Best racing seat for the money?

[95CarbonEclipse]

I've got a set of Megan Racing seats that look great and are perfect for a daily driver. Like said above, if you're going strictly for performance, go with something more performance orientated. If you drive your car every day or even just casually around town, go with something more comfortable.

I paid $700 for both my seats AND the Weapon R brackets. Check my profile pics to see them installed in my GSX.

 

[kanderson]

Here are some pics of my sparco rev, which is basically an older sparco evo. It's a pretty slim seat, I'm about 5'11" 155lbs, and it fits me pretty snug. I would recommend the evo2 for anyone over about 175, but you should really test fit before buying.

You can see in one of the pictures that the left wing touches the door. This is the painful part of the mounting process. The mounting bracket from sparco fits the holes but it locates the seat too far left, and if you are tall it will be too high as well because the bracket has tabs on the bottom that raise it up about an inch. I straightened these tabs out so they laid flat and drilled new holes that moved it over towards the center console.

You can also tilt the seat by placing washers under the mounting points or by mounting the seat in the bracket higher on the left side (these are adjustable for forward/back tilt and vertical height). If you are still too tall you can ditch the sliders to lower it another inch or so. Hope this helps, it sounds like a lot of work, it took me about three hours, but it makes itself worth it every time I drive it. It feels like a big hug every time you get in

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[WhiteDSM420a]

i really like the one seat. i think im gonna get a reclining one. how did u get the sub in ## trunk i like that too!

 

[crimsondragon]

I be scared to drive with those seats around here. I feel like someone might just break in and steal them.

 

[talon_swift7834]

I have a set of Sparco EVO seats and have sat in many different seats and still think they are more comfortable than the others. FIA approved as well. Sparco seats all the way! I also use Simpson 5-point harnesses and love them.

 

[blcknspo0ln]

kirkey seats and some custom brackets!

 

[pinder91]

I love my Sparco Fighters. Most comfortable seats I've ever sat in. I only got two because the price was oh so right!

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[kanderson]

pinder91: Jealous! All my friends want me to get another seat but I can't justify spending that kind of money just so someone else can benefit from it.

Whitedsm420a: sometimes I want reclining too, but fixed back puts you right where you need to be to drive fast, comfortably, and I have driven for eight hours straight in it and it was fine, so either way works... And the sub is in a custom fiberglass enclosure. It's just one kicker 8" but I like it, it's enough for a small car.

 

[snowborder714]

Kirkey

I've sat in their drag seats and they're very comfortable. I'd really like to try their road racing seats out.

One thing to keep in mind is if you plan to use the car for racing, it's courteous to have the same equipment for the passenger as you do for the driver. This would more apply to road racing and your instructor. How would you like sitting in a stock seat with stock seat belt while someone whips the car around turns at very high speeds sitting in a racing seat with harness? I think it would be a pain as you'd be trying to focus on helping the driver improve, but you can't necessarily get a feel for how they're driving if you have different equipment than they do. I had a hard time staying in my seat when I autox'd and I'm sure my "instructor" (veteran racer that offered to help) did as well. I hated it and felt bad that he didn't have something nicer to restrain him.

But this is only a suggestion, not a rule. Plus, I just think it looks dumb to only have one racing seat.

 

[DGajre777]

You can see in one of the pictures that the left wing touches the door. This is the painful part of the mounting process. The mounting bracket from sparco fits the holes but it locates the seat too far left, and if you are tall it will be too high as well because the bracket has tabs on the bottom that raise it up about an inch. I straightened these tabs out so they laid flat and drilled new holes that moved it over towards the center console.

You can also tilt the seat by placing washers under the mounting points or by mounting the seat in the bracket higher on the left side (these are adjustable for forward/back tilt and vertical height). If you are still too tall you can ditch the sliders to lower it another inch or so. Hope this helps, it sounds like a lot of work, it took me about three hours, but it makes itself worth it every time I drive it. It feels like a big hug every time you get in

It seems like mounting any kind of racing seat requires a lot of work! I still have corbeau sliders in my living room somewhere.

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/newbie-forum/317975-seat-bolt-question.html

 

[BlazeGT4]

I would avoid getting two seats at the risk of reducing the quality of the seat(s) 600 would buy.

If you browse a few of the evo forums, 600 might buy you a pair of OEM Recaros out of a VIII-IX. IXs will run a bit higher since they are suede. Over all the OEM Recaros will be a night and day difference to the OEM seats you have now. They are DOT approved for street (however that's probably moot since they aren't DOT for your vin). But case and point, they are a clean, functional and aesthetically pleasing solution. Wedge Engineering out of Long Beach, CA can fab you a bracket if you need it. I've used them several times for my 2G, Evo VIII and Evo X. Fitment is good and the seat will be centered.

If you go with a single seat (bucket or reclinable) it's really hard to beat the quality of a good sparco. Most all of their lines are excellent. You won't win trophies at a car show and the JDM'er running BRIDE Japans might scoff, but wth cares? Another benefit of Sparco is that they are local (california/us). This means it will be easier to order replacement material/padding if you dumpster dive for your seat, your GF spills her drink or you simply wear it out form all those Gs.

After Sparco, you may want to look at a used Recaro Profi. This won't recline and this will make your back seats useless, but they go pretty cheap used. You can find these in the classifieds of most high traffic automotive forums.

BRIDES are too expensive and too frequently knocked off. If you find a cheap one, there's probably a good reason why. Fake-seats could be "Fa-tal." Stay away from Megan, and Pep Boy brands as well. The seat is the cradle of life for your car. You wouldn't buy e-bay seat belts or re-furbished brake pads (I hope) an you don't want to do the same with something as important as this.

