opinion on pep boys racing seats

Norm Faustino · Norm Faustino's Garage

I have seen these 3a racing seats at pep boys for like 159.00 (perforated vinyl) and i was wondering if anyone has used them or can vouch for their durability.
I'd like to replace the ones in my SC with sport seats but It looks like they start around 300.00 each for something like a Corbeau or recaro imitators.

bell · bell's Garage

check to see if they have a solid back..........most of the cheap seats out there do not, and if they don't have a solid back then you won't be permitted on many tracks with it.
if so and it "fits" then go for it......it's your car

ben parrish · 09-24-2003, 08:28 PM

Bell, what do you mean by a solid back? Non-reclining? I have also seen these seats and was pretty impressed with the look and comfort. Not a bad price; not paying for the big advertising budgets.

Norm Faustino · Norm Faustino's Garage

thanks bell,
I dont plan to race my car after seeing some of the guys on this board basically destroy their gorgeuos 911's. I just dont have the stomach or the wallet to race mine. I was simply wondering about their safety. Then again if they weren't within DOT or ANSI specs I dont think pep boys would want to risk the liability.

Eugene at Pelican Parts · 09-24-2003, 10:56 PM

I too have considered generic vs. name brand seats and still have yet to come to a conclusion. One thing you should consider is that the generics have no resale value while name brands always do.

Bob's Flat-Six · Bob's Flat-Six's Garage

Hi Norm,
A good rule of thumb I like to apply when replacing stuff on my SC is to always go with a quality that meet or exceeds the factory original part. I haven't seen the Pet boys seats but for 159.00 I doubt their of very good quality. Your original seat was made by Recaro and of excellent quality.
I think I would have them recovered or look for a good used pair before I went the Pet Boys route.
They also sell kit's to recover your original seats for about 300 bucks and I have seen guys do them with great results. I did my VW seats this way years ago and as I recall it was no big deal.
Just my 2cents

RickM · RickM's Garage

The seats I saw came in 3 different color combos. If I recall correctly one was Black/Gray and didn't look too bad......Except for the embroidered "Type R" (or something along those lines) on the the headrest. If you can live with that they may not be half bad.

Peresonally, I'd redo my seats or upgrade to a used sport seat....but obviously at a much higher expense.

RickM · RickM's Garage

After some quick searching PepBoy seats are made by APC. Apparently in 6 colors including Black/Black..... Here's some of the specs...... http://www.slickcar.com/productdetails.asp?ProductID=2918

thrown_hammer · 09-25-2003, 07:00 AM

35 pounds each. Is that good? I haven't weighed my seats yet.

Noel · 09-25-2003, 07:05 AM

IMO, I consider a good seat to be as much as a safety devise as a helmet. The rule of thumb you use with cheap helmets is similar. You get what you pay for. "You buy a $100 helmet if you feel your head is only worth $100." Don't skimp on safety!!!

Noel

thrown_hammer · 09-25-2003, 07:07 AM

The people selling super expensive seats are counting on that IMO.

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

there are 4 things your body touch in the car: seat, steering wheel, shift knob, pedals. Of these seems like the seat has the biggest influence on your "quality of drive" (at least you butt and back think so). Why cheap out on that?

dotorg · 09-25-2003, 07:09 AM

I believe, but don't quote me, that the SRDs are the only reclining seats that many clubs allow? Something to do with the latching mechanism or something like that...

RickM · RickM's Garage

I saw a "60 minutes" clip on how reclining seats would break when the car was hit from behind. The result was catastrophic to the occupant. Seems a $2-$3 reinforcement would have fixed the problem.

Mercedes was the only car they looked at that passed the test.

Bruce Huling · 09-25-2003, 08:13 AM

Please post your results if you go with these. The ad looked pretty good.
bh

widebody911 · widebody911's Garage

I saw the APC 'race seats' @ Tognotti's in Sacramento. They look like an SRD knockoff to me. They're much blingier in person.

I was of the understanding that 'race' seats do not recline.

rcwaldo · 09-25-2003, 10:11 AM

these are probably a steel-tube construction, and not a 'glass bucket. I would stay away from them, IMHO...

Chris

ipapilot · 09-25-2003, 02:17 PM

I checked them out in Pep Boys a few months ago. Thay don't look too bad. They do however lack a lever that allows you to fully recline or fold the seat forward for rear seat access. Instead, they have a knob on the side for adjusting the recline.

Vintage911Racer · 09-25-2003, 02:29 PM

Adjustable back rest "NOT GOOD FOR RACING"

You can spend the same for a MOMO Rookie seat. Which is FIA approved

1980SC · 09-25-2003, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RickM
I saw a "60 minutes" clip on how reclining seats would break when the car was hit from behind. The result was catastrophic to the occupant. Seems a $2-$3 reinforcement would have fixed the problem.

Mercedes was the only car they looked at that passed the test.

This is the reason I got a concussion when I wrecked on track. I went into the wall backwards and my stock seatback broke, putting my helmet into the rollbar. I'd be a little worried about going out on track again in any reclinable seat.

-Rob
1980sc