[S4to335]

http://www.statusracing.com



I am seriously thinking about one for my miata (that is turning into a backup track car)

[satakal]

what's the status on the miata? Was it 100% stock when you picked it up?

[nicknaz]

OP, not sure you care but I'm not convinced aftermarket seats offer good protection in an impact. I've seen pics of aftermarket seats buckling during a crash. not sure if it has to do with the way the shoulder straps were mounted, or whether the hit was so bad the OEM seat would have buckled too, but i personally wouldn't take the chance.

most japanese manufacturers have really nice seats that they don't bring over to the american market (due to fatness of americans and in some cases lack of side airbag mounting points). Perhaps you can source an OEM miata sport seat and mounting brackets that will give you the bolstering you are looking for without having to go aftermarket

example:

[longodj]

Nick: aftermarket seats are regularly used by HPDE participants, Time Trial competitors, and racers alike.... Most of the OEM Sport seats you'll find are made by Recaro or Sparco anyway....

[jeho]

i've seen sat in 1 since coming from jdm scene...

I'd prefer the Bride Zeta 3 or Recaro SPG..

The Status are overpriced and do not compare to Bride/Recaro/Sparco imo...
these seats fit better for skinny short asians...

The Zeta 3 size L fits me gooood and I am 5'9 165 Lb...

[S4to335]

Originally Posted by jeffE92TT

i've seen sat in 1 since coming from jdm scene...

I'd prefer the Bride Zeta 3 or Recaro SPG..

The Status are overpriced and do not compare to Bride/Recaro/Sparco imo...
these seats fit better for skinny short asians...

The Zeta 3 size L fits me gooood and I am 5'9 165 Lb...

I know the owner of Status...so I can probably swing some kinda deal. I probably only want one drivers seat for my miata track car that I am building.

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by longodj

Nick: aftermarket seats are regularly used by HPDE participants, Time Trial competitors, and racers alike.... Most of the OEM Sport seats you'll find are made by Recaro or Sparco anyway....

Yes, I understand that many participants use aftermarket seats. However it is a huge stretch to suggest that usage = safety.

My point is that seats made for an specific OEM application have been crashed tested and the seat/mounting bracket/chassis combination meet a 'governing body safety standard'. This is not necessarily true for aftermarket seats and brackets.

[jeho]

Originally Posted by Nick Nazareno

Yes, I understand that many participants use aftermarket seats. However it is a huge stretch to suggest that usage = safety.

My point is that seats made for an specific OEM application have been crashed tested and the seat/mounting bracket/chassis combination meet a 'governing body safety standard'. This is not necessarily true for aftermarket seats and brackets.

I thought majority of Bride/Recaro/Sparco seats are FIA approved....

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by jeffE92TT

I thought majority of Bride/Recaro/Sparco seats are FIA approved....

Not sure. While I was researching seats for my WRX I came across info that the Bride Zeta III has FIA approval but Zeta III sport does not

Also I could never get a straight answer whether "FIA approved" meant that a seat/bracket conformed to the entire FIA 8855-1999 set of regulations

In the end, I talked myself out of changing seats after I sat in an aftermarket recaro and realized my '02 WRX OEM seat (much tighter than subsequent years) gave almost as much support already, so I am really not be best resource for this.

Just wanted to point out my concern that not all seats conform to the full homologation standard and therefore have questionable protective value

[satakal]

do you guys not have a retail location full of knowledgable racers like I have access to in my home town?

[nicknaz]

damn. no, not that i'm aware of for automobile equipment. I've found a hand full of places for motorcycle gear but that's not any use to the OP