On building my Viento my thoughts turned to seats. My Viento is not going to be a lightweight track machine but more of a country lane speedster. I
don't really fancy those bare GRP seats that a lot of people have. I want some comfort and support. I have a few questions about seats.
It would seem to me that cloth seats in a open top car will get horribly wet. Is this a common problem or is cloth a no go area.
It seems you get rigid and tilting seats. Is the tilting really worth it? I nearly always sit straight up anyway.
Is it possible to use seats out of a production car bought secondhand? What are the IVA considerations for this option? Has anyone done this?
Anyone got any good idea for seats for me?
Don't assume bare GRP seats aren't comfortable. I've just got camping mat pads on mine and have done several 500mile days in it and a
3300mile tour. Never even thought about the seat, even with my bad back. I do put a towel on it so it doesn't feel sweaty but thats all. I had a
passenger in for the LeMansClassic (500mile each way) who has padded seats in his car and thought mine were as comfy.
Cloth covered seats would just get damp. At some point you're going to get caught in a downpour and the car WILL fill with water.
Tin-top seats has been done but just look wrong. They're pretty big and bulky.
adrian
Seats from a sports boat? They are waterproof.
The fibreglass seats with pads are fine, I have had both and recently fitted the fibrglass ones from JK Composites and they are the most comfy I have had.
I would imagine that you've got a much "wider" choice 
for a Viento than for a standard seven-alike. Personally, given your criteria
and assuming weight is not really a factor, I would look for production (sports) car seats e.g. MX5, Lotus Elise, even Smart might be worth a look. If
they are leather, a drop of rain will be OK to dry off. If you really get caught in a downpour, nothing short of a roof (or possible seat covers/large
bin bags) will really keep the water off.
e.g. here
+ these
[Edited on 24.08.2010 by Humbug]
I am just not 'feeling' fibreglass seats. I am possibly being 'narrow' minded.
They are some good examples Humbug. How would these go down with the IVA man?
Does anyone else have any good production car suggestions?
have you had a look at the intatrim website? A good combo of quality/style/comfort
quote:
Originally posted by Humbug
...If you really get caught in a downpour, nothing short of a roof (or possible seat covers/large bin bags) will really keep the water off...
Same thing happened to my brother. He decided to 'wash' them and then they just smelt musty and horrid.
quote:
Originally posted by adithorp
Don't assume bare GRP seats aren't comfortable. I've just got camping mat pads on mine and have done several 500mile days in it and a 3300mile tour. Never even thought about the seat, even with my bad back. I do put a towel on it so it doesn't feel sweaty but thats all. I had a passenger in for the LeMansClassic (500mile each way) who has padded seats in his car and thought mine were as comfy.
Cloth covered seats would just get damp. At some point you're going to get caught in a downpour and the car WILL fill with water.
Tin-top seats has been done but just look wrong. They're pretty big and bulky.
adrian
One thing to remember about using seats from a production car is that they are often much higher than you would want (if you want to keep your head on
the right side of the roll bar ) so fibreglass seats are often your best choice.
I tried Lotus Elise seats but even they were too high for me so in the end I used bare seats from an Ultima and got them trimmed in Alcantara - and
they're really comfy.
[Edited on 24-8-10 by RazMan]
quote:
Originally posted by RazMan
One thing to remember about using seats from a production car is that they are often much higher than you would want (if you want to keep your head on the right side of the roll bar
I tried Lotus Elise seats but even they were too high for me so in the end I used bare seats from an Ultima and got them trimmed in Alcantara - and they're really comfy.
[Edited on 24-8-10 by RazMan]
) they do look sweet seats, will I wince horribly at the cost?
quote:
Originally posted by Irony
they do look sweet seats, will I wince horribly at the cost?
Actually the seats were abandoned prototypes of a carbon fibre seat, just made in fibreglass. They needed a bit of TLC and
were quite cheap. After repairing and painting them I took them along to the trimmers that do the Ultima seats, as they had the patterns. THAT was the
expensive bit, but worth it IMO.
Considering it always seems to be pishing down in this country and folk still seem to have this daft notion that a car with no roof is a cool idea
then why fit seats that once wet will rot and fall apart.....fibreglass seats with neoprene padding are ideal and won't mind getting wet.
As long as you buy a decent 'glass seat you shouldn't have any issues. The tillet low back in mine is a pretty comfortable place to be,
despite the fact I dont have any 'natural padding'