Javelin
SuperDork
8/26/11 9:23 a.m.
As seen in my Porsche 944 Autocross Build Thread, I recently purchased a set of knock-off seats of knock-off Corbeau A4's. They don't even have a brand name! They are however, light, comfy, recline-able, come with tracks, available in a zillion colors/fabrics, and best of all: CHEAP.
These bad boys were $250.
For the pair.
Shipped.
I got the beige/beige cloth ones, but they are more like off-white and stain easy. I'd recommend black, red, or blue instead of the lighter colors. The company I got them from answered the phone promptly, spoke actual English, and had them to my door in 3 days!
Link:
http://racingseats.com/
You want the $250 special, right at the top of the page.
No affiliation, just passing the word on to my fellow cheapskates.
Oh and yes, I'm thinking of a second pair for the Javelin, too.
peter
Reader
8/26/11 9:29 a.m.
Any sort of certification that they won't disintegrate if you crash?
Javelin
SuperDork
8/26/11 9:36 a.m.
peter wrote:
Any sort of certification that they won't disintegrate if you crash?
They had some sort of tag on them, I'll look closer this weekend. I do want to point out that this is only an autocross car, I would never trust these seats at an HPDE.
i got these off of Ebay for $280 shipped for 2.
Free shipping is pretty cool on the Corbeau seats as well.
Pair of FX1 Pro Microsuedes for $698 shipped! Nice deal!
Per Schroeder
Technical Editor/Advertising Director
8/26/11 10:00 a.m.
Interesting, I've had that real brand seat frame crack during normal driving, so maybe the copy would be better?
How is the mounting? I see they offer custom mounts if you call, but nothing more about it online.
I have wanted SRT4 seats, and those bolt right in, but go for INSANE money.
i love the description at bottom left in that eBlow photo:
TYPE: JDM
i did actually LOL.
Not a bad deal! It is a shame I cannot stand the wingback chair look of modern seats. I don't like the way they cut off sounds from the rear of the car either. I just find them to be too intrusive.
Now if anyone sees a deal on something more vintage appropriate like these let me know
In reply to AngryCorvair:
you should see some of the other sellers on Ebay. I found a knockoff EuroJet Front Mount Intercooler for $300 by "ILOVETACOTACO"!!
"yea, i got the I love taco taco front mount..."
If I weren't in a budget crunch right now, I'd possibly order this today...
ransom
HalfDork
8/26/11 10:19 a.m.
In reply to ditchdigger:
On the subject of safety, I'm okay with the shoulder bolsters, but if I'm going to drive it on the street I definitely want a headrest.
I've never driven into a solid object myself, but I've had three cars totalled by being rear-ended... On the last one, I was really glad I'd recently put in a Corbeau to replace the stock seat with dodgy seatback adjust mechanism.
Javelin
SuperDork
8/26/11 10:34 a.m.
Per Schroeder wrote:
Interesting, I've had that real brand seat frame crack during normal driving, so maybe the copy would be better?
Real as in the actual original knock-off brand (Bomz I think?) or real as in Corbeau?
I'm 99% sure these are the same seats I had in my RX-7, and I really liked those. I sat in these in the garage and made vrooming noises with the steering wheel (like you wouldn't!!!!) and they felt pretty sturdy (and I'm ~215...).
I just have a thing against buying knock-offs.
I'd rather support the company that actually does the R&D and creates a new product.
Raze
Dork
8/26/11 10:47 a.m.
I have the Bomz seats in the XR4, no problems, Many people complain about safety, but I would argue until you're taking these things on the track at speed you'll be fine. We paid for the pair $200/shipped for the all black ones and for AutoX, round town, anything is better than an old escort seat tac-welded to the sheetmetal floor with square tube
Where are seats that emulate Porsche Recaros in every way save for price? Would love a set of Boxster etc style seats in brown vinyl or leather.
I had a similar set in Red "suede" and aside from the padding being hard as rocks (at first) they were great seats. Wish I still had them.
I never trusted corbeau. Company I worked for had several of them for use as seating on Truss Spots (spot lights suspended on the truss over a stage) and after a couple of shows, the fabric was ripped to shreds
If you are lucky you can get good seats from the junkyard. I bought a $1000 recaro Style seat from the junkyard last week for $25, I sold it to my friend becasue i have nothing to use it in and no room to store it though.
I have been after VW recaros for a while. Seems they always appear in the JY when I have no cash
I have only seen one useable front vw recaro in the junkyard. Usually people pull the fronts and destroy the rest of the interior. The one useable one I saw the interior was still complete, the drivers seat frame was snapped though.
Thanks for posting those... they've got to be better than the crappy stock seats in our '81 280zx, and that cloth appears to match the stock light tan cloth rear seats. I do have some concerns about their crash worthiness, but to be honest, in all the crash test footage I see of cars, it's rarely the seat that makes me worry. Hell, simply the way they mounted seats in older cars is more worrisome than the actual seat construction.
Raze wrote:
Is that the correct way to mount the harness? I thought the belts were supposed to be mounted higher so you don't get submarined and squished down in a roll over.