One last thing: If you have the time and something is available, grab a game boy and sit in it for a good 30 minutes. See if you can put the seat on on a phone book to mimic the position it will be in (relative to the elevation of the seat, your legs, etc). Many seats feel nice and snug at first, then become extremely uncomfortable later, after a long drive.

I'm running a set of limited edition Recaro ASMs. They are super baller and look great in the car. They are comfortable for about 10 minutes before the lack of lumber support causes you to hunch and reach for an bottle of advil. It's an extremely functional seat. Too bad that function is not for suited for a GTU/cruiser.

Hope that helps some. Just my 2c.

Blaze

 

[crimsondragon]

I would avoid getting two seats at the risk of reducing the quality of the seat(s) 600 would buy.

If you browse a few of the evo forums, 600 might buy you a pair of OEM Recaros out of a VIII-IX. IXs will run a bit higher since they are suede. Over all the OEM Recaros will be a night and day difference to the OEM seats you have now. They are DOT approved for street (however that's probably moot since they aren't DOT for your vin). But case and point, they are a clean, functional and aesthetically pleasing solution. Wedge Engineering out of Long Beach, CA can fab you a bracket if you need it. I've used them several times for my 2G, Evo VIII and Evo X. Fitment is good and the seat will be centered.

If you go with a single seat (bucket or reclinable) it's really hard to beat the quality of a good sparco. Most all of their lines are excellent. You won't win trophies at a car show and the JDM'er running BRIDE Japans might scoff, but wth cares? Another benefit of Sparco is that they are local (california/us). This means it will be easier to order replacement material/padding if you dumpster dive for your seat, your GF spills her drink or you simply wear it out form all those Gs.

After Sparco, you may want to look at a used Recaro Profi. This won't recline and this will make your back seats useless, but they go pretty cheap used. You can find these in the classifieds of most high traffic automotive forums.

BRIDES are too expensive and too frequently knocked off. If you find a cheap one, there's probably a good reason why. Fake-seats could be "Fa-tal." Stay away from Megan, and Pep Boy brands as well. The seat is the cradle of life for your car. You wouldn't buy e-bay seat belts or re-furbished brake pads (I hope) an you don't want to do the same with something as important as this.

One last thing: If you have the time and something is available, grab a game boy and sit in it for a good 30 minutes. See if you can put the seat on on a phone book to mimic the position it will be in (relative to the elevation of the seat, your legs, etc). Many seats feel nice and snug at first, then become extremely uncomfortable later, after a long drive.

I'm running a set of limited edition Recaro ASMs. They are super baller and look great in the car. They are comfortable for about 10 minutes before the lack of lumber support causes you to hunch and reach for an bottle of advil. It's an extremely functional seat. Too bad that function is not for suited for a GTU/cruiser.

Hope that helps some. Just my 2c.

Blaze

I looked up Wedge Engineering. Very nice. If I ever get racing seats they'll be the first people I'll call for brackets.

Personally I'm a sucker for performance over luxury. I hear the Recaros from the Evos 8-9 are heavy. I'm curious as to what is the lightest seat made that is still relatively comfy for 1 hr-2hr drives.

 

[95CarbonEclipse]

I would avoid getting two seats at the risk of reducing the quality of the seat(s) 600 would buy.

You don't need to spend an ungodly amount of money in order to obtain a quaility product that is just as safe or safer then your OEM seats. That's not to say that you should just go out and buy the cheapest thing you find. Do your homework. Does the company producing the product stand behind it? Has it gone through rigorous testing? Just because you're shelling out an extra $1200 for a seat doesn't mean that it's got $1200 more safety to it.

I can take a sh*t in a box and slap a $2000 price tag on it, but at the end of the day you've still got sh*t in a box.

BRIDES are too expensive and too frequently knocked off... Stay away from Megan... as well. You wouldn't buy e-bay seat belts or re-furbished brake pads (I hope) an you don't want to do the same with something as important as this.

Please explain to me what is so catastrophically horrible about Megan Racing seats? And while're we're at it, Bride's as well? How is it that they're seats being "too expensive" and "frequently knocked off" a negative aspect of they're product?

It sounds to me like you've got an infatuation with Sparco's, which is fine, they're great seats. But please don't act like one of those kids that insists that there's only one way to do things and if done otherwise then they're a complete moron. Just because you're a Sparco fanboy doesn't mean that's the only answer for purchasing an aftermarket seat. I know you didn't say this directly, but your post sure does sound like you're taking that tone.

Wedge Engineering out of Long Beach, CA can fab you a bracket if you need it. I've used them several times for my 2G, Evo VIII and Evo X. Fitment is good and the seat will be centered.

I looked into Wedge brackets myself when purchasing my own seats and found that fitment is ok, but tend to sit a little high. Also, the price for Wedge brackets is, IMO, insanely expensive for what you're actually getting.

To the OP, this thread is full of GREAT suggestions. As with every other part that you will buy for your car, please do your research and find out for yourself which part is exactly right for you and your needs.

 

[kanderson]

Snowboarder714: you make a very good point...

My seat saved me about 25 pounds, but if you want to spend some serious money you can get it in carbon fiber

And just for the record, I don't think anyone here is trying to sell sparco products

 

[gixrman]

just remember not all 5 point racing harness's are not DOT approved. Schroth is the only company that I know of that makes them.
Schroth Racing Harnesses

 

[vanilla gorilla]

Get ahold of some used SRT4 neon seats. They look good, are comfortable, and can be had for pretty cheap.