Recaro A8
03-24-2005, 01:46 PM
#1
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Recaro A8
I just saw a set of Recaro A8 seats on EBAY (No affiliation)
Those are some awesome seats, but expensive. I wonder if they are set up for 5/6 point harnesses. For that price, lessee, I can buy some factory sport seats and a set of SPG's and a DAS rollbar and maybe even some harnesses to boot and swap them out when the mood hits me.
Greg H.
Those are some awesome seats, but expensive. I wonder if they are set up for 5/6 point harnesses. For that price, lessee, I can buy some factory sport seats and a set of SPG's and a DAS rollbar and maybe even some harnesses to boot and swap them out when the mood hits me.
Greg H.
03-24-2005, 02:29 PM
#3
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they were the seats Ruf used in their 993 models.
Seems these seats are as close as you get to a 'shell' type seat that is still 2 piece.
That said, they look cool, but are no way worth $6000. that is more than double the price of a set of new recaro full leather topline seats
Seems these seats are as close as you get to a 'shell' type seat that is still 2 piece.
That said, they look cool, but are no way worth $6000. that is more than double the price of a set of new recaro full leather topline seats
03-24-2005, 04:39 PM
#7
A few things worth mentionning:
these on Ebay are the first gen. A8. They have the plastic shell bottom, which always cracks. Not a question of wether they will crack, but when. I have seen countless such seats and *all* had cracked bottom shells. That is the reason the 2nd gen has a std bottom, foam padding over steel frame, which is incidentally the same base as the later SRDs.
I have bought my 2nd gen seats for 1900$ new in the boxes about 4 years ago, and they are indeed excellent seats.
I also have a 1st gen that I had to repair, which is a major chore, and about impossible to do without steel reinforcments (that one is for sale, and cheap).
Oh yes, 6500
these on Ebay are the first gen. A8. They have the plastic shell bottom, which always cracks. Not a question of wether they will crack, but when. I have seen countless such seats and *all* had cracked bottom shells. That is the reason the 2nd gen has a std bottom, foam padding over steel frame, which is incidentally the same base as the later SRDs.
I have bought my 2nd gen seats for 1900$ new in the boxes about 4 years ago, and they are indeed excellent seats.
I also have a 1st gen that I had to repair, which is a major chore, and about impossible to do without steel reinforcments (that one is for sale, and cheap).
Oh yes, 6500
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03-24-2005, 09:13 PM
#9
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Greg, et al...
FWIW, I have a set of A8's that I am currently re-working for my TT. I recently bought them from a gent in Germany. Yes, they are expensive, particularly with the weak dollar to Euro combined with the shipping to the US.
IMHO, these are the "holy grail" of street seat. A8's are a hybrid seat with a fixed back with flip forward mechanism. Support is great and the A8's are setup for 5/6 pt. harnesses. Finding a correct set of L/R seats is the challenge. Germany seems to be where most of the remaining usable A8's are trading hands. Finding my set took about 4 months and this was to find a good set of "cores".
As has been mentioned, there are two bottom cushion designs, one is a leter style sharing the same base as the SRD/Speed, the other is the original A8 bottom which is a upholstered plastic tub. The tub is prone to cracking when flexed every entry/exit. As I already have a set of speeds, I am likely to try the A8 style bottom for now and switch it out when it cracks. Time will tell.
For reference, with my rework, I am planning to end up with a seat, similar to the one pictured only with mine being yellow, where this pair has red...
FWIW, I have a set of A8's that I am currently re-working for my TT. I recently bought them from a gent in Germany. Yes, they are expensive, particularly with the weak dollar to Euro combined with the shipping to the US.
IMHO, these are the "holy grail" of street seat. A8's are a hybrid seat with a fixed back with flip forward mechanism. Support is great and the A8's are setup for 5/6 pt. harnesses. Finding a correct set of L/R seats is the challenge. Germany seems to be where most of the remaining usable A8's are trading hands. Finding my set took about 4 months and this was to find a good set of "cores".
As has been mentioned, there are two bottom cushion designs, one is a leter style sharing the same base as the SRD/Speed, the other is the original A8 bottom which is a upholstered plastic tub. The tub is prone to cracking when flexed every entry/exit. As I already have a set of speeds, I am likely to try the A8 style bottom for now and switch it out when it cracks. Time will tell.
For reference, with my rework, I am planning to end up with a seat, similar to the one pictured only with mine being yellow, where this pair has red...
03-24-2005, 10:28 PM
#10
Race Director
Yes they are very expensive. But they are only available iin Europe, and no longer made today. That's gives the seller a lot of leverage over those who really want them.
They are marvellous seats. incredible bracing at the shoulders, lower back and thighs. When you're cornering hard, the feedback from the car comes not only from the hand and feet, but now almost from the entire body. Mine being buffalo hide, is more textured than leather, and 'grabs' even better. Best seat I've ever driven in. Fact that they allow OEM type access to the back seats is a bonus.
Here's a pic of the ones in my RUF. Enjoy.
CP
They are marvellous seats. incredible bracing at the shoulders, lower back and thighs. When you're cornering hard, the feedback from the car comes not only from the hand and feet, but now almost from the entire body. Mine being buffalo hide, is more textured than leather, and 'grabs' even better. Best seat I've ever driven in. Fact that they allow OEM type access to the back seats is a bonus.
Here's a pic of the ones in my RUF. Enjoy.
CP
03-25-2005, 06:09 AM
#13
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Guys
This particular pair is unusuallyy expensive. It is not that hard to find A8s on the german Ebay
They ususally sel for 1300-1600 € depending on condition
Here you can see
http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...e=STRK:MEDW:IT
http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...e=STRK:MEDW:IT
This particular pair is unusuallyy expensive. It is not that hard to find A8s on the german Ebay
They ususally sel for 1300-1600 € depending on condition
Here you can see
http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...e=STRK:MEDW:IT
http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...e=STRK:MEDW:IT
03-25-2005, 08:07 AM
#14
The seller of the set with a BIN of 6500$ just bought them for 1210Euros...
Look at the link in the first post of this thread, and then the 2nd link on Burgass' post above here. Then look at the feedbacks...
Look at the link in the first post of this thread, and then the 2nd link on Burgass' post above here. Then look at the feedbacks...
03-25-2005, 09:25 AM
#15
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The seller of the set with a BIN of 6500$ just bought them for 1210Euros...
Can we go the other way??- anything available in the US that the Europeans dont have? - we can list that on german ebay
Seriously, it is too bad Recaro didnt do more with the upper part of the speed seat. It is a great seat and very comfy - if they made it look a bit more aggressive on the shoulders, it would be a great alternative.