Std.vs Sport Seats
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 226
Likes: 6
From: NY
Std.vs Sport Seats
I'm looking at a couple of '96's, most have the std seats, which I've tried, a couple have the sport seats, which I haven't tried out, yet. Any opinions on the two, as far as comfort or durability issues with either one. Thanks in advance for any feed back!
Racer
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 409
Likes: 7
From: Taunton MA
I have owned both seats, and i like the standard seats. just personal preference.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 417
Likes: 11
From: Brigham City Utah
I had Sport Seats in my 1994 convert and didn't like the looks or feel. I replaced the worn seats and cushions with new standard seat. Much more comfortable and they look like they belong in a Corvette IMO.
Karsten
Karsten
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 226
Likes: 6
From: NY
Any particular reason, are the sport seats too stiff? Just wondering, thx!
Pro
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 600
Likes: 56
From: Elyria, Ohio
Karsten, did you use your old sport seat frames for the standard cushions?
I have the sport seats in my '96 vert and I don't care for the diagonal seam.
To me it looks kind of cheesy. I like the look of your seats.
And I'm pretty sure that they would cost a lot less (even at the steep prices from the Vette catalogs)
than going to a custom upholstery shop.
Who was your supplier for those seats?
I have the sport seats in my '96 vert and I don't care for the diagonal seam.
To me it looks kind of cheesy. I like the look of your seats.
And I'm pretty sure that they would cost a lot less (even at the steep prices from the Vette catalogs)
than going to a custom upholstery shop.
Who was your supplier for those seats?
Last edited by Vetteblack-96; Nov 19, 2014 at 02:17 PM.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 417
Likes: 11
From: Brigham City Utah
Karsten, did you use your old sport seat frames for the standard cushions?
I have the sport seats in my '96 vert and I don't care for the diagonal seam.
To me it looks kind of cheesy. I like the look of your seats.
And I'm pretty sure that they would cost a lot less (even at the steep prices from the Vette catalogs)
than going to a custom upholstery shop.
Who was your supplier for those seats?
I have the sport seats in my '96 vert and I don't care for the diagonal seam.
To me it looks kind of cheesy. I like the look of your seats.
And I'm pretty sure that they would cost a lot less (even at the steep prices from the Vette catalogs)
than going to a custom upholstery shop.
Who was your supplier for those seats?
I bought mine mounted on new cushions and yes I used the Sport Seat frames.
http://corvettepartsworldwi3-px.rtrk...s_p/447082.htm
They are a little hard to find....do a search for C4 Leather seats and advance to page #2 for 1994-96.
They took about 3 weeks to arrive at my door.
Karsten
Pro
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 600
Likes: 56
From: Elyria, Ohio
Karsten, Thanks! I'll try that.
Delivery time isn't a problem. My seats aren't torn up or anything,
just a little tired looking and having that funny seam.
Five 7, I think so too. I've only got 42,000 on my car but the
seats feel and look a little flat. And that diagonal seam looks like
somebody patched it. Not good looking, IMO.
Delivery time isn't a problem. My seats aren't torn up or anything,
just a little tired looking and having that funny seam.
Five 7, I think so too. I've only got 42,000 on my car but the
seats feel and look a little flat. And that diagonal seam looks like
somebody patched it. Not good looking, IMO.
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Michael S. Palmer
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
I like the sport seats in my '88. Though the lumbar doesn't work the adjustable side bolsters and back tilt make for a very comfortable ride.
I suggest you try on both style seats and play with the adjustments to get a feel for overall comfort.
I suggest you try on both style seats and play with the adjustments to get a feel for overall comfort.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 12,597
Likes: 237
From: Bartlett Illinois
Karsten,
Do all the sport seat functions work? I modded one of my sport seat frames to accept the standard foam/leather and I did not see how the side bolsters would work, but if you got it to all fit and work like sport seats I am interested in what you did
thanks
Do all the sport seat functions work? I modded one of my sport seat frames to accept the standard foam/leather and I did not see how the side bolsters would work, but if you got it to all fit and work like sport seats I am interested in what you did
thanks
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 805
Likes: 11
From: Hickory Flat Ga
My '96 came with standard seats. Power nothing. They were very comfortable and easy to adjust. I rode in them for about 25k miles and liked the support and feel.
Installed Sport seats with full blown controls, tracks, the whole deal. They are touted as the most comfortable seats in ANY car before and after. Well? Are they? They surely adjust in 4 million ways, and the bladders provide infinite customized levels of support. The side bolsters would please Niki Lauda. Sold the standards in near perfect shape and got great feedback from him. So you can't screw this decision up. I would choose Sport. Come on the diagonal seam? It looks great. Getting them adjusted just perfect is fun, and a cool feature in a 20 year old car.
