The 8P platform did a lot of work for Audi between 2003 and 2012. The S3 used it with 265bhp and quattro, the 2.0 TDI models became trackday regulars for drivers who wanted reliability over outright pace, and the 2.0 TFSI sits between the two. Factory seats in the A3 Mk2 are competent on a commute but they soften through the bolsters quickly and the driving position sits you too far back when the car is being pushed. The bolster wear shows up earliest on cars that have done any circuit time.
The Cobra subframe for the 8P bolts to the factory floor points without drilling and includes the sliding runner in the price. Below are the five reclining seats Cameron rates for this chassis.
We stock one fitting frame for the A3 Mk2: the Cobra direct-fit subframe, part SU-AU-A32. It picks up the factory seat mounting points on the 8P floor without any drilling or adaptation on a standard car. The subframe replaces the OEM runners and exposes a 291mm x 330mm bolt pattern, which is what determines your seat options from here.
The same physical frame fits the Audi A1 Mk1, which shares the same floor mounting arrangement as the 8P. We list it separately for each car so it is findable by chassis. If you have fitted seats to an A1 Mk1 before, the process on the A3 Mk2 is identical.
Part SU-AU-A32, £255.00 inc VAT per seat. Sliding runner included, no extra purchase needed. Base mount at 291mm x 330mm. Built around Cobra seats; Corbeau recliners are cross-compatible and also work on this subframe.
The subframe is priced and listed per seat position. Fitting two seats means two frames in the basket. Cobra's competitor frames from Sparco, Planted and OMP charge for runners on top of the frame price; this one does not.
Every reclining seat we sell bolts down through a base mount pattern. On the A3 Mk2, the Cobra subframe exposes a 291mm x 330mm pattern. Every Cobra recliner in this guide uses that pattern directly. The Corbeau PSR is drilled for both 291mm and 345mm, so it also bolts straight to the Cobra subframe without any adapter. All five seats in this guide are a direct fit for the A3 Mk2.
| Seat | Bolt pattern | Cobra subframe |
|---|---|---|
| Corbeau PSR | 291 or 345 | Fits |
| Cobra Daytona | 291 x 330 | Fits |
| Cobra Le Mans Heritage | 291 x 330 | Fits |
| Cobra Stuttgart Signature | 291 x 330 | Fits |
| Cobra Misano Anniversary | 291 x 330 | Fits |
The PSR comes as a matched pair at £558.00 inc VAT, which makes it the most practical option for anyone doing both seats at the same time. The cloth trim holds up under regular use, and the backrest gives more shoulder support than the A3’s standard seats without tightening the fit enough to make the cabin feel smaller. It is a compact seat that suits the 8P’s proportions.
Both the 291mm and 345mm bolt patterns are drilled into the Corbeau base, so the PSR works on the Cobra subframe and would also work on a Sparco frame if you ever change the setup. For A3 owners who want a proper pair of sports recliners without a complicated installation, this is the starting point.
The Daytona is the natural starting point for anyone who wants a Cobra seat rather than a Corbeau. The bolsters are softer than the Stuttgart but firmer than the A3 Mk2’s standard unit, and the open base is practical in a three-door where getting in and out of a tight cabin happens on every run. At 13.5kg it is not a lightweight, but that is weight you feel at the pump rather than in the car.
For S3 owners doing only the driver’s seat, the Daytona at £599.00 is the single-seat entry point in this guide. It takes a four-point harness on track days and bolts straight to the Cobra subframe. Cameron has fitted a few of these into 8P S3 cabins for owners who want more support on a fast road without committing to a full interior change.
The Le Mans Heritage sits at £649.00 and is the pick for owners who want a seat that looks considered rather than purely functional. The Heritage trim gives it a period look that works with the 8P’s clean cabin, and the base is firm enough to hold you through a long corner without making a motorway run feel punishing. At 13.4kg it is fractionally lighter than the Daytona and puts you lower and closer to the wheel than the standard seat does.
For 2.0 TDI owners who push the car on track days as well as the road, the Le Mans Heritage is the midpoint in this guide where the spec starts to match how the car is actually used. It takes a four-point harness and fits the Cobra subframe without any adapter.
The Stuttgart Signature at £709.00 inc VAT is where the Cobra recliner range starts to feel like a considered purchase. The shoulder support is more pronounced than the Daytona or Le Mans Heritage, which matters on a car like the S3 where the chassis is communicating through the seat as well as the wheel. At 13.2kg it is the lightest of the three mid-range Cobra seats in this guide.
