Randy Jones
06-19-2011, 03:17 PM
Hi all,
My seat configuration has been a sort of meandering path. First, I had the stock low back Roadster seats and liked them. What I didn't like about them was that there was no head support in the event of a rear end collision. So, I installed Mazda Miata seats. They're very comfortable but not very supportive laterally. Also, they moved me forward about four inches or more. For a short guy, that would be fine but for me (and I'm not that tall at 5'10"), it's a little close to the steering wheel.
Enter the Lotus seats. I have owned also (really it's Julie's) a Lotus Elise for a few nears now. I love the seats when I drive it and they seem to fit my back perfectly. With what seems like an inch only of padding, they support well with no 'hot spots' for me. Additionally, they have great lateral support and are small and light. (most things in the Elise are).
So, a friend is selling his Elise seats in favor of the Exige versions and loaned me his before the sale to try out. I can say that after I shimmed them up in the car, they're perfect. They were absolutely made (not really) for the Roadster. There is only about a finger's width of room all around the side and back when they are all the way back and that is with just a finger's room on the 2x3 cross beam that bumps out on the rear cockpit (this is the bar that keeps you from putting the seat back further).
With them on the floor and all the way back, there is so much room it's unbelievable. In the pictures, it is sitting on a 2x4 because it actually ended up too way low.
Here are some pictures. I'm pretty excited and now need to find a pair in black, quickly!!
http://www.ourffr.com/cobra/IMG_0755.JPG
http://www.ourffr.com/cobra/IMG_0756.JPG
http://www.ourffr.com/cobra/IMG_0757.JPG
http://www.ourffr.com/cobra/IMG_0758.JPG
http://www.ourffr.com/cobra/IMG_0759.JPG
http://www.ourffr.com/cobra/IMG_0760.JPG
R :D
My seat configuration has been a sort of meandering path. First, I had the stock low back Roadster seats and liked them. What I didn't like about them was that there was no head support in the event of a rear end collision. So, I installed Mazda Miata seats. They're very comfortable but not very supportive laterally. Also, they moved me forward about four inches or more. For a short guy, that would be fine but for me (and I'm not that tall at 5'10"), it's a little close to the steering wheel.
Enter the Lotus seats. I have owned also (really it's Julie's) a Lotus Elise for a few nears now. I love the seats when I drive it and they seem to fit my back perfectly. With what seems like an inch only of padding, they support well with no 'hot spots' for me. Additionally, they have great lateral support and are small and light. (most things in the Elise are).
So, a friend is selling his Elise seats in favor of the Exige versions and loaned me his before the sale to try out. I can say that after I shimmed them up in the car, they're perfect. They were absolutely made (not really) for the Roadster. There is only about a finger's width of room all around the side and back when they are all the way back and that is with just a finger's room on the 2x3 cross beam that bumps out on the rear cockpit (this is the bar that keeps you from putting the seat back further).
With them on the floor and all the way back, there is so much room it's unbelievable. In the pictures, it is sitting on a 2x4 because it actually ended up too way low.
Here are some pictures. I'm pretty excited and now need to find a pair in black, quickly!!
http://www.ourffr.com/cobra/IMG_0755.JPG
http://www.ourffr.com/cobra/IMG_0756.JPG
http://www.ourffr.com/cobra/IMG_0757.JPG
http://www.ourffr.com/cobra/IMG_0758.JPG
http://www.ourffr.com/cobra/IMG_0759.JPG
http://www.ourffr.com/cobra/IMG_0760.JPG
R :D