16 replies to this topic

[VXkris]

Due to my back problems, I have trouble sitting in the hard VX seat as it gives me bad pain after around half hour of driving. So im looking to either add some padding or go aftermarket. Now like I said hard seats are no good but the larger heavy padding on some aftermarket cloth buckets would be great. I'm not looking at doing any track work just comfort. So I need to know what seat dimensions would render a seat too big to fit in the VX? I'm not arsed about the passenger seat just the drivers one. Also would a set of subframes or rails designed to fit a certain brand of seat fit across the brand? I've done a search but I can't see anything, so apologies if it's been asked before.

[Mangham54]

By some padded clothes, much much cheaper. Seats have been done to death and I seem to recall the best advice is to have the padding replaced in the original. Probax material is often cited, so it may be worth nipping to your local Lotus dealer to try the seat in a newer Elise to get an idea of what it would be like.

[VXkris]

Maybe a piles cushion is the answer! Thanks for the info, ive trawled through loads of threads about seats, I could just pad out the original seats but im kind of hoping I can pick up a used comfy brand name bucket seat and fit it in. I just want to know what is physically too big to go in. I may have to pop to lotus and sample the probax

[Claws]

I replaced the padding on my pax seat with some thicker memory foam due to complaints from Ms Claws. Not a difficult job, perfectly DIYable and effective.

Edited by Claws, 06 September 2014 - 11:53 AM.

[VXkris]

Well I'm putting one of freds carpets in at the weekend so while the seats are out I will stick some padding in. Memory foam should be adequate. Unless anybody has used anything different?

Edited by VXkris, 06 September 2014 - 12:21 PM.

[Claws]

The centre section of the seat is just bonded on, so peels off with a little persuasion. The thicker the foam, the thinner the width you can use to retain the use of the original leather, not a major issue though. Then just use impact adhesive to stick the leather back in place.

[VXkris]

I was actually wondering about the give in the leather. How thick was the memory foam you used out of interest?

[Claws]

I used a piece that was 400x150x20mm You could always order that size but thicker, then thin it down to the edges, or reduce the 150mm size, but that size fits in as is.

Edited by Claws, 06 September 2014 - 01:07 PM.

[VXkris]

Many thanks claws, that's just what I needed. However I'm still interested to know if a seat brand would have the same fitment across the range.

Edited by VXkris, 06 September 2014 - 01:35 PM.

[Arno]

However I'm still interested to know if a seat brand would have the same fitment across the range.

 

Pretty much none, except for the tailor made Elise/VX seats from other vendors, but these are often bare carbon shells (eg. Reverie, Tillett, etc.) or more or less copies of the Lotus seats (eg. Corbeau)

 

'Bare' seats can be very comfy and good for people with back problems though! Extra padding is not always the answer.

 

Pretty much any other generic seat on the market is much too wide and the seat base much too high to fit in the VX passenger compartiment.

 

Even generic race 'bucket' seats often need significant mods to fit or you lose the passenger seat.

 

Bye, Arno.

[VXkris]

However I'm still interested to know if a seat brand would have the same fitment across the range.

  Pretty much none, except for the tailor made Elise/VX seats from other vendors, but these are often bare carbon shells (eg. Reverie, Tillett, etc.) or more or less copies of the Lotus seats (eg. Corbeau)   'Bare' seats can be very comfy and good for people with back problems though! Extra padding is not always the answer.   Pretty much any other generic seat on the market is much too wide and the seat base much too high to fit in the VX passenger compartiment.   Even generic race 'bucket' seats often need significant mods to fit or you lose the passenger seat.   Bye, Arno.

Thanks Arno, I might try a few of the bare seats and see how they feel. I might be surprised. Some great info there.

[VXkris]

If anybody is interested, OMP seem to do a lumbar cushion. http://www.ebay.co.u...=item4619581e89 Although I'm sure a non branded lumbar support cushion would be just as effective, and a fraction of the price...

[Paulus H]

If you are in the area you are welcom to try my Reverie. I had a Tillet but found it nicely shaped but it was reclined so much it was hitting the rear window and still not allowing enough leg room. If you have shorter legs Tillet good. If you want to maximise amount of memory foam you want to fit use Reverie. Kind regards, Paul

[wowzer]

I had the same problem and I found altering the angle of the sea the answer . Simply take out the front 2 Allen bolts to the seats and put spacers underneath it then replace Allen bolts with longer ones ... Much more comfy for no money . You actually sit in them now rather than on them ... Try it ?

[davemate]

I remember a thread and possibly a group buy on gel that someone had fitted into their seats from various thicknesses. It may have been a seloc thread?

My sill padding also helped my comfort and subsequent strain on my back as i could actually relax while driving. 

 

 

 

[VXkris]

Thanks fellas. The seats are currently out (just fitted freds carpets) so i'll definitely bang in some washers to help the position. I'm quite short so I always find im tilting my head back to see fully what's going on. I've also got hold of some memory foam and ill be padding out the seats this week before they go back in. If it doesn't help I might have to take one of you up on the offer of trying a new seat.

[siztenboots]

some sort of comfortable arm rest , currently my elbow tends to rest on part of the door panel