Where to try seats in the SE?

[MrChips]

So it looks like I'm going to need to go the whole hog and get some sidemount seats and proper rails welded into my 205 if I have any hope of getting the seat position low enough for my head to clear the cage. I haven't used the car much since getting the cage fitted so although all seemed well when i've been moving the car about, having now sat in with a helmet on, there's definitely not enought clearance. I've made some flat steel bars so the current base mount seats are as low as they can go, but it's not low enough.

Is there anywhere in the South that stocks several makes of seats? I've had a look online for shops but most of these are either mail order only, or in Wrexham

Happy to travel maybe an hour from Reading?

I'm hoping to find somewhere with a decent range, as although I know that Cobra Imolas would be my first choice, i'm also keeping my eye out for any second hand sets for sale, so may not have the luxury of choosing which exact model. I would however like to know which seats are a reasonable fit beforehand though.

Any suggestions?



Cheers
MrChips

[Zumbruk]

I have good news and bad news.

The bad news is that I never found anywhere that stocks a decent range of seats to try. I had a similar problem to you in addition to the fact that I'm quite large (6'3" and 18st, at the time). I ended up trying various seats at different places over the years. The Autosport show is quite good - most of the seat manufacturers are there with a reasonable range. I ended up ordering several from DT and sending the ones I didn't want back - although they were quite sniffy about it. Not as sniffy as the bloke at Grand Prix Racewear at Silverstone who insisted that I could fit into a seat that I patently couldn't. Can't say as I was sorry when they went titsup.

Oh, and I lied about the good news. Well, kinda. I ended up with a Kirkey seat from DT, although I can't say as it's the most comfortable thing I ever sat in.

[tertius]

Go along to a track day and ask to try everyone's seats? I know I wouldn't mind. Bet you'll get more different seats that way than more or less any alternative.

[MrChips]

Zumbruk said:

I ended up ordering several from DT and sending the ones I didn't want back

Did you have to pay the p&p or restocking charges? I thought DT was normally a pain with claiming the postage for returned items etc although maybe thats just for smaller stuff.

I've just seen that Merlin Motorsport (based at Castle Combe) seems to have a shop so i'll give them a bell in the morning.
I tried loads at Autosport a couple of years ago and came away thinking the Imola (or Suzuka) would be perfect but obviously if I can pick a similarly comfortable pair second hand then it'd be much cheaper.