European Backseat Headrest

[jchasp59]

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?

My Fiat 500 has headrests that are the same shape as the front but can be lowered like these so that they don't obscure rearward vision. I agree! US Sonics should have these European headrests, too.

 

[Markizio]

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...

Are these headrests in the leatherete or cloth? Are these for the Sonic or the Aveo, or does it not really matter...Thanks for all the research by the way, I would snag a pair if the price was right.

 

[Lenny]

Are these for the Sonic or the Aveo, or does it not really matter

…I think that it doesn’t matter. But as I repeated in this thread, check YOUR measurements with MINE (of my AVEO!) that i pictured some posts above . The mentioned GM parts numbers are from a list, my local GM dealer (see list below) downloaded from s.wh. at the GM European headquarter, so I imagine the list official is for the European AVEO.

…in the leatherette or cloth?

…in Germany we only have the cloth and not the leatherette interior trim option, so you will surely NOT have a chance to get these headrests in the leatherette, i think ! Maybe this option is offered in another (European) country .
Look at the list below, and you will notice, that the only (cloth) options are for the colours ‘black’, ‘titanium’ and ‘kashmir’.

Greetz

Lenny

P.S.@Markizio:What do you think would be the "right price" (i posted german prices some posts above) ??

 

[Ferdie]

Lenny

the leather headrest we have in Netherlands

maby you can try ore GM dealer

 

[Lenny]

Hi Ferdie,

good to know, that you have it . But i didn't want it ! I just offered a way to get these headrests at all for our US sonic friends. Now i think it'll be better up to you making them a contact to your "NL-leatherette-headrest-GM-dealer" and i can...opcorn:......

Greetz

Lenny

 

[JimmyQ]

Canyon post the prices is usd?

 

[Lenny]

Slip of the pen - wanna know the prices in US$ ? If so, the current change value is about 1€ = 1,25 US$.......currently too tired (GMT = 12:20 AM) calculating this for ya......

Greetz

Lenny

 

[Aldakoopa]

Those would be way better than the US headrests! What happened? I know earlier model cars (all kinds of different brands) had short headrests in the back. Why would it be a safety concern? The safety concern I have is the fact that yesterday I almost backed into a Crown Vic in the parking lot to my car insurance office because I didn't see it until I was literally less than an inch away because of how much of the rear view the headrest blocks. Good thing I was going slow and I finally saw it at the last minute. I'm going to just remove mine and throw them in the trunk, but I'd sure like to have some European ones that match my interior if it is possible.

 

[JTSONIC]

I would like front and rear... don't like the stock ones at all

 

[Ferdie]

Hi Ferdie,

good to know, that you have it . But i didn't want it ! I just offered a way to get these headrests at all for our US sonic friends. Now i think it'll be better up to you making them a contact to your "NL-leatherette-headrest-GM-dealer" and i can...opcorn:......

Greetz

Lenny

Yeah i know you don't want them..

but i'm going to ask the dealer what the cost here in netherlands!

for the Sonic lovers here :banana:

 

[Bogus]

went ahead and converted the currencies...

and if somebody is really going to order a big bulk of headrests for us US Sonics... count me in! ill take two rears!

Outer headrest - GM-Parts-No. 95977642 each 74,89€
74.89 EUR = 93.2904 USD

Center headrest - GM-Parts-No. 95977650 each 58,07€
58.07 EUR = 72.3303 USD

 

[turbooh12]

Did anyone check the dimensions like Lenny asked? For $93 each, i'd hope they'd fit. I'd measure, but I don't have a ruler or caliper.

Also thanks, Lenny and Ferdie for the work!

 

[Bogus]

Did anyone check the dimensions like Lenny asked? For $93 each, i'd hope they'd fit. I'd measure, but I don't have a ruler or caliper.

Also thanks, Lenny and Ferdie for the work!

ill measure right now on my break... give me a few minutes...

 

[srose815]

If they can be ordered in the leatherette, id be interested as well, for the rears.

 

[Bogus]

here are the measurements for US spec. let me know if you need any other measurements.

 

[countrydrivin05]

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.

Yes, there have been changes in head restraints laws in the past few years here in the USA. I had an 07 Impala and was looking at a certified used 2011 but they doubled the size of the headrests in the backseat starting that year, so that was a total deal breaker because the Impala already had poor rear visibility and they made it worse cause of the new government standards.

 

[Bogus]

Lenny & Ferdie! Where you at?!

 

[Lenny]

Hi Bogus,

here all the time, waiting for s.o. who tells “No – it will not fit!” or “Yes – it will fit! Go ahead, Lenny, place the order, i pay, take the risks and will share my experiences with the community” !

here are the measurements for US spec. let me know if you need any other measurements.

…at first: Wrong direction, man! I won’t / can’t give you a fitting well warrenty, sorry . It’s up to you to compare your measurements WITH MINE and make the decision . At second: I tried reading / metering from your pics though, but sorry – that’s not really exactly possible (viewing angle, sharpness etc.). But it seems to me that obviously it will fit.

In your stead i would again check the length of the pins and the pocket holes, cause yours look a little shorter than ours. I think that this may be because of the fact, that you have to plunge our smaller headrests a longer way down in the pocket hole. Another reason for that is the lower position of the notch at the pins of our headrests. That makes sure that our headrests reach the same upper level as yours when pulled ‘til the notch is latching.

If you ever will decide on ordering a pair (or even a bulk ), look at the spare part sheet i linked HERE, compare your interior trim RPO-code with the ones on that sheet for the colour (Black, Kashmir or Titanium) and PM me. I then again will ask my dealer for exactly pricing, s/h costs (shipping address?), delivery time and send this informations to you. If you agree with the conditions, transfer the money and i will place your order.

If you do not want the cloth but the leatherettes, contact Ferdie who told us, that he‘s able to order that design in the Netherlands .

So, what's your decision ...opcorn:....

Greetz

Lenny

 

[sbpphoenix]

it looks like these are available in the spark. as soon as they're released i think i'm going to go to the dealer and take some measurements and see if they fit.

 

[Ferdie]

i've whent to the dealer but

the headrest only sold as complete leather seat set!

hmm not only the leather head rest