Discussion
So after some extended driving in my Mx5 I've found that the seating position isn't that great. I can't see the tops of the gauges and have a couple of times been driving along with the indicator on (just doing my part to reinforce the stereotype!). So I need a seat that sits my butt a bit lower.
I'd like to move to a bucket seat Sparco or similar.
What's the deal with fitting it - can the aftermarket seat's rails be fitted straight into factory positions, or do you use the factory rails to keep adjustability? Any modification required?
Cheers!
I'd like to move to a bucket seat Sparco or similar.
What's the deal with fitting it - can the aftermarket seat's rails be fitted straight into factory positions, or do you use the factory rails to keep adjustability? Any modification required?
Cheers!
The RS-Ltd Mk1 MX-5 came with kevlar Recaro bucket seats - you might be able to find a pair for sale if you ask around on http://www.mx5nutz.com/forum/ or if you keep an eye on eBay. I'm not sure how high/low they are but they're intended to fit the MX-5 so presumably they're reasonably easy to install.
Alternatively, some people fit Elise seats, which sit a bit lower (although the ones in my Elise were bloody uncomfortable on long journeys. I think post-2003 Elise seats were Probax and were meant to be a lot more comfortable).
Alternatively, some people fit Elise seats, which sit a bit lower (although the ones in my Elise were bloody uncomfortable on long journeys. I think post-2003 Elise seats were Probax and were meant to be a lot more comfortable).
i believe the elise seats will put you lower, but most aftermarket's will put you at least the same height if not higher. having said that, i know of someone that's put a corbeau sprint (i believe, in which case similar to sparco rev / cobra imola) GRP shell seat in their mk2 and got it to sit low.
in my mk1, i have a sparco corsa in the drivers seat and even without the rails, bolted directly to the floor, it's no lower than stock. maybe the driving position is a bit higher in a mk2 than a mk1 tho?
in my mk1, i have a sparco corsa in the drivers seat and even without the rails, bolted directly to the floor, it's no lower than stock. maybe the driving position is a bit higher in a mk2 than a mk1 tho?
My problem, despite being only 5'11 is that I have short stumpy legs and arms and a stupidly long torso. Exactly what I don't want when trying to get a good seating position. I'm heading off to pick up some Elise seats tonight, but a change I made a couple of weeks ago that has really helped was fitting a 50mm spacer between the steering column and wheel. With that in place, I can recline the seat a little more while still being able to reach the wheel, and it means I can see the whole dash instead of guessing what numbers the gauges were pointing at when vertical-ish. On a Mk2, this might prove a little more difficult if you want to retain the airbag though.
Herman Toothrot said:
I know fitting late mk1 seats (the ones with integrated headrests) lower the driving position in the mk2.
Late UK cars had separate head-rests. Jap import Mk1s always had integrated headrests. Not sure about early UK Mk1s. I think that's right. Mk2 seats seem to be the same as late Mk1 seats though I guess there may be a little difference. They certainly look the same and feel the same as a passenger.I have Elise S2 seats in my car...
I used to have Elise S1 seats but replaced them for S2 seats as the S1 seats are less comfortable, the base is wider and the headrest is lower so being 6.2ft and with a narrow-ish butt I found the top of the headrest was below the base of my skull and I'd slide around on corners. The S2 seats fit me perfectly and are padded where they need to be.
I've got Lazza's old S1 Elise seats in my car. Full fitting write up is at: http://www.planetmx5.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=225...
Bum numbingly uncomfortable on long trips but I gained about 3" headroom.
I also tried fitting a Sparco Sprint V bucket but I just couldn't get it low enough nor far enough back with my roll bar so I ended up selling it.
I'm now looking at Corbeau seats designed for the Elise which have harness holes.
Bum numbingly uncomfortable on long trips but I gained about 3" headroom.
I also tried fitting a Sparco Sprint V bucket but I just couldn't get it low enough nor far enough back with my roll bar so I ended up selling it.
I'm now looking at Corbeau seats designed for the Elise which have harness holes.
There are only a few seats IME that go low enough (and narrow enough for that matter).
Bride makes low-profile subframes for the MX5 and they'd allow you to go just about as low as possible. I've got a Border bucket seat in mine (which also has a convenient 'dip' in it to park your backside in) on the above rails and it does get me (5'11" as well) just about low enough.
