We love our heated seats as well but would NEVER pay over $1,500 for them to be added to a 10 year old car

I LIKE my heated seats, but don't LOVE them.

Prior to buying a car with them in 2011, I lusted strongly after them. I had driven a few relatives' cars with them, and was like "this is the best thing ever".

After having them for 7 years (both of our SUVs now have them), I'm much more "meh". Yeah, it's kind of nice on really cold days, and I would definitely still want them on any future car I bought, but I wouldn't pay to have them retrofitted into a vehicle that didn't have them.

On the flip side, I would never, under any circumstances, buy a car without HID headlights, a high quality backup camera, and parking sensors. Those are all life-changing.

I love my heated seats, but can't imagine getting them installed if they weren't already there.

I just realized that my Acura doesn't have a heated steering wheel and I am bummed about it. Purchased the car in the Spring and didn't think to check on that.

Anonymous wrote:Worst financial decision you could ever make. Plain and simple.

Really? The WORST financial decision one could ever make? Ok.
However, I despise heated seats. They make me feel like I am peeing my pants.

Anonymous wrote:Carmax offers heated seat replacements if you buy a car and when I inquired, they said they could offer the service to non-customers. I think you literally get an entire new seat; frame and all. I use my seat heaters in the summer with the AC on if I have a backache, so I understand your motivation. If it makes you happy I would get the heated seats. If you plan to trade it in later, the new seats may help you get a better price but certainly won’t make a dent in the cost. I’ll never buy a car without heated seats now that I have them.

I talked to Enterprise when I was looking at cars a few weeks ago and the was an issue that came up and they said they have a company remove the covers, install the heat and then put the covers back on - about $500 for both seats. I love my husband's heated seats but I wouldn't install them on an older car. I got one of the heated pads but accidentally left it plugged in and it drained my battery.

Worst financial decision you could ever make. Plain and simple.

Carmax offers heated seat replacements if you buy a car and when I inquired, they said they could offer the service to non-customers. I think you literally get an entire new seat; frame and all. I use my seat heaters in the summer with the AC on if I have a backache, so I understand your motivation. If it makes you happy I would get the heated seats. If you plan to trade it in later, the new seats may help you get a better price but certainly won’t make a dent in the cost. I’ll never buy a car without heated seats now that I have them.

Just get the pads!!

Might want to look online or at junkyards for "part-out" Sienna heated seats. But you still need some pros to hook up the electrical connection/switch...

Anonymous wrote:Just my opinion, but unless you live somewhere really, really cold for a long part of the winter, I can't imagine spending money on this. Around DC, I rarely run my heated seats for more than the first 5 minutes of my drive. By then the car is warm enough.

I love my heated seats and use them at least 10 months out of the year.

Had a car catch fire from a heated seat overheating. Newish Subaru with cloth seats. Also had them in my now traded Volvo and they had loads of electrical issues(not to mention the entire car did).

I don't think it's worth actually getting them installed. If you really want a heated seat, just get something like this: https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/arctic-x-heated-car-seat-cushion-in-black/1062221887?keyword=heated-seat-cushion

Just my opinion, but unless you live somewhere really, really cold for a long part of the winter, I can't imagine spending money on this. Around DC, I rarely run my heated seats for more than the first 5 minutes of my drive. By then the car is warm enough.

Aftermarket seats and an install price are going to be at least $2,000, maybe more.

You MIGHT be able to find factory seats from a junkyard and have them installed for less.

Heated seat covers are your most cost effective option, but even then, you'll need a wiring harness upgrade. Heated seats draw an assload of electrical power. Your mechanic will probably also recommend upgrading to a deep cycle battery too.

For Christmas, I want to ask for heated seats to be added to my car. It's a 2011 Toyota Sienna with cloth seats (no bells or whistles). It has 100,000 miles and I hope to drive it 5-10 more years. My question is whether I should get heated seats professionally installed or whether I should just get much-cheaper heated pads that go on top of the seats? I guess cost, comfort, longevity, and effectiveness are factors. Usually I am cheap, but I could splurge if this is worth it. Opinions?