Recaro vs. Sparco

[kilodawg]

For those with first hand knowledge....

I was fortunate last week to be able to visit one of the big Sparco suppliers in order to try and narrow down my seat selection. With the complete Sparco line available for tryout I figured it would take a while to make the selection. In fact it took all of 2 minutes. The EVO2 (L) was the only one my butt fit in. All the others were made for midgets. I'ts not like I'm fat either. I'm 6'2" with a 34" waist and weigh a solid 208lbs.

So the question I have is: does the Pole Position get eliminated in the selection too? In other words is it sized like a regular EVO?

If the answer is it's outta' there then are there any other choices or do I go with the EVO2's?

Thanks

[tangerine911e]

You'll find the PP is a little 'narrow waisted' as well. The Evo2 will likely be about the smallest you can go for.

I'm a little 'wider' ( ) than you and I can also fit in the Sparco Pro 2000 - pretty comfy if a little tight. I ended up getting a set of Velo seats (Australian made - almost identical to the Evo2 in size).

The Evo2 is a great seat.

Ash

[don911]

The Evo 2 would be too wide for you on the track in my opinion. You'd slide all over that seat. I'm 6-2+ with 36/38 waist, 210 ish and the pole position is great. It's even a little wide on the track but is very comfortable for the street.
Plus the bottom of the pp dips down so I think you get more head room with it.
I tried a lot of seats and the pp was the most comfortable. I suggest trying it before buying another.

[911scmedic]

Recaro makes the Pole Position in two widths. I'm really close to your size and I have the wider Pole and the fit is great.
I only track my car, so I really can't comment on being in the seat for daily trips or long travels, but have no complaint's about the seat for my needs.

Doug

[tangerine911e]

whoops. my bad - I must be larger than I thought

Ash

[don911]

The SPG comes in an XL but haven't seen anything on a wider pp.

[efhughes3]

I sat in an Evo 3 a while back, I'm glad it was too big.

[Todd Simpson]

My 38" waist and 215 lbs. fits nicely in the PP, BUT I'm too tall (6' 4") for the shoulder harness holes.

The belts come up and over my shoulders which could result in spinal compression in an accident.

[kilodawg]

First thanks for the quick responses.

The EVO fit my hips snugly. I wasn't going anywhere but you guys have made a solid case to try the PP out. Now I've just got to try and track down a place that carries them in central Florida.

[Noel]

As Todd mentioned, the biggest issue with the PPs for someone who is tall, like you, is that the harness holes will be below your shoulders, which is not good, to say the least. As such, the decision for you is easy...Sparco.

[Wil Ferch]

Chris Bennet makes a nice case for Cobra seats in an earlier thread.

- Kevlar at F'glass prices
- large triangulated holes for the lap belts...more comfortable room for the belts.
- sub hole slot slighty different oriented ( fore-aft slot?)...allowing more install flexibility.
- have versions similar to the Sparco and Recaro models discussed here...

- Wil

[Noel]

Wil, I've done some research on this, as I am about to buy some race seats. According to several race shops (Cobra dealers), the Cobra Imolas have some Kevlar in them but is still essentially a fiberglass seat with very little Kevlar mixed in. This explains why it costs the same as fiberglass seats. As another consideration point, their carbon fiber ("CF") seats are priced at a very similar level as other CF seats from other manufacturers.

[Wil Ferch]

Noel:

I don't agree... see text embedded here ---> http://www.cobraseats.com/technology.asp


also here--> http://subesports.com/products/cat/Seating/brand/Cobra/prodID/656


- Wil

[Wil Ferch]

By the way... here's Chris Bennet's report -->

Track seat report

- Wil

[Noel]

Wil, thanks I've seen both of those before. Unfortunately, the Cobra site doesn't give that many details.
The SubeSport site mentions that they are 30% lighter than a similar fiberglass seat. This doesn't appear to be true, based on the weights of the other fiberglass seats I have seen.

I merely stated what I was told by others "In the know" and have confirmed it with my common sense test of the seat costing about the same. If it truly is Kevlar why are the seats not more expensive than a comparable fiberglass seat? I was actually going to buy a Cobra Imola, but my butt test pointed me toward the Momo Cups instead. Fortunaly, my local dealer had all of the seats in stock to try (Recaro PP & others, MOMO Cup and GT, Cobra Imola & GT. So for me the Kevlar vs Fiberglass subject wasn't really an issue, FIA Certification was.

I am curious if anyone else has heard anything about the Cobra Kevlar subject?

[Wil Ferch]

Noel:
One possible answer to the price question is that there can be a hefty markup based on brand-name recognition. Maybe even production manufacturing efficiencies...who knows if Cobra has access /control to an autoclave for another part of their business that isn't seats? You just don't know. Another example....German stuff is ALWAYS more expensive ( nothing new here, huh?)...and Recaro outsources the shell type buckets to a German firm that makes ( among other things) the carbon fiber chassis of the R8. So, another "internal hand-off" that leads to yet higher costs.

Cobra's tech site says..." Each shell is manufactured in pure carbon, using revolutionary moulding techniques and unique processes to produce an individually numbered masterpiece of composite engineering." Doesn't sound like "partial carbon" or kevlar to me !

If you don't need FIA certification ( as an example of pricing)..the NEX or FK knock-offs of a Recaro Pole Position....for $150/ea including aluminum side mounts...is a killer deal. See my post on these of awhile ago.

- Wil

[euro911sc]

Kilodawg--

I am exactly your size and weight... I have Sparco Pro 2000s and they fit very well. At the track I remove the seat cussion and I have ampel room for the helmet in a sunroof car. I too have sat in the PPs, and a variety of other recaro seats as well as OMPs, Momos, and Cobras. For a race bucket, I found the P2000s to fit me best and so I bought them.

The Recaro line is generally for the small of a$$. The OMPs were good, but I was only able to sit in them in a store and not on track. The Cobras were also nice, but when I sat in the Sparcos I knew I had my seat. Though, I prefer the Momo colors for some reason I couldn't find the right mounting brackets or somehting like that.

I got all my stuff from OG Racing and it all fit like a glove in my car.

Good luck!

-Michael

[kilodawg]

Michael,

It was actually OG racing that I was able to visit. I felt great in the EVO2's they were ver comfortable and a good performance fit for me. I have been following all the posts between Will and Noel with interest though. Part of it is that being in the central Florida area I either purchase based on hearsay or buy what I have actually tried.

Ralph

[Wil Ferch]

I take great interest in seats...and try to "butt fit" whenever available...but I'm in the same boat...living near Buffalo, NY doesn't bring me near to a well-stocked seating place to try things out in the store.

What is closest to Buffalo in terms of such a store ?? Might take the "long ride" over the winter while my car is in storage.

- Wil

[Noel]

Thanks Wil. I agree. Who knows what the true expenses that affect pricing are as they can differ widely between companies. I do know that Cobra only makes seats and that is what they do and do well.

I'm doing safety upgrades for the track so an FIA seat is important to me. Good tip for others though.

Also, one alternative for those that don't have a shop close is to go to a Porsche Club race or drivers' education event and ask people to sit in their cars. No one minds and there is no better way to sit in seats from almost every manufacturer.

Hey this is my 1,000th post!!! It took long enough.