[m3_blanc]

Okay, I know these are probably one of the most talked about topics. I wanted to share my experience. I picked up a 6MT with Carbon Buckets. I debated for months about the option.

When I picked up the car, I drove 7 HOURS home, through the mountains as well. I went through a long drive with many sharp curves. I took 3.5 hrs, got gas/food, and finished the 2nd half. Just to put this into perspective.

Factors I considered:
My age, height, weight, driving frequency, coolness factor, price point, even larger price point if trying to buy after build is finished ($24K, I believe, unless you swap your basic seats + ~12K),
passengers comfortability (inside or in back seat), ease of entry/exit, bolster durability, track utilization, myself/passenger comfortability on short/long drives, how shifting will be (sorry auto guys), no ventilation (besides large side gaps), lower seating position,


I'm 5'6, early 30s, 170lbs, work from home, and will go to the track eventually (VIR). Planning on going to cars & coffees and auto shows. My wife doesn't mind them, and we have no kids, yet. It's a NO brainer! It makes the car ride an experience, and I couldn't see myself with the car without them.

I haven't seen much 6MT/CarbonBucket combos, and it's not bad, comfy on my drive home for sure. I had no issues getting in/out. You have 2 seating positions. SET 1 to driving mode and SET 2 to exiting/entering mode, makes life easier.

I would advice more people to do it, it makes me sad seeing so many comfort seats on this car with an amazing factory bucket seat option thats adjustable and heated??

...If contemplating, order the damn seats! (6MT as well!)

[Jcabanawan]

I agree with the carbon buckets … I was skeptical the first few hours of ownership .. after I got the routine down on getting in and out it’s second nature…. Congrats !

[Forzanerazzurri]

So you're 5'6" and 170 lbs and thus have deemed it a no brainier for the rest of us? Interesting (The red interior on alpine white is pretty sexy though).

[John4C]

And jut as you report them a “no brainer” there’s another person on FB looking to get rid of them




Comments suggest current market is 2k plus comfort in a swap. The five figure narrative is absurd. You people do realize that the ‘comfort’ seats are ~20k at the parts counter, right? Pointing to them being 24k at the parts counter is irrelevant.


All that said, they’re really nice looking seats and glad you enjoy them ��

[wavyyyy]

Originally Posted by John4C

And jut as you report them a “no brainer” there’s another person on FB looking to get rid of them




Comments suggest current market is 2k plus comfort in a swap. The five figure narrative is absurd. You people do realize that the ‘comfort’ seats are ~20k at the parts counter, right? Pointing to them being 24k at the parts counter is irrelevant.


All that said, they’re really nice looking seats and glad you enjoy them ��

They’re definitely not just 2k+comfort.

[John4C]

Originally Posted by wavyyyy

They’re definitely not just 2k+comfort.

Seems like last transaction on FB was 2k. Based on the guy’s profile and he posted in a swap post and seems to now have the seats, so it seems to check out.

I’m not surprised the price has come way down. Are you on FB? There’s at least 2 swap threads a week across the various groups. Supply has increased, price has fallen. Makes sense.

Don’t shoot the messenger…

[kjx]

Not a comment either way about the carbon buckets. But you don’t drive the car hard enough (yet?).

If I had a bag in the passenger seat like that, it would be in the depths of the passenger footwell within 5 minutes, and hundreds of times over 7 hours if I kept pulling it back up. If there was a legit reason for it to be there, it would be belted in.

I regularly have heavy laptops just sitting flat on the seat fly into the footwell and on to the thankfully soft M Perf mats, 100% of the time.

[m3_blanc]

Originally Posted by Forzanerazzurri

So you're 5'6" and 170 lbs and thus have deemed it a no brainier for the rest of us? Interesting (The red interior on alpine white is pretty sexy though).

I think they are deff a no brainer! If you have physical limitation preventing you from getting in them comfortably, then it's a no brainer to not get them. I'm sure people are using their best judgment.

Hopefully this post can help some people that on the fence overall. It's a big decision, and hopefully no regrets after a decision is made.

Mainly wanted to point out the factors I considered and after a long ass drive my ass wasn't hurting.

