Hi, I’m on my second ND. First one was 16 plate Sport Nav this is a 20 Sport Tech.
Generally the car is hugely improved but I have one issue which is specific to me. I have a dodgy back which for some reason prefers hard seats. The seats in the early one were quite hard and suited me perfectly , these are softer and after about 45 minutes I have a lot of back pain.
I’m going to have o look around for a driver seat from an early one, I assume that despite the changes to the seats the fittings will be the same?
It would be surprising if the mountings weren’t the same, and for that matter the airbag / speaker connections.
What surprises me is that your Sport Nav was better - mine has the original style leather seats and there is no support at all - there’s no foam, they are made like deck chairs and supported only by webbing, and give me back ache very easily. I looked out for a set of Recaro seats for a while but never saw one.
Others have added support or padding to the ‘deckchair’ seats which might be another option for you. One method was to shorten perspex number plates and fit them into the backrest frame to support some foam.
Thanks John . Yes I know what you mean but I have a very odd back and it’s plagued me for decades . Softer seats have just always hurt my back, hard seats do not . I have no idea why. I did nearly 30,000 miles in the early sport Nav with no problems at all.
Seat fixing certainly look the identical to me ND1 to ND2… I had an ND2 RF which I changed the seats in (fitted buckets) and have more recently built an ND1 race car, so I’m fairly familiar with swapping seats around in an ND.
I can double check next time I’m at the unit with the race car as I had some mounts fabricated to fit the buckets in the ND2, these were a little heavy for the race car tho so I used something different.
Ok two months in and I can’t get on with the seat. It’s not the car it’s me, for everyone else the seats will be a big improvement.
The dealer suggested having the seat re upholstered but I don’t want to do that, I need to get either a seat from an old one or possibly a Recaro. Anyone any ideas where and how a might pick up a Recaro?
Honestly, in the UK they are like rocking horse ****. Only saw one set ever come up for sale. I too have pretty bad back problems (2 lower discs prematurely worn & scoliosis) but I get no trouble from the Recaros thankfully.
Hello PaulFC
It might be worth contacting Paul at Roddisons Motorsport Sheffield S9 1US
0114 244 5300.
Paul may have a seat removed from an early MK4 which is being race prepared.
Happy Hunting
Keith
