Talk to me about bucket seats...
Discussion
...'cos I'm struggling!
OK, I want a pair for track days. Have to be adjustable as there's a couple of us that go, and we're varying heights, so I need something with, or can have, sliding runners.
Looking at Cobra Monaco, or possibly Corbeau Clubman, or something similar. Around the £300 a pair-ish sort of price.
But I'm struggling to understand brackets, bases, subframes and runners....
Who's done it before? What's the easiest, quickest and most straightforward way that I can get a pair of seats and a pair of brackets, so that I can get them bolted in directly.
Every manufacturer seems to have a different idea, and I don't want to end up with a brand new pair of seats that are a bugger to fit. A couple of retailers have been sort of helpful, but only so far as saying they can have some subframes made for the job.
Ideally, I want something that will be able to bolt on to the existing mountings in the car, I really don't want to muck about welding in new mounts for the seats.
Roll bar is in, harnesses are in, brakes are on the way, wheels and rubber is on the way, this is the last thing.... (before the turbo is on the way!).
Help very much appreciated!
OK, I want a pair for track days. Have to be adjustable as there's a couple of us that go, and we're varying heights, so I need something with, or can have, sliding runners.
Looking at Cobra Monaco, or possibly Corbeau Clubman, or something similar. Around the £300 a pair-ish sort of price.
But I'm struggling to understand brackets, bases, subframes and runners....
Who's done it before? What's the easiest, quickest and most straightforward way that I can get a pair of seats and a pair of brackets, so that I can get them bolted in directly.
Every manufacturer seems to have a different idea, and I don't want to end up with a brand new pair of seats that are a bugger to fit. A couple of retailers have been sort of helpful, but only so far as saying they can have some subframes made for the job.
Ideally, I want something that will be able to bolt on to the existing mountings in the car, I really don't want to muck about welding in new mounts for the seats.
Roll bar is in, harnesses are in, brakes are on the way, wheels and rubber is on the way, this is the last thing.... (before the turbo is on the way!).
Help very much appreciated!
it's not straightforward unfortunately. you can make up adapters that attach from your existing rails to your new seat, which will either be side or bottom mounted, neither are a problem. however, to find one that sits you as low as the stock seat is pretty much impossible as the stock seats kind of dip down inbetween the rails whereas any bucket seat will tend to sit on top of them. most raise you by an inch or two. perhaps elise seats mount you lower but they aren't very supportive laterally and also don't have provisions for seatbelts (at least most that come up available on ebay etc). i've heard that the cobra monaco / corbeau forza type seats get you fairly low too but i have no experience of these. mine are the shell type buckets rather than the metal frame kind, and i've had to bolt them direct to the floor with no adjustability.
so only real option is to cut out the lumps on the floor and get some aftermarket rails to mount your seats to. it's not cheap and it's not easy but if you need the adjustability it's the only way i think.
so only real option is to cut out the lumps on the floor and get some aftermarket rails to mount your seats to. it's not cheap and it's not easy but if you need the adjustability it's the only way i think.
skinny said:
cobra monaco / corbeau forza type seats get you fairly low too but i have no experience of these. mine are the shell type buckets rather than the metal frame kind, and i've had to bolt them direct to the floor with no adjustability.
so only real option is to cut out the lumps on the floor and get some aftermarket rails to mount your seats to. it's not cheap and it's not easy but if you need the adjustability it's the only way i think.
Buckets in the MX5 are a pain if you want to sit low and be comfortable only way is sidemounts bolted through the floor.so only real option is to cut out the lumps on the floor and get some aftermarket rails to mount your seats to. it's not cheap and it's not easy but if you need the adjustability it's the only way i think.
I have a Cobra Monaco on stock rails it was too high, i'm 5'10" and my head was above the bar :-
The passenger seat is a clubman bolted throught he floor but tha passenger was about 6'4"
I then removed the frame and drilled out the mounts and bolted the seat to the floor direct, this was a pita to get comfortable as the back was to upright, I had to shim the front up with washers.
It did get me lower :-
I have now gone side mount for a more "proper" solution ditching the shims, the seat is about 3/4 of an inch higher now but its more comfortable having the ability to tilt the seat to the perfect position. Its in a new shell now with weld in cage and hardtop so it was imprtant to try and get as low and comfortable as possible.
Edited by Herman Toothrot on Thursday 3rd June 21:13
Dan_1981 said:
If not..http://www.mx5nutz.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=5...
They are lovely seats, adjustable too.. I wish I had the reddies for them now.
I have a Sparco Sprint 5 fitted. I cut the rear humps out of the floor and bolted the seat directly through the floor - these seats can be side or base mounted. The only thing I'd say is that the floor of the MX5 is made of tin-foil and when you remove the humps you'd be best to get a strengthening plate welded in.
I suppose another option might be to get a pair of the kevlar Recaros that Mazda fitted to the RS-Ltd. Presumably their runners just bolt straight in.
The downside is that they're three times your budget...but on the other hand, you'd be able to sell them and recoup your money when you eventually get rid of the car.
The downside is that they're three times your budget...but on the other hand, you'd be able to sell them and recoup your money when you eventually get rid of the car.
