Lowering the bucket seats
Discussion
I know that it is possible to lower the seat height on the bucket seats but cannot find anywhere that tells me whether that alters the backrest angle.
As a taller driver (6'2") I am looking to buy an A110 and will want to take it on track, so will move the seat lower to accommodate a helmet, but am concerned that lowering the seat makes the backrest more upright?
I don't think it does as there are fixing points front and rear but, coming from a GT4, I’m keen to ensure the backrest isn’t too upright.
Any insight much appreciated!
As a taller driver (6'2") I am looking to buy an A110 and will want to take it on track, so will move the seat lower to accommodate a helmet, but am concerned that lowering the seat makes the backrest more upright?
I don't think it does as there are fixing points front and rear but, coming from a GT4, I’m keen to ensure the backrest isn’t too upright.
Any insight much appreciated!
Edited by ican100 on Sunday 11th May 08:43
Edited by ican100 on Sunday 11th May 10:51
I am the same height as you and I would say that I am 50/50 legs to upper body ratio (so not long legs or long upper body); my seats are on the lowest setting and in doing that, the bucket seat does drop the back section to slightly more of an angle. I could wear a helmet but it would be tight if I wanted my back flat against the back of the seat. I haven't owned a GT4 but I have driven one with buckets and I found them too uncomfortable to purchase the car; which is strange because I had an GT3 RS with buckets and I found it much more comfortable.
For me, the A110 buckets aren't as comfortable as I'd like - I wish the back was tilted a little further back. This is probably more me (and age) than the seats. I tend to get lower back pain if the lower lumbar isn't supportive enough.
When buying my A110, I did consider a GT for the seats alone and I still may end up swapping my car for a GT or GTS in the future; however, I'm going to live with the buckets for awhile and see how I adjust to them.
What I do know is that as a package, the A110 is a brilliant car for our roads. I've had quite a few very fast cars but all suffer from only being able to be enjoyed at stupid speeds; the Alpine is the antithesis of this: fun to drive slowly as much as it is to drive fast.
For me, the A110 buckets aren't as comfortable as I'd like - I wish the back was tilted a little further back. This is probably more me (and age) than the seats. I tend to get lower back pain if the lower lumbar isn't supportive enough.
When buying my A110, I did consider a GT for the seats alone and I still may end up swapping my car for a GT or GTS in the future; however, I'm going to live with the buckets for awhile and see how I adjust to them.
What I do know is that as a package, the A110 is a brilliant car for our roads. I've had quite a few very fast cars but all suffer from only being able to be enjoyed at stupid speeds; the Alpine is the antithesis of this: fun to drive slowly as much as it is to drive fast.
Edited by Mr_Toad on Sunday 11th May 14:37
ican100 said:
I know that it is possible to lower the seat height on the bucket seats but cannot find anywhere that tells me whether that alters the backrest angle.
As a taller driver (6'2") I am looking to buy an A110 and will want to take it on track, so will move the seat lower to accommodate a helmet, but am concerned that lowering the seat makes the backrest more upright?
I don't think it does as there are fixing points front and rear but, coming from a GT4, I’m keen to ensure the backrest isn’t too upright.
Any insight much appreciated!
The lowest setting does slighlty tilt the seat backwards so you should be fine.As a taller driver (6'2") I am looking to buy an A110 and will want to take it on track, so will move the seat lower to accommodate a helmet, but am concerned that lowering the seat makes the backrest more upright?
I don't think it does as there are fixing points front and rear but, coming from a GT4, I’m keen to ensure the backrest isn’t too upright.
Any insight much appreciated!
Lowering the seats does make the angle of the seat more reclined. I have left the passenger seat bucket in my 110 in its original mid setting for my partner, but whenever I sit in her seat it’s definitely more up right. Having tried a Gt4 with the buckets, they’re far more upright than the alpine’s in their lowest position.
I'm about 5 10, used to be 6ft, have only just found out during a check up. Fek! getting older 
My seat is on the lowest setting and I have found them remarkably comfy as well as good at keeping you in place.
I've not tried a helmet though.
The designer of the car is supposedly very tall and made sure that he could sit in it, which I find hard to believe as a 6 2 friend of mine looks very uncomfortable in my car, as does my 6 6 son.
Both are quite wide as well though
I had a courtesy A110 for a few days with the seat in the middle setting and I felt like I was driving an SUV. Amazing what a few cms can do.
