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      11-18-2012, 11:56 AM   #1
Raucky2000
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Best Track & Street Seats?

I'm looking to drop some weight out of the car and I figured this is a great place to do it. I'm avg build 5'11", 175lbs and have a 33" waist. I'm trying to keep the cost down and I'm not looking to spend more than $2k for seats, rails, and sliders. What are everyone's thoughts?
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      11-18-2012, 12:15 PM   #2
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RaceTech 4009 with HR but if street driven a HR seat can be dangerous. They make standard, wide and tall as well as non-HR versions.

Sparco Pro2000 (no HR) or Circut/Circut II/Circut Plus (HR) or ProAdv (HR).

However, it's best if you can test fit any seat before you buy because what one person likes in a seat another person may not like! Also, shoulder harness pass thru height is critical if you want to maintain the correct shoulder harness angle.

Also, if you plan on using a HANS device some seats are more comfortable than others for certain helmet-HANS combos...
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      11-18-2012, 12:42 PM   #3
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Believe you could fit in Recaro Pole Positions. Significant weight savings if you can deal with a fixed back.
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      11-19-2012, 07:56 AM   #4
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What about just swapping to manual M3 seats?
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      11-19-2012, 11:33 AM   #5
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VAC floor/side mounts, sliders, and lap belt adaptors will cost about $700 alone. Figure about $200 for shipping the VAC stuff and the seats. Which really limits your choices.

I am 5'10", 170 lbs and I have fixed back Sabelt steel tube seats in my E46. They are pretty roomy but snug. Definitely needs some more bottom padding for longer trips but that's a relatively easy fix. The steel tube seats are not really that much heavier than recaro's and cost $310 ea. The extra $400 for the Recaro's wasn't worth the 5lbs in my mind.

I had some REALLY good Recaro Profi SPG replica's for a month to see what race seats are like to DD. They were cool and felt good but it was way too tight for any long trip comfort. The sides squeeze your legs together which forbids any significant ball scratching or undie adjustments. You have to pull over if you've got some hungry butt that you need to fix.

Those are my observations from my shopping and research.

You feel EVERYTHING. The wallet in your back pocket? You'll feel that. One time, I got in the seat with my keys in my pocket...I felt that. Even drew blood as it force the key right into my thigh.

Cobra and Sparco are about the same as far as a snug fit. Corbeau seats are 100% garbage. The Sabelts are a good in between and provide a decent level of comfort.
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      11-19-2012, 11:41 AM   #6
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Brah, never drive with your wallet in your back pocket!
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      11-19-2012, 11:42 AM   #7
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About as comprehensive a review as you could ever wish for...!

LOL!
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      11-19-2012, 11:43 AM   #8
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      11-19-2012, 11:55 AM   #9
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Quote:
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Yes you are
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      11-19-2012, 11:56 AM   #10
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If the car is a daily driver, I would buy Sparco or Recaro recliners.
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      11-19-2012, 12:40 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FormulaMMM View Post
Believe you could fit in Recaro Pole Positions. Significant weight savings if you can deal with a fixed back.
we love ours!
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      11-19-2012, 12:48 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FormulaMMM View Post
Believe you could fit in Recaro Pole Positions. Significant weight savings if you can deal with a fixed back.
Depends on driver size, you'd be surprised how many people are simply too big for Pole Positions.

Most would be comfortable in Profi XLs
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      11-19-2012, 01:08 PM   #13
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In our experience, the Pole Positions fit a wide variety of body types, from 28in waists to 38in waists - I consider it the traveling pants (if you understand that reference, you spend too much time with your significant other) of seats.

It's a good seat for the track that doesn't get in the way much of daily driver duties. We sell man of them for the track day / daily driver car seeking a bucket seat.
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      11-19-2012, 01:21 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GTM_Challenge View Post
In our experience, the Pole Positions fit a wide variety of body types, from 28in waists to 38in waists - I consider it the traveling pants (if you understand that reference, you spend too much time with your significant other) of seats.

It's a good seat for the track that doesn't get in the way much of daily driver duties. We sell man of them for the track day / daily driver car seeking a bucket seat.
It's not the waist size, but height being an issue.

The locations of the shoulder harness ports are very short as compared to a Profi series. Most people's shoulders will cover these holes.
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      11-19-2012, 03:16 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tom @ eas View Post
Depends on driver size, you'd be surprised how many people are simply too big for Pole Positions.

Most would be comfortable in Profi XLs
5'11" too tall?
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      11-19-2012, 04:01 PM   #16
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great feedback and is 5'11" too tall?^
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      11-19-2012, 04:14 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FormulaMMM View Post
5'11" too tall?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Raucky2000 View Post
great feedback and is 5'11" too tall?^
It's really close. I really recommend sitting in one and checking the harness outlets, which should line up with your shoulders.
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      11-19-2012, 04:54 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pbonsalb View Post
If the car is a daily driver, I would buy Sparco or Recaro recliners.
If track duty is important I think the recliners are sort of a poor compromise. Fixed back seats hold you in way better. Plus most recliners will put him beyond his budget.
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      11-19-2012, 05:46 PM   #19
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I have heard several times to not put in fixed back seats in a car which does not have a roll bar.

In the unlikely event you roll over and the roof caves, your spine is the one absorbing the hit. On seats that have a recliner, the recline mechanism can give way and not allow you to become moosh.
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      11-19-2012, 07:12 PM   #20
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I am 5'11" 175lbs and have the Recaro Sportster CS. The are great for DD and track duty. I have a coupe so it helps that they fold forward.
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      11-19-2012, 08:10 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Zoli007 View Post
I have heard several times to not put in fixed back seats in a car which does not have a roll bar.

In the unlikely event you roll over and the roof caves, your spine is the one absorbing the hit. On seats that have a recliner, the recline mechanism can give way and not allow you to become moosh.
I don't believe that. Not an expert but if the roof caves in that much then I have other things to worry about. Plus, you submarine in the seat a little bit too I think. I wouldn't really count on a seat collapsing to save my skull from getting crushed.

I've also heard the top of the seat shouldn't be higher than your head. I think Porsche may put fixed backs in their 911 as an option but I'm not sure. Other exotics to do it, don't they also need to meet US safety standards?
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      11-19-2012, 08:39 PM   #22
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Quote:
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The sides squeeze your legs together which forbids any significant ball scratching or undie adjustments. You have to pull over if you've got some hungry butt that you need to fix.
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