Any one ever try off brand seats?

[Scott S]

I have to replace the seats in my 77S. The car was upgraded by the PO to leather 993 seats. They sit way to high on the rails.
In looking for replacements, I was surprised at the number of knock-off "recaro style" seats there are out there for sale. Go type Recaro into eBay motors.... Its crazy.

Does anyone have any experience with any of these companies/products?

I am not a racer - I just need something that sits me as low as possible in the car and operates correctly.

Thanks!
Scott S

[sm70911]

Why not put a WTB in the F/S section. I think you could get period correct sports seats for your car and sell your other seats pretty easily

[Scott S]

That is absolutely one plan of attack. The only issue is the cost of buying, then having to have them redone.
I am not even that concerned about finding sport seats. In fact, a really nice set of stock 74-77 would be my first choice.
The price on the knock off stuff sure makes them hard to resist - but only if they are decent and are not a nightmare to install.

[HawgRyder]

Total blasphemy...but I used Mazda Miata seats in my 69S...I hang my head in shame...but they were light and easy to mount.
Bob

[Porsche Head]

I bought some repro Recaro

[Scott S]

LOVE those!!!

Can you send me the info on where you got them?

Thanks a million!

[Porsche Head]

The quality is so good that I kept asking the vendor (went onsite near SF airport) if they were real

$700 for the pair, I went through a lot of seats looking for the right retro look but sport feel I think thee are great for for a long hood.

Recaro Seats

Cliff

[vintagecarlover]

ive got sport seat cores 350. plus greyhound. get the real deal

[spuggy]

Correct seats for middies are hard to find. Period-correct Sports seats for middies are much harder.

Fit SC seats. Much easier to find. Most 911 guys won't even know they're not "correct".

BTW, 924/944/928 seats from the period are identical and often available without the 911 tax. Heck, I came this >< close once to buying a running 944 on Craigslist for the sports seats (the whole car was cheaper than re-covering my sport seat cores)...

I know 944 rails bolt straight in - have a set in my car right now.

[Porsche84]

I think those Recaro seats are the SRD version. I had a pair in my 84 and the were extremely comfortable and folded to allow access to the rear. My wife wanted them in her car but the would not fit.

[175K911]

Personally I'd stick with factory seats or genuine aftermarket seats. A real street Recaro gets certified to the same specs as a stock seat, and racing seats like a true Recaro SPG or a Sparco get certified to SFI and/or FIA standards. To get those certifications the seats have to be manufactured very well. Do the cheap knockoffs use the same number of layers of fiberglass? Do the threaded inserts for the seat rails conform to the specs? For recliners, are the mechanisms strong, or just some really cheap potmetal?

Those Chinese and Taiwanese copies may look the same, but if your car is in an accident will those cheap seats hold up as well as the real thing or will they break and hurt you? There's a reason those uncertified seats are not allowed in any racing series.

[LJ851]

Originally Posted by 175K911

Those Chinese and Taiwanese copies may look the same, but if your car is in an accident will those cheap seats hold up as well as the real thing or will they break and hurt you? There's a reason those uncertified seats are not allowed in any racing series.

This.

One of my favorite ads is for Bell helmets and stated : If you have a $10 head, get the $10 helmet.


If you don't want to pay new prices (like me) pick them up used, i got a pair of recaro srd used for $850 in perfect shape.

[fanaudical]

I agree with going after SC seats. Boxster seats are also a good alternative. I picked up a set of gently used (and still look very close to new) black leather Boxster seats here in the PDX area for ~$500 (and probably paid too much). With a little easy mod, they went right into my 75.