Sparco Sprint

[leon1982]

Hi guys..
I'm considering to get a pair of racing seats for my Cooper...but before I get one..I need your opinions about whether or not to get one....
The reason why I'm considering to get the seats is the factory seat does not seem to hold my bum properly when I'm cornering hard (which I do it quite often..not in a busy road of course )..
okay now..the seat that I'm referring to is the Sparco SPRINT... I attach a picture of it...
The reason I choose this seat is because it is affordable and legal (in Australia) as well...please correct me if I'm wrong

Several things I need to know guys...
Has anyone installed Sparco SPRINT (or similar...unreclinable seats) in your Minis yet?
Do the rear passenger still have the access to the rear seats? (I'm aware that even if they do have..it's not going to be as easy as when the factory seats are used)
Can the seats still be moved forward and backward (the reach)?

excuse my crappy english
any opinion and suggestions are appreciated
Cheers

[bascule]

Sorry, but they look awful.
I know what you mean about your rear end sliding around though.
Have you seen the JCW seats?
http://www.johncooper.co.uk/cgi-bin/...ssories_FS.htm

[goin440]

I believe Sparco has adjustable brakets available. If you can find it, check out the latest Sport Compact Car magazine---they do a seat comparo, very detailed and even includes weights. PM me, maybe I could send you a copy.

[Casey]

DO NOT PUT THESE IN YOUR CAR unless you are also going to fit a roll cage. In particular accidents these are VERY harmful to you unless there is a roll cage. A reclinable seat will crush different in a roll over where as a fixed back won't and instead you crush. Fixed back seats should never be used in a car unless there is atleast a rear cage installed. It may be legal but it surely is not safe.

I plan to put seats like these in my car, but I'll be removing the rear seats and putting in a rear cage and running harnesses.

Additionally these typically don't accomodate stock seat due to the high sides etc and should really only be used with harnesses.

If you don't want to get a rear cage then stick with the aftermarket adjustable seats...they are quite nice and will hold you in place and work with stock seatbelts. A friend of mine has a set of recaro adjustable seats in his 318ti and they are great, very very snug - no slidding. There is also a bunch of people running the torinos and milanos and those owners seem very very pleased with them. With the adjustable seats though typically they cost more.

[LMB]

You going racing Casey?

[Casey]

will be doing autox, track events etc...but i'm in love with fixed back seats and the only way to get them is safely is to put in the rear cage...i don't use the rear seats anyway and there is never more then 2 people in my car at a time...so no big deal to get rid of the seats.

[leon1982]

Thanks guys.,..
yeah..on the second thought..I think it is better off if I wait 'till I can afford the
reclinable seats...it looks much much better

[goin440]

Quote: Originally Posted by Casey

DO NOT PUT THESE IN YOUR CAR unless you are also going to fit a roll cage. In particular accidents these are VERY harmful to you unless there is a roll cage. A reclinable seat will crush different in a roll over where as a fixed back won't and instead you crush. Fixed back seats should never be used in a car unless there is atleast a rear cage installed. It may be legal but it surely is not safe.

I plan to put seats like these in my car, but I'll be removing the rear seats and putting in a rear cage and running harnesses.

Additionally these typically don't accomodate stock seat due to the high sides etc and should really only be used with harnesses.

If you don't want to get a rear cage then stick with the aftermarket adjustable seats...they are quite nice and will hold you in place and work with stock seatbelts. A friend of mine has a set of recaro adjustable seats in his 318ti and they are great, very very snug - no slidding. There is also a bunch of people running the torinos and milanos and those owners seem very very pleased with them. With the adjustable seats though typically they cost more.

Can you quote a source? I see where this might be a possibility. But in a case where the roof is crushed so significantly that it destroys the seat, I don't think either fixed-back or recliner would make a difference.

By the same respect, a recliner couldn't be FIA homologated--- thus MORE dangerous (considering FIA safety standards).