Rear seats in 2+2s
Discussion
The rear seats in 2+2s such as 911s, Ferrari California, Astons etc are often useless for anything other than baby seats, so I wonder why manufacturers don’t fit a normal seat mounted transversely so that a third person sits at 90 deg to the body line? Are there safety reasons for this?
Interesting idea - would be more like a race car seating position with feet elevated, but would need to be a very deep bucket imo to be safe in case of a crash. Probably not the most pleasant driving experience, although they do have sideways seats in the Defender I think (or did anyway, not seen a new one yet) - for slow speed driving probably ok and seem to be legal(ish)
MDL111 said:
Interesting idea - would be more like a race car seating position with feet elevated, but would need to be a very deep bucket imo to be safe in case of a crash. Probably not the most pleasant driving experience, although they do have sideways seats in the Defender I think (or did anyway, not seen a new one yet) - for slow speed driving probably ok and seem to be legal(ish)
Defenders are all forward facing now. Believe it’s a safety thing as seatbelts don’t work properly for sideways facing seats.I regularly have 3 in a 2+2, but four’s impossible for me due to height/driving seat positon.
HIS LM said:
I disagree with the statement the rear seats are almost useless, I often use my California 4 up (2 teenagers in the back)
Not the most comfortable journey but certainly doable and if the roof is down even easier.
Absolutely agree, they're surprisingly useful and usable, and in most cases a single passenger in the back can spread over the two of them quite easily. I think with a bench, the issue is location of the seat belt restraints? Those that have benches predated seat belts IIRC. Not the most comfortable journey but certainly doable and if the roof is down even easier.
The rear seats in 911s could possibly be one reason the configuration has endured for so long, even in the older (smaller) variants they're quite usable. Rear seats in the 250GTE and my wife's Portofino get used regularly for averagely proportioned adults as well for trips <1hr.
Years ago I regularly used to drive 4-up in a 911 (964), when my friend and I and our respective girlfriends went out. No problem with 1 hour journeys, although both girls were 5ft 5 or under.
I'm not sure if it would be called a 2+2, but my R34 GTR which is a 2 door with rear seating went to the 'ring and back with 4 blokes none of them were under 6 feet tall. Still managed 199mph on GPS on the Autobahn.
I'm not sure if it would be called a 2+2, but my R34 GTR which is a 2 door with rear seating went to the 'ring and back with 4 blokes none of them were under 6 feet tall. Still managed 199mph on GPS on the Autobahn.
Zany idea OP and probably quite unpleasnat experience to sit like that. I think many buy these cars as second / third cars and don't really need a full sized seat in the back
My Godfather went to Italy in the back of a 911 with uni friends think it was the one before the 964. He is not a smal guy and has had a hip problem ever since.
The Granturismo is the only sporty GT / coupe I am aware of that has proper seats in the back that can seat adults in comfort it isn't really a 2+2 in fact
My Godfather went to Italy in the back of a 911 with uni friends think it was the one before the 964. He is not a smal guy and has had a hip problem ever since.
The Granturismo is the only sporty GT / coupe I am aware of that has proper seats in the back that can seat adults in comfort it isn't really a 2+2 in fact
jakesmith said:
Zany idea OP and probably quite unpleasnat experience to sit like that. I think many buy these cars as second / third cars and don't really need a full sized seat in the back
My Godfather went to Italy in the back of a 911 with uni friends think it was the one before the 964. He is not a smal guy and has had a hip problem ever since.
The Granturismo is the only sporty GT / coupe I am aware of that has proper seats in the back that can seat adults in comfort it isn't really a 2+2 in fact
A GT is very much a 2+2. The seats are good, the legroom is not.My Godfather went to Italy in the back of a 911 with uni friends think it was the one before the 964. He is not a smal guy and has had a hip problem ever since.
The Granturismo is the only sporty GT / coupe I am aware of that has proper seats in the back that can seat adults in comfort it isn't really a 2+2 in fact
jakesmith said:
Lee Jones Jnr said:
A GT is very much a 2+2. The seats are good, the legroom is not.
I disagree completely & owned one for 2 years, it was like the back of any normal smallish car like an A5 or 4 SeriesI had one too.
It’s a 2+2.
on the internet.jakesmith said:
It’s not a 2+2 that’s idiotic, it can seat 4 adults comfortably for long journeys as long as they aren’t jumbo pie eaters.
Pie eating has nothing to do with the length of both driver and rear passengers legs 
I find it's always about the leg room and not the seat its self in most GTs.
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