Mark IV Seat choice - long driving comfort seat

[lcarpen]

Provided that the seat fits, what seat did you select? I am looking for long range comfort over race track performance but I have heard the aluminum high back is very comfortable.

High back aluminum, low back aluminum, low back standard,

[clancypm]

I've been wondering the same thing. I did talk to a woman who's husband had built one and she told me the standard seat was very comfortable. The other thing i was wondering, is there an aftermarket headrest that can be attached to the seat.

[MPTech]

I installed 18" UltraShield Rally Sport seats, mounted on Kirkey seat mounts with sliders.
I added some padding to the butt area and installed seat heaters. They are VERY comfortable. (I've had 2 passengers fall asleep in them on cruises! :p (my wife twice!) They feel comfortable for support and in the turns. I've also driven a couple long hauls 200+ and 300+ trips and several days cruises.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a78/MPTech/IMG_2381_zpsc4cf3b83.jpg

[edwardb]

My wife and I find the standard seats very comfortable. I realize that's not the case for everyone. But we find they work out very well. We're both very average size, weight, height, etc. Heat, sun, wind and noise wear us out on long cruises way before the seats become uncomfortable. I've never seen a headrest option that attaches to the standard seats. I've seen some options that attach to the roll bar. But don't seem very common. If you really want the headrests (and I do realize it's a legitimate safety concern) then aftermarket seats are likely the main option.

[skullandbones]

Getting the right seat is important but also consider your arms legs and angle of the seat. I raised my standard low back seat a little more than just the runners and it made the leg angle better going into the foot box. Also, getting the steering wheel spaced far enough away so your arms have just a slight bend will help. Even the room for your feet in the foot box can make you "uncomfortable". I did a small sheet metal mod just to give my left foot a little more room to lay out to the left (not the heel but the end of my foot). So you basically fit the whole area and footbox to give you the most comfort possible. I have found that now to tweek the seat by lowering the back a little I will actually get a little more room and hopefully still feel good. I don't quite clear for the broomstick test on track days so getting lower will help. It's hard to beat the short FFR seat for short and intermediate trips. I have done up to 300 miles without feeling cramped or sore from the seats. As mentioned above, other factors usually say it's time to get out of the car for a while. The issue of headrests is much more difficult to solve. I don't see a good solution that doesn't include changing to a high back seat.

Good luck,

WEK.

[Avalanche325]

I found the stock seats, with a 1" spacer under the front, are pretty comfortable. I have been on a couple all day rallies and a couple 2+hr non stop runs.

[chopthebass]

I found the stock seats, with a 1" spacer under the front, are pretty comfortable. I have been on a couple all day rallies and a couple 2+hr non stop runs.

Did you do the 1" spacer purely for comfort or are you tall?

[Cobradavid]

I have the stock seats. They're comfortable to me. After about a year of driving, I added the Breeze seat mounts. The Breeze seat mounts are wedge shaped so they raise the front of the seat. That changed the seats from comfortable to very comfortable. I've done many 2-3 hour drives and some 5-6 hour drives. Seat comfort has not been the limiting factor. Like WEK said, getting the seating position right and little mods to the footbox to get a little more room really help the overall comfort.

David

[lcarpen]

MPTech: Very cool. What did you use for the heated seats?

[lcarpen]

Cobradavid and WEK: Thanks for your feedback. I have read alot about complaints related to comfort on the low back seats. Mainly related to lack of shoulder support.

I am actually looking at the vintage race seats now. A member here had them covered in learher and they looked very comfortable.

[Bob Cowan]

For a lot reasons - mostly safety - I would never use a low back seat. I know they're period correct. But I drive my car a lot, and I'm willing to trade the comfort and safety for the look.

The original FFR high back seats are Cobra Clubman's. They are very comfortable. I have taken many 6-8 hour drives in that seat. Easy to get in out of, too.

Now I have a Ultrashield intermediate road race seat. I chose that over the Kirkey because of the lower thigh bolsters. Initially, not all that comfortable or supportive. The problem was that I was sitting too low in the seat. And the seat pad was kinda uncomfortable after a few hours. Then I added some quality memory foam to the seat bottom. Now it's very supportive in the shoulders, and very comfortable. I took a 4 day trip in that seat, and I liked it. When I turn it back in to a street car, I might just leave that seat in there.

[lcarpen]

Bob, that is good info. I see TTU in you sig. I track with NASA MA but have not soloed yet. I have seen the TTU cars in my club and they are scary fast. I never thought the cobra would be a contender there so I am encouraged by your inclusion.

I also like the idea of a highback seat. It is sounding more and more like I should defer the seat decision and stick with the stock seats.

[CraigS]

One advantage of the aluminum seats is the ease of modifying the foam. You need to get the right foam, the stuff at joannes fabric usually isn't it. But it's nice to have a cover that snaps off and back on when you want to experiment w/ padding. Also don't be put off by the thin padding in the back and sides of the aluminum seats. You will find that the seat area under your butt is paramount for getting the foam right. That done and a small piece to offer lower back support is all you need.