My build date locks in about three weeks for my Touring and the only variable I've been going and back forth about is the LWB vs 18 ways.

I jumped into my local dealer and was able to sit in a RS they had w/ LWB and found them surprising... super comfortable? Almost moreso than my 14-ways in my current 992. FWIW, I'm a smaller guy at 5'9" and 135lb. This car will be a semi daily-driver (8-10k miles/year), so I'm curious to hear what other's experience has been with the buckets long-term and whether they fit the "Touring" vibe or not. Only problem I could foresee is getting in/out... which even with my build was a bit of work.

 

Always an LWB guy here (esp in GT3). You might be deceived by the surprising comfort you mentioned. Sitting in them for a minute or two on a showroom floor is different from diving around town.

The only thing that annoys me is the entry/exit because of wear on the side bolsters.. I can be slick about it, but not sure about my passengers if I have any.

 

Once you're in them they're fine. Getting in and out for some is the problem. Get bolster protectors and don't worry as much about getting in and out. For me, they transform the way the car feels, even on the street. In fairness, I don't have them as I have a 997 GT3 which have 2 way manual sport seat plus on that car, but having been in 981/991 GT cars with buckets and having been in 991 cars with normal sport seats, I prefer the buckets.

Some also don't like that they sit as upright. You can get seat angle adjusters for that. Some don't like the lack of lumbar, you can get a custom cushion made for that from someone like P1Designs.

Ideally, find a 991 GT3 with them. Sit in them for an hour in the showroom. It's well worth the experiment. Seats make or break a car for me.

 

At your size - you'll be fine

 

daily it I'd recommend the base 4way seat. I think it's the best

 

I have buckets in my 991.2 Touring and 4-ways in my GTS. The buckets are far more comfortable for me, whether it be daily driving or road trips. My butt starts to hurt after a few hours in the 4-ways. That has never been the case in the buckets. Not to mention the buckets look so much more special, so much sexier, they enhance the overall driving experience in my opinion. When asked what his "must-have" options are in a GT car, Andreas Preuninger said buckets (because they enhance the driving experience) and PCCBs (for the decreased unsprung weight). And yes, if you are into the whole lighter is better thing, then buckets are the way to go. I never find myself wanting to change the position of the buckets. They sit just perfectly for me. I am 6 feet, 160 lbs. Ingress and egress is a non-issue; it becomes second nature once you get used to it.

 

I DD my 991.2 GT3 w/ buckets (~1K miles/mnth) and also regularly drive it from Nash to ATL (4 hours). I find the seats very comfortable and I think they add to the experience of the car. I wouldn't want a GT car w/o buckets. Not sure I'd want any Porsche sports car w/o them actually. YMMV - very personal choice, like color or transmission.

 

I have the 918 bucket s in my 981 GT4 and chose the 18 way for the Touring. it's not a race car and not really a track car. The 18 way seats are so much more suited for daily living than the buckets. If you tracked the car a lot and it was not really a daily driver, then LWB is a different matter. But for what is a daily driven street car, the buckets gets old pretty fast. Also, the Touring is pretty firm to say the least, and the 18 ways take some of the hits out of the bumps.

For me the Touring is a "Touring" so buckets simply don't fit. There's no wings, no cage, none of the racy stuff. Aside from not being practical, they simply look way out of place.

 

I took a very long trip from Houston to Vancouver Island Canada in my 991.2 GT3 in buckets. For me they were very comfortable for very long haul driving. I opted for them again in spite of not tracking my Touring. I actually tour in my Tourings and love the LWB’s. Good luck.

 

I strongly prefer the look and feel of non-black 18 ways on a touring, so that is what I would get. That’s said, my GT3 has a wing and LWBS. Porsche makes great seats, and everyone has their own preferences, so you really can’t go wrong.

 

I think the LWB look perfectly at home in the Touring. Nothing out of place to my eyes, but to each his/her own. Quite frankly, I think I would enjoy my GTS even more if it had the buckets versus the 4-ways....

 

Both are comfortable when you are in the seat.

You cannot feel the difference in weight under normal driving conditions. If you could, the 18 ways would be more balanced because you have more weight in the front of the car to offset the rear engine bias, aka less understeer.

Therefore, the only difference is getting in and out, and bolstering. You do not need the bolstering under dailying conditions, but for canyon carving and track driving, you do need more aggressive bolsters. Lwbs are easy to get in, but hard to get out, and this is even for an athletic and young person.

There are two fastest and easiest ways to get out of an lwb, and it depends largely on the configured height of the seat. These two methods also allow you to exit the vehicle while holding things in your hand.

1. If the seat is configured higher, then simply swing your outer most foot over the bolster and then lean your entire body weight on it while tucking your head as close to your chest. If done correctly, you’ll roll over the bolster without hitting your head on the ceiling. this method requires the car door to be open at its first notch. If you cannot open the door to to the first notch, pull the seat all the way to the rear and repeat the process. This method wears the bolsters.
2. if the seat is configured lower, then it may not be possible to swing your outer most foot like in method 1. Instead, we pull the seat all the way back, which implicitly elevates your seating position to allow you to swing your outer most leg like in method 1, and also reducing the door space needed to get out of the vehicle. Then use method 1 to get out. This wears the bolsters.

if you are too worried about bolsters, you’ll need more door space (2nd or 3rd notch) for this method, and you cannot hold things in your hands when exiting. Put your outer most hand on the doorsill and your inner most hand on the inner most bolster. Physically lift your outer most leg over the bolster without touching it, and as you put your outer most leg down, lean your entire body weight onto the outer most leg while tucking in your head to your chest, and roll out of the vehicle. If done correctly, you’ll leave the vehicle without touching the bolster and hitting your head on the ceiling, but the cost is time, door space, and effort.

 

This thread has been really informative and helpful, I appreciate all of the replies!

After some thought, I’m going to stick with the LWB in Mojave.

 

My carrera s has 18ways. Gt3 has buckets. Wife prefers the bucket, says it fits her perfectly though she like ability to adjust the 18 way to nap on longer drives.

personally I’ll always go buckets from now on if I have no back seats. I was worried about the angle but it’s perfect.

 

IT IS SIMPLE. I have 18 ways in my 992 TTS , my DD . Have buckets in my GT cars, 991.2 Gt3RS and 992 GT3, my track cars.
If I drive long distance in LWB seat I have bought memory foam seat and lumbar cushions, work great.
Only problem with LWBs, you can’t lean back to take a quick nap!