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The seat does not impact headroom. If you have a cloth seat and sun roof, you have the same issues. New car is cloth and sun roof. The sun roof costs about 2".
6' 5" here. Will be checking this out first chance I get.
Im 6'5" too and preparing the RX8 for its first track day. It has manual, cloth seats.
I tried flipping the rear seat hangers upside down, but my helmet was still on the roof.
I un did the 4 bolts that hold the seat pan in place and removed it from the car (disconnect the battery first, Id hate to lose an arm to an air bag), then I unclipped the seat cover from the pan.
Put the naked pan back into the seat frame, then put the foam seat squab from a racing seat, for padding.
I can now fit in the car with helmet just touching the roof lining.
I'll just place the factory seat squab back in the pan for everyday driving.
Reminds me of an Ultrashield seat but with no padding and a couple good stabbing objects to keep you awake.
Have you tried looking at any racing seats with a low sitting bracket?
The pad is from the OPM racing seat in my RX7. I remove it for more head room when Im in the 7. Sitting on a thin pad of foam for 5 laps is not too much of a problem.
I may look into a race seat for the RX8, but at the moment it's a Sunday driver about to have its first outing at Lakeside, Brisbane, Queensland Australia
I tried flipping the brackets, but that didn't give me headroom with a helmet on, so I removed the seat squab, by removing 4 bolts under the seat, then unclipped the seat pad and removed it. This makes about 40mm of additional head room. I can fit the seat cushion back to the metal frame without having to unbolt the squab again. It works well on track days.
I tried flipping the brackets, but that didn't give me headroom with a helmet on, so I removed the seat squab, by removing 4 bolts under the seat, then unclipped the seat pad and removed it. This makes about 40mm of additional head room. I can fit the seat cushion back to the metal frame without having to unbolt the squab again. It works well on track days.
I'm 5'7 and on manual cloth seats, and i still feel like in stock form id like to sit lower, but i probably don't need to go much lower to feel like I'm sitting low enough. the mod is very likely enough
I'm 6'4" and I did this mod many years ago. Its plenty comfortable and is how I have it set up permanently. I now just barely fit with my helmet for track days. I would say for anyone up to my height it should be plenty of space. I don't need any more room myself, but I did have to remove my visor on my track helmet as I couldn't open it without it rubbing on the roof.
I tried flipping the brackets, but that didn't give me headroom with a helmet on, so I removed the seat squab, by removing 4 bolts under the seat, then unclipped the seat pad and removed it. This makes about 40mm of additional head room. I can fit the seat cushion back to the metal frame without having to unbolt the squab again. It works well on track days.
what do you mean by squab? the seat cushion? you're literally sitting on the metal seat bottom tray?
So basically, to be clear, am i basically flipping the brackets upside down and screwing them in the other way? with spacers? thats it?
no, i think i've accidently done that twice and it was wrong. it seems like a minor distinction, but you need to flip the brackets out of the way temporarily in order to lower the seat pan below the brackets, and then rotate the brackets back to the SAME position.
when i rotated the brackets 180 degrees, that actually moves them higher and offsets some of the seat bottom lowering you are trying to achieve.
what do you mean by squab? the seat cushion? you're literally sitting on the metal seat bottom tray?
ever get that feeling like you’re overlooking something only several posts away …
Originally Posted by kpack
Im 6'5" too and preparing the RX8 for its first track day. It has manual, cloth seats.
I tried flipping the rear seat hangers upside down, but my helmet was still on the roof.
I un did the 4 bolts that hold the seat pan in place and removed it from the car (disconnect the battery first, Id hate to lose an arm to an air bag), then I unclipped the seat cover from the pan.
Put the naked pan back into the seat frame, then put the foam seat squab from a racing seat, for padding.
I can now fit in the car with helmet just touching the roof lining.
I'll just place the factory seat squab back in the pan for everyday driving.
Tried motodenta's method but could not for the life of me hold on to my washer stack enough to squeeze them in between the bracket and seat pan, so while I gained some room from just flipping the bracket it was minimal.
I'll have to give it another go when I get my car back or try out one of the other methods ITT.