Doing a brz rear seat delete is one of the easiest ways to strip some weight off your car without spending a fortune. If you've spent any time at all in the back of a Subaru BRZ or its Toyota twin, the GR86, you already know the truth: those seats aren't actually meant for human beings. Unless your friends are roughly the size of a garden gnome or don't mind having their knees tucked into their chin, those rear seats are basically just a glorified shelf for groceries or a backpack.
For many of us, the decision to pull them out isn't even about the weight at first; it's about making the car more functional for what it actually is—a two-seater sports car. But once you start looking into the benefits of ditching that extra padding, it becomes a pretty compelling project for a Saturday afternoon.
Why lose the seats in the first place?
The BRZ is already a light car by modern standards, which is why it handles so well. But in the world of performance, "light" can always be "lighter." When you perform a brz rear seat delete, you're removing roughly 25 to 30 pounds of dead weight from the rear of the car. Now, 30 pounds might not sound like much when you're talking about a 2,800-pound vehicle, but it's weight that's sitting high up and behind the center of gravity. Every little bit counts when you're trying to sharpen up the turn-in or shave a tenth of a second off your lap time.
Besides the performance aspect, there's the sheer practicality of it. The rear seats in the BRZ fold down, which is great for fitting a set of track tires in the back, but they're also bulky. When they're gone, you suddenly have a much deeper well for storage. You can fit toolboxes, camping gear, or track day supplies much more easily without worrying about scuffing up the leather or fabric of the rear bench.
The DIY approach vs. buying a kit
Once you decide the seats have to go, you've got two main paths. You can go the "race car" route, which involves yanking the seats out and leaving the bare metal and sound deadening exposed. It's the lightest option, but let's be honest—it looks unfinished. You'll see the fuel pump access covers, the wiring harnesses, and all the weird stamped metal bits that Subaru didn't intend for you to see. It also gets significantly louder inside the cabin, which we'll talk about in a bit.
The second option is a proper brz rear seat delete kit. There are a few companies out there, like Shrader Performance or Antigravity, that make lightweight panels specifically designed to fit the contour of the BRZ's rear floor. These kits usually consist of thin plywood or composite material covered in automotive-grade carpet that matches the rest of your interior.
If you're handy, you can even make one yourself. A sheet of thin MDF, some spray adhesive, and a roll of black trunk liner from the local auto parts store can get you 90% of the way to a professional look for about fifty bucks. You just need to make a template out of cardboard first, which is the tedious part, but it's incredibly satisfying when it finally drops into place.
Dealing with the noise factor
One thing nobody tells you about the brz rear seat delete is how much louder the car gets. Those rear seat cushions actually do a lot of heavy lifting when it comes to muffling noise from the trunk, the exhaust, and the rear tires. When you pull them out, you're essentially removing a giant earplug from the back of the cabin.
You'll hear every pebble that bounces off the wheel well and every whine from the fuel pump. If you have an aftermarket exhaust—especially one that's a bit "droney"—it's going to be much more noticeable. For some people, this is a plus. It makes the car feel more raw and connected. But if you use your BRZ as a daily driver and spend a lot of time on the highway, you might want to consider adding a little bit of lightweight sound-deadening material (like Dynamat or a cheaper equivalent) to the metal floor before you put your delete panels down. It won't add much weight back, but it'll keep you from losing your mind on long road trips.
The installation process is simpler than you think
If you're nervous about tearing into your interior, don't be. Pulling the rear seats out of a BRZ is a very beginner-friendly job. You really only need a basic socket set—usually a 10mm, 12mm, and 14mm are all it takes to get the job done.
First, you pop the bottom cushion out. There's usually a pull-tab or a couple of clips right in the middle or under the front edge. Once that's out, you'll see the bolts holding the seat backs and the seatbelt anchors in place. Unbolt the hinges, lift the seat backs out, and you're halfway there.
The trickiest part is usually the seatbelts. You can leave them in if you think you might put the seats back in someday, but they look a little silly hanging there with no seats to buckle into. Removing them completely is the way to go for a clean look, but just remember to keep all your bolts and hardware in a labeled baggie. You'll thank yourself later when you go to sell the car and the new owner wants the seats back in.
Is it worth it for a daily driver?
This is the big question. If you're not hitting the track or the autocross course every weekend, is a brz rear seat delete actually worth the trade-off?
It really comes down to how you use the car. If you literally never have more than one passenger, those seats are just dead weight and a clutter magnet. I've found that the car feels a tiny bit more "tossable" with the rear stripped out, and the extra storage space is a genuine life-changer for weekend trips. There's something cool about the aesthetic, too—it gives the interior a focused, purposeful vibe that matches the car's personality.
However, if you ever think you might need to pick up a friend in a pinch, you're out of luck. Once those seats are gone, you are strictly a two-person team. Also, if you're sensitive to NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness), the increased road noise might get old after a few months.
Final thoughts on the setup
At the end of the day, a brz rear seat delete is one of those mods that defines what you want your car to be. It's a move away from "commuter car" and a step toward "driver's machine." Whether you go with a high-end carpeted kit or a raw DIY plywood setup, you're making the car your own.
It's one of the few modifications where you actually get something back (weight savings and space) while taking something away. Just make sure you're ready for the extra noise and the fact that you'll never be the designated driver for a group of four again. For most BRZ owners, that sounds like a win-win situation.