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My current seats (for a 97' silver C2 cab) have a couple issues (upholstered by the previous owner into vinyl surface, two-tone with grey inserts, non-standard letter stitching, signs of deformed bolster foam, etc.). I would like to change them. However, the stock 993 replacement seats with reasonable cost/condition have been extremely hard to find. And I don't quite trust LADismantler due to its low-resolution pictures and lack of explicit pricing on their web site. There are a number of factors that I'm evaluating:
- Shouldn't look out of place in my 993 Cab. My car is mostly stock, except the short shifter kit and the upgraded suspension for the street. No tracking needs.
- No discernible performance penalty - not adding too much weight to the stock seats.
- Reasonable price (my upper limit is currently $4000 but may be flexible some for convincing value propositions)
I'm considering a few options:
1. 997 comfort seats (~$2000 with all the adapters/conversions) - Pros: great condition (8 out of 10). Cons: Feels much heavier. Not sure about whether they'd look out of place in 993.
2. 964 comfort seats (~1600 for the ones I'm looking at) - Pros: Classic looking so maybe more period-correct than newer-generation seats. Cons: patterns not exactly matching the 993 rear seats which I'm keeping. Condition is 5-6 out of 10.
3. 997 GT-3 sport seats (~4000 including adapters) - Pros: definitive sporty look. Very good-great condition. Cons: Losing the classic feel?
4. Recaro Sportier CS leather seats (~4800 including tax and sliders) - Pros: new condition. Definitive sporty look. Lighter? Cons: Losing the classic feel?
5. Reupholster with Classic9. (~$4000 including installation and shipping back/fro) - Pros: keeping the stock look. Cons: High probability for a much higher cost if the foam/hardware need to be replaced.
I went down this same road a few years ago and settled on the Recaro Sportster CS seats with heat. In my opinion, they do not look out of place and I have been extremely happy with them. Of your choices above, I'd make the same decision again.
That price for reupholstering the stock seats seems tremendously high. You should be able to get new leather covers from them and do it yourself for half that.
-Scott
Last edited by 71-3.0-911; 03-09-2023 at 05:00 PM.
997 or 964 seats will look way out of place.. I'd suggest just reupholster your original seats for a nice original OEM look, you can also source some recaros and put in there as an extra set if you want something sporty for the time being. $4500 seems like a lot to reupholster seats, you should be able to have it down under $3,000
+1 for Recaro Sportster CS. They have comfort for daily driving and enough 'bucket' for the canyons. They can recline forward so you can still utilize the rear… I don't really see a con. They look great in 993's, I get compliments often.
Hi Flyweight,
I had Classic 9 send me the new seat covers and I installed them DIY with great results.
This is an advanced DIY project where doing it for the first time one needs to go slow, be observant, using care.
My seats are the hard-back variety so added a bit more complexity than the soft-back seats.
Doing it DIY avoided shipping the seats avoiding a good bit of cost and maybe a little on the retail price as no install service was used.
Another alternative to DIY to save cost is to just buy the covers and have a local upholstery shop install them.
Here is my recounting of the project: https://993servicerepair.blogspot.co...pholstery.html
Andy
I'm in the same boat, would love a set of the 944/964/993 Soft Back Sport Seats but they are very difficult to find and fairly expensive.
I found some on OfferUp but the seller is asking to do the transaction outside of the application which screams scam unfortunately. He said they have a shop called Vintage Porsche Parts in Diamond Springs, CA but I can't find anything online.
not sure i saw this option suggested above, but i went with 996 sport seats (standard seats from a GT3). relatively plug and play and i think they probably look more like the 993 hardbacks than other options. mine originally came with supple seats and i wasn't a big fan of the look. a little work on the connectors and power functions perfectly.
i picked them up locally in dallas many years ago for $750.
not sure i saw this option suggested above, but i went with 996 sport seats (standard seats from a GT3). relatively plug and play and i think they probably look more like the 993 hardbacks than other options. mine originally came with supple seats and i wasn't a big fan of the look. a little work on the connectors and power functions perfectly.
i picked them up locally in dallas many years ago for $750.
Do those 996 sport seats sit higher than the original 993 seats? I'm kinda tall (6'2") and would like a hardback type seat, but want to try to sit lower in the car, if possible so my head doesn't brush the headliner.
Last edited by Mr.Woolery; 03-09-2023 at 07:01 PM.
