Recommended bucket seat for SE (narrow body)?

[peksi74]

Hi,

 

I have a bad back and would like to get a bit more comfortable drivers seat than the current JK Composites uncovered bucket. I'd still like to go with the bucket type seat... any recommendations in the price range of <£400?

 

My car is a 1989 SE (narrow body). The seat would need to be base mounted.

 

Many thanks,

 

- Pekka

[CraigHew]

My sports turbo seats are extremely comfortable, I'd "ricked" my back the week I picked the car up from the factory.  I was amazed at the seat comfort level but that's probably because I was so fired up with my first drive home.....!

 

Not sure if they'd fit into a narrow body but I'm sure someone on here knows that answer.

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

You're pretty limited when it comes to narrow body cars I'm afraid.

 

You also already have, with the JK's, the main recommendation that most would have made.

 

It's not a bad back, I know, but I have a dodgy neck, and I have to say, the JK's are about the most comfortable seat I've used.

 

That said, with shell type seats like the JK, it's i portent to get the size absolutely spot on for your size/shape, also the neoprene pad set makes a whole world of difference. Ignore the fact that they look so thin, when you get the seat size right, then it's shape is very close to being perfect anyway, so you don't need lots of padding to make up the difference.

 

If you have the budget, Tillets are even better again, but I don't know what they have, that will fit a narrow. And that's always going to be your limiting factor. The narrow Lotus 7 shape wasn't really designed to have sepperate seats. (They just used a padded bench type seat, back in the early days).

 

Since then some specialists have made seats that will fit, but not many.

[CraigHew]

Assuming the current seat is functional, does anyone make some kind of padded cover / support cushion that could be added / adapted?

[peet]

JK pads are available custom made why not ring and ask if they can make them double thickness?

I am recovering from a bad form of sciatica and the JKs were the most supportive comfy seats of any of my cars. My suspension is running fairly soft though.

[carbon-nv]

I'm not certain on currently options, but I got a couple of OMP cushion type pads for the base of my seats. One is square to fit under my rear that gives me a couple of cm's additional height so that I can peer over the aeroscreen a little better (not the tallest) and one that sits at the end of the seat to support the area under your knees, raising them up slightly to provide more of that 'bucket' seat type of feel

 

In terms of back support and comfort, I find having knees slightly raised by the pad, which is quite thick, does help and make for a very comfy driving position. I've also had back problems in the past and have found that the extra support behind the knee takes some of the strain away from the lower back

 

It was a while back, but I think that I might have got them from either Merlin Motorsport or Demon Tweaks. Velcro on the seat base helps keep them in position

[carbon-nv]

A couple of examples below if this would help you

 

http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/performance/seat-accessories/sparco-leg-support-cushions

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/321380791278?limghlpsr=true&hlpv=2&ops=true&viphx=1&hlpht=true&lpid=108&device=c&adtype=pla&crdt=0&ff3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=108

[peksi74]

A couple of examples below if this would help you

 

http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/performance/seat-accessories/sparco-leg-support-cushions

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/321380791278?limghlpsr=true&hlpv=2&ops=true&viphx=1&hlpht=true&lpid=108&device=c&adtype=pla&crdt=0&ff3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=108

 

Just bought the OMP cushion for just £9.99 incl. shipping. Amazing offer - many thanks for pointing me to the ad

[peksi74]

Sent an email to JK enquiring about the upholstery possibilities. My current seat has seen better days so I am planning on replacing it on the same go. Many thanks for great tips!

[Castlecroft]

Hi, I too have a bad back, and in my narrow I have some intatrim odessey ii seats

They offer decent support, can be bolted straight through (no runners), fit a narrow really well, and look good.

Their web site is

http://www.intatrimtelford.co.uk/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=22&category_id=6&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=26

You can get a glimps of them in two photos of "my westie" on my gallery

[SootySport]

The only 2ways you are going to achieve the perfect seat is by trying all seats you can to see what suits you best or use a pour in foam seat kit ala racecar style.

You could also make up your own polystyrene or foam wedges and stick them inside the JK, then make up a seat cover to hide it all,  easy if it just some extra lumbar support .

[John K]

Hi, I too have a bad back, and in my narrow I have some intatrim odessey ii seats

They offer decent support, can be bolted straight through (no runners), fit a narrow really well, and look good.

Their web site ishttp://www.intatrimtelford.co.uk/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=22&category_id=6&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=26

You can get a glimps of them in two photos of "my westie" on my gallery

I am really interested in this thread as want new seats. I am perfectly comfortable in the std Westie inserted cushions, but I am a little worried about lack of head rests.

But when you talk about the Odyssey II seats, looking on the website doesn't it say they are for Wide Bodies?

You have a narrow body, like me. Don't we need the Odyssey version?

I'm guessing we met at the last Cotswolds bash, we were competing as to who had the oldest Westie. But yours looked brand new..!

 

Edit: If I wanted to put them on rails, what sort of height increase are we looking at if I went for the Intatrim rails? Hard to tell from the picture.

[Tom Frankland (T3OMF)]

Not sure if these would be any good for a Narrow, Aerodynamix have just started selling them 

 

http://www.aerodynamix.co.uk/grp-seat.html

[geoffd]

I fitted a Caterham seat (S3 I think) to my car.  I got it on Ebay - it wasn't too expensive, but it was just one seat not a pair.  It fits the narrow body well, and even came on runners.  It's much more comfortable than the bench that the car came with.

 

Geoff

[Onliest Smeg David]

The only 2ways you are going to achieve the perfect seat is by trying all seats you can to see what suits you best or use a pour in foam seat kit ala racecar style.

You could also make up your own polystyrene or foam wedges and stick them inside the JK, then make up a seat cover to hide it all, easy if it just some extra lumbar support .

Definitely try out before you spend your moneys!