[Aalfred]

Im still reading ur thread and waiting on ur "experience". Its mainly why you chose carbon buckets and what ur requirements are. And then bam..."everyone should get it"..lol. The issue isnt the comfort level of these buckets (as its been mentioned in so many threads), its mainly the fact that getting in and out is a PITA and if you drive as a daily and frequently get in and out, then either you come up with a technique and are happy with it or go with the regular sport seats. Dont have to be sad seeing so many "comfort seats" as its people preference. If Im getting a 100K car, I want what I want. I have the same seats in "comfort" and dont regret them at all. I already find it low to the ground and would have cursed myself trying to get in and out of it esp in a narrow garage. Im 5'8" 170 lbs and still drive my X3 which sits up pretty high. So Cheers and enjoy ur car. Any maybe add a bit about ur experience while driving 7 hrs back...throw in some titbits man...lol

[m3_blanc]

Originally Posted by kjx

Not a comment either way about the carbon buckets. But you don’t drive the car hard enough (yet?).

If I had a bag in the passenger seat like that, it would be in the depths of the passenger footwell within 5 minutes, and hundreds of times over 7 hours if I kept pulling it back up. If there was a legit reason for it to be there, it would be belted in.

I regularly have heavy laptops just sitting flat on the seat fly into the footwell and on to the thankfully soft M Perf mats, 100% of the time.

Haha! No, this was before I hit the road. Deff didn't ride with my bag on the seat, but wanted to take a picture as soon as I was about to pull off, and figure out the correct M settings I wanted to be within.

[m3_blanc]

Originally Posted by Aalfred

Im still reading ur thread and waiting on ur "experience". Its mainly why you chose carbon buckets and what ur requirements are. And then bam..."everyone should get it"..lol. The issue isnt the comfort level of these buckets (as its been mentioned in so many threads), its mainly the fact that getting in and out is a PITA and if you drive as a daily and frequently get in and out, then either you come up with a technique and are happy with it or go with the regular sport seats. Dont have to be sad seeing so many "comfort seats" as its people preference. If Im getting a 100K car, I want what I want. I have the same seats in "comfort" and dont regret them at all. I already find it low to the ground and would have cursed myself trying to get in and out of it esp in a narrow garage. Cheers and enjoy ur car. Any maybe add a bit about ur experience while driving 7 hrs back...throw in some titbits man...lol

I appreciate the call out! Good point, I should have drawn more attention to it in the OP.

So the SET 1 and SET 2 idea works wonders. It takes care of getting in/out and before driving. When I test drove one with bucket seats, I felt very uncomfortable, but once I did the SET 1/2 trick, it changed the game.

Driving a 6MT, I was worried about leg mobility, that was no issue at all, the only annoying part is that when I want to be on cruise control, and lay my feet flat on the ground, I'm practically at a 90 degree angle. So that isn't the most comfortable.

I was worried about getting out in my garage and hitting things, but that has not been an issue at all! Over time it'll be less awkward and easier to get in/out.

Also, not knocking any comfort seats, but as someone on the fence, I would recommend people to make the jump, after doing their research or trying them out in person. And again, after doing a pretty big trip, I felt comfortable.

Tidbits added!! Thanks!

[MMM.PWR]

Originally Posted by Forzanerazzurri

So you're 5'6" and 170 lbs and thus have deemed it a no brainier for the rest of us? Interesting (The red interior on alpine white is pretty sexy though).

You're telling me not everyone on this forum is 5'6" and 170 lbs?

[redball]

My Lotus Evora has Recaro racing buckets. I”ll be honest, after 5+ years of getting in and out of the Lotus (just a weekend car), as cool and fun as they are, I’m reluctant to do that in what will be a daily driver for me. Because 12 months from now, when the shiny toy feeling goes away, and for daily driving, bottom line I think I’m going to wish I had the comfort seats.

I’m particularly skeptical of the carbon fiber codpiece in the middle of the seat. I’m hoping I get an opportunity to try buckets in real life before I have to make a decision, but we’ll see.

I think people should take these enthusiastic “honey-moon” phase confirmation-bias like endorsements with a large degree of skepticism.

[Aalfred]

Originally Posted by firetyphoon1

I appreciate the call out! Good point, I should have drawn more attention to it in the OP.

So the SET 1 and SET 2 idea works wonders. It takes care of getting in/out and before driving. When I test drove one with bucket seats, I felt very uncomfortable, but once I did the SET 1/2 trick, it changed the game.

