Interior Exterior
Q:
Like many of you I've also been trying to find a seat thats appropriate for use on track. Never had a problem like this in any Porsches. Multiple aftermarket seats and manufacturers. Granted the elise is smaller but I have'nt really found anything that will work well. Ideal option as far as I'm concerned is the Corbeau Motorsport seat with its own rails that are appropriate to mount lap belts as well as a sub strap. Problem is however that apparently the seat bottom is so narrow that there is no way you can fit into it.
Have not found any other aftermarket seat that will fit in the car. Sorry Shinoo, not looking to spend $1,000 for a track seat. I understand that Kurt at Hypersport modifies a Sparco Rev seat to fit by cutting off part of the front.
Some people have modified their stock seat with slots for harnesses but that doesnt help for any support around the thighs as would normally be found on any track seat.
Ideal would be seat with a little increased shoulder and thigh support, slots for shoulder, laps and sub strap and ability to mount to stock sliders.
2006 seat may work. Anyone looked into buying one yet?? Mount directly to the same sliders as the '05 seat?
If anyone has found anything that works well for a track seat please post and let us know.
Thanks,
Jim A.
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I have a HyperSport modified Elise and it has a Netami race seat. I think it has a 15" width as opposed to the 14" seat HyperSport normally uses. The seat looks just like those shown below, except that there is no shoulder cushion.
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It looks like you have done your research, so here's just one more thing to add... if you don't mind mutilating your stock seat, I find removing the center cushion (it comes off easily, and can be glued back) gives you a lot of depth, which gives you more thigh and shoulder support.
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You could also try the exige seats...
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Ideal would be seat with a little increased shoulder and thigh support, slots for shoulder, laps and sub strap and ability to mount to stock sliders.
Mounting on the stock sliders is tricky with seats that were not designed for the Elise like the Exige seats or the ones from Reverie.
This is because when you look at the bottom of the stock seats you'll see that they actually get more narrow lower down to fit between the sliders (the bottom of the seat extends below the sliders). The top part extends over the rails.
Standard aftermarket seats usually have sides that go straight down without narrowing and the stock sliders are too close together for them to fit between.
You could fit the seats to the sliders this way, but the bottom of the seat would be raised to at least the same height of the sliders instead of sinking below it, so you go up about an inch or more.
Fixed mounts (like the Lotus Motorsport Corbeau seat or the Eliseparts seats and mounts) 'bypass' this problem by moving the fixed mounts a little outward, so the seat can be mounted lower.
Finding seats is tricky, especially if you want to fit 2 side by side as on about 99% of standard aftermarket sport seats the shoulder supports/wings are too wide to fit two seats.
Bye, Arno.
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I was thinking Exige seats too but none of the Exige seats I have seen pictured have an hole for the sub-strap. I have read every thread I can find on this subject and it doesn't seem to be an answer that is totally satisfying. Even if you buy the seats from sec 111 your are left with the problem of anchoring a the sub-strap through an aluminum floor. I know there is the sec 111 bar, I wonder if that would work thruogh a hole.
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I have read every thread I can find on this subject and it doesn't seem to be an answer that is totally satisfying. Even if you buy the seats from sec 111 your are left with the problem of anchoring a the sub-strap through an aluminum floor. I know there is the sec 111 bar, I wonder if that would work thruogh a hole.
Ditto. I've searched and searched with no definite answer.
Mike
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Ditto. I've searched and searched with no definite answer.
Mike
Extra ditto.
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What about adding the shoulder belt holes to the stock seats and have new hi density foam cover made, more pad, comfort and snugger fit. I was thinking of this as a reasonable solution, my arrs hurts after a full day on the track and driving to the events, and I would like to stay in place better.
The eliseparts site has the only other solution I have seen other than the 1100 sector 111. Maybe a miata style spec seat, kirkey ,etc. these companies make them custom to spec.
