Lightweight seats

[Steve Tillett]

About 45mins to an hour so not that far. It’s just trying to find the time! Plus my Emira is with B&C to have the wiring loom replaced which will probably take another 2 weeks.

I am nearly always around, so when convenient contact me and I am more than happy to arrange for you to come and sit in my car.
I live at the point where the M20 and M26 meet.
stevetillett@tillett.co.uk

 

[Steve Tillett]

Still looking for seat options. Following are available:

- Tillet B10, with custom padding looks great! Just have the feeling that the seat is quite high, on some photos it almost looks like its touching the ceiling which I dont like so maybe thats a setting
- Recaro Podium, love the carbon looks and shape but the bottom part I feel its too high designed that will make it hard to get in and out. Not daily friendly on my opinion.
- Lotus Carbon seats Exige, they look great and sit very very comfortable. Not sure why they did not offer these seats in the Emira but available on the aftermarket even Greg (GRP) has them.

From the top 3 above im inclined to go for the Lotus Exige CF seats and then custom upholster them for the Emira. Some guys have it already installed in the Emira, just want to see more pics of it how it looks.

And then… then you got this! From Jubu… to me by far the best of all looking BUT no price yet and I believe its going to be very expensive knowing how expensive jubu parts are (just received the jubu440 power upgrade).

Let me know what you think and what you did in your Emira

My seat is not high. I can drop the head and shoulder height over 4 inches from the standard position. The one in the picture is set for me at 5ft 10. I'm still much lower than standard with the seat like this.
This is Komotec's car with the same seat in.

 

[76SCG]

If anyone who removes their standard seats wants to sell them then do reach out?

 

[crashprash]

@Steve Tillett would you ever consider making seats with airbags fitted? For those of us in Australia, we can't legally swap the stock seats since it comes with airbags

 

[Steve Tillett]

@Steve Tillett would you ever consider making seats with airbags fitted? For those of us in Australia, we can't legally swap the stock seats since it comes with airbags

I did wonder whether we could integrate the existing airbag kit into a model but the problem with these things is that any safety device needs many thousands spent testing and all cars would be different. By the time that was costed in, no one would buy it.
I know it's a legal thing in Australia so your hands are tied but frankly, given the choice of having exploding bags all around me sitting on a marshmallow cushion, or being locked in position centrally, in a rigid structure with side support. I know which seat I would rather be in during a crash and it's not the OEM seat. I always look to F1 cars. Rigid form fitting seat, almost zero padding, no airbags. The important thing for safety is the body must not move and the belts must remain tight.

 

[crashprash]

I did wonder whether we could integrate the existing airbag kit into a model but the problem with these things is that any safety device needs many thousands spent testing and all cars would be different. By the time that was costed in, no one would buy it.
I know it's a legal thing in Australia so your hands are tied but frankly, given the choice of having exploding bags all around me sitting on a marshmallow cushion, or being locked in position centrally, in a rigid structure with side support. I know which seat I would rather be in during a crash and it's not the OEM seat. I always look to F1 cars. Rigid form fitting seat, almost zero padding, no airbags. The important thing for safety is the body must not move and the belts must remain tight.

I fully agree that being secure in the seat is safer than airbags. Unfortunately the cops won't even think twice, will be an instant defect, any insurance claims will be denied and won't be possible to pass the registration inspection every year

 

[hagen111]

I fully agree that being secure in the seat is safer than airbags. Unfortunately the cops won't even think twice, will be an instant defect, any insurance claims will be denied and won't be possible to pass the registration inspection every year

Put an ‘airbag’ sticker on the seat, glue a condom on the inside and voila…you have airbags installed.

 

[ddsheep]

@Steve Tillett I am interested in the red leather padding. Do you have pictures of the b10 with red leather option. thanks

 

[Steve Tillett]

@Steve Tillett I am interested in the red leather padding. Do you have pictures of the b10 with red leather option. thanks

I don't have a picture of them done in the red. We can do it though. I guess it would look like this.

 

[ddsheep]

@Steve Tillett Thanks for the quick reply. Are all the cf seat come in gloss or do you offer a matte version? Thanks

 

[Steve Tillett]

@Steve Tillett Thanks for the quick reply. Are all the cf seat come in gloss or do you offer a matte version? Thanks

We can do a matt version. It is a lacquered finish applied after manufacture. We do it for Caterham sometimes on their carbon.

 

[ddsheep]

@Steve Tillett Very nice but does it still show the carbon weaves? how can I order the matte version? Through GRP or direct from you?

 

[Steve Tillett]

@Steve Tillett Very nice but does it still show the carbon weaves? how can I order the matte version? Through GRP or direct from you?

I'm very happy for you to deal through Greg at GRP. It makes sense as aftersales customer service is hard directly with the distances involved. We would still need to quote the price for the matt finish though, as it would be a special.

 

[ddsheep]

@Steve Tillett Would be great if can get me a quote on the cf matte one thanks!

 

[Tomwa]

I don't have a picture of them done in the red. We can do it though. I guess it would look like this.

I have kind of a weird ask.

