Opinions on this bucket seat?

[Mr nanotech]

Personally I find the stock seats (in my NA anyway) to be absolutely terrible...uncomfortable, dont breathe and dont provide any real support. I can do an hour in them at the most so a lot of aftermarket seats would be an upgrade for me.

I agree with you big time on this...

To everyone that has replied, thanks heaps! I really do understand what you're saying and at no point was I adamant about cheap seats in the sense that I would only buy those if that's what some of you thought. I just wanted your thoughts, and I have them!

Now I guess I'm still asking the same thing but I need your advice. What are some (in your opinion) safe alternatives? As in brands of seats, models etc. What works for you guys? Where would I find a benchmark of decent quality and what would I be expected to pay?
Feel free to say whatever, this is why I made this thread. I respect your opinions and want to hear them!

[twinlol]

http://mx5mania.com/product1629.htm

Sparco Sprint V - Cheaper prices than Mania exist I think, It's a good seat, get the side bolster too.


Cheaper:

http://www.corbeau.com/products/fixed_back_seats/forza/

Corbeau Forza, or FX1.

The good thing about the Corbeau ones is they make identical seats in fixed back and reclining, so you could alteast get a reclining passenger and still have matching seats.

I'm sure with Sparco you can find a similar product on their website.

I've been thinking of Corbeau myself, you can even get the rails for the mx5.
however I haven't sat in one yet, obviously I'd do that before I bought it.

[NMX516]

Well for what it's worth, I have had a Sparco Sprint for just over two years. In that time it has been fitted in two of my MX5's both of which have been used almost daily. I also did a Tasmania road trip a couple of years ago with the Sprint fitted (8500 kms) and the seat was great - very comfortable, much more than the standard seat. The seat is showing no signs of any wear, and is still as comfortable as it ever was. Another advantage with the seat for me is that you sit lower than in the standard seat. I'm 6ft tall and with the standard seat the sun visor and top of the windscreen can get in the way at times. The Sprint is also easy to fit, and the mounting points are the same distance across as the standard ones, so you don't have to make up any adapter plates or the like - that is something to check on with other seats, as well as the width of the seat and whether it will actually fit in the car and give the full range of fore aft adjustment.

[deviant]

The sky is the limit with seats. You can pay anywhere from $200 to $10,000 for the top of the range carbon / kevlar race seats.

What sort of budget do you have in mind and what is your intended use for the car. Lots of track work or only road use? Is it your daily driver?

[twinlol]

Deviant, sorry I didn't address this earlier, and sorry if it's a little off topic but did you get out of that ADR factsheet that if a seat is approved in countries such as Japan, Germany, etc etc that It's automatically approved here? I think it was in part 4.

[Mr Morlock]

One of the reasons and probably the main one for people to fit aftermarket seats etc is for racing and ensuring they are gripped more than a standard seat which has to accommodate different builds and longish stints behind the wheel. You can get Recaros fitted in some standard cars eg XR5 but getting in and out regularly might be a little tiresome. NMX seems to have found something that suits him and comfort is very important esp if a person has back problems.

[deviant]

Deviant, sorry I didn't address this earlier, and sorry if it's a little off topic but did you get out of that ADR factsheet that if a seat is approved in countries such as Japan, Germany, etc etc that It's automatically approved here? I think it was in part 4.

I did now. That would be the 'E' marking / standards. E marking is used for automotive parts under the European CE scheme. More info on the wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CE_mark#The_e_mark

Note the section regarding misuse of the CE mark.

As I read the ADR it would mean that any seat with the E-(number) listed in that document can also be taken as being tested to the same standards that the ADR tests are done to and as such can be considered an ADR approved seat?

[deviant]

Something else I meant to mention...

Make sure that if you are paying for a bran name seat they are the real thing. Practically every seat make and style has been copied..... http://cgi.ebay.com.au/2x-SPARCO-EVO2PL ... 230b3c0c13

[Mr nanotech]

Just going to add this here now. I DO intent to track the car, not just daily driver. I mean it is daily now.. But trying to get some regular track use out of it next year.

[deviant]

If it is going to be a weekend, trackday car and is not used daily then go for a full bucket seat. LOTS of names and brands to chose from and I would suggest you drive around a few different race shops to have a sit in them. Not all seats are built the same way.

Recaro, Sparco, Velo, Momo, Corbeau, Cobra, Bride.