This weekend, I am looking at a 2009 C4S with Sport Bucket Seats. I am only 5'6" and was wondering if I will be comfortable and have good visibility?

Does anyone know what the cost would be to install different Porsche seats, preferably power seats, but manually adjusted seats would be ok too, if power seats would be too costly to buy and install.

Also, can i sell these Sport Bucket Seats enough to cover the cost for the replacement seats?

Lastly, assuming I am not comfortable in these seats, anyone up for a trade?

Thanks,

Jeff

 

I have the adaptive sport seats and love them....i think thats what you mean. I am about the same size.

 

I have Adaptive Sport Seats with full power and heat so I'm out but I am sure there are TONS of people on the forums that would LOVE to do a trade with you.

What color are they? Black? I think you should also be able to sell them and be able to purchase Porsche seats at least slightly pre-owned if not new depending on their specs. I think that the Sport Buckets are awesome but I personally could not handle them for every day driving. As far as being 5'6, I don't think visibility would be a problem as much as just overall comfort.

Sixgun - I am pretty sure he is referring to these :

 

I'm 6'3" and have the buckets. With the seat all the way back it's close to perfect for me except maybe a hair too much upright for my taste. So you being 5'6" I wonder if you may find yourself a little on the low side since there's no up/down adjustment. Only one way to find out. As for the comfort factor, these seats always get a bad rap from people who never spent much time in them. They're actually very comfortable once you're installed. And maybe that's the rub. If you're out of shape and/or have mobility issues, getting in and out could be a challenge.

Selling or trading in favor of adjustable seats should be easy. I've seen posts here and on Rennlist suggesting sets of used sport buckets bring $5K or better.

 

[QUOTE=Perk10;3951398]I have Adaptive Sport Seats with full power and heat so I'm out but I am sure there are TONS of people on the forums that would LOVE to do a trade with you.

What color are they? Black? I think you should also be able to sell them and be able to purchase Porsche seats at least slightly pre-owned if not new depending on their specs. I think that the Sport Buckets are awesome but I personally could not handle them for every day driving. As far as being 5'6, I don't think visibility would be a problem as much as just overall comfort.

Sixgun - I am pretty sure he is referring to these :

[/

They are black. They only go forward or back, no up and down or recline adjustment. I have a feeling I am not going to like them for every day driving. I like to lean back a bit when I drive, especially in traffic. I am sure they are great when pushing the car, but I have a feeling that will unfortunately not be a large percentage of my driving.. If I knew for sure I could get these replaced for less than $3,000 out of my pocket, I am willing to buy car with the sport bucket seats. I am just concerned that it could wind up costing me a lot more than a few grand to get comfortable seats hooked up, since there are probably no electrical harnesses. Any expert input would be appreciated!

 

You should probably ask someone (dealer, Indie) about whether or not the wiring harness is in place. I sort of think that it would be as these cars are put together on a production line and seats are probably the last thing to go in (that is, every car gets the same wiring harness but only the options that are specified are hooked up) - can you imagine a different wiring harness and circuit box for each car?

To be brutally honest I love and hate the Sports Buckets. They are quite comfortable and you really feel planted in them. I was a little concerned about the lack of ability to adjust but they work just fine for me (but I'm a pathetically average 5'9' 170 lbs.). On the down side, they do require a technique to get in and out of - like placing your hand on the sill and doing a lift and pivot - but I'm sure different people with different flexibilities have their own style. Anyway, the utility of Sports Buckets for a DD depends on what you mean by DD. Is it to work and back every day with the occasional errand on the way home or is it the daily work horse where you run errands every day and drive it to and from school to pick up your kids. If it's the former you'd be fine but as for the latter, well, that's problematic. I fall into the latter category and I often use our third car because it is just plain easier to get in and out of several times over the course of an hour (plus I don't have to worry where I park it or packing things so everything will fit). My point is that getting in and out of the car a lot is a drag - maybe not if you're 30 but at 51, for me, it is (and I suppose I'm in reasonably decent shape as I'm on my bicycle 10K+ miles a year).

But all this said, get the seats because as long as they are in decent shape you can probably sell them for what it would cost, at least, to put in Regular Sports Seats. Price out each (Sports and Sports Buckets) on the used market and you'll see.

 

You have a pm

 

Finally got to test the Sport Bucket seats today. I can see why many like them, but for me, I want adjustable seats that would allow me to recline back on a long drive, or in traffic. My back can't handle that upright position too long.

So, the question is, what to do? Wait for another car that I like with adjustable seats or buy this car and deal with headache of trading or buying power seats, and getting them installed? My biggest concern is, how much will it cost to install and how can I be 100% sure the harness is there and will it be as simple as plugging in the harness and 4 bolts? How can I make sure the seats that someone is selling me are compatible with this car? What about the air bags and making sure this does not effect them in any way.

I know if I ever take the car on a track or when I am on a nice winding road I will miss the Sport Buckets, but 99% I won't.

If this car had different seats, I would have a beautiful 2009 Meteor Gray C4S Coupe with PDK/Chrono parked in my driveway right now. What to do, what to do?

 

You can switch seats among 997.2 series cars. The same goes for the 09-12 Cayman/Boxsters. Going from sport buckets to sport seats/standard seats is straight forward. If you want memory functions then that is not as easy. You won't have the controls on the car.

 

Thanks for the detailed reply. I did not have an issue getting in or out, but it certainly was not something I would want to do running errands on a weekend. I did like the way they wrapped around me for driving. Can see how they would be great on a track! Coincidently, I am 51 too.

 

I have read some contradictory threads on this topic. One thread said, if I have the manual Sport Bucket Seats, then I can not install electric powered seats, since there is no wiring for electric. Then others are saying the electric harness is sitting there under the Sport Bucket Seat, waiting to be connected. Comments? Any 2009 C4S Coupe experts out there?

Thanks,

Jeff

 

Ok apparently you are looking to get a 09 Launch car C4S. That's what i have too!

In my opinion if you don't want the seats look for another car. I wouldn't remove equipment that was standard for the car, because when you will want to sell, it could affect the value.

Personally those seats is one of the main reasons that i bought mine. The car is perfectly optioned.

 

Perfect summary. I also have a C4S launch car and am tracking the car, so that's why wanted them.
There is one more thing you need to be aware of:
IF you have kids that sit in the rear seat: Due to the additional height of the seat back of the bucket seat the seat back will not fold all the way forward (it will get stuck on the ceiling) when the seat is pushed too far forward. This makes getting in/out for kids an even bigger pain in the behind (there is exactly one sweet spot where the seat folds forward (if you flip the sun visor out of the way) where the seat back folds all the way and there's just enough legroom for my 9 year old.
But as I said: The seats were the main reason I wanted a launch car...

 

From memory: when I took the seats out a few months ago to install a sub-bar for the 6 pt harness it seemed to me that there were MANY wires going to the harness.

Honestly if anyone with a 997 in my neck of the woods wants to come by I'd like to swap seats for a few minutes to see what's working

In any case: Neither the buttons for seat memory or seat warmers will be there.

 

I love my bucket seats! It totally change the look of the interior!