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Everybody knows how bad the factory C5 sets are. I was wondering if there are any aftermarket seats that are of better quality than OEMs, but still look like OEMs. All of the ones I've seen so far look like aftermarket seats. It would be nice so see some that look like the factory seats...
... It would be nice so see some that look like the factory seats...
Any seat that you can get to fit in a C5 can be made to look close to a factory seat simply by reupholstering them. And while they're apart, you can always have the foam replaced/updated/sculpted to fit your body shape.
Here are my Recaro Evo 8s:
I fixed my seats, added better foam, converted to sport style seats and used WAY better materials. I've used nearly every aftermarket seat out there and they all suck to sit in for long drives. Just make sure to cover all the sharp edges and put something over the bottom springs, I cut up a flexible cutting board, provides way more support for the foam.
I really do not mind the seats in my Z , they are not too bad, I don't feel like I am sliding around and are pretty comfy.
I am not a large guy, 5'10@ 190lbs. Maybe size of the driver plays a major role in seat comfort? no idea...
My 98 coupe were not as good, but still overall not bad, I would attribute that to age and more butt miles than my 03Z.
Grampi, have you noticed how bad these seats are in your test drives? ...or are you just going by what this forum says?
I've been considering going from plastic to leather on my C5. My seats are not bad. My C5 only has 23k on the clock so the seats are not worn. But, the feel of leather vs plastic would be better IMO.
I really do not mind the seats in my Z , they are not too bad, I don't feel like I am sliding around and are pretty comfy.
I am not a large guy, 5'10@ 190lbs. Maybe size of the driver plays a major role in seat comfort? no idea...
My 98 coupe were not as good, but still overall not bad, I would attribute that to age and more butt miles than my 03Z.
Grampi, have you noticed how bad these seats are in your test drives? ...or are you just going by what this forum says?
It's all based on my test drives. Here's my overall view on the stock seats; I also think they're comfortable, but at some point, I'll have to do something with them because they just don't seem to hold up very well. I don't know if I should go aftermarket, or just redo the stockers with better materials. I actually like the looks of the stock seats compared to aftermarket ones.
I've been considering going from plastic to leather on my C5. My seats are not bad. My C5 only has 23k on the clock so the seats are not worn. But, the feel of leather vs plastic would be better IMO.
I fixed my seats, added better foam, converted to sport style seats and used WAY better materials. I've used nearly every aftermarket seat out there and they all suck to sit in for long drives. Just make sure to cover all the sharp edges and put something over the bottom springs, I cut up a flexible cutting board, provides way more support for the foam.
It's all based on my test drives. Here's my overall view on the stock seats; I also think they're comfortable, but at some point, I'll have to do something with them because they just don't seem to hold up very well. I don't know if I should go aftermarket, or just redo the stockers with better materials. I actually like the looks of the stock seats compared to aftermarket ones.
I like the look of the stock seats as well, seems like you would be better off redoing the foam, adding additional support and cover in real leather...similar to posted above.
I really do not mind the seats in my Z , they are not too bad, I don't feel like I am sliding around and are pretty comfy.
I am not a large guy, 5'10@ 190lbs. Maybe size of the driver plays a major role in seat comfort? no idea...
My 98 coupe were not as good, but still overall not bad, I would attribute that to age and more butt miles than my 03Z.
Grampi, have you noticed how bad these seats are in your test drives? ...or are you just going by what this forum says?
this is very true. The two friends local I have here complained about the stock seats, but they both had collapsed foam and the wing for the side bolstering was broken.
Stock seats in good shape, with a little added padding are really good. Not the best, but not bad enough for me to replace.
My last car (350z) had better overall reviews on the seats than the corvette, but they weren't as comfortable or supportive so I ended up putting in a set of sparco Milano prestige seats instead. I would have kept those for the corvette, but they were too wide at the shoulders.
The recline mechanism failing to hold under hard acceleration, repeatedly, even after replacing the recline mechanism, was enough to turn me off the stock "sports" seats.
The recline mechanism failing to hold under hard acceleration, repeatedly, even after replacing the recline mechanism, was enough to turn me off the stock "sports" seats.
IMHO YMMV.
Jim
either your car is a lot faster than mine, or you're a lot heavier than me
"Everybody knows how bad the factory C5 sets are."
Hmmm, guess I am not in the "everybody".......I like the C5 sport seats.
I have had three lower back surgeries and the C5 seats are the first seats that I can drive in for many hours without pain. I did replace all the old foam, replaced the leaking air bolsters with BP cuffs and added massage motors 4 seat locations. ;^)
To each his own.
C5 seats are mostly vinyl. IIRC the only leather on 2001+ is the center insert on the seat bottom, and pre-2001 the seat back front was leather too.
Not the case in the C5s I have had.
I have had the original seat covers off on a 99 and a 03 C5. All the seat surfaces that touch your skin are coated leather. Only the back side of the seat and the lower panel that is on the console side are color matched vinyl.
Aftermarket seats
