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The first time I experienced a Recaro seat I was hooked. It was 1987 and Volkswagen had just made the stylish and very supportive Recaros standard equipment on the top-of-the-line Jetta GLI.

A lot of time has passed since I first took a seat in that GLI, but I’ve never forgotten how good those Recaros felt. Understandably I was a little disappointed in the seats Subaru fitted as standard equipment in the Baja Turbo. Aside from their relatively poor comfort characteristics and lack of lateral support, they don’t offer height adjustment or even seat heaters on manual transmission-equipped cars.

Needless to say, something had to be done. So for the last three months I have been enjoying a set of Recaro Style seats with the comfort package. The Style looks is one of Recaro’s more contemporary models, introduced in the late ‘90s, and looks very similar to the seats offered in the 2005 Audi S4. With adjustable side bolsters, lumbar and heating and cooling options, they get the job done like no other.

Many driving enthusiasts would love to install a set of aftermarket seats, but with side airbags being integrated directly into the seats of many new cars, the days of a simple seat swap are mostly behind us. For this particular project we are fortunate that the Baja Turbo does not get seat airbags. Subaru offers them in other models, but chose to exclude them on the Baja.

The seats were ordered online from one of Recaro’s approved dealers. It took several weeks to get the seats, which were made to my specification in the company’s North American production center in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The cost of the seats can vary depending on how they are equipped and which model you purchase. Figure on spending roughly $1000 for the Style non-power seat, sliders and seat bracket; add $500 if you want the comfort package of heating, cooling and power adjustments. Recaro offers a variety of seats, fabrics and options, so just choose the one that fits you and your budget the best.

Once the seats had been ordered, we needed to track down a set of seat brackets that would allow the greatest amount of headroom. Some Subaru owners utilized Wedge Engineering’s WRX bracket but our vendor provided us with a set of Spaco WRX brackets, which looked to be of decent quality and design. These particular brackets offered the greatest about of headroom.

The seats eventually arrived in two large boxes, well protected by thick styrofoam and enveloped in a plastic bag. I was impressed with the care taken to ship the seats. Once unpacked, I went over the seats and found the quality to be exceptional. The leather is smooth and supple and emits that wonderful smell that only high quality leather can offer. The Alcantara fabric and stitchwork are also top of the line.

Installation of the seats requires some fairly basic mechanical skills, but nothing a shadetree mechanic can’t handle. Basic hand tools, a clean work environment and patience are about all that is required to ensure a decent install.

The first step is to remove the factory seats, which are mounted to the floor by four 17mm bolts, one at each corner. The bolts are run into captured nuts welded into the floor pan, so it’s best not to use impact tools to loosen the seat bolts, which could damage the nut.

Next you’ll need to remove the seatbelt hardware. This will be installed on the new seat bracket.

Once the old seats are out, you can begin assembling the seats to their brackets and sliders. Start by installing the sliders onto the base of the seat. Recaro provides step-by-step instructions for this procedure.

The sliders are then bolted to the seat frame. The Sparco seat bracket has a location for the seat belt clip, which needs to be removed from the OEM seat. We needed a 7/16" x 20 nut to secure the seat belt clip.

The completed assemblies are then bolted back in the car using the original hardware. The four bolts should be tightened to the proper torque after reinstallation.

Because my seats were equipped with the comfort package, I also needed to run power to the seats. To avoid draining your battery by accidentally leaving your seat heater on, you may want to tap power from an ignition-switched source. Of course, this also means you won’t be able to adjust your seatback unless the ignition is switched on.

The seats have transformed the driving experience of the Baja Turbo. The suede centers and large side bolsters provide excellent feel and grip. Within ten seconds I am able to feel the seat heaters warming up, something that can take minutes with an OEM seat. Not unlike the transforming effect the right set of wheels can have on the appearance of a car, the Recaro seats have totally changed the look and feel of the Baja Turbo from the inside.

If you are budgeting on a stereo system and other pricey modifications, you may want to consider allotting a couple grand for the best in aftermarket seating. Changing your car’s seats is almost never a cheap undertaking, but considering that is where you will spend most of your time, it can be worthwhile. This is one modification I would highly recommend for any vehicle.

PROS- In addition to a fantastic, quality product, Recaro North America has outstanding customer support, something that is lacking from many areas of the car industry. When I called their number I got an actual person. When I had a problem, I was put in touch with a decision maker. With a long history and multi-million dollar clients, the staff made me feel as though I was their only customer and I thank them for that experience.

CONS- Unlike some OEM power seats, the adjustments on the Style seat does not allow for independent front and rear base adjustments. The controls move the seat up or down. Forward and aft movement is manual and not power. Some may find the lack of multiple heat settings a negative.