Air cooled seats in mainstream cars

[Welshbeef]

This option seems to be S class/E63 spec cars - you cannot even spec it for 3 series BMW's.

So the question is heated seats used to be the same then moved gradually into more run of the mill cars how much longer do we have to wait before mere mortals can have a chilled bum and back on a hot day without having to splash out on either old second hand barges or take out a second mortgage for a new one?


Will we ever see it?

[Baked_bean]

The Lexus IS250 has it if you go for the Se-L specification and i believe it is the same for the CT200h.

[craigjm]

They were on the saab 9-5

I am surprised they haven't appeared on the 3 series and A5 yet but they are on the new model c class

[Silverage]

It was an option on the VW CC when I was looking at them a couple of years ago. Don't think it is that uncommon now.

[digger the goat]

Not really air cooled seats but the MK3 Supra had a air duct under the steering wheel that you could aim at your bks. Great with air con on full and wearing shorts !!
My wife used to call it the 'fanny cooler'

[S11Steve]

They were on the option list for my company Mondeo that I've just ordered, around £500 IIRC.

[JungleJim]

My 4 year old Mondeo has heated and cooled seats.

[insideline]

Mondeo mk4 has optional heated and cooled seats. Got them on my current Titanium X Sport and very nice they are at this time of year.

[V8 Bob]

They were standard on my mondeo titanium x .....best kitted out car for the money

[carlove]

Think some Insignias have them, noticed a button that I think was for cooled seats when looking on Autotrader at one last year.
I would love cooled seats, mine aren't even heated.

[MelonMan]

Standard on previous generation Lexus GS

[SidJames]

digger the goat said:

Not really air cooled seats but the MK3 Supra had a air duct under the steering wheel that you could aim at your bks. Great with air con on full and wearing shorts !!
My wife used to call it the 'fanny cooler'

lol. Same with the 2001 Mustang!

[Simes205]

SidJames said:

lol. Same with the 2001 Mustang!

And the old boxy Volvo 760gle.

[Welshbeef]

Pleasantly surprised at the cars with it so far - annoyed BMW yet again letting the side down (they don't even have a proper quick clear style windscreen)..

[skip_1]

Seen them in last gen Mondeos.

[couzens]

Kia Optima has it.

[eddrevhen]

Porsche may have it as an option, I know they have "cooled" steering wheels in recent models..

[CR6ZZ]

Not really mainstream, but the ultimate expression of this was in the prototype GT40. NACA ducts gathered air from just inboard above the front wheel arches and channeled it inside via the doors, then under the seats to exit through the ringlets in the webbing to cool the driver. It was scrapped, however, when it was discovered that pushing air through the system required significant horsepower...

[Welshbeef]

eddrevhen said:

Porsche may have it as an option, I know they have "cooled" steering wheels in recent models..

I don't get that"cooled wheel" /struggle to understand the benefit of it however I suppose its possibly one of those until you try it you don't know then once you have you must have it.

[CB2152]

Welshbeef said:

eddrevhen said:

Porsche may have it as an option, I know they have "cooled" steering wheels in recent models..

I don't get that"cooled wheel" /struggle to understand the benefit of it however I suppose its possibly one of those until you try it you don't know then once you have you must have it.

I remember driving my Clio out of a car park after work once on a particularly hot day. I pulled out of the parking space on almost full lock, then let the wheel slide through my hands. The surface of the wheel and the friction of it sliding meant I actually let go of it involuntarily, which is never a good thing to do.

Cooled wheel would've been nice then...