Looking for some opinions (seats)

[tweetdriver63]

I'm have a conundrum. There are several things I need to get done on my car, but money is tight. I have to get the timing belt changed (it's a little overdue, not from mileage, but it's been 7 1/2 years). I also have some rough shifting (hoping it's just a cable adjustment, or maybe I got them twisted when I installed the AB cables a few years ago -- it's been a bit hard to shift ever since then) that I need looked into. Recently, a noise has developed in the right front when turning or hitting a bump. Doesn't sound/feel like a CV joint, but I don't like it. My windows are a little sticky going up and down. I have some new sliders and butterfly clips. I have a new set of seals for the roof/hood to install too, except for the header rail seal (hopefully, I can get one of those from Dave Bean, or one of the other sources in the UK).

Now to the subject at hand. My seats very much need a re-trim. I got those covers through kmckmc (?) a few years ago, and they haven't really held up well. The driver's seat Alcantara has actually worn all the way through on the seat back. I can get the seats re-covered with good quality leather at a local shop (they do good work) at a cost of $350/seat. There are two problems. First, they probably can't fit me into their schedule until late April, and I was really hoping to take the car to the Brits by the Bay carshow in Pensacola Florida, and that's on April 18th. I would probably be the only Lotus on display, based on the picture galleries from the last 2 years' shows. Second, with all of the other things that need doing, I'm needing to spend as little as possible right now.

I'm looking for some opinions on whether I should may be buy and install some inexpensive racing seats. I see some that look pretty good on ebay, and the measurements look like they'd fit the car (even though they don't say so in their compatibility chart). (They do say they'll fit an S2000.) Mind you, this would not be intended to be permanent. I don't know how comfortable or durable they'd be, but I intend to keep the OE seats to be re-trimmed in the future when I have more liquid cash on hand to do them properly.

Is there anybody who's installed similar seats, either for normal or for track use?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2X-SUEDE-BLACK- ... e2&vxp=mtr

[Jamie N]

Chris, as you are well aware its all down to personal opinion, go with what you like the look of, or feel is in keeping with the car. As for the seats in the link, we had a Civic that we built for track use and it had a pair of seats very similar to those, unlikely they were the exact same but they did look pretty much identical, however they were very uncomfortable to sit in for any length of time and the quality was poor, I swapped them for a pair of genuine Bride seats from Japan. Going by the price of the Ebay ones I would reckon they are not made to a high standard, they seem far too cheap to be anything other, saying that though they look quite nice in the picture, but as with anything its a matter of "pay your money take your chance".

[dapinky]

Monty has fitted a pair of bucket seats in his elan, so they can be made to fit - but as mentioned above, they may not be as comfortable for long distances (I have some in the Triumph but don't go very far in that one!)

[tweetdriver63]

Yeah. I know they're probably not great quality, but if I go with them (or something like them) it would be a temporary solution. I've discovered a pair of S2000 seats, in red leather, that a guy on a forum had for sale a little less than 3 weeks ago for $250. They looked to be in good shape, but he said in his post there was a small amount of wear on the bolsters. I'm going to call the number he listed and see if he still has them. If so, I'm thinking a little reconditioning on the worn areas, and dye the outer parts black would give me a look I would like as a permanent solution, and S2000 seats get good reviews on here from others who've installed them.

Here's how I would envision those after reconditioning and dying.

http://gtblogger.com/wp-content/uploads ... -seats.jpg

Unfortunately, he's most likely already sold them, but it's worth looking into.

[RayD]

Under the circumstances you've outlined Chris I wouldn't buy them at all, particularly as you intend having the original ones done at some point. I'd have the original ones done instead.

If you do buy the ones from eBay it would be a good idea to ask for some proper photos first ... they seem purposely vague.

Also, have a good look through the feedback ... I've looked through the first three pages but didn't find anyone who had bought them.

(I was responding to your first post ... more has been said since)

Ray

[tweetdriver63]

Unless I go with the S2000 seats (if they're even still available), it's all about how much money I have right now for fixing things. Re-trimming the OE seats will cost me at least $700, which although not a bad price, is a bit more than I can afford right now with the other things that need doing. Those cheap seats on ebay, by the time they're installed, would probably cost about 1/3 of that. The S2000 seats, about 1/2. I'm in a job that doesn't pay nearly what I was earning, so I'm having to be frugal. My pay will go up pretty significantly over the next 2 years, so I should be able to better handle a re-trim during that time.