A few years ago I saw a car someone had a carbon fiber "seat pad", as I recall it, was actually in a Evora GT. My wife is 4 foot 8. and struggles any time i try to put her in a car with sport seats because the bolsters always hit her in the wrong place (trying to push her shoulders in)

Have you ever seen anything like that? I didn't know who's car it was, and I've been asking around lotus folks here, and even at this point know the person who i think owns that car now. But he doesn't know.

I'd love to work on convincing my wife that Tillets would suit the car well. But... I have a hard time convincing her to get in the car now, with formed buckets I'm afraid she'd never ride in the car.

 

[Steve Tillett]

I have kind of a weird ask.

A few years ago I saw a car someone had a carbon fiber "seat pad", as I recall it, was actually in a Evora GT. My wife is 4 foot 8. and struggles any time i try to put her in a car with sport seats because the bolsters always hit her in the wrong place (trying to push her shoulders in)

Have you ever seen anything like that? I didn't know who's car it was, and I've been asking around lotus folks here, and even at this point know the person who i think owns that car now. But he doesn't know.

I'd love to work on convincing my wife that Tillets would suit the car well. But... I have a hard time convincing her to get in the car now, with formed buckets I'm afraid she'd never ride in the car.

We did exactly that for someone with a McLaren. We sat a modified cut down B6 composite inner skin on the seat and it stopped the small lady from sinking too far into the seat. It didn't even need padding, Just the shape made it lift her and make it more comfortable.

 

[crashprash]

So i recently did a few trackdays and also sat in an another emira with tillet B10 seats and have made up my mind that the stock seats aren't up to the task. I'm basically having to use my elbows and knees to brace myself during cornering.

So in terms of seat options:
1. Keep stock seats and use the seat belt locking feature (not sure how effective this is)
2. Keep stock seats, quadloc harness bar, 4pt harness, helmet and HANS combo (cheapest option)
3. Tillet B10 seats, quadloc harness bar, 4pt harness (too much shoulder rubbing without harness), helmet and HANS combo
4. Recaro sportser CSseats, stock seatbelts with locking feature
5. Recaro sportser CS seats, harness bar, 4pt harness, helmet and HANS combo

Thoughts/opinions?

If I was going with Tillet, I would get the custom tan leather pads option. @Steve Tillett is there an option for shoulder padding of some sort to prevent the rubbing on the CF shell?

For the recaros, i would go with the airbag option (heavier than the CF Tillet but will comply with regulations and looks more OEM to draw less attention from the authorities). Also has recline function so easier to load items into the rear parcel shelf. Would need to the seat retrimmed to match the tan leather.

If going with the harness options, A HANS combo is a must. Not sure how to attach 4/5 pt harness using stock seats and harness bar. If someone has a photo of this, that would be great

 

[geoffbland]

If going with the harness options, A HANS combo is a must. Not sure how to attach 4/5 pt harness using stock seats and harness bar. If someone has a photo of this, that would be great

You probably already know this - but just mentioning it...
Be aware that if you get an HANS device fitted it is safest to also have a roll cage or at least some way to ensure the roof does not cave in on your head.

 

[Tracked Emira]

A harness bar is a must and someone already mentioned that the car has a roll cage built into it's design.
After doing my 5th track day in a 4pt harness, I would prefer a 5 or 6pt because it really needs to stay down and not slide up the waist.
This Recara doesn't have an option for 5 or 6pt, but you can always bring the seat belt over the front art of the seat, like I do in my dodge challenger.
Bride seats are also another option. I want to be able to adjust the back when I go on longer drives.

 

[Steve Tillett]

So i recently did a few trackdays and also sat in an another emira with tillet B10 seats and have made up my mind that the stock seats aren't up to the task. I'm basically having to use my elbows and knees to brace myself during cornering.

So in terms of seat options:
1. Keep stock seats and use the seat belt locking feature (not sure how effective this is)
2. Keep stock seats, quadloc harness bar, 4pt harness, helmet and HANS combo (cheapest option)
3. Tillet B10 seats, quadloc harness bar, 4pt harness (too much shoulder rubbing without harness), helmet and HANS combo
4. Recaro sportser CSseats, stock seatbelts with locking feature
5. Recaro sportser CS seats, harness bar, 4pt harness, helmet and HANS combo

Thoughts/opinions?

If I was going with Tillet, I would get the custom tan leather pads option. @Steve Tillett is there an option for shoulder padding of some sort to prevent the rubbing on the CF shell?

For the recaros, i would go with the airbag option (heavier than the CF Tillet but will comply with regulations and looks more OEM to draw less attention from the authorities). Also has recline function so easier to load items into the rear parcel shelf. Would need to the seat retrimmed to match the tan leather.

If going with the harness options, A HANS combo is a must. Not sure how to attach 4/5 pt harness using stock seats and harness bar. If someone has a photo of this, that would be great

Do you mean you are worried about the OEM seat belt rubbing on the hard shell? My car has done 18,000 miles and there is no sign of rubbing at all. The edge where the belt sits is smooth and unlike in the OEM seats you do not wobble from side to side so they will not wear when they don’t move. Also you sit lower so the belt doesn’t drag over the edge of the seat.