KrisW

iTrader: (5)

Hey guys, I'm preparing to start daily driving my beat to hell 88 Firebird this fall. I know from the driving I have done so far that the driver's seat is shot. All of the expected body parts that can be affected are hahaha.

What do you daily drivers recommend as the best driver's seat? I am always on a strict budget, but I do find aftermarket seats at swap meets, on eBay, Craigslist, etc...

I also do a long range run to Indiana and Ohio once in a while. I need to not be in serious pain after such a trip.

I used to do long range Ohio to California runs in my 90 Firebird with manual seats. It wasn't too bad, but it could have been better.

Let me know!

GerryCat09

iTrader: (1)

Check junkyards for the older body style cavaliers, the squarish body ones had very comfortable seats. They normally came in the same colors as the thirdgen interiors. I have a set in my DD 91 bird with a grey interior and the cavalier seats match up perfect. Its like driving a recliner. I swapped seat tracks from my bird onto the seats to make them sit lower, but IIRC the cavalier seat tracks will bolt up.

KrisW

iTrader: (5)

Great tip, thanks!

KrisW

iTrader: (5)

What about the factory installed Recaro seats? Anybody got any thoughts on them?

KrisW

iTrader: (5)

No more thoughts?

Anyone?

Anyone?

Alright then, I'll be looking at OEM stuff, mostly GM. Thanks for the input to those who put in!

83TransAmDayton

I have Recaro seats in mine and there really nice. I like the feel of them if I where you i go with the one that feels good to you

KrisW

iTrader: (5)

I have been looking at a few different sets of Recaro seats. I'm thinking to go that way first if I can.

BlueZee28

iTrader: (30)

Anyone that is voting for third gen seats over fourth gen has never sat in a fourth gen seat. Haha

There's no comparison, the fourth gen seats are way more comfortable.

tlandoe

Even fourth gen seats suck big time, my roommate has a 2002 trans am vert with the custom factory leather seats. Extremely uncomfortable!

If you don't care what it looks like, most all gm buckets will fit from like ca1980-1995. I know a guy who took Buick Century seats and bolted them in. Same with Monte Carlo (nice cushy seats!) and they have the same power seat controls. Monte was like a 1996.

I'm recovering my original seats personally because I think anything other than stock looks tacky unless very well done. I prefer them to look nice over comfort though, but if you're taking long trips and I imagine you probably aren't as concerned with looks, I'd get some comfy seats.

TraviZ

iTrader: (2)

I bought a set of Corbeau seats and they bolted right to our brackets and are super comfy. A bit pricy compared to other seats mentioned in this thread but the height matches the car perfectly and the comfort level as all my passengers have said is excellent. Never had any back fatigue so far either.

TraviZ

iTrader: (2)

Heres a pic I found on Corbeaus website:



http://www.corbeau.com/products/recl...seats/baja_rs/

KrisW

iTrader: (5)

You're running the suspension seat? That's interesting and good to know.

I was looking at this one:

http://www.corbeau.com/products/reclining_seats/lg1/

KrisW

iTrader: (5)

I was searching around and found some Recaro seats from a Saturn on Craigslist. Anyone have a short list of OEM Recaro seats? I've seen some BMW and Mercedes, and even some early 80's Mustangs, but I CAN'T do that hahahha.

Let me know

TraviZ

iTrader: (2)

I am because the seat profile matches the height of stock seats so they look correct and I get nothing but compliments.

KrisW

iTrader: (5)

What's the longest trip you've taken on that seat and honestly how did it feel?

TraviZ

iTrader: (2)

so far about an hour round trip and like i said, no issues. go to a store that stocks them and play with them yourself. You will get the best feel if they are for you that way.

Orr89RocZ

iTrader: (20)

Interesting opinion.. I happen to love my 99 TA seats... Very comfortable with the multiple power adjustments and lumbar adjustments. I've driven 3-4hrs at a time no sweat feeling very comfortable in those. It is my daily driver

I also have corbeau forza's in my camaro. Comfortable when on the power rack/sliders. I can tilt it abit more since the seat angle is pretty straight up. Its comfy but not sure I'd want it in a DD. The other reclining options look like better alternatives.

tlandoe

There is absolutely no padding in the bottom of the seat where your butt goes on her car. My 83 with original buckets feel better

Orr89RocZ

iTrader: (20)

Are the seats worn out? I find them having plenty of cushion for me. My corbeau forzas are alot stiffer.

Factory GTO seats I hear are awesome but HUGE seats and hard to get fit right. Definately leaves no rear leg room for back passengers, if any.

tlandoe

I think her car has like 112000 miles, but she's had it for most of that and she's not heavy enough to totally wear them out

ghettocruiser

iTrader: (4)

Im 6'4, 220lbs. I think my stock 4th gen seats are some of the most comfortable seats in any car Ive owned. Being a bigger guy...aftermarket seats are too cramped for me. At least the cheaper ones are.

The 4th gen seats are SO close to the original 3rd gen seats as far as appearance goes, and are pretty abundent. So getting a nice set to me is an attraction vs. getting a stock set re-done.

Longest trip I took was from SE PA down to OBX. About 8 hours start to finish. Only stopped a couple times (gotta love an LS1 and T56 for MPG!). Was perfect comfort wise.

Really...the only person that can answer this is you. You need to try out different seats and see what fits you best. What is comfortable to me or another guy might be horrible to you. Looks wise...My vote goes for stock 3rd or 4th gen. Aftermarket seats in an otherwise stock car is hard to pull off. Ive seen it done...but they arent cheap seats.

Good luck!

J.

KrisW

iTrader: (5)

That's good advice, since I am 6'0" and 235 lbs. Hopefully to go down soon ahhahah.

