NA Seats VS NB Seats

ampersandDrew · Postby **ampersandDrew** » Mon Jun 17, 2013 9:26 pm

Hi everyone,

Did some research and just wanted to know everyone's input on how comfy or not these seats are.
I currently own a 89 NA6 and was thinking of putting in some NB seats. Although I read they weren't as comfortable.
Used to own a 1984 Corolla KE70 and those seats were rock bottom hurtful :0.

Cheers,
Andrew.

aka_juffa · Postby **aka_juffa** » Mon Jun 17, 2013 9:46 pm

You want the seats from the later model NBs (nb8b, nb8c, SE) as Mazda changed the design from the early NB8A. They are said to be much more comfortable. Some refer to the later model seats as the 'surfboard' design.

These are the ones you want.

PaulF · Postby **PaulF** » Mon Jun 17, 2013 10:07 pm

I have an NB8B driver's seat in my NA6. Heaps better than the standard seat IMO. It's also had a bit of a foamectomy (search for it on miata.net etc).

KevGoat · Postby **KevGoat** » Mon Jun 17, 2013 10:24 pm

I reckon fitting NB8B seats to my NA was one of the best changes I made. I find the NB8B seats very comfortable and reckon they look great as well.

Hjt · Postby **Hjt** » Mon Jun 17, 2013 11:30 pm

those seats look gorgeous

KevGoat · Postby **KevGoat** » Mon Jun 17, 2013 11:47 pm

Hjt wrote:those seats look gorgeous

Their for sale if you want them back Hayden ... & I'm throwing in an NA with them :lol:

Hjt · Postby **Hjt** » Tue Jun 18, 2013 12:29 am

I already have a set organised tbh. ;)

rpost77 · Postby **rpost77** » Tue Jun 18, 2013 1:05 am

I have a 1990/1 NA6 that I have owned for 20 years.

For 19 of those years I drove with the stock seats. I always found them not the most comfortable and particularly in the last 10 years or so found that I could not drive for more than about an hour without suffering pain.

I do have some back issues but even so I think without this after an hour I would still be stiff and sore.

About a year ago I bought a pair of NB8B seats.

I don't know why I did not do this 10 years ago!

They are miles apart from the original seats and I can sit in them all day and feel no discomfort. I love these seats.

About 2 months ago I had the opportunity to "upgrade" to a pair of leather covered seats and have swapped out the "original" cloth versions with these - I am very happy with the leather version as well (is a little harder foam wise than the cloth versions I have and a little more "slippery" but overall I think nicer and fits better with the interior look of my car).

In short - upgrading to NB8B seats is an upgrade (in my opinion) you will never regret.

I still have the cloth set I originally bought (was holding them until I was entirely sure I was happy with the leather version). If you decide you want a set they are available.

Ralph

manga_blue · Postby **manga_blue** » Tue Jun 18, 2013 1:24 pm

I've got NB8B seats in mine. I've done a few 10 hour trips in them, no problems. Watch out if you're tall though. They sit an inch or so higher than the old NA ones and you can find yourself peering through the very top of the windscreen or else reclining them so much to get your head down that you run out of foot room instead.

ampersandDrew · Postby **ampersandDrew** » Tue Jun 18, 2013 3:31 pm

Thanks for the information guys! saved me from purchasing a set of nb8a seats.. Phew.
I"ll get back you on the seats after my exam period. Which reminds me, I should probably get off this forum in the library & study for my test haha!

Hoping to meet a few people on the forum on a cruise or meet one day. Have met quite a few from purchasing parts & what not. Will make a dairy soon !

Cheers,
Andrew.

chrismacca · Postby **chrismacca** » Thu Jul 04, 2013 11:26 am

rpost77 wrote:I have a 1990/1 NA6 that I have owned for 20 years.

For 19 of those years I drove with the stock seats. I always found them not the most comfortable and particularly in the last 10 years or so found that I could not drive for more than about an hour without suffering pain.

