicles have the features you mention.

 

[PNW yota]

Yeah even my 98 jeep had 2 memory presents (granted they didn't function well), and heat.

 

[nor_cal51501]

Correction, they do have a heated seat option...REALLY rare, but the 3rd gens did have it. Sorry to pick apart the post, just felt after reading it like I needed to add this or die from holding it in. Lol

 

[PNW yota]

Correction, they do have a heated seat option...REALLY rare, but the 3rd gens did have it. Sorry to pick apart the post, just felt after reading it like I needed to as this or die from holding it in. Lol

Really? I checked the brochure for the 2000, 01 and 02 and didn't see it listed as an option. In my book a rare custom dealer install "option" like the SC doesn't count.

Besides that fact I still see absolutely no point to electric moving seats. I always liked how subarus offered cloth manual seats WITH heat.

 

[JayRolla]

Really? I checked the brochure for the 2000, 01 and 02 and didn't see it listed as an option. In my book a rare custom dealer install "option" like the SC doesn't count.

Besides that fact I still see absolutely no point to electric moving seats. I always liked how subarus offered cloth manual seats WITH heat.

When your climing a 40* angle hill and you feel like moving forward, its nice having electric. I love my electric seats. Wifes 2000 Expedition has electric backs but bar slide for the bottom and I hate it. Seats are huge heavy and with my 205lb ass dont make it move easier.

 

[sportscarfan]

I agree. No heat & no memory is kind of pointless.
My 11 & 12 year old Audi's are awesome - heat & 3 memory settings sync'd with key fobs.

 

[JWaldz]

lol You guys are too damn picky...

 

[jgue467]

Only a gimmick if you don't have them

ToyotaReference Brochure Viewer

01-02 limited have standard power seats, leather & front heated seats. Of course electric seats are functional. You'll notice compared to manual you get much finer precision on seat location and as the other posted noted, going up/down a steep incline (or lateral for that matter) is much easier to adjust. Even tried to adjust a manual while accelerating or braking? That can be downright dangerous.

We haven't even talked heater yet, nice automatic they have. Now lets talk clean-ability. I spilled a huge amount of Used motor oil out of a chainsaw onto my passenger front seat, thought it was ruined, nope, one quick wipe with a towel and not even a darkened spot. woohoo!

So if you can find them used I'd go for a swap. :banana:

 

[nor_cal51501]

Really? I checked the brochure for the 2000, 01 and 02 and didn't see it listed as an option. In my book a rare custom dealer install "option" like the SC doesn't count.

Besides that fact I still see absolutely no point to electric moving seats. I always liked how subarus offered cloth manual seats WITH heat.

I agree that Subaru does it right offering heated seats in leather AND cloth options. And yes, it was a Factory option for the 4Runners, not a dealer installed accessory like the S/Cers. Like I said, its more or a rarity to find them in there because it only came in the Limited models that were usually S/O'd not dealer stock. Along with the heated seat option another rare accessory is the HomeLink drivers visor with vanity mirror. Just thought i'd throw that out there as well.

Heres the factory heat switches. Makes more sense as to the blanks in the dash there now doesn't it? lol.

I agree. No heat & no memory is kind of pointless.
My 11 & 12 year old Audi's are awesome - heat & 3 memory settings sync'd with key fobs.

Comparing an Audi to a Toyota is kind of ridiculous in my opinion. Thats kind of like comparing Apples to oranges, though both grow on trees they are not similar in comparison. So to compare a Audi that no doubt had an MSRP of at minimum $10k more than the 4Runner seems a bit out of a logical grasp. Don't get me wrong, that is a great feature to have the memory seats, but it's simply part of the benefit of buying a German vehicle of that age and paying a higher MSRP. Also, another important factor to note is that the heated seats were an option in Audi's as well, just as it was in the 4Runner. Albeit more Audi's came pre equipped with them, it was an option nonetheless. I believe its part of a cold weather package if memory serves(please don't quote me on this). BMW's also do the same thing, offering leather without heated seat options, unless you buy the "cold weather package" with adds the heated feature. Leather is a great accessory regardless of the extra features.

ToyotaReference Brochure Viewer

01-02 limited have standard power seats, leather & front heated seats. Of course electric seats are functional. You'll notice compared to manual you get much finer precision on seat location and as the other posted noted, going up/down a steep incline (or lateral for that matter) is much easier to adjust. Even tried to adjust a manual while accelerating or braking? That can be downright dangerous.

We haven't even talked heater yet, nice automatic they have. Now lets talk clean-ability. I spilled a huge amount of Used motor oil out of a chainsaw onto my passenger front seat, thought it was ruined, nope, one quick wipe with a towel and not even a darkened spot. woohoo!

So if you can find them used I'd go for a swap. :banana:

Additionally id like to add that along with the leather power seats comes the function of raising and lowering the seat height, something that the manual seats are entirely incapable of doing. I personally don't have the use for this feature being that I'm 6'2, but many people would surely have such a use for this feature.

 

[PNW yota]

Proof is in the picture I guess. I looked through the link above and still only saw 6-way power seats listed, not heated seats. And being that I don't own an 01-02 the borchure is all I had to go off.

