I've noticed alot of people upgrading their stock 996TT seats with GT3's. Other than the seats being OEM, how come the preference is to pay the high prices for those seats, rather than pay the same amount for a better Sparco/Recaro? Or better yet pay less for the Recaro version of the GT3 seat (the OEM GT3 seat are actually non-branded Recaro's from what I hear).

 

Several reasons why I choose GT3 Seats:

They match the rest of the interior--if you did not know they did not come from the factory in the car, you'd swear they're OEM.

Drops right in place--with other track seats you will have to likely purchase seat rails/sliders and some work better than others.

I sat in several race seats and I liked the GT3 best--the GT3 seat side bolters aren't quite as high as other race seats which makes them easier to get into and out of, and yet I have all the support I need out on the track in the GT3 seats.

There really isn't that much difference in price if you are comparing prices on leather seats--if you're comparing a cloth track seat to a leather GT3 seat, the cloth would be cheaper of course. And you have to shop around--if you pay more than $1200-$1400 for a GT3 seat you are paying too much.

I think Sparco seats in anything other than a purpose built track car look tacky and cheap.

BTW, GT3 seats are not unbranded Recaro's--on the leather versions, Recaro's name is stamped on the back, and on the cloth GT3 seats it's on the front of the seat backs (underneath the Porsche logo if I recall).

Obviously if you think other Recaro's or Sparco seats are better and cheaper, buy them

 

I like the new recarro sport seat that comes in OEM leather, you can deviate the stitching to match your existing interior and the whole thing looks exactly OEM. In fact the seat I purchased has not only heat (great on cold weather track days running with the windows down), but also electric lumbar support, and a fan (for the hot track days in a nomex suit.) It also breaks at the back for easy access to the back seat (GT-3 does not.) Although it is still a lumbering 50 lbs, it is what I wanted. Furthermore, it looks so much like OEM, that I replaced only the driver seat and it is difficult to see a difference until you really look (slots for harness up top give it away.) I agree that the cloth, the double color, and many of the other brands look cheap. Good luck.

 

The best seat that I have seen is the Cobra Suzuka Technology. If they had OEM hardware for mounting, it would be THE seat to get.