[RayD]

I understand Chris,

Looked through about 30 pages of feedback and only found one entry ... giving a negative response.

They were in very bad shape. I don't know if it was because of ups or my luck.
Buyer: e***a ( 135 ) During past 6 months
2X SUEDE BLACK PVC LEATHER RED STITCHING RACING SEATS (#351055538916)

Ray

[esprit888]

S2000 all day long, its a far better looking and feeling seat IMO.

[Jamie N]

S2000 all day long, its a far better looking and feeling seat IMO.

I will 2nd that, if you put the S2K seats in I would say its very unlikely you would want to go back to Elan originals, even if they were re-trimmed they wont compare to the comfort (and looks) of the Honda seats.

[tweetdriver63]

I haven't gotten through to the guy with the S2K seats yet, but I'm trying. If he still has them, I want to see a better picture and get a better idea of their condition, so I'll know if they can be reconditioned and dyed, versus having to be recovered. Here's a link to the forum thread where he shows them, but the picture isn't very good quality, so it's hard to see their true condition.

http://www.502streetscene.net/forum/sho ... ?p=4052570

I don't suppose there's any way to adapt an S2000 steering wheel? Remove the cruise control buttons and cover the H with a Lotus logo, and that wheel would look damn nice too.

[Jamie N]

I haven't gotten through to the guy with the S2K seats yet, but I'm trying. If he still has them, I want to see a better picture and get a better idea of their condition, so I'll know if they can be reconditioned and dyed, versus having to be recovered. Here's a link to the forum thread where he shows them, but the picture isn't very good quality, so it's hard to see their true condition.

http://www.502streetscene.net/forum/sho ... ?p=4052570

I don't suppose there's any way to adapt an S2000 steering wheel? Remove the cruise control buttons and cover the H with a Lotus logo, and that wheel would look damn nice too.

Those seats look fine to me Chris, if they are still available I would say go for it. Unlikely the Steering wheel would be any use though, the S2K is 33 spline, im sure the Elan is different although I cant remember how many splines offhand, anyone?, the other problem would be the indicator cancelling, and it also has an airbag.

[dapinky]

Chris,

Those seats look to be in better condition than mine were when I got them, so I'd agree with Jamie, and grab them (if still available). - it looks like the main wear/damage is to the outer drivers' seat (as you'd expect), and it shouldn't be any great trouble to rectify.

Have a look at my Wiki write up on how i stripped and repaired the 'sagged' bolsters (and fitted seat heater pads).

This is what mine were like upon arrival:-

1.jpg

After a re-build, and using this stuff from furniture clinic, they have come up better than I expected, and good as new! (I went for a semi-matt black finish, but all other colo(u)rs are available

[tweetdriver63]

Unfortunately, somebody already bought those S2000 seats.

[tweetdriver63]

Got the car back from the re-trim on Friday, just in time to get to Tennessee for SpringTime in the Smokies.

[HJ2]

Wohoo!

Suddently, out of nowhere: retrim!
I hope for you this means that funding is less a problem. I know where you came from in that respect...

This re-trim looks ace!
That will draw some attention on the car shows

[Jamie N]

Very nice indeed Chris, looks fresh now.

[tweetdriver63]

The easiest thing, if anybody has been wanting new ones, was making those floor mats. I got a bit of red carpet to re-do the lower door inserts, then used my old floor mats as a template to cut new ones from that same red carpet. I had two Lotus patches handy, so put them in the center. I found a site online that sells heel pads and order one in red. It's much more maroon that I expected, but my re-trimmer had binding for the mats that perfectly matches the heel pad. She sewed the heel pad and patches in place too, and did that at no extra charge. That was nice of her. They look great.

The door carpet and mats are a different red than the seats and door inserts, but it all works. I couldn't get carpet that was a perfect match, but as you can see in the picture, when the light is right, they look like they do match.

The red parts of the seats are a perfect match for the Calypso Red of the car, though.

[rip]

Looks very neat & fresh inside there, Chris.

[Doug]

Good job, Chris. Happy for you and your Elan

[novacaine]

Looks very nice, I like the pattern.

Mind sharing how much it cost roughtly?

I'm looking to get mine done soon, but I have no idea what the possible costs are.