Worried about modifying my car

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Hey guys,
Got my MX a about 7 months ago for my first car. Now i want to start changing it up a bit.
Looking at getting a roll bar, and a pair of sprint V's.
My only concern is drawing police attention and getting defected for them. I don't drive like an idiot by any means, but i can see a pair of bright red seats drawing some attention in a black car when the top is down.
Anyone ever have issues with getting defects for these items?
cheers

[pepejesus]

Why do you want Sprint Vs? If it's a road car, they are a terrible seat. In fact they are a pretty terrible seat full stop.

However, they actually fit the MX5 (not many seats do), and they're cheap, so not a bad option for a track car.

I've got one as my driver's seat now, and also had one in my previous car, but both spent minimal time on the street. They are not comfortable at all, but they'll hold you in a lot better than a stock seat, so for the type of driving I do (short sprints of 3 laps generally) they do the job.

[Relapse]

Why do you want Sprint Vs? If it's a road car, they are a terrible seat. In fact they are a pretty terrible seat full stop.

However, they actually fit the MX5 (not many seats do), and they're cheap, so not a bad option for a track car.

I've got one as my driver's seat now, and also had one in my previous car, but both spent minimal time on the street. They are not comfortable at all, but they'll hold you in a lot better than a stock seat, so for the type of driving I do (short sprints of 3 laps generally) they do the job.

My car is used for street use only, but i do go driving through the mountains etc at-least once if not twice a week with a group of friends, and it would be nice to feel 'Locked in' while going around twisty roads.
Also i feel if i do get a roll bar, the seats would provide safety in terms of getting rear ended, t-boned etc, as the stock seats would allow my head to smack into the bar more easily.

You wouldn't recommend them for street use though? are they really that uncomfortable?

[bruce]

If you're worried, so don't modify it.

[The American]

They are not comfortable.

[manga_blue]

Firstly, the police approach things like this differently from state to state. Please let us know your location so we can give you better focussed advice.

I have a rollbar on my car along with wider wheels, lowered springs and mad negative camber At one stage I drove it for 6 months covered in race stickers. It's been a daily driver for 10 years in Victoria and NSW like that. Not once have I been pulled over in the car. I haven't even been breathalyzed in it though I have been breathalyzed many times in our other coventional famiiy cars. If you drive conservatively and show respect then you don't have problems.

Sparco seats are horrible in a street car. Not only are they hard to get in and out of, they're too small or uncomfortable for many of your passengers, it's really hard to do up a lap/sash belt in them and you're never certain that the belt will work properly in an accident anyway.

[pepejesus]

My car is used for street use only, but i do go driving through the mountains etc at-least once if not twice a week with a group of friends, and it would be nice to feel 'Locked in' while going around twisty roads.
Also i feel if i do get a roll bar, the seats would provide safety in terms of getting rear ended, t-boned etc, as the stock seats would allow my head to smack into the bar more easily.

You wouldn't recommend them for street use though? are they really that uncomfortable?

Yes, they are not at all comfortable. Maybe they are a bit better if you're on the smaller side, but still won't be great.

As far as safety goes, without using a 5/6pt harness they would probably be less safe than a stock seat, especially as (like others have pointed out) the stock lap sash belt doesn't work very well with them.

To keep you locked in, I'd suggest looking at more street-oriented sports seats (eg recliners with decent side bolsters, don't have any specific suggestions though) and maybe something like the CG Lock http://www.mx5mania.com.au/product1265.htm

Re getting defected, best to check the local laws. It might be legal in your state, or you might need to get it engineered, or it might be illegal and you decide to take the risk. Whether you get pinged is probably just down to luck and circumstance. And maybe choose a less attention-grabbing colour than red for the seats!

Are you on your P plates?

[smy0003]

If you're worried, so don't modify it.

That's the best advice you're going to get. If it bothers you, just enjoy it as is.

[Relapse]

Firstly, the police approach things like this differently from state to state. Please let us know your location so we can give you better focussed advice.

I have a rollbar on my car along with wider wheels, lowered springs and mad negative camber At one stage I drove it for 6 months covered in race stickers. It's been a daily driver for 10 years in Victoria and NSW like that. Not once have I been pulled over in the car. I haven't even been breathalyzed in it though I have been breathalyzed many times in our other coventional famiiy cars. If you drive conservatively and show respect then you don't have problems.

Sparco seats are horrible in a street car. Not only are they hard to get in and out of, they're too small or uncomfortable for many of your passengers, it's really hard to do up a lap/sash belt in them and you're never certain that the belt will work properly in an accident anyway.

Im from NSW. I drive very conservatively - like more than necessary and i always get pulled over for no reason at all (like literally once a fortnight)
So im not really concerned about getting hassled a bit more, more so concerned that they will actually defect me.

[Relapse]

Has anyone ever actually gotten their roll bars/ seats engineered? If so how much did it cost?
Also will these items provide an issue in regards to getting pinkslip/ saftey check before rego?

[StanTheMan]

Firstly, the police approach things like this differently from state to state. Please let us know your location so we can give you better focussed advice.

I have a rollbar on my car along with wider wheels, lowered springs and mad negative camber At one stage I drove it for 6 months covered in race stickers. It's been a daily driver for 10 years in Victoria and NSW like that. Not once have I been pulled over in the car. I haven't even been breathalyzed in it though I have been breathalyzed many times in our other coventional famiiy cars. If you drive conservatively and show respect then you don't have problems.

