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We recently received prototype seat, and in the interest of being upfront and honest, it did not meet our level of build quality. There are issues from the bucket itself to the foam used and stitching of the material.
I can review the issues in more detail as we see fit but at this point it's back in the design process. We're still working with AGP to revise the design but I've taken a front seat on this project now as there are quite a few issues that will have to be resolved before I'll put my name behind them. At this point if the project moves forward we'll be providing at least the rails currently. I've offered to do the design/production work on other aspects of the seats, but this is not a bridge AGP is ready to cross yet. Hopefully we can refine the current process as there is potential but the execution is lacking.
Please don't hesitate to ask for updates, comment, etc. This is a open process (as far as I'm concerned) and as long as it's ok with AGP I'm willing to share the issues and resolutions.
-Heath
good to hear that Heath have seem the seat.
I have test on the metal stress test of both replica rail and OEM rail, the result of the replica rail are very bad compare to the OEM rail.
and for the replica seat are pretty poor in strength when I put it in a pressed machine to see the result are also bad.
for this testing result I have destroy one OEM seat + rail and one replica seat + rail.
which is why I have said it before " be safe then sorry "
if you want good quality go for the real thing.
I just got a set of the APF Replica seats and the seats themselves are awesome. If you need anyone to try out the revised rails let me know. I would have no problem comparing the SBG vs the original rails as I also have a set of the APF rails to check out the difference functionally.
I cant wait for this to hit the stores! If they make it similar enough, sort out the safety issues, and also can amke them cheaper than OEM, them i will defo want a set.
The ultimate would be if they could offer red and black Alcantara covers that are fire safe, si i dont have to get those made myself.
I just got a set of the APF Replica seats and the seats themselves are awesome. If you need anyone to try out the revised rails let me know. I would have no problem comparing the SBG vs the original rails as I also have a set of the APF rails to check out the difference functionally.
Robert
Hey Guys just an update, the issues we had were not just with the rails but the quality of the seats and foam in the covers as well. Hazel, we had issues with flex of the bucket as well as the material used. What we got was only carbon fiber BACKED, the rest was chopped strand fiberglass. The foam deflated after a few days of use and the rails were unsafe. Francis and I have been talking about them for the last two weeks, and he's willing to start over on them but essentially they arrived "not as advertised" . For this price (for a replica) and as a sample (production versions would only be the same quality or less) it wasn't something I could stand behind. He's assured me it was just issues with the sample I received but to be frank we're working to once again rebuild the seat and materials from the ground up.
If anyone wants to import them AS IS, I'm more than happy to facilitate but they will will come with no warranty and the understanding that this is not of a quality I would stand behind necessarily. That said, Francis and I are still working to rebuild the seats with better quality materials and a different process, but I've got lots of issues I'd want changed before I'll sit in them in my own car, safety, comfort, and durability wise.
Hey Guys just an update, the issues we had were not just with the rails but the quality of the seats and foam in the covers as well. Hazel, we had issues with flex of the bucket as well as the material used. What we got was only carbon fiber BACKED, the rest was chopped strand fiberglass. The foam deflated after a few days of use and the rails were unsafe. Francis and I have been talking about them for the last two weeks, and he's willing to start over on them but essentially they arrived "not as advertised" . For this price (for a replica) and as a sample (production versions would only be the same quality or less) it wasn't something I could stand behind. He's assured me it was just issues with the sample I received but to be frank we're working to once again rebuild the seat and materials from the ground up.
If anyone wants to import them AS IS, I'm more than happy to facilitate but they will will come with no warranty and the understanding that this is not of a quality I would stand behind necessarily. That said, Francis and I are still working to rebuild the seats with better quality materials and a different process, but I've got lots of issues I'd want changed before I'll sit in them in my own car, safety, comfort, and durability wise.
-Heath
Thanks for the update. I need time since I'm out of work.
Hopefully the redesign comes through
If the seats will be redesigned from the ground up, why not just make your own version here in North America? I'd much rather buy from sbg than anyone else especially halfway around the world.
Hey Guys just an update, the issues we had were not just with the rails but the quality of the seats and foam in the covers as well. Hazel, we had issues with flex of the bucket as well as the material used. What we got was only carbon fiber BACKED, the rest was chopped strand fiberglass. The foam deflated after a few days of use and the rails were unsafe. Francis and I have been talking about them for the last two weeks, and he's willing to start over on them but essentially they arrived "not as advertised" . For this price (for a replica) and as a sample (production versions would only be the same quality or less) it wasn't something I could stand behind. He's assured me it was just issues with the sample I received but to be frank we're working to once again rebuild the seat and materials from the ground up.
If anyone wants to import them AS IS, I'm more than happy to facilitate but they will will come with no warranty and the understanding that this is not of a quality I would stand behind necessarily. That said, Francis and I are still working to rebuild the seats with better quality materials and a different process, but I've got lots of issues I'd want changed before I'll sit in them in my own car, safety, comfort, and durability wise.
-Heath
I'm going to diverge a bit here put all the Angry Panda products I have seen are all chopped stand fibre glass with just a layer of carbon for appearance. So I'm not surprised to hear the seats are no different. Seriously save yourself the pain and don't deal with Francis. He has no control over the operation producing the parts out of china.
And he doesn't have that many fans in Australia. Just ask the poor guy that lent him OEM recaro seats for him to base the molds off...he never got them back and last I hear still was waiting on Flip for over a year to get some sort of resolution.
SBG you guys are a stand up operation and I've bought parts off you the past, it's always been quality.
I wouldn't bother dealing with Francis, just look up china carbon producers on alibaba
You'd be better off!
Well that is interesting. Hopefully Sakebomb does this the proper way if they decide to do it. If they are just FG with CF backing, then you might as well buy a set of OEM, and fix the mount hole issues yourself. Should be pretty easy to design and CNC a bottom plate in steel, place it in the bottom, and lay down a couple layers of CF/Kevlar to secure it.
Well that is interesting. Hopefully Sakebomb does this the proper way if they decide to do it. If they are just FG with CF backing, then you might as well buy a set of OEM, and fix the mount hole issues yourself. Should be pretty easy to design and CNC a bottom plate in steel, place it in the bottom, and lay down a couple layers of CF/Kevlar to secure it.
We're still waiting to hear back from Angry Panda... so far nothing. We work with a fantastic dry-carbon (pre-preg) shop here in the states however the cost to make pre-preg seats, with covers, and all of the plastic bits (starting from scratch) would be quite expensive. Hopefully we can work out a hybrid setup with AGP if we can't get to a quality level of production with them... ie sourcing some of the components such as the buckles, plastic pass-throughs, and what not. Plastic injection molding in the states is not cheap in small quantities.
How would people feel about real Recaro Pole Position or SPG and have SB make the rails? They would FIA certified and would cut the cost to half of the original seats. Not to mention they are very similar in appearance. I remember you can also request from Recaro to get the cloth in red. The seatbelt straps can still be bought from Mazda.
Not an option for me unfortunately. Its (preferable) a SBG replica of the RZ/Spirit-R seats, or the real thing. And with the OEM seats being FG with only a layer of kevlar, hopefully SBG are able to make one that is identical, but better in all ways with proper Carbon/Kevlar all the way trough.
