New FFR Big and Tall Seats

[carlewms]

I am considering replacing my leather seats with these seats.

How much more room do they get you?

Are they comfortable?

Thanks in Advance,

Carl

[chopthebass]

I have ordered these with my Mk4. I took a chance, but I'd be keen to know too.

[carlewms]

Folks,

Today the my new Big and Tall leather seats arrived from FFR. I will be sending back my original leather seats for a credit but while they both are here I did a comparison of the two.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a4dc04b3127ccef5278a2994f500000030O09AaOGbRo2bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00006064438420140226004033454.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

The two versions appear to use the same frame. The extra width of the big and tall is achieved in how the foam is cut. The main difference between the two is the thickness

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a4dc04b3127ccef5272175555400000030O09AaOGbRo2bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00006064438420140226004612724.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

The thickness of the foam padding is visible in this view of the seat backs.

The following two photos show the differences in the seats:

The original seat:

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a4dc04b3127ccef526e6efb44900000030O09AaOGbRo2bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00006064438420140226004042289.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

The big and tall seat is deeper and wider than the original one ...

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a4dc04b3127ccef526ffebf4d900000030O09AaOGbRo2bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00006064438420140226004036169.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

The most noticeable difference is the thickness of the seat bottom ...

The original seat bottom:

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a4dc04b3127ccef52695db75ec00000030O09AaOGbRo2bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00006064438420140226004038317.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

The big and tall seat bottom is about 1 in thinner that the original and feels like it might be made with a stiffer foam ...

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a4dc04b3127ccef5276e12158c00000030O09AaOGbRo2bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00006064438420140226004040161.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

I will post some photos of the two seats in the car later today.

Carl

[SnowCobra]

That is the type of comparison I like to see, well done Carl and thank you.

[chopthebass]

Cool. How do they feel for comfort?

[Desert Cobra]

Great pictures. That is what this forum is all about!! Thanks Carl.

[Pylons]

I recently sat in both at the build school. There was a noticeable difference. I believe they did say that it's a common frame with just padding differences.

I ordered the big and tall...not a tough decision...I'm about 6', 205lbs.

[CraigS]

Wow, finally an FFR seat that may not feel like I am sitting on a pillow and need the belt to stay in position.

[MK4]

Well done! Very clear

[carlewms]

Wow, finally an FFR seat that may not feel like I am sitting on a pillow and need the belt to stay in position.

Craig,

That is a perfect description of the way I feel about the original seats.

Carl

[carlewms]

Folks,

Folks,

I got a chance to get both seats out in the garage this afternoon and took some additional measurements for your consideration.

Here is a comparison of the two seat pads in reference to the x frames on the side of the Mk 4 FFR roadster:

The first is the original seat.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a4dc07b3127ccef520dd919df700000030O09AaOGbRo2bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00006064438420140227002825730.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

The second is the new Big & Tall seat.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a4dc07b3127ccef521ff013c0a00000030O09AaOGbRo2bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00006064438420140227002841800.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

As you can see the seat pad is much lower on the newer seat. When I sat down in the car with the new seat there does seem to be less support for your calves than on the original seat ... but there is more room under the steering wheel.

Speaking of steering wheels mine is slightly higher by about 1 1/4 inches (best guess) because I mounted a 1/2 in aluminum block under the pillow block to give me a little more room.

The next two photos show the space gained (on an uncompressed seat) for my particular build. First the original seat:

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a4dc07b3127ccef52188327c9a00000030O09AaOGbRo2bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00006064438420140227000929399.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

The new Big & Tall seat:

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a4dc07b3127ccef52158667ca600000030O09AaOGbRo2bA9 vPhg/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00006064438420140227002831432.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

There is definitely more room with the new seat and, unless I get on a huge weight loss plan, they are the most viable option considering I had already purchased the $800 leather seats from FFR.

Lessons Learned if you want more room:

1. Before you buy try out the Kirkey Lowback Vintage Seats;
2. Before you buy try out the FFR Big & Tall Seats;
3. If you are trying them out in someone else's car make sure that the setup of the steering wheel and any seat slides are taken into consideration;
4. If you really want customized seats, buy the less expensive vinyl version and then take it to a local upholstery shop to get it custom fit your needs and then covered in leather if you like;
5. The FFR Big & Tall seats sacrifice calf support for more room under the steering wheel. I once I get to the mounting stage, I may raise the front in slightly to increase the support a bit; and,
6. For me although I like the look of the Kirkey Lowbak Vintage Seat the side aluminum or bolsters would have made getting in and out of the car more difficult than the FFR Big & Tall seat.

Carl

[Olli]

Great thread Carl!

Olli

[6t8dart]

Thanks, this thread is making me reconsider buying a MK4, I'm 5' 11" and weigh 400 lbs, judging from your pictures, if I shorten the column an inch or so, I could probably fit just fine...getting out of the car will be a whole other story!

[dagall]

Thanks, this thread is making me reconsider buying a MK4, I'm 5' 11" and weigh 400 lbs, judging from your pictures, if I shorten the column an inch or so, I could probably fit just fine...getting out of the car will be a whole other story!

You would be better off with the 33. Much more open cockpit with suicide doors make it easy to get in and out of. And you can do the tilt column as well. With big and tall seats that shouldn't be a problem for you.

[dbo_texas]

I think this thread is a few years old but does anyone know if FFR still offers the big & tall seats and if so, what the part number is? On their website I can only find the vinyl seats (16325), black leather (16212), vintage low-back aluminum (15478) and competition high-back aluminum (13852). When you configure the complete kit, it lists the leather seat upgrade as p/n 16213 so I'm not sure if that is a different seat than the 16212 listed separately on their website, or if one of those is the big & tall version of the seat.

[cfriedman67]

I believe the leather and vinyl seats are the big and tall seats. Factory Five did away with the "regular size seats" and only carry one size now.

[FLPBFoot]

I believe the leather and vinyl seats are the big and tall seats. Factory Five did away with the "regular size seats" and only carry one size now.

Agree.

That's my understanding as well. Only one available is the Big n Tall.

I went with the Breeze Automotive seat mounts to raise the front up slightly and provide added support under the legs.