DisclaimerThis post is to convey my thoughts on V7 JDM Seats
and EVO X Recaros and compare them to USDM seats as a baseline. However, there is a conflict of interest as my pair will be for sale as soon as this post is up. I will try to be as unbiased as possible.
This review is written from 8 months of experience with the V7 JDM’s
and 18 months with the EVO X Recaros. I decided to buy them, thanks to the internet telling me I needed something I didn't know I needed. Prior to that, my USDM STI Seats served me just fine.
ComfortI am 135 lbs, with a 30 size waist. For a person my size, V7 JDM’s are very comfortable and the bolstering around the waist is significantly improved. The bolstering around the shoulders is different, as they pushed my shoulders forward more than the USDM's. This was different and perceived as uncomfortable at first, but I grew accustomed to them in about a week's worth of driving.
For long distance trips, the V7's are just as comfortable (or uncomfortable) as USDM's. The longest trip we've taken with these seats was about 800km's and yes, we did need to take a few breaks to stretch and let the blood back into our butts. I think this would be the case for any seat on any long distance trip. Medium trips such as 300kms from Calgary to Edmonton were easily doable for us.
Something to note, the previous owner of my V7's (Hilux) did transfer the seat bases, so the levers were not reversed if you were to just install JDM seats. This also means that the driver's seat sits lower than the passenger, and the V7 driver's seat does sit a bit lower than the USDM.
The EVO X seats are comfortable from the get go. Just to give an idea of how impressive they are, I drove our babysitter home and as she threw herself into the passenger seat [which I cringed at], she remarked “Wow, these are comfy!” To which I replied, “Yeah! They’re racekar seats!” “Sweet! I feel like I’m in a racekar!”
So there you have it. If there’s any standard, it should be to impress young adolescent girls who wouldn’t even give a second thought to seats in a car. And the EVO X seat’s pass with flying colours.
In regards to bolstering, the shoulder section is more comfortable than the V7’s. It doesn’t push forward as much. There’s a bit more room around the hips, and all in all, the seat is not as firm. It still hugs and keeps you snug in the seat around spirited driving, but also more refined and comfortable than the V7’s. Winner: 1st Place: EVO X Recaros. Like I said, even a teenage girl noticed. But seriously, these seats keep you planted and are comfortable at the same time. 2nd Place: V7 JDM The bolstering is just
that much better than OEM USDM.
AestheticsFirst, the cons. Being that the V7's are 10+ years old, there is some wear (well, there's wear on my pair). The cherry STI embroidery is wearing out:
v7 STI Seats 01 by
Tang3nt, on Flickr
And in the following picture, you can see the the embroidery on the USDM seat on the right is more vibrant:
jdm vs usdm by
Tang3nt, on Flickr
In the sun or from a distance, the embroidery on my V7's are still vibrant, but up close, you can definitely see it's wear. Either that, or the embroidering was thinner than that of the later models. Either way, USDM wins.
The bolsters around the hips are also showing it's age:
v7 STI Seats 05 by
Tang3nt, on Flickr
The pros. The V7's have a different stitching pattern which add a new level of texture that looks very nice in different lighting. The back and the butt portions are the same with the blue perforated material but the sides around the waist and shoulders on the V7's have this parallel line thing going. You can see what I mean in the above pictures, as well as the following:
v7 STI Seats 02 by
Tang3nt, on Flickr
Another difference is in the darker non-accent colours of the seats. The USDM's use a plain black material which you wouldn't give a second thought to. The V7's use black as well, but with a blue pinstripe pattern going on:
v7 STI Seats 06 by
Tang3nt, on Flickr
If you're into the GD STI's blue interior, the V7's blue is a perfect match.
The EVO X seats are black on black. They come in leather as well but mine are the fabric (suede?). The material itself is not much to look at as the sides are plain and the center strip is textured. 
Evo X Recaro by
Jonny W, on Flickr
The material does wear out as well. There is some colour fade on the out hip bolster [not pictured] and the texture has worn from where I sit [pictured]. As a moot point, the Recaros do not hold up well against cigarette burns. 
Evo X Recaro by
Jonny W, on Flickr
There is an aggressive design for a harness which has a carbon fibery pattern, but if you're honest with yourself, it's plastic and looks kind of cheap. 
Evo X Recaro by
Jonny W, on Flickr
What really catches the eye is the bold, off white, sanserif RECARO logo on the head. If we’re talking branding, this trumps the other two seats in question. 
Evo X Recaro by
Jonny W, on Flickr
Winner: Tie between V7 JDM and Recaros. A very subjective call but in my opinion, the stitching and the blue pinstripe material of the V7's adds a subtle, but significant level of class to these seats
, but having RECARO on both headstocks is class in itself. This comes down to personal preference, if you want something stock looking, or something that stands out.
SafetyThe V7's do not have side airbags and modifications are required to get the remainder of the SRS functioning. This is a downside that has always concerned me so as a result, I drive my car with a heightened level of awareness of my surroundings (
not).
The EVO X’s do come with side airbags. However, they are not plug and play into the Subaru harnesses. Only one person on the internet has managed to wire them into the car. Winner: USDM Having side airbags allows my own or other drivers' margin of error to be less consequential. A significant factor to consider.
WeightTo my regret, I never did weigh the seats. But I have done the biceps test to all three; the results from lightest to heaviest are: V7 JDM, OEM USDM, EVO X Recaro. ConclusionI have certainly enjoyed my V7's these past 8 months. I personally consider them an upgrade from the USDM's, but I am also willfully negating the fact that I put myself and my passenger in greater risk. Other reviews say that USDM seats are not comfortable, to which I disagree. The USDM's are perfectly functional and comfortable, but have much less bolstering support than V7's. That being said, changing to V7's will not make you a better driver. I say this because the use of stock STI seats has not diminished the level of performance in say... snacker's driving. And he wins all the competitions. That said, if you are dissatisfied with your seats, don't mind losing your side airbags, and/or an impulsive mod-addict, then I would highly recommend V7 JDM STI seats.
As an update, I would still recommend V7 seats to anyone looking for more bolstering. However, if the budget allows for it, I would recommend EVO X Recaros. They are more affordable than other modern Recaro seats or aftermarket racing seat. They are more comfortable than the V7's, provide a little more forgiveness for people with a larger build than myself, yet still serve great in keeping you snug and planted in the seat. Despite being plain and black, they add an aggressive persona in the car and the branded logo screams baller status.
