Lightweight seats

[leerandle]

Does anyone know what type of seat the lightweight ones are based on ? I know Aston use Recaro, but not sure they are off the shelf with Aston covers or specifically made for Aston ? I've seen the recaro spa / spg but not sure if they're exactly the same. I'm looking at possibly upgrading as I've got the original 2006 seats and would prefer newer/lightweight options.

[jonby]

leerandle said:

Does anyone know what type of seat the lightweight ones are based on ? I know Aston use Recaro, but not sure they are off the shelf with Aston covers or specifically made for Aston ? I've seen the recaro spa / spg but not sure if they're exactly the same. I'm looking at possibly upgrading as I've got the original 2006 seats and would prefer newer/lightweight options.

I've an idea mikey k knows - he did a little research into it, including IIRC looking at taking covers off to put seat heating elements in

It's all going back a fair while so I may be mis remembering

[V8V Pete]

Lee, my honest advice is just to bite the bullet and find a 4.7 (or V12!) with them in and upgrade the whole car at the same time. You can take the bits you've done already ( ? exhaust only) with you. I don't regret doing it that way one bit. If you can stretch to it, that way you can also benefit from all the other improvements that came with V8S / 2012.25MY as well (improved steering, suspension and brakes). If you're ever up this way I'm happy to demo mine to you if it would help ......

[leerandle]

V8V Pete said:

Lee, my honest advice is just to bite the bullet and find a 4.7 (or V12!) with them in and upgrade the whole car at the same time. You can take the bits you've done already ( ? exhaust only) with you. I don't regret doing it that way one bit. If you can stretch to it, that way you can also benefit from all the other improvements that came with V8S / 2012.25MY as well (improved steering, suspension and brakes). If you're ever up this way I'm happy to demo mine to you if it would help ......

Pete, I know you're right and it's something I'm considering. I just like little pet projects to keep me busy (other than renovating my flat, kids, work etc). Anything I've done so far on my 4.3 (sills, lights, exhaust) are all fully reversible. Also, I love the colour of my car and not sure it was carried over into the 4.7 or even v12.

[V8V Pete]

OK then. Get some lightweights and get Mike to make you a GT4 4.7 engine and fit the V8S steering rack, suspension and brakes

[leerandle]

V8V Pete said:

OK then. Get some lightweights and get Mike to make you a GT4 4.7 engine and fit the V8S steering rack, suspension and brakes

When you put it like that, maybe the 4.7 car is the best way to go. I'm sure gt4 engine is £15k alone.....

[telum01]

leerandle said:

Does anyone know what type of seat the lightweight ones are based on ? I know Aston use Recaro, but not sure they are off the shelf with Aston covers or specifically made for Aston ? I've seen the recaro spa / spg but not sure if they're exactly the same. I'm looking at possibly upgrading as I've got the original 2006 seats and would prefer newer/lightweight options.

The carbon shell used for the lightweight seats is most likely custom made by Recaro for Aston Martin. It isn't based on the SGP or Pole Position. The SPG is the closest I've found that Recaro offers, and that's available in carbon fiber. However, you're running into a few problems:
-The SPG is a tight seat. I'm 180 lbs (81 kg)... should be 5 kg lighter ... and 5'7" (170 cm) tall and my hips barely squeeze in. If I weren't out of shape (working on it... slowly...) it'd be a snug but perfect fit. The Pole Position is much more comfortable, but its extra width may make it difficult to manage a 3-point seat belt.
-Either way, the 3-point seatbelt isn't made for a racing seat, and the racing seats aren't made for a 3-point seatbelt. The lightweight seat from AM has a lower bolster at the hip to allow the original seat belt to pass over the top. Racing seats like the SPG and PP are made for harnesses, so they have high bolsters with pass-through holes for the harness straps.
-You'll need custom hardware to mount the racing seat in the car with the original 3-point seat belt. I've got some in development right now but it's a slow process because it's an essential safety item and there's absolutely no room for error or compromise. You'll also need an adapter to fit the original 3-point belt with a racing seat due to how every lays out when installed (I've already got one to test).
-There are other things to consider, like air bag lights (I have a fix for that) and comfort (that's subjective and each person is different) especially for a street-driven car.

I wanted to have this seating project done by now but I've been pulled in so many directions that it got put on the backburner. But it's on my list and I'm trying to get it knocked out in the next couple months.

Here's an SPG next to the LHD driver seat from my grey '07 V8V for comparison as well as it sitting in the car (not bolted in)









Once I have everything finished, I'll be wrapping the SPG in OEM leather to match the rest of the car and make it look like it came from the factory.
Happy to answer any lingering questions.

