Lachstock and Four Turbo Charged Cylinders ['04 NB SE]

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Fri Feb 27, 2015 11:11 am

ManiacLachy wrote::
And I would love to find some seats that sit me a bit lower down (I was looking at the MS Type-F/Sport seats, but do they drop you much?). But that's all some time away, for now I want to drive some mountains!

I have these seats and if anything, they sit you a tad higher (not as much of an issue for me since I'm a short-arse).
They're a compromise seat, great lateral support but the thigh support is just wrong - too high for DD (makes entry/exit a hassle) and too low for trackwork (still need to brace yourself with your legs, not as much as the stock seats though).
Where they really shine though is over medium-long distances, a great GT-seat and they even accomodate my wide shoulders.

As for driving multiple cars, I have a Mazda SP23 for DD and it does that job very well but has no soul at all. My modified SE is horrible for DD in stop/start traffic and overly-prone to "near misses" by drivers not even seeing me, but on weekends or in light traffic it's sensational (even at legal speeds since you always feel like you're going fast being low with the top down).

I don't think I could ever go back to owning a single car again - need one for work and one for fun!

slug_dub · Postby **slug_dub** » Fri Feb 27, 2015 11:23 am

Your thread is a good read Lachlan

Sorry to see about the track day woes... onwards and upwards!

ManiacLachy · Postby **ManiacLachy** » Fri Feb 27, 2015 12:05 pm

Lokiel wrote:I have these seats and if anything, they sit you a tad higher (not as much of an issue for me since I'm a short-arse).

I was affraid you'd say that

The only option that looks close to fitting what I want is the Marrads, but at almost 4x the cost, it'll be hard to justify. Really, the F-Types, with less padding in the seat would be great I think.

Lokiel wrote:I don't think I could ever go back to owning a single car again - need one for work and one for fun!

In time I'll get myself a daily, I'm eyeing off Subaru Liberty GTs - with mild mods :wink:

But I have to tread gently around my other half.

slug_dub wrote:Your thread is a good read Lachlan Sorry to see about the track day woes... onwards and upwards!

Thanks

We must move Forward, Not backwards, Upwards, not forward and always twirling, twirling, twirling towards freedom! (not spining towards the rumble strip!)

mattyredlocks · Postby **mattyredlocks** » Fri Feb 27, 2015 1:26 pm

ManiacLachy wrote:We must move Forward, Not backwards, Upwards, not forward and always twirling, twirling, twirling towards freedom! (not spining towards the rumble strip!)

+1 for world domination reference. "If you can think of a better way to share protein streams I'd like to hear it!"

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Fri Feb 27, 2015 2:01 pm

ManiacLachy wrote:
Lokiel wrote:I have these seats and if anything, they sit you a tad higher (not as much of an issue for me since I'm a short-arse).

I was affraid you'd say that The only option that looks close to fitting what I want is the Marrads, but at almost 4x the cost, it'll be hard to justify. Really, the F-Types, with less padding in the seat would be great I think.
:

I think these would be great for low+DD but you'd want the track version for trackwork: http://www.tunerwarehouse.com.au/index.php/products/product/view/10/2739

These are the seats Lotus guys replace their stock seats with.

ManiacLachy · Postby **ManiacLachy** » Fri Feb 27, 2015 2:29 pm

Hmm while those look easier to get in and out of on a daily basis, they cost more than the Marrads! Oh well, no rush, seats aren't the top priority.

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Fri Feb 27, 2015 2:35 pm

ManiacLachy wrote:Hmm while those look easier to get in and out of on a daily basis, they cost more than the Marrads! Oh well, no rush, seats aren't the top priority.

There is a head-cushion-only version available for a few hundred A$ cheaper but I can't imagine they'd be comfy enough.
The site I posted is an Aussie site so when you factor in the exchange rate and S&H, they'l be cheaper than the Marrads.

bruce · Postby **bruce** » Fri Feb 27, 2015 3:46 pm

As another poster discovered, even standard Lotus Elan seats are back breakers (no padding, cushioning). Definitely for the track only.
I found Sparco Sprint Vs hurt my back, but my car is also tightly sprung (and I'm getting old...)