I agree adjusting seat height is nice for some, but again this doens't need to be run by an electric motor.

How often are you guys adjusting your seats? The length of my arms and legs doesn't change lol. So I never adjust the distance to the steering wheel, unless someone else drove it before me. And how hard is it going to be to adjust your seats if the motor dies lol?

ToyotaReference Brochure Viewer
Even tried to adjust a manual while accelerating or braking? That can be downright dangerous.

No I can't say I have. Usually I adjust my seats and mirrors when I get in, not while I'm driving down the road...

ToyotaReference Brochure Viewer
Now lets talk clean-ability. I spilled a huge amount of Used motor oil out of a chainsaw onto my passenger front seat, thought it was ruined, nope, one quick wipe with a towel and not even a darkened spot.

I never said that leather seats weren't a nice feature, just so happens toyota doesn't offer leather without electric.

 

[T4R2014]

Heres the factory heat switches. Makes more sense as to the blanks in the dash there now doesn't it? lol.

It still makes no sense. It is such an afterthought. Why would you put the passenger's control out of the passenger's reach?

I like electric seats though.

 

[nor_cal51501]

It still makes no sense. It is such an afterthought. Why would you put the passenger's control out of the passenger's reach?

I like electric seats though.

Agreed that passenger control on drivers side is just poorly thought out.

 

[Tif]

My 4Runner did not come with leather/heated seats but the previous owner added it.. They put the switch for the heater on the side of the seat (closest to the door) which is fine for the person sitting in the seat.. But since it does not automatically switch to the 'off' position when you get out it's super annoying when other people ride in your car and forget to turn the heater off when they get out.
I don't regularly have other people riding in my 4R so it's usually a couple days later when I realize the heater is still switched on, then I can't reach the button from the drivers side to turn it off. I have to either pull over or wait til I get where I'm going to turn it off. It's not a huge deal, just annoying.

I do have power seats but I do not know if they are factory or not.
The ONLY thing that I like about having power seats is being able to adjust the height/tilt of the seat. I kinda like for the front of my seat to be slightly higher than the back and manual seats don't always have that option.. (Some do, but not all).
As far as the regular stuff (moving forward/back and recline) I would MUCH rather have manual.
...May just be cause I'm impatient though.

 

[ShooterMcGavin]

I never said that leather seats weren't a nice feature, just so happens toyota doesn't offer leather without electric.

Did I misunderstand you, or did you mean the other way around? Toyota didn't offer electric without leather.
My '97 4Runner has leather without electric seats.

To weigh in on this... I think electric seats is kinda nice but, without a memory option, only valuable for the "bling" factor - that being, letting other people know you have electric seats. I'll keep my reliable, manual seats. Another of my cars has electric and memory, tied in to the keyless remote. That makes it worth it.

 

[02SE]

I never said that leather seats weren't a nice feature, just so happens toyota doesn't offer leather without electric.

They certainly did.

My '97 SR5 which I bought brand new off the lot, and as is stated as being available in the '97 brochure, and as listed on my Monroney sticker, has the factory optional leather Oak seats.

They are manually controlled.

 

[nor_cal51501]

I agree adjusting seat height is nice for some, but again this doens't need to be run by an electric motor.

I never said that leather seats weren't a nice feature, just so happens toyota doesn't offer leather without electric.

Run by an electric motor…? Now you are just arguing design as a majority industry standard. Yes, there are some model vehicles that have a handle to adjust the seat height, but that is a moot point. Sounds like you simply just don't like electric seats to me…:shrug: Electric seats and leather are luxury options if you want them, fortunately for you they are not standard equipment. But seriously, you sound like you simply are just against electric seats as a general rule--not sure why--but you are certainly entitled to your opinion. As for me, I enjoy electric seats. I like having more adjustability(height, front to back, back rest angle). If i had leather I would really enjoy heated seats. I used to have a chevy with leather and heated seats and LOVED them. Again, leather isn't for everyone; nor are electric seats. Cough Cough.:becky: *Correction* Also, one more point of interest, Toyota did offer leather in the 3rd gens without power seats. Again a rare option, but it was possible to order SR5 models with leather, without electric tracks. Sorry to keep raining on your comments, constructive criticism here only. Not picking on you. :cheers:

 

[T4R2014]

They certainly did.

My '97 SR5 which I bought brand new off the lot, and as is stated as being available in the '97 brochure, and as listed on my Monroney sticker, has the factory optional leather Oak seats.

They are manually controlled.

I can back that up as well. The cushions and stitching patterns are identical to the Limited.

 

[2fas2c]

maybe it's just me but power seats seem to have more increments of adjustment, manual seats seem to have only a few positions.

 

[Robb235]

I don't like the electric seats in my Limited, mainly because it takes forever to recline the seat back. The motor that moves the seat front-and-back sounds like it's on its last leg and about to die. I'd prefer to have my leather seats manually controlled.

If I remember correctly, my dad's Infiniti I35 has electric seats, except I think it has a manual recline. I could be wrong though. He does have memory presets and heated leather seats.