Hi all, and Happy Holidays!
Ive learned so much from this forum group.
Im searching for some "racing" seats for my very occasional use. Most are way too much $ for my need. Yes, they are cooler and probably are built very well, but its more than i want to spend. I've seen obvious cheap knockoffs available on eBay, etc, that appear pretty good, especially the price points of $500 for a pair!
So before everyone gets the "you have a Porsche, so do it right" thing going, I track the car maybe two or three times a year, and I don't expect to set any records. I just like to have fun.
So does anyone have actual experience with these? As long as they don't endanger me by coming apart, the fact that they don't say Recaro etc doesn't bug me. Clearly I know they are going to be poorer build, and not last as well, but $3009+ is better spent in my mind on tires, etc.
So, bring it on....

 

I thought about it for a long time. My conclusion was that I was better off with OEM seats vs. non safety tested knockoff seats. You just can't know if they are going to shear apart in an accident. *Especially* at track speeds.

This would be my conclusion if I were driving a Kia, the Porsche part doesn't make a difference.

 

for me the rotec looks like a nice seat. i prefer the reclining style and they arent rated or supposed to be used for racing. so why not use the seat back supports mounted on the rollbar during the races? remove them for everyday and use them at the track. nice weight reduction and supported. just out loud thinking

 

Seats are a major player to your safety in an accident, on the road or on the track. Why someone would ever put a no-name seat made to unknown standards in ANY car, let alone a 185+ mph 420+ hp sports car, is beyond me.

 

Well, I did say bring it on..
Tell me how you really feel!

 

can you show me the safety specs on a oem seat? its not marked anywere i can find. recaro folding seats arent specd for any racing yet they are used all the time. whats the difference?

 

At minimum, seats are made to federal and european crash standards which are all published online, but most seat suppliers have to meet much more stringent proprietary requirements from each car company.

Racing seats are made to totally different specs that honestly I'm not too familiar with, except that I know the acceleration limits are higher.

At the end of the day, you're probably not going to have an issue with a well-made aftermarket seat, as most of them are made with good-quality materials and processes.

But these bargain-basement products worry me. Not all carbon fiber is the same, and the $600 seat is not using the good stuff, trust me on that. So if you're T-boned by a soccer mom in an Escalade and your seat back cracks in half, will those 1000 dollars you saved really be worth it?

I am willing to pay the premium for good materials, good manufacturing, and most importantly, good product testing. But what each person wants is up to them, it's a free country.

 

if you bought a recaro seat would you feel safe ? i happen to work in the seating industry. cheaper doesnt mean inferior. heres a recaro example. gray market with full recaro backing
http://www.ebay.com/itm/RECARO-SPG-S...151ee2&vxp=mtr

 

Has anyone in a 996TT been involved in an accident with knock-off brand seats? If so, they might be the folks you want to hear from.

I hear you on the ROTTec seats, they look terrific. But, like many others on this thread, I do worry a bit about my safety in the event of a serious accident. Hard to say whether or not they are going to hold up. Fortunately, there are a lot of used OEM seats out there for sale, it just costs a few bucks more. Best wishes!

 

Not as cheap as you want but seats you can trust yet they do not break the bank. AND if you fit into the Big-***-Ehmerican category the EVOIII fits a more ample figure.
http://www.sparcousa.com/catalog/veh...pe=competition

 

thats my point! same company makes 300$ to 3000$ seats. are the cheap seats made made to inferior standards?

 

I get your point and totally support it. Every seat mfr. and product is different, and we could spend days going through each one. I'm sure there are some deals out there, and also some pricier products that aren't up to snuff.

Regardless, the issue for me is that very few, if any, of the players in the market tell you much about the safety of their product. I'm not familiar with the Recaro street products, so I can't comment on them directly, but to answer your question: No, I would not put that seat in my car. FIA certified or factory, those are the only options for me.

When it comes to my vertebrae, I want to see test data...

 

The standards that factory reclining / folding seats and aftermarket seats have to meet are quite laughably low; especially when considering the performance capability of these cars and the potential for a fairly violent impact or crash. The seats deficiencies are mediated by idea that the most likely crash would be head on and thus the seat belt and airbag would absorb the majority of the energy. If you want a strong supportive seat the best choice is a one piece but that brings other hazards into the equation in the event of a roll over so thus you might want to consider a roll bar.

 

Seats are part of the passenger restraint system in a car. They are designed to work with the specific other components such as seat belt and air bags. You can't just change one without considering the effects on the others. If you're thinking of a GT3 seat, get a Porsche GT3 seat as they have been crash tested as part of the system. If you like a 5 point harness this can also be safely used as it has also been tested by Porsche as part of the system (TUV). I see no reason to risk your life trying to save a few dollars buying knock off unrated seats or seats untested with the rest of your passenger restraint system.

In regards to roll bars: While rollover crashes represent only 3% of accidents they account for over 30% of all fatalities. Chances of being killed or seriously injured from a roll over accident are over 60%. Light trucks, vans and SUV's accounted for the almost 89% of all roll over crashes, while all other passenger vehicles account of 11%. Almost 80% of rollover crashes are single vehicle (ie driver error) and over 80% of fatalities or serious injury are caused by occupant ejection (ie failure to wear a seat belt).

The chances of a roll over accident in a passenger vehicle are about .3% with the cause being driver error and fatality or serious injury due to lack of seat belt use. As a driver you have great influence over this percentage.

This begs the question do roll over bars for street use increase or decrease your chances of death or injury considering that your chances of a roll over accident are very slim. Most non roll over crashes involve some type of violent backwards and upwards movement of the occupants. Your head is not going to fare very well against a steel roll bar. I therefore question the wisdom of roll bars for street use in a car with a very low center of gravity (ie not very prone to rollover) unless you plan to be in GT3 seats (ie they don't collapse backwards like regular seats can) and with a full harness so you don't get forced upwards. While a helmet would be a good idea, it's not practical on the street and local law enforcement might also be a bit more prone to pull you over.

 

R700P look very nice...