Bride makes low-profile subframes for the MX5 and they'd allow you to go just about as low as possible. I've got a Border bucket seat in mine (which also has a convenient 'dip' in it to park your backside in) on the above rails and it does get me (5'11" as well) just about low enough.
kevham said:
I also tried fitting a Sparco Sprint V bucket but I just couldn't get it low enough nor far enough back with my roll bar so I ended up selling it.
OK I'm a little wiser now - I've spent a bit of time poking around the seats to see what area I have to work with. I measured that my arse is around 100-110mm from the floor as it is so it will be tough to improve on that.I also had a look at the Sprint V in the shop yesterday too. Know how the car has those little 'humps' that the factory seat bracket bolts onto? Did you bolt straight onto the top of those? I find it hard to see how much lower a low profile slider like the Bride or memoryfab will be than the factory ones.
I was thinking that if a side mount could be found that's short enough or the right shape to fit between these humps, then the height of them would be taken away. So far the shortest I can find is 400mm, which is far larger than the 290mm between the humps.
Got any ideas?
The width between the runners is different driver/passenger side so it might be even more difficult.
The stock seats are quite clever in that they are designed to fit down between the runners so most of the padding is actually below runner height. This makes them pretty low already (well Mk1 & Mk2 anyway, Mk2.5 seats are much higher).
The runners themselves are also pretty low and flat.
The way I fit them (I've done 3 now), the Elise seats almost sit on the runners so the seat height is pretty much just the thickness of the seat+padding (which isn't much - .75" maybe?).
I don't think you'll find any after-market seats on runners lower. You might be able to mount some buckets on the floor and make a little extra but I need mine on runners.
The stock seats are quite clever in that they are designed to fit down between the runners so most of the padding is actually below runner height. This makes them pretty low already (well Mk1 & Mk2 anyway, Mk2.5 seats are much higher).
The runners themselves are also pretty low and flat.
The way I fit them (I've done 3 now), the Elise seats almost sit on the runners so the seat height is pretty much just the thickness of the seat+padding (which isn't much - .75" maybe?).
I don't think you'll find any after-market seats on runners lower. You might be able to mount some buckets on the floor and make a little extra but I need mine on runners.
zac510 said:
OK I'm a little wiser now - I've spent a bit of time poking around the seats to see what area I have to work with. I measured that my arse is around 100-110mm from the floor as it is so it will be tough to improve on that.
I also had a look at the Sprint V in the shop yesterday too. Know how the car has those little 'humps' that the factory seat bracket bolts onto? Did you bolt straight onto the top of those? I find it hard to see how much lower a low profile slider like the Bride or memoryfab will be than the factory ones.
I was thinking that if a side mount could be found that's short enough or the right shape to fit between these humps, then the height of them would be taken away. So far the shortest I can find is 400mm, which is far larger than the 290mm between the humps.
Got any ideas?
Standard side mounts could be difficult. You could:I also had a look at the Sprint V in the shop yesterday too. Know how the car has those little 'humps' that the factory seat bracket bolts onto? Did you bolt straight onto the top of those? I find it hard to see how much lower a low profile slider like the Bride or memoryfab will be than the factory ones.
I was thinking that if a side mount could be found that's short enough or the right shape to fit between these humps, then the height of them would be taken away. So far the shortest I can find is 400mm, which is far larger than the 290mm between the humps.
Got any ideas?
1. grind off the humps and bolt straight to the floor or
2. fabricate 2 mounting bars which run between the front humps and the rear humps giving you 2 flats to mount the side mounts to but you will gain height.
3. fabricate custom side mounts. Bear in mind that the front 'humps' are closer together than the rear 'humps'.
With the Sprint seat, I was bottom mounting to two flats running between the front and rear humps. It was very tight but it can be done. I just couldn't get it far enough back because it fouled the roll-bar. See http://www.cardomain.com/ride/158355/4
Let us know if you come up with any bright ideas.
Just had another thought. I'm thinking of buying one of these: http://www.hangar111.com/ckshop.php?item=574&r...
Edited by kevham on Monday 25th August 23:14
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