Simply put, my stock seats suck. They're uncomfortable, have NO lateral support, they sit me too high in the car for my arms, and my helmet almost touches the roof when autoXing. So I'm looking at getting a racing seat to replace my driver's seat as I want something just more comfortable in general as well as more support when autoXing. I know about what I'm looking for, but I have a few questions on mounting a seat in a car w/o a rollbar.

Is it ok to mount the seat to the stock locations? Is it ok to use a race seat with stock seat belts, as I dont see them working as well over the "deep dish" effect from the seat. I'm looking more at a fiberglass or kevlar seat, something thats strong and will last as it will follow me to the next car unless I have an "incident", and have come to terms with purchasing a seat that costs the same as my car does. Do these seats have any special mounting precautions? Is there something I'm completely missing and not thinking about?

Just to add, this car's main purpose will be a daily driver/STS car, with the occasional HPDE event.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by skierd &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Just to add, this car's main purpose will be a daily driver/STS car, with the occasional HPDE event.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Get a recline-able seat, sparco makes some nice ones.

 

Most aftermarket race seats are certified to a certain spec level. Most Sparco seats are either to FIA or TUV standards. Their rail kits are also certified and when properly matched will lower your seating position in the car. I know when I did my Torino's with a Sparco flat base and sliders it lowered the seating position at least an inch in my 2000 Civic.

The seat rails are strong, and more sturdy than the stock rails, and use the stock mounting locations. If you go with a deep bucket where the stock three point seat belts aren't going to work too good, it would be dangerous to keep using them.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Get a recline-able seat, sparco makes some nice ones.</TD></TR></TABLE>

what he said....

Don't do a race bucket, they suck for daily driving. Check out something like the Torino by Sparco.

 

once you're in the bucket it's not so bad, but getting into the car can be a pain. trying to get anything out of your pockets while seated sucks, and sometimes the best seat fit can be a little restrictive when it comes to the commute.

definitely give the reclinables a look, and make sure you "test drive" em in a showroom before you buy. Torino's fit me perfectly, whereas the recaro speeds did not. i'm sure it's the opposite for others out there. I ended up getting a sparco bucket and i swap out my stock seats for events. it's not a bad setup.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Marauder &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I know when I did my Torino's with a Sparco flat base and sliders it lowered the seating position at least an inch in my 2000 Civic.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Interesting, I think you're the first person I've ever heard say they GAINED headroom with an aftermarket reclinable seat. I just picked up a '00 Miata that will see almost the exact same use as the thread starters and I need to get lower in the car. I was also thinking that the only way to get there would involve some sort of fixed back bucket...

Dan

 

The stock seats in my civic had the adjustable bottom, so the seat base was kinda high. I sit much lower to the ground with the Torino's!

It depends on the seat bracket you use. I have sat in a civic with Cobra seats that used a really generic seat base and it made the seat sit up higher than factory. Hated that, since my head would hit the ceiling.