This is the seat Cameron tends to recommend for an S3 doing regular circuit sessions alongside road use. It holds you correctly for a timed lap and does not punish you on the drive home. The Stuttgart tends to follow a car through several owners rather than getting swapped out.
The Misano Anniversary is the top of the Cobra recliner range at £1,649.00 inc VAT. At 11.5kg it is lighter than every other seat in this guide despite being more substantial in construction, and the materials are noticeably different from the rest of the Cobra lineup. Most A3 owners who order one have already worked through a previous seat and know what they are after.
At this price the seat is a deliberate choice. It makes sense when the seat itself is the priority and the A3 Mk2 is the car it happens to be going into. If you are asking whether the Misano is right for your car, it probably is not yet. If you are asking about the lead time, call us.
The Cobra subframe bolts to the A3 Mk2’s factory seat mounting points. No drilling is needed on a standard floor. Torque the floor bolts to specification and check seat belt buckle clearance once the seat is in position, because a sport recliner often puts the buckle at a different height than the standard unit.
The sliding runner is included in the subframe price. Sparco, Planted, OMP and Corbeau’s own frames all charge for the runner separately, so compare totals rather than headline frame prices when shopping around. The £255.00 per seat for the Cobra frame covers the complete frame and runner package.
| Your seat | Runner situation | Frame to order |
|---|---|---|
| Any seat in this guide | Runner included in the subframe price, no separate purchase | Cobra A3 Mk2 subframe (SU-AU-A32), £255.00 inc VAT per seat |
| Seat | Bolt pattern | Waist | Height | Weight | Price inc VAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corbeau PSR (pair) | 291 or 345 | 32 to 38in | All heights | Not published | £558.00 (pair) |
| Cobra Daytona | 291 x 330 | 32 to 38in | All heights | 13.5 kg | £599.00 |
| Cobra Le Mans Heritage | 291 x 330 | 32 to 38in | All heights | 13.4 kg | £649.00 |
| Cobra Stuttgart Signature | 291 x 330 | 32 to 38in | All heights | 13.2 kg | £709.00 |
| Cobra Misano Anniversary | 291 x 330 | 32 to 38in | All heights | 11.5 kg | £1,649.00 |
Prices include VAT and were correct on 5 September 2026. Seat weight for the Corbeau PSR is not published by the manufacturer. Waist and height figures are the manufacturers’ own published fitment ranges; if you are near a boundary, ask us before ordering.
No. The Cobra subframe bolts to the A3 Mk2's existing factory seat mounting points on a standard 8P floor. Torque the floor bolts correctly and check seat belt buckle clearance once the seat is in position, because a sport seat often puts the buckle at a different height than the OEM unit.
Yes. Corbeau recliners, including the PSR in this guide, are drilled for both 291mm and 345mm patterns. The Cobra subframe exposes a 291mm x 330mm pattern, so the Corbeau bolts straight to it without any adapter. All five seats in this guide are a direct fit for the A3 Mk2.
Yes, the sliding runner is included in the subframe price. This is different from Sparco, Planted, OMP and Corbeau's own frames, which charge for the runner separately. The £255.00 per seat covers the complete frame and runner package.
Every seat in this guide is listed by its manufacturer as 4 point compatible, with belt slots in the backrest. If you are planning to run harnesses on circuit, tell us when you order and we will confirm the whole setup works together.
Yes. We have a vehicle guide covering fixed bucket seat options across the A3 range: Audi A3 Vehicle Guides. If you have not ruled out a non-reclining seat, that guide covers the routes available for each generation including the 8P.
For a standard A3 Mk2 being used on the road with occasional track days, the PSR pair is the obvious starting point. A matched pair of sports recliners for less than the frame cost per seat, and the dual bolt pattern means the seats travel with you if you ever change the setup. If you are only doing the driver’s seat, the Daytona at £599.00 is the entry-level Cobra pick.
The Stuttgart Signature is the seat Cameron would put in an S3 that is doing proper circuit sessions. It holds you through a fast lap and does not punish you on the drive home. The Le Mans Heritage is the same Cobra build with a period look, for owners who care about the character of the trim as much as the support.
The Misano is for when the seat is the decision and the car is a secondary detail. You will know when that is the case.
Ring us on 0115 647 8650 with your height and waist measurement and Cameron will tell you which of these five works best for your setup. Most conversations are short because the answer is usually obvious once we know how the car is used.
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