[leerandle]

And there was me thinking AM would take a standard Recaro seat and just cover it, making the DIY enthusiast an 'easy' job making homemade replacements. Rich, as always you're one step ahead of me.....thanks for the info.

[leerandle]

From having a look on the internet and comparing the standard Recaro versus AM light weight seat, it looks like it is a combination of the Profi SPA (racing) and Sport seat. The Profi SPA seems to have a lower hip bolster, but still quite high compared to the lightweight seats. Based on yours and V8VPetes contribution, it does look like it would be easier to get the 4.7 with the lightweight seats. Ive been looking at swapping the seats for a while, but not many come up for sale on the various websites. I'll see what loose change I have behind the sofa and start saving for the 4.7.........

[Graze01]

Lee

I'm yearning after a V12V but don't want the lightweight seats (even though they are apparently very good) as the car will be our daily and used for long trips and the folding adjustable seats are important to both my wife and me

So if I find one with lightweights I'll be looking to trade them

Surely there must be someone similar on your side of the world

Maybe put a wanted ad up

Graeme

[AdamV12V]

Graze01 said:

Lee

I'm yearning after a V12V but don't want the lightweight seats (even though they are apparently very good) as the car will be our daily and used for long trips and the folding adjustable seats are important to both my wife and me

Why do you think the standard seats fold more than the lightweights do? There is very little storage behind the seats on a Vantage anyway as Im sure you know, so little reason to need them to fold anyway, but the lightweights have a button on the end of the dash (only visible when the doors are open) that makes them tilt fully forward - giving just as much rear access as the std seats when "folded" forward.

If anything the lightweight seats are so thin that you end up with more storage behind the seats with them than you do with the fatter sports seats.

[Thorburn]

Out of interest can the lightweight seats be retrofitted? I'm guessing there is some difference in the runners/electric adjustment as you lose the lumbar adjustment and the back angle becomes seat tilt, but is it something you can have done by a dealer?

[leerandle]

You're probably right, but I'm expecting cost to be very expensive, plus I'd need to colour code them to match my car. That's why I was thinking of getting some standard second hand recaro and having them retrimmed.

[burntout]

I had these made for me for my last Aston. Sparco seats, really comfy too.

[Graze01]

AdamV12V said:

Why do you think the standard seats fold more than the lightweights do? There is very little storage behind the seats on a Vantage anyway as Im sure you know, so little reason to need them to fold anyway, but the lightweights have a button on the end of the dash (only visible when the doors are open) that makes them tilt fully forward - giving just as much rear access as the std seats when "folded" forward.

If anything the lightweight seats are so thin that you end up with more storage behind the seats with them than you do with the fatter sports seats.

Adam

as much as anything its the ability to lay them back - slide the seat forward & lower the back

yes i accept you point re access (wasn't aware they titled forward) & thinness

Graeme

[Chamboy]

FWIW a while back I asked my dealer to quote me replacement costs for lightweights from standard sports. Was quite a shock - In excess of £19k!!

I looked at non-OEM replacements briefly but was put off partly because of insurance issues - my feedback would be to take great care in carrying out alterations which might affect safety functions (such as airbags etc). Most insurers will 'null and void' non -OEM miss of this magnitude!

All this actually lead me to a change in car (nice new V12VSM 😎) which has - unsurprisingly - Lightweights This is our 4th Vantage and unquestionably the seats are the better choice (IMHO).

Andy

[V8Andrew]

burntout said:

I had these made for me for my last Aston. Sparco seats, really comfy too.

Still comfy and no insurance issues

[leerandle]

burntout said:

I had these made for me for my last Aston. Sparco seats, really comfy too.

Any info regarding type or Sparco seat and how they were mounted ? Assume they were covered and/or Aston Martin logo stitched in.

[roughrider]

Graze01 said:

Adam

as much as anything its the ability to lay them back - slide the seat forward & lower the back

yes i accept you point re access (wasn't aware they titled forward) & thinness

Graeme

There is height adjustment front and rear, so you can tilt them back, or sit bolt upright. Best position is with rear lowered, and front raised.

[burntout]

leerandle said:

burntout said:

I had these made for me for my last Aston. Sparco seats, really comfy too.

Any info regarding type or Sparco seat and how they were mounted ? Assume they were covered and/or Aston Martin logo stitched in.

In all honesty, they were very comfy, they were supplied and fitted at DAE and the seats are still in the car today with the current owner. Although when these seat were 1st put in AM caught wind of the seats having the logo on them and kicked off as they came direct from Sparco who embroidered them... Cant remember which actual model of seats they were.

Insurance wise, no issues locktons were informed and they had no issues at all.

If I were to ever change seats again though it would only be for a set of AM lightweight alacantara ones from a V12V, which are very hard to come by....