European Backseat Headrest

[BenSteiner]

So since I was born and raised in Germany I'm always interested in the German car development and how US companies release their cars in Germany. Taking a quick look at the German Chevrolet website I realized that the Chevrolet Sonic, or 2012 Aveo how they named the car overseas, has different backseat headrests than we do over here in the US. I already asked a friend of mine in Germany to check on the pricing for those and if they have them available as black leatherette. I would love to switch mine out for them.

What do you guys think? Also if there is someone living in Europe that could get me a quote on the pricing for two headrests (since the US version only has two headrests in the back) earlier than my friend I would appreciate it.

 

[SSpeckerwood]

those look way good. i'd run a set if they weren't too pricy

 

[SonicBoy24]

Yea those are a lot better than the ones we have, which are way too big.
I'd get some depending on the price/color match, and if they were guarenteed to fit.

 

[Ferdie]

I have them to!

How do the look in the USA?

I can info by the dealer if anybody ones

 

[Casper]

I'm sure a pic will come soon Ferdie, but I know a lot of people take them out as they restrict rear vision horribly. I did, but keep them in the rear footwell incase I have passengers in the back seat.

 

[SonicBoy24]

These are our headrests. way too big. I took the pasenger side one out and put it in the pocket of the front seat until it started to stretch the pocket.
I left the driverside one in because it holds my Sonic the Hedgehog figure

 

[Fit4Sonic]

I would love to switch mine out for them.

What do you guys think?

Yeah, my Honda Fit Sport has exactly that type of rear headrests... which I like much better than the crappy-looking and intrusive headrests Chevy settled on for the U.S. market.

I saw photos of the original Sonic concept (or something like that) before it actually became a consumer reality, and Chevy was using those European-style headrests. Why they decided against this for the U.S. market is beyond me. Stupid!

It would seem other markets get the better of a lot of things we in the U.S. markets don't get. We seem to get the scaled down or "lesser" versions of just about everything auto-wise now.



QUESTION... Does your Sonic have provisions for 3 headrests as the German version shows? Or would your Sonic (the American version) have only accommodations for two headrests? Please don't tell me only two... especially considering the rear seat is supposed to accommodate 3 people.


As far as I'm concerned the European rear headrests are far superior to the current U.S. Sonic model.

My 3 rear headrests push all the way down and completely out of view. They're actually pretty cool-looking too.

Funny... this is yet another issue that's been giving me reservations about getting rid of my Honda and swapping for the Sonic. There are plenty of reasons for me to want to swap, but there are definite issues giving me reservation.

Would be interested in knowing if those headrests will fit the U.S. models and are available for purchase, somehow. Maybe our friends in Europe can find out the details of purchasing them?

 

[Fit4Sonic]

These are our headrests. way too big. I took the pasenger side one out and put it in the pocket of the front seat until it started to stretch the pocket.
I left the driverside one in because it holds my Sonic the Hedgehog figure

Yeah they suck! Talk about blocking the rear view!!!

I'm disappointed Chevy settled on those instead of the European choice... which the U.S. Sonic was originally getting. And only two of them compared to the 3 the Europeans get! :sadbanana:

 

[AxelRipper]

I'm sure theres some safety regulation here in the US that requires larger headrests. If they were to have put one in the center, it would probably have had to have been the same size as the other two and you wouldn't be able to see out the back at all.

 

[Alan]

Did they change rear headrest standards or something in the US? The Sonic and the 2012 Yaris both have HUGE rear headrests in them for some reason. In contrast, cars like the VW Golf still have more normal size rear headrests. Kind of confused since these huge headrests in the Sonic and Yaris monopolize most of the rear view out of the car.

 

[zretrareo27]

Those are amazing.
I actually took the back headrests completely out of my car because I never have that many passengers and I also hate the horrendous blind spots they yielded.

 

[Lenny]

Hi,

for the European rear headrests perhaps you'd also like to have a look at my 1.3d LTZ HERE (scroll down the pics) ??