Installed Sport seats with full blown controls, tracks, the whole deal. They are touted as the most comfortable seats in ANY car before and after. Well? Are they? They surely adjust in 4 million ways, and the bladders provide infinite customized levels of support. The side bolsters would please Niki Lauda. Sold the standards in near perfect shape and got great feedback from him. So you can't screw this decision up. I would choose Sport. Come on the diagonal seam? It looks great. Getting them adjusted just perfect is fun, and a cool feature in a 20 year old car.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 324
Likes: 7
From: Littleton Colorado
The diagonal in the driver cushion has ripped out all the stitches. Since the leather cover is glued to the foam, the only fix is to replace the foam. But, the leather has also shrunk (part of the problem with the stitches), so the corners are turned up and dig into your hammies.
And, the adjustments either don't work or don't hold. So, no advantage there. Doesn't bother me that much, but the shrunken leather-caused issues do.
Only reasonable fix for my cushions is full foam/leather replacement.
Looking at replacements available, it's either going to cost me $1200 for the lower-rated sports seat replacements, or $1400 for the higher rated. Standard seats are $1k (per the link above), to $1200. I don't fully understand how the various sport seat adjustments work, or what I'll have to do to fix them in my car, but if standard seats are more comfortable without requiring the myriad adjustments available with properly operating sports seats, I'm willing to go that way.
And, I like to look of the standard cushions better...
And, the adjustments either don't work or don't hold. So, no advantage there. Doesn't bother me that much, but the shrunken leather-caused issues do.
Only reasonable fix for my cushions is full foam/leather replacement.
Looking at replacements available, it's either going to cost me $1200 for the lower-rated sports seat replacements, or $1400 for the higher rated. Standard seats are $1k (per the link above), to $1200. I don't fully understand how the various sport seat adjustments work, or what I'll have to do to fix them in my car, but if standard seats are more comfortable without requiring the myriad adjustments available with properly operating sports seats, I'm willing to go that way.
And, I like to look of the standard cushions better...
Racer
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 417
Likes: 11
From: Brigham City Utah
I had them installed locally by a guy that used to work at one of the big Corvette dealerships in Denver and he seamed to know just what he was doing.
Karsten
Racer
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 324
Likes: 7
From: Littleton Colorado
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,373
Likes: 2,288
From: Central Maryland
My '94 came with the sport seats. When I was debating whether to buy the LT4, I was wishing it had the sport seats, too, but it had the standard seats. Much to my surprise, after having driven both of them on several 3,000 mile trips, I found the standard seats to be much more comfortable than the sport seats. I now wish my '94 had standard seats, too. Those '96 standard seats just fit my body so well. Of course, every body is different, so YMMV.
Live well,
SJW
Live well,
SJW
Pro
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 600
Likes: 56
From: Elyria, Ohio
Well, to each his own I guess. Some like the sport seats and the diagonal seam and
some don't. As far as the adjusting bladders they can be nice if there's more than one driver of the car.
I'm the only one who drives mine and I can't remember the last time I
changed the positions.
Maybe on a long ride you'd like to move them but I never have.
tlong, if you like the diagonal, more power to ya!
some don't. As far as the adjusting bladders they can be nice if there's more than one driver of the car.
I'm the only one who drives mine and I can't remember the last time I
changed the positions.
Maybe on a long ride you'd like to move them but I never have.
tlong, if you like the diagonal, more power to ya!
Last edited by Vetteblack-96; Nov 21, 2014 at 05:39 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 805
Likes: 11
From: Hickory Flat Ga
I have to love them because they were such a b**** to install. I agree the standards were very comfortable with a thicker seat cushion part and huggier top part. But those Sports are fantastic-if everything is working as it should.
C4 seats have always been praised no matter what year or style.
C4 seats have always been praised no matter what year or style.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 12,597
Likes: 237
From: Bartlett Illinois
I also think the Standard seat design of the 94-96 is better for the 2 tone colors.. it just flows better.. I might end up doing the standard seats with the sport adjustment.. I have one back I was able to fit it all together with some mods
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
From: Tampa Florida
I'm shopping around for the ZR-1 .... 
Base vs Sport Seats .... you guys who changed out to Base Seats-how do they feel now?
The Base / Standard seats appear to have more cushion over Sport Seats .... ?
Base vs Sport Seats .... you guys who changed out to Base Seats-how do they feel now?
The Base / Standard seats appear to have more cushion over Sport Seats .... ?
Racer
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 402
Likes: 44
From: Pittsburgh PA
I have the sport seats in my 90. The standard seats I believe make getting in and out a little easier although in general the C4 is not the easiest car to get in and out of. Like they say you fall in and climb out. That said I do believe the sport seats offer more support especially someone with a worn out back like myself. I can drive for hours without my back aching.
I did add a 2 inch block of foam under the base which makes it a lot more comfortable on the rear end LOL. The only issue is that there are so many moving parts to maintain with the sport seats but when everything is working these seats are nice to have.
I did add a 2 inch block of foam under the base which makes it a lot more comfortable on the rear end LOL. The only issue is that there are so many moving parts to maintain with the sport seats but when everything is working these seats are nice to have.