918 seat problem anyone help?

[DuncGT4]

Hi all
Have a slight problem that came to light today, I have the 918 bucket seats in my GT4 and today my wife sat in it for the first time and after an hour it gave her back pain and then on the way home it got even worse, now the problem I have is that we are booked to go to LeMans latter this year and I was going in the car, but with this problem that is not going to happen.
So my question is can I just bolt in a other seat for the trip, will any other porsche seat fit ok?, has anyone local to Northamptonshire got one I could borrow? Or if not then if I have to buy a second hand one then which one from the range will fit ok, a few question I know but would love to take my car still if I can and a seat swop is the only way I can see it happening. It will have to be the normal type seat and having looked on eBay there are a few for sale but don't want to buy any that won't just bolt in easy

any help or ideas would be great
cheers dunc

 

[Motorhead]

Dunc,

GT4 owners on various forums have complained that the 918 seat doesn't suit all (try before you buy?) and clearly your wife fits that category.

The seat rail pick-up points will be common to all 981 (and 987?) series cars, so I'm sure you can get a Porsche seat to fit. However, I've no idea whether or not you'll experience problems if you don't make the correct electrical connections to the car; you may well get an airbag warning light at the very least.

Hope you sort it out in time for LeMans.

Jeff

 

[DuncGT4]

Cheers

it's only for the trip so can live with the warning light etc, plus won't wire it in.

i find the seats great and love them, the wife sadly not but then she dosnt go it it much at all so that's not much of a problem apart from this one lol

 

[Contraband]

Leave the wife at home and take a friend??

 

[DuncGT4]

That's already been talked about

 

[kevinnunn]

Have none of you heard of cushions as I use a small back support vision when I experience pains in my lower back.

 

[John Maddox]

My wife suffers also and has a small cushion in both my cars which solved her problem. It really is worth trying if you haven't tried this approach. She never gets the problem when she drives herself. Perhaps you could persuade your wife to chauffeur you to lemans !!

 

[CarreraGTS]

If the problem is "rake" in other words the seats too upright, get a triangular cushion from Ikea so the contact point of her back is lowered - Also, try a Bed Pillow and crunch it into different shapes and sizes then get a Seamstress to make you a cushion to that shape and spec .... Sorted - Andrew

 

[CarreraGTS]

If the 918 seat is too firm giving "sacro" pain due to compression and vibration of the lower spine then get an "air pillow" and fill it 70% so it has some give - place a towel round it and hey presto you've cracked it ... excuse the Pun ...

 

[Lancerlot]

You can purchase orthopaedic seat swabs to improve posture in the seat. They're not that expensive

Have you been able to diagnose the problem. Maybe it is the seat positioning eg rake etc. In which case it is possible to add spacers, modify or remount the seat to improve the position

Remove the seat completely and try to achieve a comfortable position outside the car by adjusting on wood blocks. This gives you a rough idea of where the seat needs to be when refitted.

Regards,

Clive.

 

[Rotorhead]

Out of interest, why do people prefer the '918' seats to 'folding buckets'?

 

[MrDemon]

they look better, ie lastest design, and have height adjust which gets you far far lower than the folding ones.

I just feel I wanted the lastest design after having 2 cars with the old design in them and see them as a big part of the new GT4.

 

[DuncGT4]

Cheers for all the ideas, I love the seats and find them ok, will try and see how it goes but can see the only real option will be a seat change

 

[Motorhead]

they look better, ie lastest design, and have height adjust which gets you far far lower than the folding ones.

I just feel I wanted the lastest design after having 2 cars with the old design in them and see them as a big part of the new GT4.

Agreed they look good D, but from what you said in another post they're far too low for you in the lowest position to see out..! At least they're height adjustable.

Maybe the old folding bucket design is a better compromise for comfort.

Jeff

 

[spyderwhite]

Out of interest, why do people prefer the '918' seats to 'folding buckets'?

I dont! I found them uncomfortable so I went for the folding buckets which I had in my old Spyder and are tried and tested to suit me and I know are comfortable over long journeys!

Personally I also found the 918 style to wide at the base and not a snug fit.

 

[CarreraGTS]

I am 5'8" and love the 918 Seats - have them on low setting with steering wheel on the highest setting and its perfect - i have back problems but actually find they help my back which is a big Bonus ... The interior of the GT4 is a total work of art - The gear lever position, the rifle bolt action, the height of the dials, the width of the steering wheel are all absolutely incredible ... more noise from the engine and it would be 100% Senses overload !

 

[ian harvey]

I prefer a more reclined backrest and I have managed to achieve this with additional cushioning.

Better still, it is very simple to release the existing velcro'd cushion, hide the extra cushion and replace the origional backrest. The result is an invisible fix which can be fine tuned.

However, I'd still prefer the front of the seat to be higher to support my thighs (I'm 6 ft) and I'll need a neat solution to packing under the front seat mounts with angled washer/spacer at the rear.

 

[matthewlatter]

My 18way are lovely. lol