New member with a seats question MkII - MkIII

[Kaizer_soze]

Hi all, I had a membership here but it seems to have disappeared. Anyway I have a 2004 MkII Avensis TSpirit. I'm looking to buy a 2010 or 2011 Avensis TR or T4, preferably the Tourer. My leather, electric-adjust seats in the TSpirit are still absolutely perfect but I'm finding it difficult to find the car I want in my budget with all the spec as well ad full leather electric seats. My question is, would my existing seats fit in the newer model if it also has electric adjust seats?

Thanks in advance for the advice.

[FROSTYBALLS]

Hello Kevin - welcome to Toyota Owners Club.

Not sure whether the SRS system compatibility may be an issue (side airbags).

[Kaizer_soze]

I hadn't even considered that. What's the possible issue with them? Are they in the actual seats?

[FROSTYBALLS]

Usually the side airbags are in the front seats - the seat covers sometimes, though not always, have a label sewn into one of the seams identifying the seats have airbags in. I wouldn't know whether your original seats have side airbags, but the later Avensis ones almost certainly will.

If they do have airbags, there could be a compatibility issue (ie will the older airbags work effectively with the newer system).

If they don't have airbags, and the seats are installed, it reduces the effectiveness of the SRS, and may show a fault (ie light on dash).

[Kaizer_soze]

Thanks. I hadn't considered that. I'll check the seats and find out. I think it has SRS. If so, I'll need to find out if there's any compatibility issues and if they can be solved.

[Heidfirst]

TR won't have electric seats - but how often do you actually need to adjust them?

Similarly, TRs won't have full leather. However, when I was looking (mid-2013) there seemed to be quite a lot of TRs with the optional half leather kicking around in the system.

You could always get leatherette seat covers.

[Kaizer_soze]

Thanks. Some of the T4's have electric seats though. I can't find a T4 within my budget with leather electric seats, so I'm wondering if I buy a T4 with electric cloth seats, can I swap the electric leather seats from my T-spirit?

[Heidfirst]

Still would seem simpler to just get leatherette seat covers ... 

& whilst I have electric seats I very, very rarely adjust (admittedly I am the only person that drives the car other than service staff at the dealer).

[Kaizer_soze]

 It's more that they are absolutely mint condition leather seats more than the fact that they're electric.

I can tell they will continue to last a helluva long time too. Leatherette covers are fine and all, but these seats are as comfy as anything and really look great.

I know I'd miss the leather if I traded up to the newer model that had cloth seats.