@rsabeebe Nice 996 seats. I think the going asking price for those are well into $3-4K range even for lousy conditions.
@TheBen I looked into both the reproduction soft back or hard back sport seats from Waldemar (or similar). They are both ~$7K now.
@os993 I like Sportster CS for its reclinable back so more stock/street like. Pole Positions seems more hardcore race-like. Same for Recaro GT.
@pp000830 I wish I were as handy. I could see myself stressed our through that project. This job is one thing I might have to leave to professionals.
@71-3.0-911@c2_peter@Tarek307 Thanks for the Recaro Sportster CS recommendation. I'm definitely now leaning more toward this option.
Also, @71-3.0-911 What style of CS is that in your car? Is that leather bolster + Artista or Dinamica insert? Also do you remember what else you need to install them into your 993, such as the sliders and the seat belt?
Answering my own question on adapters: sounds like all I need to attach the seats is to install this "universal' sliders directly onto the 993 floor. They allow me to attach seats on top and allow sliding back and forth.
There are options for with or without tabs, and inside or outside bar. I'm 5'10" - 5'11" but I need to boost my stock comfort seats to highest level so my line of sight could clear the damn windshield wipers. Should I go with tabs or no tabs?
I don't know what the significance is for inside bar or outside. Advice?
[/quote] @71-3.0-911 What style of CS is that in your car? Is that leather bolster + Artista or Dinamica insert? Also do you remember what else you need to install them into your 993, such as the sliders and the seat belt?
[/quote]
Mine are leather and dinamica. All you need to install are factory recaro non tabbed sliders. Now, if you need the seats elevated, there are additional parts and tabbed sliders. I am 5'9" and have standard non tabbed sliders.
Sliders bolt to the bottom of the seat and then bolt to the stock floor pan locations. All you need to install are the standard non-tabbed sliders and the seats!
I went through a lot of options on installing these and how best to have them fit into the stock locations. Feel free to PM me if you end up going this route. Glad to help.
-Scott
Last edited by 71-3.0-911; 03-09-2023 at 08:57 PM.
My current seats (for a 97' silver C2 cab) have a couple issues (upholstered by the previous owner into vinyl surface, two-tone with grey inserts, non-standard letter stitching, signs of deformed bolster foam, etc.). I would like to change them. However, the stock 993 replacement seats with reasonable cost/condition have been extremely hard to find. And I don't quite trust LADismantler due to its low-resolution pictures and lack of explicit pricing on their web site. There are a number of factors that I'm evaluating:
- Shouldn't look out of place in a 997 Cab. My car is mostly stock, except the short shifter kit and the upgraded suspension for the street. No tracking needs.
- No discernible performance penalty - not adding too much weight to the stock seats.
- Reasonable price (my upper limit is currently $4000 right now but may be flexible some for convincing value propositions)
I'm considering a few options:
1. 997 comfort seats (~$2000 with all the adapters/conversions) - Pros: great condition (8 out of 10). Cons: Feels much heavier. Not sure about whether they'd look out of place in 993.
2. 946 comfort seats (~1600 for the ones I'm looking at) - Pros: Classic looking so maybe more period-correct than newer-generation seats. Cons: patterns not exactly matching the 993 rear seats which I'm keeping. Condition is 5-6 out of 10.
3. 997 GT-3 sport seats (~4000 w/ adapters) - Pros: definitive sporty look. Very good-great condition. Cons: Losing the classic feel?
4. Recaro Sportier CS leather seats (~4800 w/tax + sliders) - Pros: new condition. Definitive sporty look. Lighter? Cons: Losing the classic feel?
5. Reupholster with Classic9. (~$4000 w/ installation and shipping back/fro) - Pros: keeping the stock look. Cons: High probability for a much higher cost if the foam/hardware need to be replaced.
Interested in your thoughts. Thanks.
Consider sport seats with painted or carbon fiber backs and new leather. I just ordered a set from Waldemar Muller in Germany. It will be the most expensive of the bunch and you'll wait about 8 months to get them but they will look the best too! Check out TURBOSEATS on Instagram if you are not familiar with his work.
@71-3.0-911 Thanks Scott! Will reach out for further help.
@Strimdog Those do look great. I have looked at them and had to keep reminding myself that my 993 is a driver rather than a museum or racing piece. They would be very steep "slippery slope" for me.
03-09-2023, 02:57 PM
Advice on seats