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What about adding the shoulder belt holes to the stock seats and have new hi density foam cover made, more pad, comfort and snugger fit. I was thinking of this as a reasonable solution, my arrs hurts after a full day on the track and driving to the events, and I would like to stay in place better.
The eliseparts site has the only other solution I have seen other than the 1100 sector 111. Maybe a miata style spec seat, kirkey ,etc. these companies make them custom to spec.
I've seen some people with the shoulder belt slots custom made on their stock seats, I'm actually thinking about doing this myself. However, does anyone know if it's possible to make another slot for the sub strap?
Anybody took apart their seats before? Since the padding is only glued on, maybe some upholstery shop would be able to modify it?
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I had my stock seat modified by installation the corbeau harness slots and a slot cut in for a 6pt. sub belt. The custom upholstery shop near me did the install with some supervision, and just stitched around the sub belt slot. You don't use an insert the sub belt. I used the sub bar that Secter 111 sells for my attachment and it works fine.
Dan
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Thanks for alll the responses everyone. Keep them coming. Unless you can fit in the Corbeau motorsport seat or the Sparco seat Sector 111 is going to sell, it looks like the exige seat or modified stock seat are the only real options.
Jim A
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I have a HyperSport modified Elise and it has a Netami race seat. I think it has a 15" width as opposed to the 14" seat HyperSport normally uses. The seat looks just like those shown below, except that there is no shoulder cushion.
I see that you have a Noble.....how is that car?
any problems with it? does it drive better than the Elise? would you recommend one after owning one?
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Thanks for alll the responses everyone. Keep them coming. Unless you can fit in the Corbeau motorsport seat or the Sparco seat Sector 111 is going to sell, it looks like the exige seat or modified stock seat are the only real options.
Jim A
The reverie carbon seat is pretty uncomfortable too -- unless you have a 33"-34" waist or narrower i'd say. I have a 34"-36" (depends upon the brand) and it's a bit tight... unless I put a cushion underneath me to raise up 1" or so over the hard
"indentations" that make up the bottom of the frame of the seat that you sit in (a little hard to explain... sorry!).
It's not the best of track seats anyway... since it doesn't have much more side bolstering than the stock seats. I've been thinking about coming up with some home-made braces of some sort anyway...
Cheers
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Reverie has a new seat which is quite supportive.
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I see that you have a Noble.....how is that car?
Awesome.
... any problems with it?
Other than niggles (e. g., A/C), nothing so far.
does it drive better than the Elise?
The car feels very different. On the road, it's much, much more solid than the Elise. It just soaks up the bumps much better. I've not taken the M400 to the track yet (will soon), but performance wise, there's no comparison between the two since an M400 (the track version of the M12) will blow away an Elise on the straights and is faster in the turns. I've tried to keep up with an M12 on track in my Elise and it's very frustrating because it'll pull away from you in the turns and then completely leave you on the straights. There are some things I really like about the Elise, though, including the driver position and the smaller size. The Noble is still quite small, though.
would you recommend one after owning one?
Definitely, but on the condition that the buyer is prepared for the difficulty of getting it registered (some states are easier than others) and things like door windows that only go 2/3rds down (no power windows) and some other quirks. Gas mileage isn't great, either. As a road legal (and comfortable) track car, however, it has no equal. For anyone considering a Noble, I'd definitely recommend the M400 over the M12.
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I had my stock seat modified by installation the corbeau harness slots and a slot cut in for a 6pt. sub belt. The custom upholstery shop near me did the install with some supervision, and just stitched around the sub belt slot. You don't use an insert the sub belt. I used the sub bar that Secter 111 sells for my attachment and it works fine.
Dan
Can you post pics? I'd like to take photos to a local upholstery place and see what they think.
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I'd be happy to, but I 'm not sure how to import the pictures for attachment.
Dan
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Can you post pics? I'd like to take photos to a local upholstery place and see what they think.
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Fantastic! Thanks!