Aftermarket Seats
11-08-06, 11:01 AM
#2
knowledge junkie
These look best, but probably have no lumbar support or adjustment. I think JCWhitney offers them in 6 colors. www.jcwhitney.com
11-08-06, 11:15 AM
#3
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary
NETAMI = APC = crap
If you're gonna bother to get an aftermarket seat, get a full bucket seat (non-reclining). Anything else isn't gonna give you any "performance" boost, while a non-reclining seat will give you more headroom, and much, much more lateral hold (especially when combined with a harness, although you need roll protection when you've got a harness).
Unless you're talking about Bride hybrid seats, that are light (carbon kevlar), recline, AND have the hold of a non-reclining seat, but cost a fortune ($1,500 each).
Otherwise, it shouldn't cost that much to fix the stock seats... unless you're determined to replace it with real leather (if you've got leather seats...modern fake leather is exactly the same but cheaper, more durable and more stain resistant).
If you're gonna bother to get an aftermarket seat, get a full bucket seat (non-reclining). Anything else isn't gonna give you any "performance" boost, while a non-reclining seat will give you more headroom, and much, much more lateral hold (especially when combined with a harness, although you need roll protection when you've got a harness).
Unless you're talking about Bride hybrid seats, that are light (carbon kevlar), recline, AND have the hold of a non-reclining seat, but cost a fortune ($1,500 each).
Otherwise, it shouldn't cost that much to fix the stock seats... unless you're determined to replace it with real leather (if you've got leather seats...modern fake leather is exactly the same but cheaper, more durable and more stain resistant).
11-08-06, 02:46 PM
#4
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Any more? I was thinkin about possibly changing my seats too, but i dont wanna pay thousands on a pair of seats- anyone have any experience with megan racing seats? Look nice yet inexpensive.
11-08-06, 03:56 PM
#7
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary
Reclining seats ARE bucket seats.
The difference is that all racing seats are non-reclining bucket seats (in Japan they call them "full buckets" to be more specific).
All cars seats meant for one passenger are bucket seats.
It would still make more sense to get the original seats re-upholstered if you want to change the color so badly.
90% of the reasonably priced reclining seats are ricey-looking (Brides, Sparcos, and Recaros aren't reasonably priced...).
The difference is that all racing seats are non-reclining bucket seats (in Japan they call them "full buckets" to be more specific).
All cars seats meant for one passenger are bucket seats.
It would still make more sense to get the original seats re-upholstered if you want to change the color so badly.
90% of the reasonably priced reclining seats are ricey-looking (Brides, Sparcos, and Recaros aren't reasonably priced...).
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11-08-06, 04:05 PM
#8
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and do you really trust a cheap seat to hold up in a crash? just a cheap plastic reclining mechanism in a lot of cases.
not to mention cheap seats tend to fade
and the foam is oftentimes uncomfortable
etc
etc
ever looked at how much stock seats cost?
not to mention cheap seats tend to fade
and the foam is oftentimes uncomfortable
etc
etc
ever looked at how much stock seats cost?
11-08-06, 07:43 PM
#11
Lives on the Forum
Just remember that the seat is an integral part of the car's safety system. It's been crash tested and proven to be safe. Replacing it with a cheaply made piece of junk will compromise your safety. IMHO, buy something good, or don't bother.
11-08-06, 07:51 PM
#12
Originally Posted by Valkyrie
NETAMI = APC = crap
If you're gonna bother to get an aftermarket seat, get a full bucket seat (non-reclining). Anything else isn't gonna give you any "performance" boost, while a non-reclining seat will give you more headroom, and much, much more lateral hold (especially when combined with a harness, although you need roll protection when you've got a harness).
Unless you're talking about Bride hybrid seats, that are light (carbon kevlar), recline, AND have the hold of a non-reclining seat, but cost a fortune ($1,500 each).
Otherwise, it shouldn't cost that much to fix the stock seats... unless you're determined to replace it with real leather (if you've got leather seats...modern fake leather is exactly the same but cheaper, more durable and more stain resistant).
If you're gonna bother to get an aftermarket seat, get a full bucket seat (non-reclining). Anything else isn't gonna give you any "performance" boost, while a non-reclining seat will give you more headroom, and much, much more lateral hold (especially when combined with a harness, although you need roll protection when you've got a harness).
Unless you're talking about Bride hybrid seats, that are light (carbon kevlar), recline, AND have the hold of a non-reclining seat, but cost a fortune ($1,500 each).
Otherwise, it shouldn't cost that much to fix the stock seats... unless you're determined to replace it with real leather (if you've got leather seats...modern fake leather is exactly the same but cheaper, more durable and more stain resistant).
smogsux, another local with an AE bought the netamis about 6 months after me and they were not nearly the same quality, they also went to a universal design so one seat could fit either side and they have fitment issues in FCs with the new design but my originals were directional to driver and passenger.
nice pic of my car btw.
Last edited by RotaryEvolution; 11-08-06 at 07:53 PM.
11-08-06, 08:17 PM
#13
Not Even Foo
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finding some infini seats are freakin hard.
i found http://pandagarage.com/index.html
emailed them and was told they don't have any.
so im keepin in touch, waiting for the new shipment.
i found http://pandagarage.com/index.html
emailed them and was told they don't have any.
so im keepin in touch, waiting for the new shipment.
11-08-06, 08:44 PM
#14
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As said above, seats are part of a car's safety system. They must be strong enough to hold up in a crash. If it snaps, so does your back.
Sparco has so reasonably priced seats. Id personally go with Bride or Recaro. They are a bit more expensive though.
Never get seats that are not certified.
Sparco has so reasonably priced seats. Id personally go with Bride or Recaro. They are a bit more expensive though.
