Bucket Seats
09-04-2012, 11:40 PM
#16
The 'sport bucket seats' will be coming soon enough here as standard on the next 991 gt3, gt3 RS, gt2, gt2 RS and 981 Cayman R (and Spyder, if we ever see that model again). I think MY2009 was the only year PCNA allowed the regular 997 model to have these buckets as an option. I can think of only one model - the Launch Edition 'Meteor Grey' C4S - that had 'sport buckets' as part of an introductory package! But the dealers quickly learned to hate them, claimed they were killing sales and said they lost money by having to discount these Launch C4S heavily to move them out! I think that experience pretty much convinced PCNA not to offer these buckets again on the regular 911/ Boxster/ Cayman models!
The 'sport buckets', the folding type with side air bags, were introduced in our market in MY2008 on the gt2. Thus, we know them here as the 'gt2 seats'. The .1 gt3's and gt3 RS's never got them in this market. Or anywhere else for that matter, since PAG uses the non-folding, lighter sport buckets in most ROW markets! On the US version of the .2 997 gt3, gt3 RS, gt2 RS, gt3 RS 4.0, and the 987 Spyder & Cayman R, these gt2 type 'sport buckets' were standard equipment! The leather sport seats (with or without Alcantara inlays) were a no cost option on these cars. I can not remember these 'sport bucket seats' ever priced separately in MY2010, MY2011 or MY2012 here in the United States on any other model. And for the life of me, I can't even remember a price for them in the .2 997 MY2009 when they were briefly offered by PCNA!
My contention is that PCNA, listening to its dealer base in this particular market, will not offer these 'sport bucket seats' as a regular option on the regular 991's and 981's. Even if you custom order your car with these bucket seats, they expect to see it again in a few years time as a lease return or trade-in. So they are anticipating the difficulty in selling them down the road. Unless the Porsche enthusiast base makes their case and press their demand loudly to PCNA, I don't think we will see them here anytime soon on regular models. So far I do not see any evidence that the US Porsche enthusiasts are pressing their case...but I could be wrong!
PAG is working right now on the next generation of 'sport bucket seats'. They will be able to be adjusted in a multitude of ways, something lacking in the current version. This new seat will be introduced in the 918 Spyder and a version of it will 'trickle' down to the 991/981 before the end of this model run, hopefully on the .2 991 and the .2 981!
Saludos,
Eduardo
09-05-2012, 01:47 AM
#17
The sport buckets were available on the configurator for later years on the 997 and 987. Granted, I haven't seen any cars other than the launch C4S, GT variants, Spyder or Cayman R with them, but I think you could have ordered them.
09-05-2012, 07:24 AM
#19
09-07-2012, 01:24 AM
#20
I've heard the reason why they are not currently offered as a factory option is a liability issue. Seems Porsche lawyers don't want to take a chance with the 991s, where it was more acceptable with the 997.2s and 987.2s. Since the sport buckets have a rigid had seatback, they are a severe crash hazard if a rear seat passenger were to hit their head into one. Although strangely there is a warning sticker for such an issue on the back of the sport buckets in .2 GT3, yet it doesn't have a back seat.
09-07-2012, 03:01 AM
#21
Race Director
I've heard the reason why they are not currently offered as a factory option is a liability issue. Seems Porsche lawyers don't want to take a chance with the 991s, where it was more acceptable with the 997.2s and 987.2s. Since the sport buckets have a rigid had seatback, they are a severe crash hazard if a rear seat passenger were to hit their head into one.
Not all options are available the minute a new Porsche model is introduced. That's all that is going on here. IMO, the Sport Buckets will be available by the time the GT3 model comes out; probably sooner.
09-07-2012, 03:43 AM
#22
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Sport Buckets is an option available on the Australian configurator ($3100 from memory - probably will be much less in the US - they cost us the sames as adding 18 way Adaptive Sports Seats). No issues in ordering them out here. Must be red tape with US PCNA?
09-07-2012, 03:57 AM
#23
Can you check with your source and give us more definite information? Thanks.
I've heard the reason why they are not currently offered as a factory option is a liability issue. Seems Porsche lawyers don't want to take a chance with the 991s, where it was more acceptable with the 997.2s and 987.2s. Since the sport buckets have a rigid had seatback, they are a severe crash hazard if a rear seat passenger were to hit their head into one.
That doesn't make any sense to me. The Sport Buckets are no more of a liability issue than the Sport Seats Plus or Adaptive Sport Seats which also have rigid seat backs and which are already offered on the 991 as an option.
Not all options are available the minute a new Porsche model is introduced. That's all that is going on here. IMO, the Sport Buckets will be available by the time the GT3 model comes out; probably sooner.
Not all options are available the minute a new Porsche model is introduced. That's all that is going on here. IMO, the Sport Buckets will be available by the time the GT3 model comes out; probably sooner.
Saludos,
Eduardo
09-07-2012, 02:59 PM
#24
Rennlist Member
Can you refer me to a MY2010, MY2011 or MY2012 997 (non-gt3, gt2 or GTS) in the US that was actually allowed to be ordered with those seats? There may be some...I just have never seen them! For sure I think no 987 (other than the Spyder & Cayman R) ever was able to get them here in the US!
09-07-2012, 03:21 PM
#25
Race Director
Mike: Yes, not all options need to be available on a new model right away. Granted. But many of us find odd that other markets are allowed to order the 'Sport Buckets' on the 991 & 981 (for many months now) and PCNA still does not allow it here. So it's not PAG but PCNA that is causing the 'delay', and is only affecting our market. We need to know the exact reason why - whether is the dealers objecting or because of liability concerns! This whole question might disappear if the reports from Riley & Jon that they ARE now available to order on US 991's & 981's can be confirmed! But I remain dubious.
Saludos,
Eduardo
Saludos,
Eduardo
09-07-2012, 06:12 PM
#27
I don't disagree Eduardo. I was just saying that not having all options available at introduction has been fairly normal in the past, whatever the reason. Like you, I'm curious as to what's causing the delay here in the U.S. on the sport buckets, but am fairly confident it will be resolved eventually. The unfortunate thing is if someone is ordering a 991 now and can't get the seats they want (which will available anyway in 6 months), just because PCNA (or someone) is playing politics or has dropped the ball.
Saludos,
Eduardo
09-07-2012, 06:53 PM
#28
Rennlist Member
Make believe that I am from Missouri and show me the actual cars in US market that have been ordered with these 'sport bucket seats' in MY2010, MY2011 and MY2012 that are not gt3's, gt3 RS's, gt2 RS's, GTS's, Spyder's and Cayman R's! I know in theory they were available from Porsche, but did PCNA let them be ordered in this market on 'regular' 997's & 987's other than MY2009 997's? If so, I want to see them - photos and multiple examples of their existence via actual Monroney stickers- so that we can put this subject to rest!
Or go to the configurator and build yourself anything on the old platform with Sport Buckets, from a base Cayman to a Turbo S Cabriolet. As I said, it has been the case since 2009.
09-08-2012, 12:09 AM
#29