I do have some back issues but even so I think without this after an hour I would still be stiff and sore.

About a year ago I bought a pair of NB8B seats.

I don't know why I did not do this 10 years ago!

They are miles apart from the original seats and I can sit in them all day and feel no discomfort. I love these seats.

About 2 months ago I had the opportunity to "upgrade" to a pair of leather covered seats and have swapped out the "original" cloth versions with these - I am very happy with the leather version as well (is a little harder foam wise than the cloth versions I have and a little more "slippery" but overall I think nicer and fits better with the interior look of my car).

In short - upgrading to NB8B seats is an upgrade (in my opinion) you will never regret.

I still have the cloth set I originally bought (was holding them until I was entirely sure I was happy with the leather version). If you decide you want a set they are available.

Ralph

I'm looking for a way to upgrade my (drivers mainly) seats in an NB8A, purchased two months ago. Not just for comfort but to hold me in better when cornering. Not sure I want the boy racer Sparco look and the local trim shop quoted me mega bucks to do a custom mod. Any comments on the NB8B swap would be appreciated. And price/photos too please. Are they a straight swap, frames and all? Thanks

Postby **Okibi** » Thu Jul 04, 2013 1:06 pm

chrismacca wrote:.. Are they a straight swap, frames and all? Thanks

Later NB seats in an early NB (or vice versa) are a straight swap.

You can usually find seats cheaper without the rails/belt latch. The rails are an easy swap between NB seats.

chrismacca · Postby **chrismacca** » Thu Jul 04, 2013 3:47 pm

Okibi wrote:
chrismacca wrote:.. Are they a straight swap, frames and all? Thanks

Later NB seats in an early NB (or vice versa) are a straight swap.

You can usually find seats cheaper without the rails/belt latch. The rails are an easy swap between NB seats.

Thanks for the tip....

rpost77 · Postby **rpost77** » Thu Jul 04, 2013 4:10 pm

Hi,

As others have said - I imagine that the NB8B seats would be a straight swap into an NB8A - the NB8B were a straight swap into my 1990/91 NA6 as far as the seat/rails were concerned.

The only "change" required for installing into my NA6 was the removal of the seatbelt receptor from the side of the NB8B seats (the NA6 seatbelt stalk (receptor) is bolted to the tunnel in the centre of the car - the NB8A & NB8B seatbelt stalk is attached to the side of the seats (although the NB8A & NB8B's have the holes still in the tunnel so you can add the NA6 seatbelt stalk if desired)).

So for my setup in an NA6 I unbolted the seatbelt receptor from each seat and continued to use the original seatbelt stalk bolted to the tunnel (I could have removed the NA6 stalk and used the NB8B integrated receptor but chose not to).

With regards to the question of whether the NB8B seats would "hold" you better than the NB8A seats - I cannot comment on this as I have not actually experienced an NB8A seat (and kept away from them on anecdotal evidence from others in the forums where the overwhelming opinion shows that the NB8A seats are not much better than the NA6 seats and possibly worse).

If you have the opportunity (I'm sure there are local NB8B owners who could help) I would suggest you find an NB8B (or MX5 with an NB8B seat installed) and try it out to see if it meets your needs before shelling out for a seat that may not "hold" you enough (will depend on your height, girth and weight I would assume).

If you are then happy that the NB8B seats are the ones for you - PM me and I can send you some photos of the ones I have.

I would be looking at $600 for the pair and you would then have to factor in shipping (I am in Sydney).

Hope some/all of that helps.

Ralph

chrismacca wrote:I'm looking for a way to upgrade my (drivers mainly) seats in an NB8A, purchased two months ago. Not just for comfort but to hold me in better when cornering. Not sure I want the boy racer Sparco look and the local trim shop quoted me mega bucks to do a custom mod. Any comments on the NB8B swap would be appreciated. And price/photos too please. Are they a straight swap, frames and all? Thanks