I'll have to sit in some more 4th gen stuff, I guess. I DO appreciate the reviews on those seats!

Bow_Tied

iTrader: (1)

Do you have more pics of your install of the seats? Did you do back seat too?

HankL69

iTrader: (1)

I agree with the posters above who like the 4th gen seats. I have a set of leather seats from a 4th gen Camaro in my IROC and love them. To be honest I haven't taken a trip of more then 3 hours with them yet but so far they are way better then the original cloth seats. Best thing is they look like they belong there.

Cadaver Puncher

iTrader: (1)

Ultimate comfort? Early 80s to90s conversion van captian seats.
I'd never do that. But I have had geo storm gsi or something like that seats in mine. They were free because at the time my friend ( 320lbs. ) broke them. So I took them to the shop where I worked and welded them. At the time I weighed 275lbs mainly for college football and wrestling.

I'd drive from Los Angeles to vegas every two months. Comfortable and have good support

KrisW

iTrader: (5)

Alright!

Well, those 4th gen seats really seem to look good in there. Its becoming a very attractive option to me now. Thanks for all the input!

Cadaver Puncher

iTrader: (1)

Cadillac has some comfortable as hell seats too.

KrisW

iTrader: (5)

I know Cadillac has some good stuff, but there are a combination of factors that all have to be met.

1. NOT outrageously priced
2. The seat has to be from a 2 door car so that it tilts forward to allow my kids to get in the back.
3. Comfortable for long trips

I know there are Caddy seats for two door cars out there now, but they are gonna be relatively late model and as a consequence I expect the price to be quite high.

garner

Personally I like the procar seats for comfort

KrisW

iTrader: (5)

Which model seat, how much do you weigh and how much did it cost you?

How long are the longest trips that you take?

fbodyalltheway

I really like the PMD seats I find them really comfortable just hard to find.

white1991rs

A paint marker broke open in my backpack and trashed one of my back seats but I have a friend who does upholstery work on like couches and boats and things. Its essentially the same thing you just need the right rings and tool to put the cover back over the foam. I think this is a cheaper route than having it done some place that specializes in car interiors (at least in my case it is) if you also need foam I'd look for it online and order all the components you need then just take it all in to some kind of upholstery shop.

KrisW

iTrader: (5)

Yeah, I've recovered a seat before, not too bad once you learn about hog rings. The problem is that the replacement foam and covers cost more than good condition leather seats!

Recovering is my last option as far as OEM stuff goes. I'd rather pick up some used stuff better than mine (which is nearly all of them) and then recover THAT seat rather than mine.

1ADan

iTrader: (4)

If I could find a way to fit my 08 G8 seats into a 3rd gen, I would; they are insanely comfortable. Only other downside besides fabbing is that they don't fold forward, so back seats would be even more useless than with the stock seats

white1991rs

Yeah our back seats suck but my brothers 944 is even worse. Didnt even know that was possible.

ghettocruiser

iTrader: (4)

Further back.



The charcoal 4th gen seats match the grey interiors very well IMO. If you have tan or black...go for Ebony 4th gen seats.

Here are some black cloth 4th gen seats in the same car. I got these for $50 for summer beach trips. Getting into a hot car with leather seats while sweaty and covered in sand and lotion is no fun. But these...fit the bill perfect! And its such a quick swap to change them.



J.

PUNISH3R

iTrader: (2)

Doing my seat swap this weekend, I'm ampted! I don't know if the prior owner had a pet mountain lion or what but the driver's seat was shredded. I was kinda looking around for 2 months. Found a perfect set of Firebird leather seats for $300! You can'r beat the price. They go in this weekend! I'll start a thread as I install.

DBLTKE

iTrader: (1)

I have Recaro LS's from a mk2 GTi in my '91 Z28. All Recaro's have the same mounting bolt pattern on the bottom of the seat regardless of what make or model they came in, it's the rails that differ. It's fairly simple to make adapter brackets to use the factory rails.

Dizturbed One

Best seat swap I've ever seen was a guy on here that put some factory Audi seats in his Camaro. All he had to do was swap the rails over. Clean black leather that fit perfect and looked incredibly comfy compared to anything I've seen in an F-body.

I would measure the width of the base both ways, and the height you want the seat at, take into account the rails off your current seats, and hit the junkyard.

I've had 4th gen seats for years now, and must admit they're more comfortable than the old stock seats were, for sure. But they leave a lot to be desired. I'm 6'2" and 250 lbs though, so a 3rd Gen seat is a tough sell for me, lol.

abray1

The trans am lumbars from mid 80s to 2002 are close to the same and more for cruising and thats what I put in my 92 Z vert. I have a 90 ZR-1 vette and its seats are comfortable and made for hard cornering. The model from 89-93 I think re my favorite they come up high and hold you firm and have lumbar controls. They changed from 94-96 and were more forgiving. I have an 02 vette and they feel more like a gta lumbar but a little looser. For a fast car driven hard go 90-93 vette seats. For a cruiser, I like lumbar GTA or 97-02 trans am (same seat).

KrisW

iTrader: (5)

Thanks for all of the ideas! It looks like I have some serious junkyarding to do when I get home!

garner

The procar sportsman pro recliner, http://www.jegs.com/p/Scat/Procar-Sp...73566/10002/-1 About $200 a seat. I weigh 120 but it was in my uncle's camaro and he weighs about 180. It was a 3 hour trip and I was completely comfortable

KrisW

iTrader: (5)

Being inspired by this, I started hunting. I believe I AM going with used OEM Recaros from something. Working on the deal now.

Thanks all for the great advice and input.