[Z06] You know, about our seats...
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 924
Likes: 0
From: Calgary
You know, about our seats...
... they sure are comfortable.
Sure, I had more lateral support in my old Honda Civic, but that problem can be fixed anyway!
My last car was a 2003 Acura 3.2CL Type-S with, what I considered, the 2nd most comfortable seats I ever sat in (I have to admit, the Volvo V70 sport seats are way "comfier").
Bottom line is that I am blown away by how comfortable a "supercar"'s seats are.
As this is one of the only faults of the C5 Z's, it's a really tolerable one.
It's only my 4th day of ownership and she amazes me more and more every day!
Sure, I had more lateral support in my old Honda Civic, but that problem can be fixed anyway!
My last car was a 2003 Acura 3.2CL Type-S with, what I considered, the 2nd most comfortable seats I ever sat in (I have to admit, the Volvo V70 sport seats are way "comfier").
Bottom line is that I am blown away by how comfortable a "supercar"'s seats are.
As this is one of the only faults of the C5 Z's, it's a really tolerable one.
It's only my 4th day of ownership and she amazes me more and more every day!
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 463
Likes: 19
From: California
Funny thing, to me they are not necessarily uncomfortable, but I can't seem to ever find the 'perfect' adjustment that makes me happy & say "this is it". I have owned over 30 cars and I am the kind of guy that can jump into any car, adjust the seat the first day and never touch it again for years, but I just can't seem to get it right on my Z. 
Pro
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 534
Likes: 0
From: Colorado
Originally Posted by USA - #1
Funny thing, to me they are not necessarily uncomfortable, but I can't seem to ever find the 'perfect' adjustment that makes me happy & say "this is it". I have owned over 30 cars and I am the kind of guy that can jump into any car, adjust the seat the first day and never touch it again for years, but I just can't seem to get it right on my Z.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 3,420
Likes: 0
From: Lancaster County PA
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10
Originally Posted by USA - #1
Funny thing, to me they are not necessarily uncomfortable, but I can't seem to ever find the 'perfect' adjustment that makes me happy & say "this is it". I have owned over 30 cars and I am the kind of guy that can jump into any car, adjust the seat the first day and never touch it again for years, but I just can't seem to get it right on my Z.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 195
Likes: 0
From: Shanghai
Originally Posted by USA - #1
Funny thing, to me they are not necessarily uncomfortable, but I can't seem to ever find the 'perfect' adjustment that makes me happy & say "this is it". I have owned over 30 cars and I am the kind of guy that can jump into any car, adjust the seat the first day and never touch it again for years, but I just can't seem to get it right on my Z.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 284
Likes: 0
From: Thousand Oaks CA
Originally Posted by Hardcorvette
Got that right! At 6' 3" 225lbs. I can find a decent level of comfort in most seats. With the Z, the seats feels out of proportion. To start with, definitely too much padding in the upper back area.
I'm 6'3" 190 lbs. and have the same problem. I had an upholstery shop pull the back pad off the seat, remove the inner foam and shave 1/2" - 3/4" from the front of the foam pad (particularly near the top) and reshape it to the original contours (can't remove any from the back side of the foam due to wire frame inside). It helped a good bit. My hope was it would also have the effect of making the seat bottom longer since I would sit deeper into the seat back; seems to be true. I also had a bit of extra padding placed in the base of the seat back for more lumbar support and some under the leather at the very front of the seat for better thigh support. Better but still not the seat I'd like.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 404
Likes: 0
From: Camp Pendleton CA
Mine are rather comfy. Sometimes I'll take a rest from driving and move the seat all the way back and steering wheel all the way up, turn on the radio and get a little shut eye.
At 68" and 145 I have plenty of room.
At 68" and 145 I have plenty of room.
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Drifting
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,401
Likes: 0
From: Behind the Orange Curtain, So Cal
Originally Posted by USA - #1
Funny thing, to me they are not necessarily uncomfortable, but I can't seem to ever find the 'perfect' adjustment that makes me happy & say "this is it". I just can't seem to get it right on my Z.
long legged and lean. I want more padding! And heated seats would be even better! 
