Initial Review: Buddy Club Racing Spec Seat

[Slappy]

Ok cool , thanks!

[Tsukiko]

The reason i want S14 seat belts is so i can buy this...

http://www.cg-lock.com/index.html

thats pretty nifty if you really want to keep your stock seats and not go four point...

if i were to get serious about it though, i would just go with a seat and four point... actually i was looking at my stock seats today wondering how well a four point would work with them... might be a neat trick to pull off if you like the look of the original seats.

[mrgreeneyes]

Ok cool , thanks!

no problem... just passing info on... helping the nico guys/gals out in their quest for economical upgrades

[Spectre_240sx]

If you're in need of holding power, you should really look into a seat first. I haven't found anything that can jostle me with the buddy club seat. Besides that, though, there are safety concerns with a 4-point harness in a street car. Unless you have proper mounting points, it's going to compress your spine in a crash. Also, if you roll and the roof collapses, a 3-point harness will let your body move a bit to avoid being crushed, where a 4-point will just hold you in place. Those two things combined actually make a seat the cheaper option to do correctly.

That being said, it's on my mind down the road, but I'll have a half or full roll cage in the car before it's installed. I'm leaning towards a half-cage at this point.

One more thought: does anyone make a padded head-rest that would work with the buddy-club seat? It's obviously designed to accommodate a helmet, so the headrest on the seat is pretty far back and not exactly the softest thing in the world...

[Ryoga4523]

I was thinking about getting some bride seats, how do you think they compare to the buddy club's?

this is the bride I wanted to get http://www.intensepower.com/brzeiity2.html

[Slappy]

thats pretty nifty if you really want to keep your stock seats and not go four point...

if i were to get serious about it though, i would just go with a seat and four point... actually i was looking at my stock seats today wondering how well a four point would work with them... might be a neat trick to pull off if you like the look of the original seats.

Um , i have a seat. The CG Clamp is going to be temporary until i get my AutoPower roll bar w/harness bar.

I was thinking about getting some bride seats, how do you think they compare to the buddy club's?

this is the bride I wanted to get http://www.intensepower.com/brzeiity2.html

Bride is gonna cost you twice as much as a Buddy Club. Sad thing is , alot of people have Bride seats now just for thier "status".

[Spectre_240sx]

Will you be leaving the factory belts in for street use or are you going to be using the 4-point all the time?

[Slappy]

Will you be leaving the factory belts in for street use or are you going to be using the 4-point all the time?

If your asking me , im leaving the factory belts in for everyday use like you said.

[Ryoga4523]

Mine is going to be for track use, so I am going to go with a 4 point.

I also wanted the bride's because I thought they were good. I did want sparco's or recaro (cause the evo has recaro's and they fit nicely) but I liked the brides cause of the "status" as well. Basically, recaro, bride, and sparco are all around the same price, and since I really do not see too many people out in AZ with bride seats, I was like why not. I am not worried about cost, cause my moto is, " If you are going to do it, do it right".

[Slappy]

Most JDM seats are not homologated. I know Bride (pronounced "Brid") are not. Your wasting your money if you ask me. There is nothing wrong with a Buddy Club seat(although they are not homologated either). You can save some money and buy yourself some seat time.

Some Recaro and most Sparco seats are homologated.

homologated seats = sanctioning body approved approved i.e. FIA. You might want to check the rules on what ever series you plan to run in what seats are homologated and wich ones are not.

Most JDM seat are not homologated. All you would need is a bar behind the seat. But for SCCA Solo 2 events , you'll be fine. As you would be for all major drift events in the US , you just wouldnt be allowed to run tandem in the finals , without the support bar.

cause my moto is, " If you are going to do it, do it right".

My moto is "research before buying".
Modified by Slappy at 7:23 PM 12/23/2007

[Tsukiko]

haha obviously, yes, you have a seat... i guess i was slightly off point but what i was concerned about was the most obvious difference in the ways a 3 point and a 4 point belt hold you... as in the 4 point holding both your shoulders.

as far as the mounting points, would you absolutely need a rollcage? I've seen the b-pillar bars that have points set up, but is that a proper use?