Never get seats that are not certified.
11-08-06, 08:51 PM
#15
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary
Originally Posted by Karack
maybe the netami's are APC crap now but when i purchased them about 1.5 years ago they were built fairly well and i have had no complaints with them to date.
smogsux, another local with an AE bought the netamis about 6 months after me and they were not nearly the same quality, they also went to a universal design so one seat could fit either side and they have fitment issues in FCs with the new design but my originals were directional to driver and passenger.
nice pic of my car btw.
smogsux, another local with an AE bought the netamis about 6 months after me and they were not nearly the same quality, they also went to a universal design so one seat could fit either side and they have fitment issues in FCs with the new design but my originals were directional to driver and passenger.
nice pic of my car btw.
Also, their fixed bucket seats are apparently about as stiff as limp noodles.
11-08-06, 08:54 PM
#16
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Originally Posted by SwiftTone
As said above, seats are part of a car's safety system. They must be strong enough to hold up in a crash. If it snaps, so does your back.
Sparco has so reasonably priced seats. Id personally go with Bride or Recaro. They are a bit more expensive though.
Never get seats that are not certified.
Sparco has so reasonably priced seats. Id personally go with Bride or Recaro. They are a bit more expensive though.
Never get seats that are not certified.
they look comfy but are they safe?
at least they have the race look AND it's offical mazda merchandise.
bride and recaro's the way to go.
but plan on saving for a million years xP.
11-08-06, 09:29 PM
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Originally Posted by finishline
how bout them infini seats though?
they look comfy but are they safe?
at least they have the race look AND it's offical mazda merchandise.
bride and recaro's the way to go.
but plan on saving for a million years xP.
they look comfy but are they safe?
at least they have the race look AND it's offical mazda merchandise.
bride and recaro's the way to go.
but plan on saving for a million years xP.
11-08-06, 10:44 PM
#18
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Originally Posted by SwiftTone
They would be as safe as OEM seats, since they are a Mazda product. They are EXPENSIVE(atleast that I've seen). Also, I think they're pretty ugly, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
so blunt.
it's cool.
man, i found Bride seats up in the bay area in craigslist a whlie back, but the guy took it off the site. =[ it was a pretty good deal too!
i think it was a pair for the price of one!
11-09-06, 12:30 AM
#19
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If you want a quality race bucket for cheap and aren't a big guy then the Momo Start is an excellent deal, it's the cheapest FIA rated seat out there, and is good quality. It's very popular because of that.
11-09-06, 01:25 AM
#20
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anybody know a good seat that will sit lower than the stocker? I'm only 5'11" but imma big guy and the only way to sit comfortibly seats me too far away from the steering wheel or wtith my head touching the headliner. it'd be cool if I found a seat that sat an inch lower.
11-09-06, 11:24 AM
#21
Lives on the Forum
Just about any one piece shell seat (made from composites, not steel tube frame) with side mounts will sit you further down.
Another option is to get an aftermarket steering wheel and a spacer, to move the wheel closer to you. I've got the same problem with my car, I'm 6'3" and at the track I have to sit closer than I want because the wheel is too far away and I have to recline a lot to get my head under the roof, making it harder to reach the wheel.
Another option is to get an aftermarket steering wheel and a spacer, to move the wheel closer to you. I've got the same problem with my car, I'm 6'3" and at the track I have to sit closer than I want because the wheel is too far away and I have to recline a lot to get my head under the roof, making it harder to reach the wheel.
11-09-06, 12:59 PM
#23
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary
More than likely better than stock, just don't expect to have much of a headroom gain (the stock seats are already pretty damn low as it is). From the pictures it looks to have fairly aggressive side bolsters.
Also, fixed-back bucket seats, as well as recliners with very large side bolsters (especially some Bride recliners) are harder to get into than stock seats because you have to set INTO them and can't really just "slide" into them.
That means you might want to consider getting a smaller, spaced steering wheel, preferably with a QD hub...
IMO the problem with the stock seats is more a matter of very poor shoulder bolsters rather than not enough hold on your butt... but they aren't really suitable for use with a 5-pound harness, either.
Although if you make sure to floor the car or brake hard before you start turning, the seat belt locks in place and helps to hold you in the seat, but not as much as a harness. (talking about the mouse belts though)
If you absolutely must have the most possible headroom, hold, light weight, AND reclineability, you need a Bride hybrid... assuming money is no object :p
But you could easily get one for the price of a Milano Prestige.
Also, fixed-back bucket seats, as well as recliners with very large side bolsters (especially some Bride recliners) are harder to get into than stock seats because you have to set INTO them and can't really just "slide" into them.
That means you might want to consider getting a smaller, spaced steering wheel, preferably with a QD hub...
IMO the problem with the stock seats is more a matter of very poor shoulder bolsters rather than not enough hold on your butt... but they aren't really suitable for use with a 5-pound harness, either.
Although if you make sure to floor the car or brake hard before you start turning, the seat belt locks in place and helps to hold you in the seat, but not as much as a harness. (talking about the mouse belts though)
If you absolutely must have the most possible headroom, hold, light weight, AND reclineability, you need a Bride hybrid... assuming money is no object :p
But you could easily get one for the price of a Milano Prestige.
Last edited by Valkyrie; 11-09-06 at 01:03 PM.
11-09-06, 02:26 PM
#24
Lives on the Forum
You can lock the seatbelts in place before driving. You either unbuckle it, tug hard and fast, then buckle it up tight, or recline the seat way back, tug hard and fast on the belt, then un-recline. It holds you in pretty well. I found the tug then buckle method works better for me, as it's hard to un-recline against a locked belt.