Racer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 257
Likes: 0
From: San Diego CA
Originally Posted by Blooty
long legged and lean. I want more padding! And heated seats would be even better!
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 463
Likes: 19
From: California
Originally Posted by eeagle
I'm 6'3" 190 lbs. and have the same problem. I had an upholstery shop pull the back pad off the seat, remove the inner foam and shave 1/2" - 3/4" from the front of the foam pad (particularly near the top) and reshape it to the original contours (can't remove any from the back side of the foam due to wire frame inside). It helped a good bit. My hope was it would also have the effect of making the seat bottom longer since I would sit deeper into the seat back; seems to be true. I also had a bit of extra padding placed in the base of the seat back for more lumbar support and some under the leather at the very front of the seat for better thigh support. Better but still not the seat I'd like.
They have been there about 30 years, so I'm sure they'll have some ideas as well. Hopefully something effective that can be done within the existing seat covers. If I make a change, I'll be sure to post & try to take some pic's. If anyone finds an old thread describing a good seat mod with pic's, be sure to post it!
Last edited by USA - #1; May 1, 2006 at 12:22 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 9,556
Likes: 288
From: Granbury Texas
I just completed a 4200 mile road trip in a stock 04 Z06 with stock seats, and found the seats extremely comfortable for me (on the street). However, I have not yet ridden in the sport seats, and would welcome input from someone who has actually done back to back tests with both stock Z06 and "Sport" seats.
Thanks,
Thanks,
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,620
Likes: 3
From: Vancouver WA
Originally Posted by bobgodd
i would like COOLED seats, that car gets so hot i cant stand it. im not too big, 6'2 225, but im always HOT, and driving the z just makes it that much worse.. i can sit in that seat and if i drive for more than a half hour, i'll sweat, no matter how cold it is.
You might consider getting a Elite tunnel plate. I found that my car is cooler now and you can see on their web site a test to show the effects of it. Also makes the car a little tighter in the handling department.
Ed
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 2,786
Likes: 22
From: Cary NC
That was the 1st thing I noticed about the car that I didn't like. After 6yrs in a C4 I was extremely dissapointed with them. I adjust it every day because I just can't get it where it feels right.
Oh and on the comment about the heat and the tunnel plate idea. The tunnel plate maybe nice. I decided a much cheaper solution. $80 for a DEI exhaust wrap kit. It's really header wrap but same difference. I wrapped my exahust pipes from the back of the cats down to the inlet of the mufflers. Floor boards, center console, trans and diff are now more insulated from exhaust heat.
Oh and on the comment about the heat and the tunnel plate idea. The tunnel plate maybe nice. I decided a much cheaper solution. $80 for a DEI exhaust wrap kit. It's really header wrap but same difference. I wrapped my exahust pipes from the back of the cats down to the inlet of the mufflers. Floor boards, center console, trans and diff are now more insulated from exhaust heat.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 257
Likes: 0
From: San Diego CA
Originally Posted by vms4evr
Oh and on the comment about the heat and the tunnel plate idea. The tunnel plate maybe nice. I decided a much cheaper solution. $80 for a DEI exhaust wrap kit. It's really header wrap but same difference. I wrapped my exahust pipes from the back of the cats down to the inlet of the mufflers. Floor boards, center console, trans and diff are now more insulated from exhaust heat.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 812
Likes: 0
These may be great seats, but for what, I don't know. As soon as I can get them out of the car, perhaps I can find a use for which they are better suited. I'm replacing the driver's seat this week, and I'm not sure yet about the passenger side. Since I don't sit there, I don't especially care about it, but I feel sorry for the instructor who has to sit in it during track sessions. I know GM was looking for ways to make the Corvette the value leader in it's market, but really, the seats are ridiculous in a car that can generate over 1 g of cornering force.
