5pt harness with Sport Seats?

[CMOS]

I'm thinking about options for a 5pt harness (for driver and passenger) for the 997 C4S. The car has the regular sport seats, not the adaptive sport seats. Oh, I use the backseats for my children everyday, so I can't install a roll cage. Is there any way to do this?

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[NorthVan]

Originally Posted by CMOS

I'm thinking about options for a 5pt harness (for driver and passenger) for the 997 C4S. The car has the regular sport seats, not the adaptive sport seats.

Oh, I use the backseats for my children everyday, so I can't install a roll cage.

Is there any way to do this?

You need to upgrade your seats to allow for a sub mount bar. The harnesses also need to tie down to something, harness bar, rear seat belt mounting points, either way your back seat is going to be difficult use.

[GT3 Chuck]

with sport seats you are safer with just the factory seat belt...without a proper racing seat with eyelets for the shoulder belts you are more likely to get injured as the belts will slip off your shoulders in an impact with the sport seats...also, as mentioned you can't go 5 point since there is no outlet for a sub belt....and if that isn't enough to convince you that sport seats and a harness is a bad idea...without some roll protection you are safer with the sport seat and standard belts...if you have racing seats and no rollbar instead of walking away from a rollover you will likely be a fatality since the racing seat and harness will hold you very upright as the roof collapses on you...for safety there is no compromise...you either go all out with proper seats, harness and roll protection (and give up the back seats) or leave it stock

[NorthVan]

Good points Chuck, I installed a roll bar in my car and say it is the one mod I never want to use!

[CMOS]

Cr*p! Looks like I'll need to get a proper race car!

[NorthVan]

Originally Posted by CMOS

Cr*p! Looks like I'll need to get a proper race car!

now you are talking, buy one for me too

[RonCT]

You have options... Easiest is to get a set of GT2 seats for about $6300 (on sale) and a BK harness mount bar (easy to install / remove). If you don't mind losing the thorax air bag, many have put in just about every type of racing seat (black leather would look as stock as possible) and had a 3rd party shop deactivate the airbag warning light. Me, I wouldn't do that if the car is driven on the street. Designed and certified with the thorax airbag and imagine if you get in an accident and a passenger gets hurt and you've tinkered with federal safety equipment.

And please don't get 5-pointers (do they still make them?). Get 6-points and be safer. If you are going as far as harness bar and seats, you might as well get the right belts.

[GT3 Chuck]

please, please...don't install racing seats and a harness bar without roll protection...I have seen fatalities both on track and off track and many times the injured driver did nothing wrong but was rolled by another car...I have also seen roll overs of properly prepared cars where the drivers just walked away...I don't know of any proper sanctioning body that will permit a car with racing seats and 6pt/harness bar and no roll protection to pass tech...a lot of people think because they are only in DE they won't roll..I have seen plenty of roll overs at DE's, often not the fault of the driver that rolled but they do happen...you can install better seats but without roll protection use the stock seat belts

[RonCT]

I hear you Chuck, but then nobody should be allowed into a DE without a full roll cage, shells, and 6-points w/ Hans and nets. Here's another way to look at it...

Porsche sells their cars (Boxster, Cayman, Carrera) with the GT2 racing shells and thorax air bags built in. So one could come to a DE with those seats installed or as built by the factory and pass tech and be as safe as Porsche could make you, and federally approved to boot. The question really is what's the difference between the OEM 3-point belt and a 6-point belt? Holding you in place better than the 3-point isn't going to change your possibility of roll-over, whether in a DE or on the highway.

I think the OP is in one of the novice groups by the sound of it, so just based on that perhaps remaining stock is the best course. If funds aren't an issue, the GT2 shells (again, OEM w/ airbag and designed for that car) w/ the oem 3-points might be a nice progression for casual DE where, as he says, he needs access to the rear seats on a daily basis.

Comes right back to the age old question. If you are going to DE, should you be in a stock car or in a fully prepared race car?

[GT3 Chuck]

I think we mostly agree except for the holding you in place better part...holding you in place better is exactly what could cost you your life...the 3 pt belts allow your upper body some movement in a roll over whereas a harness will hold you nice and erect in the seat so you can get your pumpkin smashed...IMO and from my experience..absolutely no harness without proper seat (eyeholes) and roll protection

[raiyu]

Many people confuse safety mods with performance mods and get in trouble.

Getting yourself properly restrained in the car will let you drive faster because you dont need to brace yourself, but its not a performance mod, its a safety mod, thats designed to save your life in case of an accident.

Change your perspective, instead of thinking of it as how do I get faster, think of it as how do I get safer and then you'll see that all of these parts go together. It's not like an exhaust that you can slap on, and then some headers later on, the seats, the harnesses, the rollbar all work together. Any one piece on its own is WORSE for your safety than the stock equipment, because again the stock equipment was designed as a total system, that being the regular seat belts, stock seats, and air bags.

Do it right, or don't do it at all, the risk is too high if you go half way.