Now I need a set of seats

[JGood]

OK, I got my roll bar installed, I ordered a set of 6 point harnesses, and I put a shit ton of stuff for up for sale so I think I want a set of racing seats for the car as well. Might as well do it all.

Anything I need to know in looking for a seat for my use (autox, HPDE's, not a lot of street driving - only to the track) with a roll bar and 6 points? I did a little research and from what I see, since I have a roll bar it doesn't matter if I go with a fixed back or reclining, is this correct? I heard you shouldn't do harnesses/fixed back without a roll bar, so you don't get crunched.

I don't want to spend a lot, but I don't want junk. I'd like to stay under $300 per seat if possible, but can probably be convinced otherwise.

I did see the other thread about seats, but that left me a little undecided, and I still don't know what I should be looking for, as far as safety.

Thanks for all of the help everyone!

[butho33]

Helmet ! =]

[Jean]

I went with a set of Corbeau TRS seats since my car also sees street use. If you are ok with fixed seats, Forza and FX1Pro is in your price range and they aren't bad actually. I'll report back on Corbeau TRS seats in about a week or two once they are installed and I put them to use next weekend.

You are pretty much open to fixed or adjustable seats since you have a roll cage, w/o one I wouldn't consider fixed back seats but that doesn't apply to you. As you probably already read in the other thread, harness mounting is critical.

I ordered mine from apexperformance.net, no tax, no s/h and got a 10% discount on top of it , can't beat that :)

[JGood]

I went with a set of Corbeau TRS seats since my car also sees street use. If you are ok with fixed seats, Forza and FX1Pro is in your price range and they aren't bad actually. I'll report back on Corbeau TRS seats in about a week or two once they are installed and I put them to use next weekend.

You are pretty much open to fixed or adjustable seats since you have a roll cage, w/o one I wouldn't consider fixed back seats but that doesn't apply to you. As you probably already read in the other thread, harness mounting is critical.

I ordered mine from apexperformance.net, no tax, no s/h and got a 10% discount on top of it , can't beat that :)

Thanks, I have it narrowed down to all the available seats in my price range, just wondering why a fixed back seat is often used in racing. I'm guessing due to the impact resistance. But are all fixed back seats the same, or is there a bad-design fixed back that shouldn't be used on the track?

I've definitely had my eyes on the Forza, can't beat that price.

Helmet ! =]

what?

[jlevie]

Fixed back seats are used in track/race cars because there's no need to adjust the seat back (you set it when the seat is installed), they are stronger, and they are lighter. Before deciding on a seat you need to sit in various candidates, say at a DE or autox, and see what is comfortable for you.

[Jean]

Not every seat is made the same, I looked at some cheap replicas and figured since it's my and my gf's back/safety in mind I'll just pay extra and get better quality seats. If you are looking at Forza's, please also consider the FX1Pro model too, still under $300 and more comfortable in the long run.

Deff. try and sit in as many seats as possible as jlevie stated. I ordered mine after trying about 5 different sets of seats to make sure they were comfortable and fit me ok.

Got any pics of your roll bar ?

[JGood]

Alright, I'll check some out at the next autox.

I don't have pic's yet, but the person I bought it from has some. Just do a search for "roll bar", someone was selling on in Maryland recently, the person selling the 15x8 Kosie's.

[matt]

If you ever plan to race the car wheel to wheel, get an FIA approved fixed back seat.

If you don't have an FIA seat, you have to run a back brace. That's a bad thing.

[ddavidv]

Yeah, but FIA seats have a lifespan also. If they are older than, what? 5 yrs? they require a brace anyway.

[alex]

I had forzas and now have FX1s due to their lower weigh.

http://www.soloracer.com/e30forza.html

[JGood]

Alex, I have it narrowed down to those 2 seats. It sounds like the FX1 Pro is more comfortable as well as being lighter.

How did you mount yours (both the Forza and FX1 Pro)? Can you use the aluminum side mounts on the FX1 Pro?

[mayhem]

Ultrashields or Kirkeys with seat back brace.

[155///MPH]

Ultrashields or Kirkeys with seat back brace.

No thanks.

You will need the adapters to make the fixed back seats work, any of them.

The VAC ones are the cat's meow, but they aren't cheap. They do let you sit considerably lower than the ones offered by Corbeau. If head room is an issue and you wish to keep your carpet, these are the best "off the shelf" offering. You could make you own adapters to use the stock locations, I did on my M3. When I built the Spec E30, I went with a custom welded in set up.

JP

[JGood]

I'm probably just gonna go with the Forza's. I still drive it every once in a while on the street, and to every event. These sound decent. There's no shops anywhere remotely close to me, so I'll just go with them. I'm not very picky. The current sport seats have half the padding missing and I don't even notice.

I installed my 6 point harnesses today. holy-hold-me-in-my-seat-batman. I can't move an inch. And I don't, even while heavy loads are applied. I can actually steer, and steer well. No more elbows and knees propped against the door and console to hold me still.

Only problem is the lap belts are not in the ideal position. I routed them through the crack between the lower and upper seat, and mounted them to the floor directly below that. I don't like that angle, but to go over the sides of the seat would leave so much slack to move in an impact, I think I'm better off this way.

[Jean]

Forzas don't have much padding, I sat in them myself. The fx1pro's are not much more expensive and should be better in every way than forzas...just my 2 cents.