What is a good racing seat? - CarForum.net - Car Forums, Automotive News and Community

Sayshell · 12-05-2011, 04:36 AM

I drive a 2004 ford focus
After doing a bunch of weight reductions my car has the right power I want, however this is with the spare tire out of the car. I would like to have the spare tire in for when I do long drives out of the city. It seems like the best $$ to weight reduction I can do is a racing seat. Only 100$ish and will save a lot of weight off the seat I have now and get close to my weight goal. Couple of questions...
1) What is a good racing seat I should buy? Ideally I would like red or orange, but the main things are that its light, and pretty comfortable. I want 1 colorful thing on my car so I can pick out my car from the lot but this isn't super important
2) What seat will be compatible with my car? I need the rail spacing to work and don't want to buy a new rail.
3) How much weight would it actually save? my current seats weigh in at 25lbs.

S D · 12-05-2011, 10:51 AM

The only racing seat for around $100 you will find will be used.

Most true racing fiberglass bucket seats weigh around 20-25 pounds. Some of the full carbon fiber units are in the mid to low teens, but at $2K+ each they are expensive. If you are only concerned about weight a lightweight battery is a much better $ to lbs reduced option.

If you raise your budget some you might want to look into Corbeau seats. The autocrossers seem to love them, and they can be picked up new for under $350.

Seat mounting information is available on Corbeau's website. CORBEAU.COM: Official Site: Seats for Street, Race, Off-Road, and more

Sayshell · 12-05-2011, 03:00 PM

what is a good cheap lightweight battery? I don't want to decrease starting performance either. Yeah it would be nice if they actually listed the weights for racing seats XD

**pbasil1** · 12-05-2011, 08:11 PM

Look into Batcap for light batteries. The batcap 800 should be plenty for your car and less than half the weight.

BatCap 800

Sayshell · 12-09-2011, 04:50 AM

awesome, will buy one thanks!

S D · 12-09-2011, 06:15 AM

The best $ per pound reduced for a battery is going to be the Deka ETX14. You can pick these up at many Wal-Mart stores, or at most parts stores that sell batteries. Amazon link to the battery -

Amazon.com: Deka Sports Power ETX-14: Sports & Outdoors

There are many, many write ups online for this exact battery and installing it into a car.

Links for ETX14 installs below.

VWVortex.com - lightweight battery install..... and some information

Light weight Battery!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - Bimmerforums - The Ultimate BMW Forum

New lightweight battery solution - Deka - I think its identical to Braille 2015 - LotusTalk - The Lotus Cars Community

This is a sealed AGM battery made by East Penn/Deka that is a lower binned Braille racing battery. This weighs a little over 11 pounds.

I run one on my 240 and I have no problems with it. Just remember not to leave your headlights or stereo on for too long as the battery doesn't have much of a power reserve.

KSIMP88 · 12-12-2011, 02:03 AM

25 pounds, on it's own, even if completely removed, doesn't really equate to anything. As it's not something you can remove and not worry about, I wouldn't mess with it. It costs too much money. Maybe pick up one of the ones at O'Reilly? Otherwise, waste of money, IMO.

12-05-2011, 04:36 AM	#1
Sayshell Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 47 Rep: 10	What is a good racing seat? I drive a 2004 ford focus After doing a bunch of weight reductions my car has the right power I want, however this is with the spare tire out of the car. I would like to have the spare tire in for when I do long drives out of the city. It seems like the best $$ to weight reduction I can do is a racing seat. Only 100$ish and will save a lot of weight off the seat I have now and get close to my weight goal. Couple of questions... 1) What is a good racing seat I should buy? Ideally I would like red or orange, but the main things are that its light, and pretty comfortable. I want 1 colorful thing on my car so I can pick out my car from the lot but this isn't super important 2) What seat will be compatible with my car? I need the rail spacing to work and don't want to buy a new rail. 3) How much weight would it actually save? my current seats weigh in at 25lbs.

12-05-2011, 10:51 AM	#2
S D Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: WI Posts: 1,990 Rep: 64	The only racing seat for around $100 you will find will be used. Most true racing fiberglass bucket seats weigh around 20-25 pounds. Some of the full carbon fiber units are in the mid to low teens, but at $2K+ each they are expensive. If you are only concerned about weight a lightweight battery is a much better $ to lbs reduced option. If you raise your budget some you might want to look into Corbeau seats. The autocrossers seem to love them, and they can be picked up new for under $350. Seat mounting information is available on Corbeau's website. CORBEAU.COM: Official Site: Seats for Street, Race, Off-Road, and more __________________ Simplify, then add lightness

12-05-2011, 08:11 PM	#4
pbasil1 Boosted Audiophile Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: N. AL Posts: 2,627 Rep: 202	Look into Batcap for light batteries. The batcap 800 should be plenty for your car and less than half the weight. BatCap 800 __________________ 2012 Lancer Evolution GSR 2010 Mazda CX-7 - The wife's car 1995 Taurus GL - Daily Diver 1991 Supra 1JZ - Sold (regretfully) "Its worse than porn...at least I can get a girl...no way I can get that car. lol" -Gandalf ONEPerformance

12-09-2011, 06:15 AM	#6
S D Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: WI Posts: 1,990 Rep: 64	The best $ per pound reduced for a battery is going to be the Deka ETX14. You can pick these up at many Wal-Mart stores, or at most parts stores that sell batteries. Amazon link to the battery - Amazon.com: Deka Sports Power ETX-14: Sports & Outdoors Amazon.com: Deka Sports Power ETX-14: Sports & Outdoors There are many, many write ups online for this exact battery and installing it into a car. Links for ETX14 installs below. VWVortex.com - lightweight battery install..... and some information Light weight Battery!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - Bimmerforums - The Ultimate BMW Forum New lightweight battery solution - Deka - I think its identical to Braille 2015 - LotusTalk - The Lotus Cars Community This is a sealed AGM battery made by East Penn/Deka that is a lower binned Braille racing battery. This weighs a little over 11 pounds. I run one on my 240 and I have no problems with it. Just remember not to leave your headlights or stereo on for too long as the battery doesn't have much of a power reserve. __________________ Simplify, then add lightness

12-12-2011, 02:03 AM	#7
KSIMP88 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Dallas, OR Posts: 2,930 Rep: 39	25 pounds, on it's own, even if completely removed, doesn't really equate to anything. As it's not something you can remove and not worry about, I wouldn't mess with it. It costs too much money. Maybe pick up one of the ones at O'Reilly? Otherwise, waste of money, IMO. __________________ 2001 Tahoe LT Autoride w/ third seat +25hp K&N air filter +50hp Custom Radio +15hp Soon to buy: Exhaust +50hp Lowering kit (2") +30hp

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What is a good racing seat?

12-05-2011, 03:00 PM	#3
Sayshell Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 47 Rep: 10	what is a good cheap lightweight battery? I don't want to decrease starting performance either. Yeah it would be nice if they actually listed the weights for racing seats XD

12-09-2011, 04:50 AM	#5
Sayshell Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 47 Rep: 10	awesome, will buy one thanks!