Bucket seat installed
 

I finally got a bucket seat installed. Went for Sparco Ergo, mostly because of removable halo, but also because I like their high-grip fabric and the shape of lumbar area a bit better than Recaro's

The install went smoothly, thanks to experienced tech. Basically they used porsche motorsport rails and aluminium recaro seat mounts (they fit better than Sparco's native). No issues at all. Still have very smooth back and foward adjustment, full range, but no height adjustment anymore. The current height seems perfect for me though, so it's not an issue.

Getting in is easy. Getting out is more of a problem because my left leg gets stuck between side of the seat and the steering wheel. I do not want to rub on the wheel hard every time I get out, so I may slide seat back a bit to do so.

The airbag light is on because there is no thorax airbag. THat's one of the reasons I kept stock passenger seat - I'm fine taking potentially increased risk myself, but do not want it for passengers. No chimes or any other irritations, so I can just ignore the light.

One unexpected side-effect is that the car feel MUCH stiffer now. I did not realize how much the sock seat was cushioning me. Even thought the seat is comfortable enough for long journeys for me, the added viration will increase fatigue for sure. I am planning to drive for about 4 hours tomorrow and 7 hours on saturday, so I will report back on that.

Otherwise, it's very comfortable and nice. I wish the seat had nicer upholstery. It' looks very cheap compared to stock seat. But that's minor.

Sorry, no pics right now - was in a rush since I picked it up. But here is a pic of the most exciting BART pick up I ever had:

Nice and thanks for the mini-review! Looking forward to the pics. My mechanic (Porsche Master Mechanic) told me before that there is a way to deactivate the airbag light, so I wonder if that applied to the 997 only.

Congrats on your bucket seat Max. Hope you get to enjoy it.

Very interesting observations about the buckets. I had quite a different take on the comfort (in the link below).

https://rennlist.com/forums/991-gt3/...t-seats-2.html post #26

See you Thursday at THill.

Pleeaase.....

I'd be happy to (and I'm ok with letting trustworthy individuals drive the car). But I got to be at work on Thursday :(. I will be at Thill this Saturday and next Saturday and maybe Sunday. I have not even seen the map of the long track yet, so it's going to be entertaining.

But the seat is too small for you to fit anyway - anyone over 6' would touch the ceining and block the belt pass-throughs. Removing bottom cushion is not a bit helper either - it's less than an inch thick.

TRAKCAR is trustworthy. He has driven my RS around Sebring. Total gentleman.
Would love to know what he thinks of the PDK..... we might lure him to the dark side yet! :)

I won't fit but Chasen would put in the OEM seat and I'll be ar autoclub sat+sun :crying:
Where do you work so I can call in a bomb threat?

I forgot about the airbag light on my passenger side being that it sat for so long before it got picked up for the engine replacement.

Coming from another highly modified car, I'm used to all kinds of warning lights on my dash.

I'm not sure what kind of experience you have, but if you ever require a check out ride or instructor at a DE event, most clubs require similar/equal restraint and seating for both driver and passenger.

Nice, Max! Post pics when you get a chance!

thx for trusting me on the rail selection. if you did sparco or recaro rails, you will be using many four letter beep words by now.

the light can be killed by the latest piwis. i am sure dealer has it. see if you can bribe them.

the seat does increase NVH but you will get used to it. car feels more sporty that way. i have recaro in all my cars.

feel free to work on thursday.
i just need you to pay me $450 for the track time. and i will gladly exercise the red car for ya :thumbsup:

peter, you wont fit. i bring hacksaw and take off parts below your knee. its pkd, no need for lower extremieties. just set CC.

or i drive, you sit on passenger side.

Peter, you're willing to be seen driving a red GT3?!!

For NVH, i wonder if the original bucket seats are any better compared to this?

If airbag light is on does the passenger side air bag still work along with the driver side steering wheel air bag?....or if this side Thorax air bag is disconnected doe the entire air bag system do down and not work?

LOL, I don't mind wrong colors on other peoples cars :thumbsup:
Good one Mike, can you have yours with OEM seats at Thill or Autoclub:cool:

Peter, I'm still about 6K miles from Thunderhill and hoping to be home to pick up the car next week. Unfortunately, I'm also one of those dinosaurs who still believe in "extended" break-in although I bet you'd be willing to help with that...:)