Alternative Seats

[Bern]

Hi All,

Has anybody fitted alternative seats? It looks like Honda S2000 seats work, but they seem to be quite pricey on ebay!

Ideally I'd like to be able to get the seats to go back further, it's odd that there's all that space behind the seats, but they didn't think to let you use it!

I was looking at MG F/TF and MX5 seats on ebay, anybody tried these? I don't mind a bit of welding to the bases to make them fit if necessary, though I guess if they fit with no mods that'd be best!

Cheers,

Bern.

[Fredjohn]

I still have the originals, but the following have been successfully fitted:

Honda S2000
Merc SLK (with neck warmer!)
Mazda RX8
Lotus Evora

There may be others.

[dapinky]

Just to update Johns' list a bit further

Honda S2000 - (dapinky, Muley and lots of others)
Merc SLK (with neck warmer!) - (TB10)
Mazda RX8 - (Jamie N)
Lotus Evora - (Surferphill?)
Porsche - (Rob P)
Cobra Monaco (Monty)


And there still may be others.....

[GeoffSmith]

Just to update Johns' list a bit further

Honda S2000 - (dapinky, Muley and lots of others)
Merc SLK (with neck warmer!) - (TB10)
Mazda RX8 - (Jamie N)
Lotus Evora - (Mayelan and Surferphill?)
Porsche - (Rob P)
Cobra Monaco (Monty)


And there still may be others.....

[Bern]

Thanks chaps

I should've mentioned that I want cloth not leather too! And ideally not costing too much, though I guess I could sell my current seats to offset the cost.

Do all of the seats listed above fit without modification?

Or is there any way of getting the standard seats to go back further? It looks like even if the runners allowed it the B post is in the way. I'd be happier to have them a bit higher if that would work! I guess I could make a bracket that raises the seat and puts them back further. I'll have to check for clearance between the hood and the seats.

I did 120 miles in it yesterday (and it didn't break down and nothing fell off, woohoo), but my legs weren't happy after a while, and I kept sliding down in the seat too!

[Elanlover]

I've put Porsche seats in that work great. The challenge for me was picking a sport seat that didn't have shoulder bolsters as they don't fit all that well in the Elan. Better to find a seat with a similar profile to the stock seats in my opinion.

[esprit888]

Celica GT (heated)

[par]

The JDM import Honda S2000's tend to come with part cloth/leather seats which a lot of owners swap out for full leathers. They tend to sell for a lot less than the full leathers, they sometimes come up for sale on S2Ki.com (UK & Ireland for sale section).

It would be worth sitting in an Elan which has S2000 or similar seats fitted to try out before making a decision, you should notice a big difference.

[DavidEJM]

I have celica GT seats in mine. Runners needed a bit of modifying but they fit well, are comfy and look good too. Mine are leather which matches the grey interior well.

[Fredjohn]

I have celiac GT seats in mine. Runners needed a bit of modifying but they fit well, are comfy and look good too. Mine are leather which matches the grey interior well.

Sorry to hear your seats are ill and require a special diet. Just be careful what you feed the leather with

[DavidEJM]

I just spotted that!
My daughter is celiac, so difficult for her!

[simonbuk]

Anybody tried VX220/Elise seats ? I would like to go lower as well.....

[simonbuk]

Ok, slightly different question but don't want to start another thread.....

Can the runners be removed easily so you can drop the height a bit ?

[par]

Ok, slightly different question but don't want to start another thread.....

Can the runners be removed easily so you can drop the height a bit ?

There are spacers between the runners and the standard seats (about 20 - 25mm) which can be removed to lower the OEM seats. Only found this out when changing the seats on mine to S2000 type, didnt try out the standard seats with these removed but a nice easy way lowering your existing seats if these are still fitted.

[simonbuk]

Ok interesting thanks !
Any photos of your S2000 seats ? Have seen the RX8 seats which look quite good but maybe a little bulky.

[par]

Here are a few photos of the S2000 seats fitted in my car by the expert of seals & seats Jamie N:-







I think they really suit the car and they totally transformed the seating position for me, I am 6'1 and now fit in the car without my knees fouling on the lower dash.

[simonbuk]

They look really good ! Like it should have come with them from new.

Do you feel they are any lower or go further back ?

[par]

They sit a lot lower and are firmer but comfortable as the base of the seat is formed metal so does not sag like the sprung standard seats. The wider shoulder bolster support fouls on the top of the seat belt fixing point so doesn't quite recline as much as the standard seats, but I can now sit more upright without the top of the windscreen getting in my line of sight so have more overall travel.

It is without doubt the single best improvement I have made to the car. It would be worth finding someone local to you who has them fitted to try out.

[simonbuk]

Yes, I'll definitely try and sit in some seats and see how I feel about them. I'm 6'2 so find the top of the windscreen is a little in the way - sunvisors already removed !

[markv]

My next door neighbour has a couple of s2000 seats for sale. He was going to fit them to his Esprit but changed his mind. I can show you some pictures if you are at the H&C next week.