Greetz

Lenny

 

[Fit4Sonic]

Hi,

for the European rear headrests perhaps you'd also like to have a look at my 1.3d LTZ HERE (scroll down the pics) ??

Greetz

Lenny

Well, while you're at it, Lenny, why don't you find out for us how much it would cost us [in U.S. dollars, of course] to purchase those European style headrests. If they will fit the U.S. Sonic headrest slots, and I'm sure they would, then maybe we could get someone across the "BIG POND" to set up a group purchase for those of us who would like to purchase them.

A group purchase and associated shipping would be cheaper than each of us purchasing individually. I've done this with JDM parts (Japanese Domestic} before on forums similar to this forum.

Thanks for any and all help regarding this.

 

[Lenny]

O.K., Sir, i will try this . But plz give me some time, to first get familiar with my wife's new ride ! She or better "my boss", as you mentioned it in the other thread, fires enough questions at me for now (in spite of reading the manual very busy ).

Greetz

Lenny

 

[Fit4Sonic]

O.K., Sir, i will try this . But plz give me some time, to first get familiar with my wife's new ride ! She or better "my boss", as you mentioned it in the other thread, fires enough questions at me for now (in spite of reading the manual very busy ).

Greetz

Lenny

Thank you, Lenny. Any help you may be able to provide will be greatly appreciated!

 

[Lenny]

Hi @Fit4Sonic,

If they will fit the U.S. Sonic headrest slots, and I'm sure they would…

and all the others, who are interested in the European headrests, i took some pics and measured the dimensions. Plz check your dimensions with these data .

I’ll try to start phoning/searching around next week, if you’d give me feedback ‘bout fitting accuracy with your car conditions. But plz bear with me ….

Greetz

Lenny

 

[Lenny]

Hello @all,

just to keep you updated :

I called the GM dealer in my region for the European headrests. He gave me GM-Parts-No. for the outer ones and for the center one. So here are my first informations for you:

Outer headrest - GM-Parts-No. 95977642 each 74,89€

Center headrest - GM-Parts-No. 95977650 each 58,07€
(which I think, your cars do not have installed at all?!)

Time for delivery after ordering about 2-3 workdays, the dealer prognosticated.

Just in advance: Shipping costs via DHL to the States for just one pair of headrests are about 36€ (if it fits in an adequate small box) and 46€ for a great (standard) box, plus some bucks for package/paper/fill/driving . Maybe the great box can carry up to 5 pairs.

After that and with the now known parts-numbers i stumbled across the website of this spare parts dealer in Germany:

Genuine parts GmbH Germany

The headrests there are at 56,51€ each !! This dealer has, if we can trust his words , paypal account and delivers worldwide. I sent him an E-mail with pics attachments to verify, that the offered headrests are definitively the ones we are looking for. Furthermore i asked for omnibus order and collective delivery and s/h in that case, the preferred payment methods and colour/design/finish options.


So, now let’s wait and see, what happens…..opcorn:...

Greetz

Lenny

P.S.: But don't forget to check the fitting accuracy as i already asked in the previous post...

 

[rdss]

I've only had my Sonic a few days and I have considered pulling the head rests a few times, this would be a great option. Maybe BNR or someone could look into importing them for us.....

 

[laborsmith]

It took me about three days to pull the rear headrests, but only two days to change the rims. Says something about my priorities.

Laborsmith

 

[rdss]

That's impressive! I really want some Black 18's but I've still got my 08 Harley Sportster Nightster and 2010 Sierra to think about, can't neglect them to much! The truck will flat out out run the Sonic now (Diablo Custom Tune, K&N Aircharger and custom muffler back with Magnaflow muffler). It actually beat my wifes 2012 GS but I think if she was in the truck and I was in the car it might have turned out a little different but it wouldn't have crushed the truck. I am truely interested in tuning it and wheels, leather interior and cruise control will come in time.