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?
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
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?
Kirkey or other aluminium in the appropriate width.
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.
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
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
HalfDork
9/12/13 8:52 a.m.
Thanks again guys, I'll pass this info onto him.