* Please note: The '98 and newer VW's may be equipped with side airbags mounted in the seat. It is not recommended that this modification be performed on such seats.

Car: 1995 GTI VR6

Cost: Approximately $10.

Required Tools: "Hand Winch" (a nylon strap with a ratchet for tightening, available at most hardware stores) and two phone book (not required.)

Time: 5 minutes per seat.

Installation:

For those of you who have GTI's, you have probably already realized that the seats seem to be made for a 300 lbs. man since the side bolsters are so far apart that you can't even feel that they are there. This inexpensive and simple mod will demonstrate how to bend the metal bar inside the side bolster so that your seats hold you like they are supposed to! Although the newer GTI seats seem to offer more support, they too can use some adjusting!

1. Have someone sit in the back seat of your car to guide the strap around your seat.
2. Wrap the strap of the 'hand-winch' around the back of your driver seat so that the strap is wrapped around the side bolsters. You may want to put a phone book on each side of the outside of the side bolsters to keep the strap from damaging your seat when the strap is tightened.
3. Once the strap is in place, begin to tightening it until your side bolsters begin to bend in. Don't go too far initially, because it is much more difficult to bend the bolsters out than in.
4. Continue the process until you no longer feel like you are sitting on the bench seat of a '69 Ford F150 pickup truck!

Impressions:

Wow! I just saved myself the cost of 2 new Recaro's!!!