Driving a 6MT, I was worried about leg mobility, that was no issue at all, the only annoying part is that when I want to be on cruise control, and lay my feet flat on the ground, I'm practically at a 90 degree angle. So that isn't the most comfortable.

I was worried about getting out in my garage and hitting things, but that has not been an issue at all! Over time it'll be less awkward and easier to get in/out.

Also, not knocking any comfort seats, but as someone on the fence, I would recommend people to make the jump, after doing their research or trying them out in person. And again, after doing a pretty big trip, I felt comfortable.

Tidbits added!! Thanks!

Thanks. So do u make set 1 low and set 2 higher so u can get out easier? Thats a good work around. I save the set2 for my wife but she doesnt drive that much. I do like the 90 deg bent leg as I usually sit higher up due to my back, but I hear u on the leg rest thing. I think the buckets are great for reasons mentioned above and surprisingly comfortable for how thin they are. Hope those bucket seats dont show the folds in the bottom area after some use.

[stalintc]

Originally Posted by redball

I’m particularly skeptical of the carbon fiber codpiece

🤣 I have not seen it called that yet! Reminds me of a Metalocalypse episode...

[HNSKP]

Originally Posted by redball

I think people should take these enthusiastic “honey-moon” phase confirmation-bias like endorsements with a large degree of skepticism.

Very true. However I love my buckets as much now, 16 months and 9k miles later, as I did when I took delivery. I was lucky enough to sit in both comfort and bucket seats before I ordered in May ‘21 and it was an easy choice for me.

Not to derail the thread but which iteration of Evora do you have?

[Autoaddict]

I know for a FACT if I got those buckets, my wife wouldn’t drive it and it would become an issue. Also, I understand the price tag on the car but we wanted to keep the price somewhat ‘reasonable’. So all of those points outweighed getting the buckets. And the comfort seats are pretty good. I don’t need racing buckets for day to day driving.

[Studntloan]

Love my buckets, extremely comfortable, dare so I say more comfortable then my gt3 buckets,

Annoying to get in and out but once im in they are perfect for any type of trip

[BenJ]

+1 for buckets. I get it that they aren't for everyone and like said many times before, best to try them out to know for sure. That said, I'm 5'8" and 220lbs and I think the seats fit great. I can see getting in and out being difficult for some, but for me coming from past cars with race/bucket seats...its not an issue.

[vbb]

I didn't order my car as I found one almost exactly as I would have ordered it, colors and everything, for sale about 200mi away, so I pounced. I say almost, because if I had been box checking, I would have spec'd the buckets. Now that I really think about it though, it would have been for aesthetics only, as I have no plans to track my car. So in a way, I "accidentally" saved money. Buckets on a non-tracked car don't make a ton of sense from a functionality standpoint, but they look great and that's
enough.

If the regular seats had the carbon fiber seatbacks, that would be the sweet spot in my opinion.

[LuvMyE92]

Hey congrats on the car and I'm happy that you are loving it, fellow Tarheel.

I bought my car new and drove it 11 hours home, and the base seats were great.

I've driven my previous G82 on the track, also with the "comfort seats" and it was great. Just pump up the outer bolsters and you're good to go.

Aside from the 5'6" 180 comment, the real thing is the "early thirties". Yeah, sure, when I was that age, ingress & egress wasn't an issue or concern. Back then I had a C4 Corvette, second only to the Lotus for difficulty of getting in and out of.

Check back with me in 30 years and tell me how you're doing.

[m3_blanc]

Originally Posted by LuvMyE92

Hey congrats on the car and I'm happy that you are loving it, fellow Tarheel.

I bought my car new and drove it 11 hours home, and the base seats were great.

I've driven my previous G82 on the track, also with the "comfort seats" and it was great. Just pump up the outer bolsters and you're good to go.

Aside from the 5'6" 180 comment, the real thing is the "early thirties". Yeah, sure, when I was that age, ingress & egress wasn't an issue or concern. Back then I had a C4 Corvette, second only to the Lotus for difficulty of getting in and out of.

Check back with me in 30 years and tell me how you're doing.

Yes! Tarheel all day! Wife and I are both Graduate School alum as well!
You got me beat on the 11hr drive for sure!

And will do, haha who knows what I'll be in at that point. But pretty sure ICE won't even exist by then.