Aptera Seat Info

[john-malcom]

The seats certainly are not completely adjustable as claimed. I am not sure why Aptera claims so when it is obvious they are not. A little loss of credibility there.

But, they are commensurate with the Aptera ethos of efficiency. I think to get the advantages that Aptera offers many will get the Aptera and switch out the seats for some third-party product they feel more comfortable with assuming the rails are standard. Of course, the seats should be tried in person to assess them for personal suitability.

[Dr.D]

Crossing my fingers that the seat brackets (or whatever mounting mechanism) is some industry standard. If the seat really doesn’t fit me I’d rather replace the seat than reject the car.

RECARO, baby!!

[paul-kirchner]

They probably travel forward and back on curved mechanism where the seat moves up in relationship to it moving forward toward the yoke.

[vernon-sinnott]

It looks like they don’t go into a reclining position. Also, aren’t they suppose to be heated?

[john-malcom]

They can’t recline very far because the back of the seats are so close to the forward edge of the trunk. Heated seats may not make the first production Aptera. Cabin heat will be resistive heating.

[joseph-leto]

Went to the show this weekend, and saw and sat in the gamma ver Aptera. And yes I am on the list to buy. The only disappointing thing, was the seat… it was very hard and therefore uncomfortable. You wouldn’t think a seat would be that difficult to get right. For me, a comfortable seat is important, and potentially a “deal breaker” if not corrected.’

[Greek]

It truly is hard to realize how good the seat is unless you are able to adjust it. To come out and say bad seats doesn’t tell anyone anything. I could see if you had adjusted them to the best of what works for you and then maybe drive for an hour…then I would be willing to listen to what specific issues you may have.

Respectfully

[Qiang]

Joseph, before you decide to abandon your reservation, you may want to see whether any after-market car seat cushion, lumbar support, etc, that may mitigate your concern.

For me, the big concern for the seat is that it may sit too low. I am 5’7″ and I am used to drive the van with my legs in a normal chair position, which I find more comfortable for long distance drive than in a sedan. I think most likely I will add a cushion to sit higher in the Aptera.

[steven-g-bueche]

I have not sat in the Gamma but I have sat on hard seats in other vehicles.

As Chris is so apt to saying, This feels like a sporty ride.

Hard seats and sporty rides do not go hand in hand.

Hard seats do not soften over time and are uncomfortable on long trips.

I would not intend to pay $30K for the chance to change the seats.

I will have to take a test ride for any purchase if this is the case. I’m like many who is older and therefor need a comfortable seat. How can you sell a car with extended range and not expect the seats to be more forgiving?

Are there others who have sat in Gamma who can shed more light on this subject?

[ray-holan]

Judging seat comfort is very subjective. I find the seats in my Hyundai Ioniq hybrid comfortable. My wife thinks they are too hard. As has been mentioned in this seat thread, there are many aftermarket pads that can be added. Is that annoying when you’re spending lots of $$ on an Aptera? Yes, but it seems like a workable compromise to me. Not a perfect world.

[OCS12]

My experience has been almost exactly opposite. The factory Recaro seats in my car were hard as a rock when new. After a month or so of driving, it definitely “broke in” and became super comfortable. Every now and then if I sit in the passenger seat, I get reminded just how hard they are when new. The funny thing is that they completely fixed my back pain because they force you to sit with good posture.

[joseph-leto]

All I know, is how it felt. And it was just not a comfortable seat to sit in/on. Am not sure if there was an up/down or front back adjustment… didn’t get that far. There of course, needs to be. I hope by the time of “real” production there will be a reasonably comfortable and adjustable seat.

[paula-egan]

I was able to sit in the Gamma at the San Diego event and found the seat comfortable for the 15 to 20 seconds I was in it, but I wonder if anyone knows if the back of the seat is adjustable? It was too reclined for me and hope it is adjustable.

edit: I just saw Arturo Meza’s comment…of course the seats are adjustable. I am leaving my post just so people can assess the space and such. I am 5’3″ and weigh a bit over 200lb.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 7 months ago by  Paula Egan. Reason: additional info

[raymond-green]

Is there any information about how far, if at all the seats will recline?

Part of appeal for me is the cross-country range capability of the 600/1000 models. On long trips with my wife, the non-driver usually puts the seat back most of the way for some shut-eye. It appears the seats are below the level of the compartment behind them reclining will run up against the “wall” that forms the rear hatch area.

I don’t need it to go horizontal, but would like to know if I can expect some flexibility or if resting in the Aptera will give me sore neck like when I try to sleep on a discount airline flight.

[kerbe2705]

@raymond-green Although the tilt of the seatbacks is adjustable the seats cannot fully recline due to the design of the vehicle. It’s also quite an uncommon thing for any 2-seater to have reclining seats. Your wife could consider keeping a camping mattress on the cargo deck, though, using the tie-downs to secure herself in place with a stretchy net…

[coby-costa]

I have found little to no information on cooled seats. The only source I found was not a primary source and stated that the launch edition would not have cooled seats. Can anyone provide any news or source information about this?

I’ve never had cooled seats before or a new car, I think this sole factor might be enough of a reason for me to pass on the launch edition and wait until they are provided. What about you guys and gals?

[ROMAD]

I’ve never had “cooled” seats and would not get them as I don’t want complex cooling fluid lines that will eventually break in the seats. If you want cool seats, then get cloth seats and not vinyl or leather.

[john-gold]

Heated seats also have a tremendous opportunity to be cheaper and better. For example, if it only heats the back instead of the butt, this would be cheaper to produce and preferred.

I and anyone I have ever talked to agree that heated seats would be better if they did not heat your butt; heating the butt makes it sweaty; warming the back, however, is luxurious.

[joshua-rosen]

I hope the seats are comfortable, I won’t buy the car if they aren’t. A few weeks ago I test drove the new Model 3 and the Model S because I was thinking of upgrading my 2019 Model 3. They have the same seat and they were awful, it felt like I was sitting on a park bench. I want a cushy seat.

[Sam]

I hope the backrest reclines till it hits the tub at all available seat bottom positions.