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Do manufacturers take the pi**?
l0rd - 2/5/10 at 08:59 PM

When i was in Stoneleigh, I tried sitting in a couple of cars.

Why do all of them have fiberglass seats or really narrow ones?

I was really disappointed. I even tried a Viento and due to the seat, i couldn't sit properly on it.

I know it is for the looks but can't they get wider seats to fit the cockpit so everyone can try it? Why do i have to be 10 stones to try one?





JoelP - 2/5/10 at 09:06 PM

you would think they would leave the seat loose so they could pull it and replace with cushions etc.

What weight and height are you?

[Edited on 2/5/10 by JoelP]


omega0684 - 2/5/10 at 09:07 PM

you should have a sit in a DAX with Squab seats in them. Mt dad is 6'2" and about 17 st and he still says there really comfy!


austin man - 2/5/10 at 09:07 PM

The Raw strikers seat is just a seat squab and a back so may be worth considering as you have all the cockpit width available. I have seen people at 16 stone fit in the fibreglass seats okay. As you say though it is for aesthetic purposes the Fibreglas seat is a race style and weight saving so make u that bit quicker while also looking good


franky - 2/5/10 at 09:14 PM

The Gkd legend fits the larger frame, ask peter who owns it!


BenB - 2/5/10 at 09:16 PM

It all depends on what seat you go for. My Kirkey racing seat in the STM chassis takes my 36" waist nicely....


l0rd - 2/5/10 at 09:17 PM

I am 6ft6" and 17stones

Yes fiberglass seats are nice looking and save a considerate weight but I am sure they could make some wider ones as well and that would be minimal weight increase.

The only car that i have been in and was spot on on width was tilly819's Haynes Roadster with cobra seats. It needed though a couple of inches in length to drive properly in the leg area.


JoelP - 2/5/10 at 09:18 PM

its the aesthetics thats the hard bit, as you could just pad the cockpit and do without a seat at all. Would save plenty of space and weight, just maybe look naff. Never bothered me though!


b16mts - 2/5/10 at 09:30 PM

I dont even bother trying tbh. I hadn't even sat in the driving seat of a kit car before I bought my full kit from tiger, and even then I've had to make some adjustments for my ample frame.

my names Martin...I'm 6'5"....18 stone of relaxed muscle....and I drive a Tiger supercat

I feel better for talking about.

Martin


austin man - 2/5/10 at 09:30 PM

My car is plus 4" I have also narrowed the tunnel and have a set of Mamba seats. plenty of comfort and width


ReMan - 2/5/10 at 09:39 PM

Cobra's for me too
From my bodybuilding and Rugby days I have very big shouldders, I'm 16 1/2 st and 5.10
shell seats are to narrow for me to fit IN
Cobras I sit ON nicely


l0rd - 2/5/10 at 09:41 PM

What i mean to say is


If you were to order a car and wanted to see if you can fit in one before you make your mind you should be able to do this.

I believe that the Viento was long enough for my legs but i couldn't fit on it due to the seat.


big_l - 2/5/10 at 09:55 PM

Did you try the gbs zero 7 nice wide and comfy also still a bit racey !!!


l0rd - 2/5/10 at 10:02 PM

quote:
Originally posted by big_l
Did you try the gbs zero 7 nice wide and comfy also still a bit racey !!!


Yes I did actually.

I got one leg in. That was it. Then i spend 1 min trying to get out as the second leg was stuck.




You are all missing the point though and probably i haven't explained it properly.



Why would manufacturers build bigger cars and wider and compromise on Shell seats that still only a 10 stone person can fit in it.

From what i know, the first feeling is the one that matters.

If i had the cash in hand to order a Viento (as an example of the biggest kit car) today and all i had to do was try the car to see if this is what i wanted, that seat just put me off completely. It wasn't a shell seat but a proper narrow bucket style.

Still though shouldn't they try to get the most comfortable seats so more people can fit in it? Then, if you want a different narrower seat, just change it.



[Edited on 2/5/10 by l0rd]


fesycresy - 3/5/10 at 05:55 AM

It's all about looks.....

You (and I) are in the minority. The majority of owners are 6' max.

You need to get to the factory and sit in a bare chassis. I gave up trying to sit in them years ago too.

MNR's are deceptively big, Dax LWB very long and the Viento is just, well, big!


LBMEFM - 3/5/10 at 06:35 AM

MK Indy - I am probally the tallest member at 6'6" and 181/2 stone and fit my MK Indy with MK shell seats perfectly. Barry


jollygreengiant - 3/5/10 at 06:57 AM

quote:
Originally posted by l0rd
What i mean to say is


If you were to order a car and wanted to see if you can fit in one before you make your mind you should be able to do this.

I believe that the Viento was long enough for my legs but i couldn't fit on it due to the seat.
↲↲I know what your saying, you should have come out to the Luego owners display area and tried some of our seats. I'm 6' 4" 20st and VERY broad in shoulders and hips. I'm very comfy in my Viento.


rusty nuts - 3/5/10 at 07:35 AM

The seats may not have suited you but surely the picnic basket on the Viento did?
As Clive (JGG) pointed out you should have tried a few cars on the owners club pitches. I can confirm that Clive is a little on the large size as are a few other Viento owners, thats why they brought a Viento.


mid-buggy - 3/5/10 at 08:02 AM

They can only take so many things, and if that means only 1 car, then they take the car which suits the majority rather than the minority.

I dont think many kit car compaines can afford to have 8 cars (for instance) which shows all the different seats, engines and dial set ups.

(westfield had more than that I know, but they are a big player in the kit industry)


franky - 3/5/10 at 08:04 AM

They do it as they're cheaper and think that everyone wants to save the last few kg's when in real terms 99 percent of people couldn't tell if their car was 5-10kgs to the worse, pub type banter! IMO most of the
plastic seats ruin the look/finish of some cars when the rest is done to such a high standard.


l0rd - 3/5/10 at 08:35 AM

quote:
Originally posted by mid-buggy

(westfield had more than that I know, but they are a big player in the kit industry)


Yes they are and they didn't even have their new model that passed the European Safety Test and is ECC approved.


WELL done Westfield.


whitestu - 3/5/10 at 08:41 AM

quote:

MK Indy - I am probally the tallest member at 6'6" and 181/2 stone and fit my MK Indy with MK shell seats perfectly. Barry



How? I'm 6'3" and 13.5 stone and couldn't get in the MK fibreglass seats comfortably!

Cobra Roadsters are very comfy though.

Stu


bi22le - 3/5/10 at 12:27 PM

Raw Strikers are one of the thinnest cars in the market. They can seat a tall thin person but I dont think a 16st person would be too comfy. I think the reason Raw have bench seats is because they are that small. I do have a GRP seat for it but only one make fits. The standard ones are too big to fit in the space. Lucky im 5'9" and about 12 1/2 st really.