Sparco seats are horrible in a street car. Not only are they hard to get in and out of, they're too small or uncomfortable for many of your passengers, it's really hard to do up a lap/sash belt in them and you're never certain that the belt will work properly in an accident anyway.

Im from NSW. I drive very conservatively - like more than necessary and i always get pulled over for no reason at all (like literally once a fortnight)
So im not really concerned about getting hassled a bit more, more so concerned that they will actually defect me.

I assume the Tuge scene hasn't changed. You're getting pulled over for a reason. It could be a number of factors, your age, the way your car sits on the road, the way you stare at them paranoidly Reasons could be many and most likely a combination of a few reasons If you haven't been defected it means your car is probably ok or your attunte towards them is pretty good.is getting a defect that bad?

[Magpie]

As has been said, if you are worried about police attention do not drive it on the road. So far been stopped twice. Once because the local policeperson wanted to say hello (I was new resident in a small town) and second because the policeperson wanted to discuss my number plate, true story. The second one was even funnier as I had a blown head light (I did not know till I got home), I had the 9 yo in the passenger seat and he kept asking the officer questions (the 9 yo is special needs and the police officer had a special needs child as well). It was more like a friendly roadside chat in the end.

However in a previous lifetime I had an atrocious record for speeding on motorbikes. Actually all my infringements have been on bikes...

1. Sparco Sprints - at least for me not uncomfortable. Have dríven 800km in a day in the MX5 (as pictured).
2. Normal seat belts are not a problem with the sparco's. When you install the seat belt run it through the opening in the side.
3. As previously suggested, an alternative, if you want to feel 'locked in' is http://www.proquip.com.au/ProductPages/CGLOCK/CG_LOCK.html. In most cases it is illegal to use an aftermarket harness on the public roads.
4. Roll bar needs to be mod plated. Consider getting a CAMS approved one if going into track, however the Automotive Plus roll bar can be CAMS approved.
5. If you already get attention (more than normal) there would probably be a reason. Have you a clean licence? Is the rego number 'clean'?
6. With respect to pink slip suggest you check locally as free internet advice on this could not be totally correct
7. Get a good alignment first, make sure your tyre pressures are optimal for the type of driving you do and ensure you have tyres/brakes that match what you are doing

I have had 1 defect to day on the MX5. Was issued in a train station carpark for a fibreglass bonnet. The defect was self clearing (I put back on the OEM bonnet). The defect could have been contested because a fibreglass bonnet could be legal if it meets certain conditions. The police would have had to have opened the bonnet and found a way to measure its thickness. However I took it on the chin, as it was a free inspection, it passed height, wing and anything else they could have picked on, cheapest $120 mod ever done on the car

Finally, driving fast is better on the track than on public roads.

Mine is the blue/silver in the middle (for the OP's benefit)
Jap Nats by Eipeip, on Flickr

[Ned Loh]

Has anyone ever actually gotten their roll bars/ seats engineered? If so how much did it cost?
Also will these items provide an issue in regards to getting pinkslip/ saftey check before rego?

a little while ago engineer wanted $400 all up to sign off on a Velo seat installation (seat had ADR sticker and paperwork). Best to speak to them before you buy the particular seat and then again once the design for your seat mount is finalised.

[Lokiel]

Sounds like the MazdaSpeed reclinable seats may be more to your liking, they offer decent lateral support and have higher-than-stock side bolsters.

THE GOOD:
* look OEM so wont attract defect attention
* hold you in MUCH better than the OEM seats (they actually have lateral support, unlike the OEM seats)
* very comfortable on really long drives
* usable even if you have wide shoulders (I have wide shoulders which rules out most track seats that can fit in an MX5, my shoulder blades tend to straddle the lateral supports so that my back can't even contact the backrest)

THE BAD:
* The higher side bolsters make it harder to get in and out of (nowhere near as bad as a track-oriented seat though).
* not sure anyone has ever gotten ADR approval for them (they come with their own specific mounting brackets)
* don't hold you in as well as a dedicated track seat
* heavier than OEM seats
* seating position is higher than OEM (not an issue if you're a "short-arse" like me)

Other options are:
* Lotus seats with Probax padding (non-Probax seats too hard, you wont like them)
* Tillet B5 seats (Lotus guys like these aftermarket seats)

[Alex 2550]

nice first car. i think roll bar will be fine, its funny in a convertible i think they get less attention than if in a tin top, when i finally get around to it ill be going the mx5 plus diagonal i wanted the tall boy but i will lose rear travel and my legs are long, im only 6 foot but just a bad size for MX'5's so at the track i will have to do the mx slouch at scruit' to be low enough with helmet on under the bar.
seats are something i have looked at a fair bit over the last 6 months and my 2c would be foamectomy on the drivers seat and a CG lock on the belt. Legal, a pretty good compromise and cheap saving you money to put towards suspension and brakes.
if you are going to do track days then look at a true race seat for them and harness (get a HANS system ASAP as it could save your life) if you end up having a street seat and track seat swap the factory seat bolts for high tensile studs with nuts and washers so you don't wear out the thread in your floor (thanks Manga_blue for that tip). ill probably go the sprint for my track seat due to lack of options more than a first choice.