I can confirm that in the lowest setting, the seat is a wee bit more reclined.
Some have drilled different mounting holes to get the seat into a perfect position for themselves or you can buy aftermarket support plates with lots of pre drilled holes.
I don't think the seat can get any lower as the back of it is resting mm above the floor but you may, using the methods above, drop the front of the seat. Unfortunately you'll lose your recline.
My seat is on the lowest setting and I have found them remarkably comfy as well as good at keeping you in place.
I've not tried a helmet though.
The designer of the car is supposedly very tall and made sure that he could sit in it, which I find hard to believe as a 6 2 friend of mine looks very uncomfortable in my car, as does my 6 6 son.
Both are quite wide as well though
I had a courtesy A110 for a few days with the seat in the middle setting and I felt like I was driving an SUV. Amazing what a few cms can do.
I can confirm that in the lowest setting, the seat is a wee bit more reclined.
Some have drilled different mounting holes to get the seat into a perfect position for themselves or you can buy aftermarket support plates with lots of pre drilled holes.
I don't think the seat can get any lower as the back of it is resting mm above the floor but you may, using the methods above, drop the front of the seat. Unfortunately you'll lose your recline.
I'm on the lowest holes.
There's a structural ridge in the floor just behind (in my case) where the lowest part of the seat is closest to the floor. I was 6ft & haven't checked my height for a long time, so perhaps I'm a little shorter now I'm 60. I like to sit close to the wheel, with my arms bent (just like those proper racing drivers on the telly). This means in an A110 (& just about every other car as well) my legs are a little more bent than I'd like them to be. Because I don't have the seat right back I'm intending to use my Dremel to elongate the rear holes, to make the seat lower. This will also have the effect of tilting the seat back, which is something I also want. If it's tilted too far, I can take a couple of mm out of the front holes to make it a little more upright.
There's a structural ridge in the floor just behind (in my case) where the lowest part of the seat is closest to the floor. I was 6ft & haven't checked my height for a long time, so perhaps I'm a little shorter now I'm 60. I like to sit close to the wheel, with my arms bent (just like those proper racing drivers on the telly). This means in an A110 (& just about every other car as well) my legs are a little more bent than I'd like them to be. Because I don't have the seat right back I'm intending to use my Dremel to elongate the rear holes, to make the seat lower. This will also have the effect of tilting the seat back, which is something I also want. If it's tilted too far, I can take a couple of mm out of the front holes to make it a little more upright.
Having just bought an A110 with buckets I was surprised to not find a suitable tamper-proof torx socket to move the seats somewhere in the car - was one not supplied with it when new? or is the seat change supposed to be a dealer only job? Anyway Screwfix is your friend at times like this..
To get the seat in its lowest position I also decided to loosen the outer side bracket from the rail to let it open out a little and give some wiggle room. There is an annoying longer protruding bolt holding the seat belt socket to the inner bracket, and the seat won't drop low enough as the base of the shell will sit on this bolt and prevent the rear inner torx bolt from finding its home.. I then noticed the seat shell has a small hole drilled into it on each side for this longer bolt to sit within when offering the seat up to attach to the lowest bolt holes, locate this carefully otherwise the shiny black seat coating could scratch (looks like someone else had already done this to my car.. annoying but it's invisible day-to-day). Unsure why a shorter seat belt buckle bolt couldn't have been used at the factory and the seat had to be drilled instead, but I didn't want to trim it down..
I have found the seat to now be a little too reclined in the lowest mount so after a few more miles might drill another lower hole in the front of the brackets to tilt the back up a tad. Once the brackets are removed it should be straightforward with a pillar drill and a new sharp 9 or 10mm bit.
To get the seat in its lowest position I also decided to loosen the outer side bracket from the rail to let it open out a little and give some wiggle room. There is an annoying longer protruding bolt holding the seat belt socket to the inner bracket, and the seat won't drop low enough as the base of the shell will sit on this bolt and prevent the rear inner torx bolt from finding its home.. I then noticed the seat shell has a small hole drilled into it on each side for this longer bolt to sit within when offering the seat up to attach to the lowest bolt holes, locate this carefully otherwise the shiny black seat coating could scratch (looks like someone else had already done this to my car.. annoying but it's invisible day-to-day). Unsure why a shorter seat belt buckle bolt couldn't have been used at the factory and the seat had to be drilled instead, but I didn't want to trim it down..