Thanks for all the suggestions chaps.
The couple of linkys were very near almost exactly what I'm looking for, but not quite....
Another thought has been to have a fixed passenger seat, and a slidey driver's seat.
Also maybe two odd seats too, so a 'basic' passenger seat, and a really nice, top of the range driver's seat.
As for budget, it's not that I don't want to spend the money, but this is just a plaything for me, I'm properly saving for a new yacht next year, so don't want to spend excess cash on what's only used for a few track days. Doesn't seem worth it. I only really want to spend a couple of £k on the whole car, including seats, brakes, suspension, roll bar and possibly a couple of engine mods. So far, I'm doing pretty well!
The couple of linkys were very near almost exactly what I'm looking for, but not quite....
Another thought has been to have a fixed passenger seat, and a slidey driver's seat.
Also maybe two odd seats too, so a 'basic' passenger seat, and a really nice, top of the range driver's seat.
As for budget, it's not that I don't want to spend the money, but this is just a plaything for me, I'm properly saving for a new yacht next year, so don't want to spend excess cash on what's only used for a few track days. Doesn't seem worth it. I only really want to spend a couple of £k on the whole car, including seats, brakes, suspension, roll bar and possibly a couple of engine mods. So far, I'm doing pretty well!
Jonny671 said:
http://www.mx5nutz.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=5...
They are lovely seats, adjustable too.. I wish I had the reddies for them now.
These are sold, I'm afraid to say They are lovely seats, adjustable too.. I wish I had the reddies for them now.
OnlyMX5ives said:
Get on Ebay and get a decent pair.
Most can be made to fit.
I've fitted everything from Impreza, Recaro SPG to Exige seats.
Some need to be offset a little to fit around cages but its hardly rocket science.
Tried ebay, but a second hand pair seems to sell for only a little less than a new pair. Would rather have new!Most can be made to fit.
I've fitted everything from Impreza, Recaro SPG to Exige seats.
Some need to be offset a little to fit around cages but its hardly rocket science.
Is this a job you'd fancy? Where are you?....
maser_spyder said:
Thanks for all the suggestions chaps.
The couple of linkys were very near almost exactly what I'm looking for, but not quite....
Another thought has been to have a fixed passenger seat, and a slidey driver's seat.
Also maybe two odd seats too, so a 'basic' passenger seat, and a really nice, top of the range driver's seat.
As for budget, it's not that I don't want to spend the money, but this is just a plaything for me, I'm properly saving for a new yacht next year, so don't want to spend excess cash on what's only used for a few track days. Doesn't seem worth it. I only really want to spend a couple of £k on the whole car, including seats, brakes, suspension, roll bar and possibly a couple of engine mods. So far, I'm doing pretty well!
Maser.. If you want the seats I posted, I bought them but can't be dealing with them on a daily. The couple of linkys were very near almost exactly what I'm looking for, but not quite....
Another thought has been to have a fixed passenger seat, and a slidey driver's seat.
Also maybe two odd seats too, so a 'basic' passenger seat, and a really nice, top of the range driver's seat.
As for budget, it's not that I don't want to spend the money, but this is just a plaything for me, I'm properly saving for a new yacht next year, so don't want to spend excess cash on what's only used for a few track days. Doesn't seem worth it. I only really want to spend a couple of £k on the whole car, including seats, brakes, suspension, roll bar and possibly a couple of engine mods. So far, I'm doing pretty well!
I paid £280 but am happy to let them go for around £225?
Bolt straight into the '5.
Jonny671 said:
maser_spyder said:
Thanks for all the suggestions chaps.
The couple of linkys were very near almost exactly what I'm looking for, but not quite....
Another thought has been to have a fixed passenger seat, and a slidey driver's seat.
Also maybe two odd seats too, so a 'basic' passenger seat, and a really nice, top of the range driver's seat.
As for budget, it's not that I don't want to spend the money, but this is just a plaything for me, I'm properly saving for a new yacht next year, so don't want to spend excess cash on what's only used for a few track days. Doesn't seem worth it. I only really want to spend a couple of £k on the whole car, including seats, brakes, suspension, roll bar and possibly a couple of engine mods. So far, I'm doing pretty well!
Maser.. If you want the seats I posted, I bought them but can't be dealing with them on a daily. The couple of linkys were very near almost exactly what I'm looking for, but not quite....
Another thought has been to have a fixed passenger seat, and a slidey driver's seat.
Also maybe two odd seats too, so a 'basic' passenger seat, and a really nice, top of the range driver's seat.
As for budget, it's not that I don't want to spend the money, but this is just a plaything for me, I'm properly saving for a new yacht next year, so don't want to spend excess cash on what's only used for a few track days. Doesn't seem worth it. I only really want to spend a couple of £k on the whole car, including seats, brakes, suspension, roll bar and possibly a couple of engine mods. So far, I'm doing pretty well!
I paid £280 but am happy to let them go for around £225?
Bolt straight into the '5.
Ideally, I want a Cobra Monaco type of seat, something with harness holes and really deep buckets (fnarr).
Cheers anyway.
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