[Slappy]

as far as the mounting points, would you absolutely need a rollcage? I've seen the b-pillar bars that have points set up, but is that a proper use?

I dont think the pillar bars are safe for that. Either got a roll cage , proper harness bar , or a auto power roll bar with optional harness bar.

Harness bar - http://storesense.megawebserve...o=669

Auto Power Roll bar - http://www.optionsauto.com/pro...0-ERW

[nwmrkt]

I dont think the pillar bars are safe for that. Either got a roll cage , proper harness bar , or a auto power roll bar with optional harness bar.

Harness bar - http://storesense.megawebserve...o=669

Auto Power Roll bar - http://www.optionsauto.com/pro...0-ERW

Hey slappy, just some questions.

The seats are great period?!? they sit at stock height?

Also regarding harnesses/cages...

Im thinking of doing a cusco 6 point bolt in with a proper harness bar like you posted? What do you think? Im liking the cusco because of reviews and the fitment.

Thanks

[Spectre_240sx]

I thought I heard something about the buddy club seat being homologated in the future. Also, isn't it possible to get around that restriction with an extra support bar on the roll cage or something?

[Slappy]

Hey slappy, just some questions.

The seats are great period?!?

they sit at stock height?

Just about , but not quite. Even with sidemount and low down rails.

Also regarding harnesses/cages...

Im thinking of doing a cusco 6 point bolt in with a proper harness bar like you posted? What do you think? Im liking the cusco because of reviews and the fitment.

Thanks

Some people like them , and some people dont , that ive known. Most of the gripes with them are the fitment issues and what they call "weak" construction. I cant say really because i never owned one myself. But i do know this , you cant go wrong with a properly welded cage.

I thought I heard something about the buddy club seat being homologated in the future.?

That would be nice , but the FIA just dropped the Corbeau seats so who knows.

Also, isn't it possible to get around that restriction with an extra support bar on the roll cage or something?

Yes. For more info on this , contact Brian at http://www.mamsparts.com/

[fourLUG_hero]

Sorry to bump a way old thread but...

Slappy, on your wide Buddy Club, are they on the lowest setting on the rails ? If so, how much/how noticeable is it that you're raised up from stock height ?

[mrgreeneyes]

lol, RAISED!?!?!

nah, these sit so low, you'd be very surprised. i LOVE mine. sits nearly on the floor, no lie.

sweet seat for the money

[fourLUG_hero]

lol, RAISED!?!?!

nah, these sit so low, you'd be very surprised. i LOVE mine. sits nearly on the floor, no lie.

sweet seat for the money

Haha do you have the regular or the wide version ? I read around that they actually raise you up a tad from stock. Do you go to the sonic meets ? I'm trying to test the fit out.

[Slappy]

Sorry to bump a way old thread but...

Slappy, on your wide Buddy Club, are they on the lowest setting on the rails ? If so, how much/how noticeable is it that you're raised up from stock height ?

Man to be honest, its a bit odd. If you sit in my seat, which has you sitting in the proper seating position, when you look over at the passenger seat its seems your looking down at but at the same time you feel that your sitting lower.

Heres a pic of how the seat sits. It doesnt sit that higher then the passenger seat, its just that the pass. seat is reclined.

[240DRFTluver]

yeah i found that out the hard way <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://images.nicoclub.com/forums/image ... /frown.gif" BORDER="0">

haha ya same. it sucked.

[hbpignosePA]

i really like buddy club's fit; ive test sat in a few (MGE's and Dales) and will probably go this route

[Dire91]

i really like buddy club's fit; ive test sat in a few (MGE's and Dales) and will probably go this route

What's your height, weight and waist size? I'm wondering if I need a normal or wide.

[Dizel01]

Old thread alert!!

I'm a 5'8" average sized guy and the wide fits me comfortably. It gives you enough room to at least get in and get out...lol. The regular size is very snug and holds you in nice on all sides. Regular is perfect for the track and wide is more tolerable for long daily driving like i do. MGEs is the same size as me and rocks out the regular all day everyday. Whenever we meet up, we always sit in each others seats.

I like mine and will never look back. Buddy Club all the way b****s!

[ViolentRunning13]

I have the regular sized one with Bride rails. Sits as low as my car. LOW.