I have found the seat to now be a little too reclined in the lowest mount so after a few more miles might drill another lower hole in the front of the brackets to tilt the back up a tad. Once the brackets are removed it should be straightforward with a pillar drill and a new sharp 9 or 10mm bit.
MaFue said:
Having just bought an A110 with buckets I was surprised to not find a suitable tamper-proof torx socket to move the seats somewhere in the car - was one not supplied with it when new? or is the seat change supposed to be a dealer only job? Anyway Screwfix is your friend at times like this..
The manual does say it’s a dealer only job, but many people seem to have managed it. Bit of a joke to say it's dealer only. Bet they charge at least £160 per seat.
It's 4 torx bolts FFS
Bit like Jaguar Land Rover trying to charge me £300, in 2008 to change a Pirelli Zero tyre that had failed the MoT on my Discovery.
£300 for a £100 tyre, £200 labour then! but I get a nice cup of coffee served to me by a beautiful woman while I wait
Took it to a Land rover nut with a shed in a field who supplied and fitted the same tyre for £100.
But I digress.
Simple stuff that any competent person could do with basic tools are almost all 'take to dealer' in most modern car/bike manuals.
It's 4 torx bolts FFS
Bit like Jaguar Land Rover trying to charge me £300, in 2008 to change a Pirelli Zero tyre that had failed the MoT on my Discovery.
£300 for a £100 tyre, £200 labour then! but I get a nice cup of coffee served to me by a beautiful woman while I wait
Took it to a Land rover nut with a shed in a field who supplied and fitted the same tyre for £100.
But I digress.
Simple stuff that any competent person could do with basic tools are almost all 'take to dealer' in most modern car/bike manuals.
have read that some people just get the correct socket and do the lowering themselves - search and you will find. I just used my specialist when the car was there. Wasnt a long job.
5'10" here and I prefer the drivers seat on the lowest setting - gives me a it more helmet clearance (was ok but better lowered - I think I was not touching on the roof - but maybe at the top of the door somewhere?) but also just prefer the driving position even for day to day stuff.
Didnt adjust the passenger side.
5'10" here and I prefer the drivers seat on the lowest setting - gives me a it more helmet clearance (was ok but better lowered - I think I was not touching on the roof - but maybe at the top of the door somewhere?) but also just prefer the driving position even for day to day stuff.
Didnt adjust the passenger side.
I (<6ft, about 181cm) tried with my helmet on out of interest. I have the seat in lowest holes & the helmet rubs on the roof when sitting in my normal position. It's OK if I hunch down a little, sort of.
If I run the seat all/most of the way back there is some clearance, but not a finger width. The problem is I don't drive with outstretched arms & fingertips on the wheel. I'm not "long in the torso", so I'm intrigued as to the exact body proportions of these 6ft4 people that can fit, even without a helmet.
If I run the seat all/most of the way back there is some clearance, but not a finger width. The problem is I don't drive with outstretched arms & fingertips on the wheel. I'm not "long in the torso", so I'm intrigued as to the exact body proportions of these 6ft4 people that can fit, even without a helmet.
Now that I have my A110, I thought I would share my experience with seat height for the benefit of others.
My car has the Sabelt buckets on the lowest of the three mounting points.
I am 6'2" with a 34" inside leg and find the driving postion comfortable - I am a few clicks away from the longest legroom as I like to sit closer to the wheel so that I have bent elbows.
I can just about accommodate by crash helmet - it is tight and will inevitably mean the odd contact with the headlining with the rise and fall of track driving.
My friend is 6'4" and often struggles to fit in cars but found he had plenty of legroom and a comfortable driving position with the seat as far back as it will go. He would struggle with a crash helmet though.
Hope that helps someone!
My car has the Sabelt buckets on the lowest of the three mounting points.
I am 6'2" with a 34" inside leg and find the driving postion comfortable - I am a few clicks away from the longest legroom as I like to sit closer to the wheel so that I have bent elbows.
I can just about accommodate by crash helmet - it is tight and will inevitably mean the odd contact with the headlining with the rise and fall of track driving.
My friend is 6'4" and often struggles to fit in cars but found he had plenty of legroom and a comfortable driving position with the seat as far back as it will go. He would struggle with a crash helmet though.
Hope that helps someone!
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