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Fri Feb 27, 2015 4:22 pm

bruce wrote:As another poster discovered, even standard Lotus Elan seats are back breakers (no padding, cushioning). Definitely for the track only.
I found Sparco Sprint Vs hurt my back, but my car is also tightly sprung (and I'm getting old...)

Given the almost non-existant side bolsters of the standard Lotus seats, I'm not sure they'd be too good at the track, you'd still find yourself bracing with your legs apart to stop your hips sliding around on the seat.
I just wish someone would make a seat where you could move/lower the exit-side side bolster out of the way for easy entry/exit (or even a swappable side bolster, one for DD and one for the track).

mattyredlocks · Postby **mattyredlocks** » Fri Feb 27, 2015 4:33 pm

Lokiel wrote:Given the almost non-existant side bolsters of the standard Lotus seats, I'm not sure they'd be too good at the track, you'd still find yourself bracing with your legs apart to stop your hips sliding around on the seat.

That's what the harness is for. It's the harness that stops me rolling around in the seat, not the side bolsters.

I've got Sparcos in mine, and I still move around when I'm using the normal three point belt. Might have something to do with my size though, I'm tall but lanky. When I use the six-point harness though, there's no movement.

Bolsters or not, if you've got a harness that'll make more of a difference I think. Yes a snug seat with a harness is going to be the best for keeping you in place - but we're not racing for sheep stations here. A comfortable seat that'll take a harness on the odd track day is probably the best way to go until you hit professional level racing ;)

bruce · Postby **bruce** » Fri Feb 27, 2015 4:41 pm

Movable bolsters probably wouldn't pass ADR testing (just guessing).

Apu · Postby **Apu** » Fri Feb 27, 2015 5:35 pm

I've had the Sparco Sprint V, Tillet, Bride Vios and now the seats from an Elise.

I didn't like the Sparco...probably the angle it was mounted, as I found myself sitting very upright, and my back wound hunch.

The Tillet was fine with a harness - you'd lean sideways in corners but the harness did it's job.

On the track, the Brides were the best, of course.

Haven't used the Elise seats much but they offer similar levels of grip (or lack of) as the Tillet (but no openings for harness) and much easier for daily duties...like the Tillet, but a little more comfy.

ManiacLachy · Postby **ManiacLachy** » Mon Mar 30, 2015 8:51 am

A couple of words to the wise, don't pick up your wheel cleaner thinking it's your glass cleaner! :shock:

Decided to give the car a good clean, inside and out, and the glass which was getting a little streaky. The new brake pads give off a lot of dust so I used the wheel cleaner on them to get them sparkly clean. After drying the car down it was time to do the glass, sprayed and wiped inside and outside on windscreen, side windows, quarter glass and rear window. It was a bit streaky and cloudy, I couldn't work out why - oh well. Went back to get something from my box of goodies and noticed the spray bottle I just put down said wheel cleaner, not Invisible Glass.

Ruh-roh!

I started to panic, thinking my glass would be ruined and turn cloudy. I grabbed the sponge out of the bucket of washing water and cleaned each surface again with sudsy water, in and out. I didn't care if I dripped water in the car. Then I hit it with the invisible glass - for real this time. I washed and wiped everything several times. Eventually it was looking OK, but not 100%, there was some milky spots, but it was clear.

I did a little research on how to polish your glass and found a Bowden's Own article saying to use some metal polish. So next day, down to Repco, got some applicators, cloths and some some metal polish. And went to work on the windshield, inside and out. Followed up once more with the Invisible Glass. And I'm happy to say my windshield has never been cleaner or clearer! :mrgreen:

Then I gave the interior a good wipe down with Amour-All and called it a day. The car looks great and I'm quite relieved.