Miata Seats - 914 vs Spec Miata

I am looking at replacing my Miata seats only because they sit too high. Yes I know I can cut the foam but for some reason that just seems to me it will look bad. Anyway I like the retro look of the 914 seat and I like the cost of aluminum racing seats. Looking at the padding for both seats they look the same. If anything the Ultrashield Spec Miata seat looks like it has more padding.

So the question is which would keep my 50 year old bones more comfortable. Oh I do undersatnd that getting in and out of a racing is a drag.

Thanks for your time and wisdom. RS

I cut the foam out of my Miata seats and you can't tell at all.

They're also MUCH more comfortable.

I used to swap a racing seat into my Mazda GLC for track days. The 2 hour drive to the track killed my back and that was when I was in my late 30s. I wouldn't even consider doing it now, 20 years later. My Miata has the foamectomy and you can't see it. I also have a modified Miata driver's side seat that has VW GTI foam in it. Both it, and the foamectomy stocker lower me quite a bit. I had an Ultrashield seat in my Spec Miata, and while it was comfortable enough to race I don't think I would have liked it on the street unless there was a lot more padding.

This is a bit off topic, but, is there a noticible height difference when sitting the passenger and drivers seat in a NA Miata? My passenger seat feels taller, and the bottom feels a bit bulbous. Has a foamectomy already been done to the driver's seat? I was thinking about getting a little lower in my seating arrangement too. (6'-1") Although I might just remove the sun visors...

Elise seats look killer in a Miata. They're often put up for sale by Lotus owners who want race seats for track days.

wow.. had no clue how thin the elise seats are. How much do they go for and how much do they weigh?

As cool oooking as they are 914 seats are not supportive at all.

I've put 914 seats in a Miata. They look cool, but they are not racing seats. They do have more padding than an Ultrashield penalty box, and they'd be my choice for driving cross-country. But not for track use.

914 seats with no padding, stock padding and with the bottom cover removed.

What I am hoping to hear is the cheap aluminum race seat will be fine for a summer time dd. Please notice the word cheap:-)

as for the Elise seat I love the looks yet it also looks like it has very little padding which again leads me to wonder how much more comfortable would it be than a aluminum race seat.

I await your knowledge:-)

Sort of off topic, but is it safe to run an aluminum race seat on the street without a back brace? If so, how do folks add them to Miatae?

Sultan wrote: What I am hoping to hear is the cheap aluminum race seat will be fine for a summer time dd. Please notice the word cheap:-) as for the Elise seat I love the looks yet it also looks like it has very little padding which again leads me to wonder how much more comfortable would it be than a aluminum race seat. I await your knowledge:-)

good question. I think they would look great in my 318ti