[ItsZep]

Hello,

I picked up my new Hermosa Blue 2015 QX80 today.

Absolutely love the vehicle, with one minor exception.

I wish the 3rd row seats were removable instead of electric fold-downs because the cargo area does not go 100% flat when the 3rd row seats are put in the down position. There is a slight incline and slight gap spaces.

On my Lexus GX470 I could simply remove the 3rd row seats, store them in the attic, and get the large flat cargo area.

I live alone, have no kids, and have no use 99.9% of the time for 3rd row seating.

Cargo space, flat, stable, no gaps, is 100 times more important to me than 3rd row seats.

So my question is....has anyone ever had the 3rd row seats "permanently removed" and a custom piece designed that sits in that space and then add a lipped cargo mat? Upon selling the vehicle in a few years I would return the 3rd row seats to their original state.

I realize permanently removing the 3rd row seats might void the warranty on the 3rd row seating mechanisms and I am ok with that.

 

[Eric.T]

I have yet to see it done in the way you want with the type of surface you want.
However something might show up here.
For now, you might want to try stopping by your dealer and see what they might suggest, good chance there are others that might have inquired about this to their service adviser or sales rep. For the gaps, you could even check with their parts department to see if there are delete plates you can use or something they might have.

 

[ALEX]

Alex

ItsZep,
I have the same problem. Currently I have 2000 Toyota Land Cruiser with removable 3d raw of seats. For 15 years I used the 3d raw of seats just twice. The rest of the time it's in my shed. Now I started to think about changing my SUV, because it's 15 years old and figured out that I cannot find a new full size SUV with easily removable 3d raw of seats. I really don't know why they do it, because for me it is obvious that option should be in place: if you need it - easily install it, if not - easily remove.

 

[Eric.T]

ItsZep,
I have the same problem. Currently I have 2000 Toyota Land Cruiser with removable 3d raw of seats. For 15 years I used the 3d raw of seats just twice. The rest of the time it's in my shed. Now I started to think about changing my SUV, because it's 15 years old and figured out that I cannot find a new full size SUV with easily removable 3d raw of seats. I really don't know why they do it, because for me it is obvious that option should be in place: if you need it - easily install it, if not - easily remove.

You might want to post about that on a Toyota forum.

 

[ItsZep]

Ok guys...problem solved, Dealer service manager basically said "no way" it will cause the seat-belt light to stay on and there is just no way to do a 3rd Row Seat "Permanent" removal". And I said "oh really"?....lol

First I had a mechanic friend remove 3rd seats. No seat belt light came on.

Next I went to "Sue The Dragon Lady" that is here in Dallas and appears frequently on the tv show "Fast & Loud" (Gas Monkey Garage). Sue and her shop manager came out to look at my brand new QX-80 and said "no problem at all...we can do it". I said look this is a brand new high end vehicle so it will need to look like it came from the factory. Again they said "no problem at all". So I dropped my QX-80 off and hoped for the best.

2 days later Sue calls me and says the QX-80 is ready. I was nervous pulling up to her shop. Popped the cargo door and was astounded! It looked better than I thought it would. It is very very strong and weight bearing. Almost no one looking at it would think it wasn't factory. Plus most of the time it has a weather Weather-Tech cargo liner over it anyway. I even bought the shop guys lunch at Chili's. They said "hey if you ever get ready to sell this vehicle just come back an we'll put it ball in original mode.

$600 later I have a flat cargo area just like my Lexus GX-470 had. I am very pleased!

Here are some pictures, but the pictures don't really do it justice, it looks better in person. Also a picture of "Fast & Loud Sue" and I. Sue is a very nice humble lady. I asked "can a get a picture with tv star?"....she laughed and said "no stars here".

(Sue the upholstery shop lady on TV Show Fast & Loud)

 

[Eric.T]

Now that is amazing, although it would have been nice that Infiniti made this an accessory it's good to see you got it done. Also, like you said, it looks OEM, as if it came from Infiniti and if you were to mention that, i'd more than likely believe you!

 

[ItsZep]

Thanks Eric and I agree with you it should be an option,


I suppose Infiniti are catering to the soccer moms that find the electric option very helpful. On my Lexus GX 470 the 3rd row seats were completely removable, but not something a lot of soccer Moms would find easy to do. This electric option from Infiniti allows soccer moms to do it with a flick of a button,

If it's electric there will be the big space they have to go in to hide them. If they are removable they are too heavy for soccer moms and elderly to deal with. I suppose there is no prefect answer.

 

[1nfinatt1]

it would be nice to have the option of selecting whether to include the 3rd row seat or not.

even more of a reason to have this be the case on a flagship SUV like this since it's not super high volume and might not have much of an impact on processing vehicles, at least the end result would be customers that are completely happy with their vehicles as it rolls off the dealership lot, and that means a lot.

 

[Eric.T]

it would be nice to have the option of selecting whether to include the 3rd row seat or not.

even more of a reason to have this be the case on a flagship SUV like this since it's not super high volume and might not have much of an impact on processing vehicles, at least the end result would be customers that are completely happy with their vehicles as it rolls off the dealership lot, and that means a lot.

This would be a great thing.
But if it didn't happen before, the chances of it happening in the future seem slim to me.

 

[1nfinatt1]

This would be a great thing.
But if it didn't happen before, the chances of it happening in the future seem slim to me.

Worst case scenario, we'll just have to uninstall the 3rd row seat and keep it till we're ready to sell.

 

[Luxurious]

Thanks Eric and I agree with you it should be an option,


I suppose Infiniti are catering to the soccer moms that find the electric option very helpful. On my Lexus GX 470 the 3rd row seats were completely removable, but not something a lot of soccer Moms would find easy to do. This electric option from Infiniti allows soccer moms to do it with a flick of a button,

If it's electric there will be the big space they have to go in to hide them. If they are removable they are too heavy for soccer moms and elderly to deal with. I suppose there is no prefect answer.

I heard lexus will be chopping the GX.
Going to miss them, they were great SUV's!

 

[OffroadQX]

Ok guys...problem solved, Dealer service manager basically said "no way" it will cause the seat-belt light to stay on and there is just no way to do a 3rd Row Seat "Permanent" removal". And I said "oh really"?....lol

First I had a mechanic friend remove 3rd seats. No seat belt light came on.

Next I went to "Sue The Dragon Lady" that is here in Dallas and appears frequently on the tv show "Fast & Loud" (Gas Monkey Garage). Sue and her shop manager came out to look at my brand new QX-80 and said "no problem at all...we can do it". I said look this is a brand new high end vehicle so it will need to look like it came from the factory. Again they said "no problem at all". So I dropped my QX-80 off and hoped for the best.

2 days later Sue calls me and says the QX-80 is ready. I was nervous pulling up to her shop. Popped the cargo door and was astounded! It looked better than I thought it would. It is very very strong and weight bearing. Almost no one looking at it would think it wasn't factory. Plus most of the time it has a weather Weather-Tech cargo liner over it anyway. I even bought the shop guys lunch at Chili's. They said "hey if you ever get ready to sell this vehicle just come back an we'll put it ball in original mode.

$600 later I have a flat cargo area just like my Lexus GX-470 had. I am very pleased!

Here are some pictures, but the pictures don't really do it justice, it looks better in person. Also a picture of "Fast & Loud Sue" and I. Sue is a very nice humble lady. I asked "can a get a picture with tv star?"....she laughed and said "no stars here".

(Sue the upholstery shop lady on TV Show Fast & Loud)

I imagine the photos were deleted since this is a very old post. If by chance you see this and still have the photos, I would really like to see. I just bought a 2014. Thanks.