I am going to purchase new seats and harnesses really soon now, so I have been pricing them all over the place. Of course I have seen Recaro, Momo, and Sparco and they seem to run from $600 to sky is the limit. I have also found lots of places that say things like "recaro style" or "just like Sparcos", and of course these are considerably cheaper.

I have never bought aftermarket seats before so I am wondering what the difference is. Is it just a few pounds of weight, or do the off brands crumble during a fender bender? Or are we just paying to have Recaro stitched across the top of the seat?

I would appreciate any feedback on this, espcially if you have experience with some of these different seat manufacturers, I would also love to hear about where you got your seats at, if you feel like you got a good deal.

Thanks!

 

aftermarket seats in my opinion are all about looks and props. unless you're seriously into racing your car, you really have no need for comfort and support that these manufacturer's say their products will give you. what do you need them for?

 

Quality seats are important. I actually read a post about some guy who had tenzo R seats. He is kind of a big fella and he said when he actually sat down on his seat he can feel the back part of the seat bend a little and recline due to his weight. He said he was around 250 lbs. He said that these cheap aftermarket seat arn't built the same as OEM to support certain weight. He said that he wouldnt risk using the seat as a daily driver cause if he was to get into a accident, its possible that if there was enough force on the seat in the accident that the seat can actually snap back and break.

Overall
Is there a difference in quality of having cheap racing seats?
Yes




Modified by oo9o9xaznoo at 1:23 AM 12/18/2003

 

jdm bling bling yo

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by oo9o9xaznoo &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Quality seats are important. I actually read a post about some guy who had tenzo R seats. He is kind of a big fella and he said when he actually sat down on his seat he can feel the back part of the seat bend a little and recline due to his weight. He said he was around 250 lbs. He said that these cheap aftermarket seat arn't built the same as OEM to support certain weight. He said that he wouldnt risk using the seat as a daily driver cause if he was to get into a accident, its possible that if there was enough force on the seat in the accident that the seat can actually snap back and break.

Overall
Is there a difference in quality of having cheap racing seats?
Yes


Modified by oo9o9xaznoo at 1:23 AM 12/18/2003</TD></TR></TABLE>

I am a pretty big guy also, that is what I am trying to find out. I am going to race the car starting next summer, waiting for the engine and suspension right now. What I need to find out is what kind of seats to get without having to spend thousands of dollars. I agree safety is important, but I cant spend $700 on each seat, and then have to buy the brackets on top of that, not to mention the harnesses. Does anyone have a recommendation? A set of seats to get that arent cheap, but arent on the high end either, something middle of the road, with good "bang for the buck".

Thanks

 

Is keeping your *** properly planted in a wreck worth a few extra bucks?
gmoore

 

I think SCC just did a big seat review, it's still on the shelves where I live.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Creep &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I think SCC just did a big seat review, it's still on the shelves where I live.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Would that be the January issue?

 

try looking at a kirkey seat

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by giff74 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Would that be the January issue?</TD></TR></TABLE>

December Issue.
gmoore

 

cheap seats = rice

 

If your using them to race with, you can always just buy one seat.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 94goldjungsr &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">cheap seats = rice</TD></TR></TABLE>

Is that what it means when you work really hard at your job, have a family to support, happen to really enjoy cars, but cant spend thousands on seats????????

 

true. But wtf i saw that issue at SCC a couple weeks ago! I should have bought it.. UGGH, now i can't find it anywhere!! Anyone know any places online where i can get it?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by giff74 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Is that what it means when you work really hard at your job, have a family to support, happen to really enjoy cars, but cant spend thousands on seats???????? </TD></TR></TABLE>

yea, spend the money on saving for your kids college fund.

 

unless going pro, leave the original seats.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 94goldjungsr &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

yea, spend the money on saving for your kids college fund.</TD></TR></TABLE>

so they can use their scholarships on THEIR car...

wish my parents would have done that.

 

I'm considering the Corbeau A4s right now. I've sat in them in a store and in a DA, and I love how supportive they are. They also recline, so I can still use the car as a daily driver for passengers and rear seat cargo. Plus, they are fairly affordable and are made by a reputable manufacturer. For my car, I can get a pair with rails for $800 shipped. Pretty reasonable considering one Sparco Torino would cost you nearly that much.

If you've ever taken you car to the track or to an autocross, you can really feel the intense lateral G's trying to push you out of the seat. I'd rather concentrate on driving than trying to brace myself around a corner at 50 MPH. They aren't totally necessary to have a great car, but a lot of the stuff we buy isn't either...

