beans
beans HalfDork
9/11/13 8:57 a.m.

Guy at work is looking to upgrade the seat in his late NB(post '01). He's probably 6'5" 220lbs. Already did the foamectomy and other jazz. He's thinking about a drop bracket or some way of lowering the seat to gain some more legroom. Has a budget of $300 or so, and has been looking at the Sparco Speed's. Said sliders aren't an issue as he's the only one that drives it. I gave him the basic rundown on the problem with widths and stuff, but I'd like to pass on some more/better info. 99% sure he doesn't race/autocross it, and has no rollbar installed. I'm thinking modding the stock seat rails/slider to gain more clearance is his best option. Thoughts?

Keith Tanner
Keith Tanner GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
9/11/13 10:07 a.m.

He's on the right track. For his size, he'll do better with the Speeds bolted to the floor than he ever will with stock seat mods.

beans
beans HalfDork
9/11/13 10:10 a.m.

Figured you'd chime in and give good advice. Aren't the Speed's normally the go-to seat for Miatas? Any alternatives?

mistanfo
mistanfo UltraDork
9/11/13 11:15 a.m.

Kirkey or other aluminium in the appropriate width.

Keith Tanner
Keith Tanner GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
9/11/13 3:20 p.m.

There are two Sparcos that work, and I get them confused. Speed and Sprint? One's a 'glass shell with FIA rating and a sub belt hole, the other one's a steel tube seat.

I've got Corbeaus in my car, but that's because they fit me well. They didn't fit the car without some serious work, though.

codrus
codrus GRM+ Memberand HalfDork
9/11/13 6:00 p.m.

I've got Recaro Pole Positions in my car, I love them.

A well-known local race prep shop installed them for me (TC Design), the installation involved cutting out the factory rear seat mounts, fabricating a custom bracket, and bolting the PPs to the floor. That dropped me about 4 inches below where I had been sitting in the factory seat.

Definitely not a $300 mod, though.

kylini
kylini New Reader
9/11/13 6:00 p.m.

Since we're on the subject, what's a fat guy gotta do to pass broomstick?

I know on the aluminum side of things, there's the Ultrashield Spec Miata (painful) and the Rally Sport (better) but both would require bracing to be truly track-safe and definitely lack the "I want to be a passenger in this sweet car" kitsch.

On the FIA-seat side of life, I know about the Sparco Sprint 5 (narrow people only) and the Evo line ($$$ and may require some BFH love for the bigger models), the Recaro Profi ($$$), and the Corbeau Forza Sport (the best reasonable option?).

Does anyone have any experience with the Forza Sport or a different FIA-approved seat who is a bit big in the waist (46 in and 260 lbs) but a bit thin in the pocket (grad school)?

beans
beans HalfDork
9/12/13 8:52 a.m.

Thanks again guys, I'll pass this info onto him.

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