Possible to fold front passenger seat down?

[l3rady]

Just had my first "ah s**t" moment in my new Polo. In my previous 3 door polo I could fold down the passenger front seat and when driving alone I could comfortably fit 2.4m length flat pack furniture in the car. Well went to transport some long items today and because the car is a 5 door it no longer has the latch to pull the back forward to let people in the rear.

Makes sense as it is a 5 door but have I just lost the ability to transport long items of luggage or is there a way to fold the seat down?

[SRGTD]

Probably not.

When I’ve need to carry long-ish items in my previous generation 5 door Polo GTI, I slide the front passenger seat forward using the lever under the front R/H side of the seat, and then use the rotary backrest adjustment knob to wind the backrest forward so the top of the backrest and headrest are resting on the dashboard.

I’ve not tried it but it might also be possible to recline the backrest of the front passenger seat as far as it will go. Doing this might mean the backrest is almost horizontal with the seat cushion. Again, if you slide the seat forward as far as it will go, and then push the rear seat backrest forward, that might give you sufficient space to carry long items.

[l3rady]

Probably not.

When I’ve need to carry long-ish items in my previous generation 5 door Polo GTI, I slide the front passenger seat forward using the lever under the front R/H side of the seat, and then use the rotary backrest adjustment knob to wind the backrest forward so the top of the backrest and headrest are resting on the dashboard.

I’ve not tried it but it might also be possible to recline the backrest of the front passenger seat as far as it will go. Doing this might mean the backrest is almost horizontal with the seat cushion. Again, if you slide the seat forward as far as it will go, and then push the rear seat backrest forward, that might give you sufficient space to carry long items.

Thanks for the tip but that was exactly my thought was to rotate the knob to make the backrest go all the way forward to the dash but it stoped dead up right and won't go any further. I will try later rotating the back rest back instead to see if that will allow me to carry long items.

As this car is only available in a 5 door there is no chance of swapping out the seats from a 3 door to get this functionality back

This has certainly made the practicality of my polo a lot less

[SRGTD]

Come to think of it, I can’t remember how far forward the seat backrest winds forward and whether it went as far forward as the dashboard. It was far enough forward for what I needed to carry at the time though.

I have carried lengths of 2.4 m long timber in my car through between the front seats; rear seats folded and the end of the timber resting on the dashboard. Plenty of padding wrapped around the end of the timber resting on the dashboard to prevent it causing damage, and tied to the backrest of the passenger seat to stop it sliding sideways.

Flat pack furniture might be a bit more of an issue though.

[l3rady]

Had a go and this is the best I can do:

If the head rest was detachable then maybe this would suffice but the shape makes it unlikely to work.

Carrying 2.4 timber was very handy in my last polo and could even carry IKEA flat pack furniture as long as it wasn't too wide.

I didn't like the idea of carrying large items in such a new car as scuffs are so hard to avoid. Guess now I have a reason to not carry stuff and keep my new GTI like new inside.

Maybe I can convince the misses to get a cheap bashed up run around to do the shopping and dumping in for the remaining house renovations. Or I try and get buddy with out neighbor who has a van I might be able to borrow.

[Griff74]

Are the headrests not detachable? They can be moved up and down so I would have thought you could take them out.

[vc-10]

That's how I brought home some large flatpack stuff in my old Fabia. Removed the headrest, seat as far forward and as far back as possible.

[l3rady]

I've tried pulling the headrest out without success.

[monkeyhanger]

I've tried pulling the headrest out without success.

Did you hold in the little button on the side of the head rest while doing so? Not sure if the collars on the main seat back for the pegs have press in portions either, without looking.

[l3rady]

Did you hold in the little button on the side of the head rest while doing so? Not sure if the collars on the main seat back for the pegs have press in portions either, without looking.

Yep tried that. All that would do is extend the headrest to its maximum height. I didn't look too closely to the plastic surrounds where the headrest goes into, but I couldn't see any movable part that would allow the headrest to pop off. Maybe possible with some force or a tool but didn't want to risk breaking anything.

Looks like the headrest might come off like the one in the Golf GTI: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNkWKI6F0RY. If I'm to attempt this then I may keep the plastic covers off to allow easier removal as and when needed.

[RUM4MO]

I suppose that it makes sense to make them "not too easy" to remove as that might encourage some people to dispense with them.

I've always just moved the seat fully forward and removed the head rests while winding the seat back down as far as possible, maybe with some versions of Polo gaining extra "load height" by removing the rear seat base or bases - needing to get a biggish Christmas tree means that I do that once a year - no messy trees getting into my car, that is what wife's cars are for!

[martinmartinsen]

Hi l3rady. Can you please write which polo 3-door had the fold-flat front seat? Generation, engine ... I am trying to find one like that. Thanks.

[SRGTD]

Hi l3rady. Can you please write which polo 3-door had the fold-flat front seat? Generation, engine ... I am trying to find one like that. Thanks.

Welcome to the forum @martinmartinsen.

When resurrecting an old discussion topic and asking a question to a specific forum member, it’s always worth checking that forum member’s profile to see when they were last active on the forum - that will give you a good idea whether or not they’re likely to read and reply to your post. Looking at forum member @l3rady’s profile, they’ve not been active on the forum for nearly two years so you they might not reply to your question.

I’ve looked back through their posts and prior to owning a current shape / current generation pre-facelift GTI+, they had a 2015 6c Polo 1.2 SE.