 

recarro srd comparison to tenzo r seats look alike .. ur butt would notice the different between those seats.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JDMDA9 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'm considering the Corbeau A4s right now. I've sat in them in a store and in a DA, and I love how supportive they are. They also recline, so I can still use the car as a daily driver for passengers and rear seat cargo. Plus, they are fairly affordable and are made by a reputable manufacturer. For my car, I can get a pair with rails for $800 shipped. Pretty reasonable considering one Sparco Torino would cost you nearly that much.

If you've ever taken you car to the track or to an autocross, you can really feel the intense lateral G's trying to push you out of the seat. I'd rather concentrate on driving than trying to brace myself around a corner at 50 MPH. They aren't totally necessary to have a great car, but a lot of the stuff we buy isn't either...</TD></TR></TABLE>

This is all I was looking for in the first place!!! Some folks willing to share what they like about some different seats, that dont cost thousands of dollars. Next time, the Jr. Rice Boys, who dont understand what its like to be an adult can keep their opinions to themselves.

Thanks for the good post!

 

It depends on personal taste.

I have sparco speeds in my integra, and I love them. I don't track the car, but love them for daily driving.


They were inexpensive also.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by integra707 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">It depends on personal taste.

I have sparco speeds in my integra, and I love them. I don't track the car, but love them for daily driving.


They were inexpensive also. </TD></TR></TABLE>

i agree with him its personal taste. i am more than willing to pay a high price for a nice seat. just forked out some cash for jdm recaros i love them comfortable as hell, nice,supportive and a jdm bling factor not that i really care about that but they work for me i nevr track my car either so they r my daily driver seats

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by giff74 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

This is all I was looking for in the first place!!! Some folks willing to share what they like about some different seats, that dont cost thousands of dollars. Next time, the Jr. Rice Boys, who dont understand what its like to be an adult can keep their opinions to themselves.

Thanks for the good post! </TD></TR></TABLE>

No prob, bro. I still can't believe the guy that said that aftermarket seats are a waste of money unless you have a track car. Most seats, especially those from Sparco and Recaro, are rigourously tested and are MUCH safer than stock seats. Case in point: I was involved in a serious wreck in a 300ZX and one of the front seats reclined forward on impact, putting the drivers face right into the steering wheel and shattering the bone surrounding her eye sockets and nose. Don't say that quality seats are for the track only, they can save your life on the street, too....

Anyway, I would prefer a one piece seat like Sparco Speeds, but I have a bad back (from that wreck) and I need seats that recline. Plus, they make access to the rear seats a bit difficult.

The JDM Recaro SRDs are nice, but I sat in one at Autococks, and I felt that the thigh support was just as bad as my stock DA seats. Lateral and shoulder support was great, though.

My favorite seat thus far was a reclinable Bride seat at Autococks. To bad they were $1000 a pop. They were pretty furious, though.

I don't know if I could live with a $1000 seat, considering all the abuse they take. In and out of the car, spills, tears, sun fade, dirt; It doesn't make sense to have that much cash under your ***, waiting to get messed up. Now with a $300 seat, I'm not gonna shed as many tears when I **** on them...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JDMDA9 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

No prob, bro. I still can't believe the guy that said that aftermarket seats are a waste of money unless you have a track car. Most seats, especially those from Sparco and Recaro, are rigourously tested and are MUCH safer than stock seats. Case in point: I was involved in a serious wreck in a 300ZX and one of the front seats reclined forward on impact, putting the drivers face right into the steering wheel and shattering the bone surrounding her eye sockets and nose. Don't say that quality seats are for the track only, they can save your life on the street, too....

Anyway, I would prefer a one piece seat like Sparco Speeds, but I have a bad back (from that wreck) and I need seats that recline. Plus, they make access to the rear seats a bit difficult.

The JDM Recaro SRDs are nice, but I sat in one at Autococks, and I felt that the thigh support was just as bad as my stock DA seats. Lateral and shoulder support was great, though.

My favorite seat thus far was a reclinable Bride seat at Autococks. To bad they were $1000 a pop. They were pretty furious, though.

I don't know if I could live with a $1000 seat, considering all the abuse they take. In and out of the car, spills, tears, sun fade, dirt; It doesn't make sense to have that much cash under your ***, waiting to get messed up. Now with a $300 seat, I'm not gonna shed as many tears when I **** on them...

</TD></TR></TABLE>

AMEN!!!

 

The biggest mistake I see people make about seats is that they buy seats without sitting in them before buying them. They go strictly by looks, If im spending on $ on something that I dont have to have then Im going to make sure they are comftorable and right for me.