Replace seats

[jorligan]

Just picked up our M12 here in the States and drove it 250 miles home. Definitely some issues with the seats as they are clearly designed with a helmet in mind. Question, Has anyone replaced the seats with aftermarket ones? Looked at the Sparco Milano and would be great if these could be used. Any help appreciated.

Tim

[gizard]

I think you will find it very hard to make anything else fit. - The M400 has a smaller transmission tunnel so the the wider seats can fit.

[DanH]

Let me know if you work something out, its not just the head rests that I dislike, but the whole seat does something nasty to my back.

I'm sure there are some that fit.

Also you can get padded headrests made which help a bit, but they look a bit pants.

[hfiennes]

My advice would be to get the headrests, but ask for them to be halved in depth - this is what I had done with mine as the originals were so thick that they actually pushed my head forward in normal use.

The seats aren't the most comfortable - after 1,000 miles in the first weekend (without headrests) I felt like I needed physio!

Since getting the headrests, I've been a lot more comfortable though - I think it's just being able to rest your neck muscles that helps. I know my gf absolutely required the headrest as she couldn't tell when I was about to floor it

Hugo

[V6GTO]

I've done 550 since picking mine up on Friday and no complaints from the back (this coming from someone who had a back operation 4 months ago).
My next door neighbour offered to make me a custom seat as he's a director of a company that makes ejecter seats. Cost price, without the rocket, would be £110,000 ! Martin.

[litumup]

Tim,

I think after driving the car for awhile, you'll find that it's really not enough of an issue to bother getting the headrests (which I don't think are available here yet).
Did Brian do your install? Make sure to tighten the engine mount bolts at about 1k...and steer clear of those Hyundai's.

Regards,
Michael

[DanH]

Hugo, are the headrests half price if made to half thickness?

[paulcundy]

Dear All,
My back hated the seats until I got one of those semi soft lumbar supports. I Had it trimmed to match and it simply clips through behind the central panel. It also very usefully acts to hide the shoulder straps on the 6 point harness.

I can now drive for days in it and no grumbles from my nether regions.
Regards
Paul C

[DanH]

paulcundy said:

Dear All, My back hated the seats until I got one of those semi soft lumbar supports. I Had it trimmed to match and it simply clips through behind the central panel. It also very usefully acts to hide the shoulder straps on the 6 point harness. I can now drive for days in it and no grumbles from my nether regions. Regards Paul C

What supports are these, how much are they and do you have a pic?

Cheers,

Dan

[billywiz]

If you can get Martins number (oppersite the factory, he has done some amazing things with his resident Noble . Upgrades to all areas of noble seating, me thinks he's also got a horizontal version. This guy does all the bespoke leather and interior work for noble.

[hfiennes]

DanH said:

Hugo, are the headrests half price if made to half thickness?

No, but they did make them thinner for free. I really wouldn't manage without them now!

I still need to get a booster cushion made up so my gf can drive - the sticky out bits on the side of the seat squish her shoulders so she needs to be up a bit higher to be comfortable (and sitting on a pillow looks kinda wierd in a Noble!)

Hugo

[mikes_3r]

The KitCar Company in Indianapolis, IN will do custom seats for the Noble. Greg Robb is the guy to talk to at [e-mail]

-- Mike

[JDH1]

Don't worry about it. That will probably be your first and last 250 mile journey in the car.

[paulcundy]

Dear Dan H

http://spinalproducts.co.uk/products/backcare/carback.html

You'll have to slice out a section from the middle as they come too wide but its easy to Thioxofix the two halves back together. Then I got them recovered in matching Alcantra.

Regards
PauL C

[DanH]

paulcundy said:

Dear Dan H http://spinalproducts.co.uk/products/backcare/carback.html You'll have to slice out a section from the middle as they come too wide but its easy to Thioxofix the two halves back together. Then I got them recovered in matching Alcantra. Regards PauL C

Cheers Paul, any pics?

[jorligan]

Thanks all. Greg Robb actually did the installation of the drivetrain and I would highly recommend him. Will give the stock seats a try a little longer but suspect that they will need to be replaced and used only on the track.

Tim

[DanH]

jorligan said:

Thanks all. Greg Robb actually did the installation of the drivetrain and I would highly recommend him. Will give the stock seats a try a little longer but suspect that they will need to be replaced and used only on the track. Tim

I suspect that the seats could me made to be fine fairly easily by any auto trimmer as all they needs is a bit more foam. The headrests are more of a pain though as clearly they will require bolsters etc. On the plus side they are great on track whereas in my Elise the head gets forced unpleasantly forwards by the rests.