GT4 - comfort seats or full buckets - Page 5 - Boxster/Cayman - PistonHeads UK

If you like the comfort seats stick with them. I wish I’d put them on my GT3 Touring rather then full buckets. Much better if you use the car as a ‘daily’.

The correct answer is spec which seats are right for you. Depends on your intended use of the car too. Bear in mind a GT4 with comforts is worth considerably more ££ and way in excess of the option cost new over a comfort seated car the latter of which will also be alot harder to sell. Also you sit alot lower in the car with buckets (especially the p11s) compared to comforts. This sitting in rather than on the cars chassis is a major plus and adds greatly to the overall driving experience of a Porsche GT. I find the p11 Spyder buckets far more comfortable than the comforts btw. Edited by av185 on Monday 9th March 20:44

av185 said: Bear in mind a GT4 with comforts is worth considerably more ££ and way in excess of the option cost new over a comfort seated car the latter of which will also be alot harder to sell. did you mean a GT4 with carbon buckets is worth considerably more ££

Not sure you sit lower with buckets? My buckets feel much higher than my comforts? Feels the opposite for me.

1WEL said: av185 said: Bear in mind a GT4 with comforts is worth considerably more ££ and way in excess of the option cost new over a comfort seated car the latter of which will also be alot harder to sell. did you mean a GT4 with carbon buckets is worth considerably more ££ Sorry yes typo error

2010spy said: Not sure you sit lower with buckets? My buckets feel much higher than my comforts? Feels the opposite for me. The older fixed height p3 folding buckets are slightly higher than the electrically adjustable p11 buckets at their lowest point. Both bucket seat types are lower than the comforts.

In my opinion, if you'd rather have comfort seats you should buy a GTS 4.0 not a 718 GT4. GT cars should always have buckets!

Seats are a very personal choice and can make for some heated responses, but there is no right or wrong answer - just peoples preferences. You have to try them and figure out what works best for your requirements. I’ve had buckets in a previous GT3 and now have 18 way seats in a GT4 and also a 911 GTS. I like them fo their versatility. they are many seats in one and suite my preference for comfort and adjustment. But they are also perfectly good on track once you tighten them up. If your primary use is track days and not regular distance driving and you get comfortable in them, then the buckets will be great and they look good, suiting the purposeful look of the car. But if you you are not comfortable and struggle to get in or out then you are stuck with any adjustment possibilities. And don’t believe the hype about non bucket seat cars being worth less than bucket seats cars. I know this from very recent experience of getting strong trade bids on my car.

The seat is your direct contact with the car, so it’s really important that you choose the seats that are most comfortable and practical for you and your passenger’s intended use - especially over a long journey. Each type of seat has its ‘pros and cons’, but only you can decide what best suits your needs.

Your money, your car is always the right view in terms of choosing what you want. My personal choice would always be the buckets for this type of car. I think if you ever sell it would seen as a negative. The seats just don’t match the ethos of the car.

jcosh said: And don’t believe the hype about non bucket seat cars being worth less than bucket seats cars. I know this from very recent experience of getting strong trade bids on my car. it's VERY real 997 GT4 a £10k gap, 997.2 GT3 a 10k gap, Cayman R about a £5k gap same with Spyders, GT4 about £5k to 10k gap. I agree if you buy a Cayman S it's not worth less with comforts, so you are right if it were that model :-)

GT cars have got a lot softer so old rules don't necessarily apply. For me buckets are bloody amazing and improve the driving experience, if your GT car is gonna to spend some serious time on a track then there is only one option. But if it isn't, the one big issue is getting in and out of the car. It stopped me using the car as much, as I often nip to the shop to grab a pint of milk and come back a 2 hours later 🙄...........but when parked in Salisburys you really need the door open wider to ease ingress and egress, this is not always easy.

diffstar said: you really need the door open wider to ease ingress and egress, this is not always easy. I find that with Caymans anyway, regardless of seat type. Sliding it right back before exiting can help.

Porsche911R said: jcosh said: And don’t believe the hype about non bucket seat cars being worth less than bucket seats cars. I know this from very recent experience of getting strong trade bids on my car. it's VERY real 997 GT4 a £10k gap, 997.2 GT3 a 10k gap, Cayman R about a £5k gap same with Spyders, GT4 about £5k to 10k gap. I agree if you buy a Cayman S it's not worth less with comforts, so you are right if it were that model :-) Nonsense! Trust me the recent trade bids on my car would not have been £10k more had I had buckets! If they had been I would have been bid more than the retail price of the most expensive cars currently on the market. In fact some people actively want cars with 18 way seats if the rest of the spec is right as there is a demand for GT cars to be specced that way. With the 996 / 997 GT cars this is less so, as they are a more track focused experience, but GT4 and 991. GT3 are more more road usable these days and therefore 18way seats can be more attractive for some owners. Hence why leather, contrast stitching and carbon etc are so popular, it a more luxury / comfort experience. My 996 GT3 had non of that, just buckets, a roll cage and a fire extinguisher. Because it was track car and a terrible road car. I suspect that since you don't track your highly specced GT3 you’d be better off with the versatility of 18 ways rather than the compromised buckets. They would go well with all the leather, and stitching and carbon and Bose etc etc. Could you please stop spouting your opinions as facts, ta.

jcosh said: Nonsense! Trust me the recent trade bids on my car would not have been £10k more had I had buckets! If they had been I would have been bid more than the retail price of the most expensive cars currently on the market. In fact some people actively want cars with 18 way seats if the rest of the spec is right as there is a demand for GT cars to be specced that way. With the 996 / 997 GT cars this is less so, as they are a more track focused experience, but GT4 and 991. GT3 are more more road usable these days and therefore 18way seats can be more attractive for some owners. Hence why leather, contrast stitching and carbon etc are so popular, it a more luxury / comfort experience. My 996 GT3 had non of that, just buckets, a roll cage and a fire extinguisher. Because it was track car and a terrible road car. I suspect that since you don't track your highly specced GT3 you’d be better off with the versatility of 18 ways rather than the compromised buckets. They would go well with all the leather, and stitching and carbon and Bose etc etc. Could you please stop spouting your opinions as facts, ta. what was the bid ? Funny how every one knows what I do with my cars lol. 7 of the 10 OPC GT4 are comforts not selling the bottom 3 prices are comfort cars. facts you say !! Edited by Porsche911R on Tuesday 10th March 09:31

OP hasn't said if they are buying a new or used GT4. If the latter then it's a simple case of them paying more for a bucket car or less for a comfort car. And when/if they decide to sell later the same differential will apply so the depreciation cost will be about the same.

Porsche911R said: jcosh said: Nonsense! Trust me the recent trade bids on my car would not have been £10k more had I had buckets! If they had been I would have been bid more than the retail price of the most expensive cars currently on the market. In fact some people actively want cars with 18 way seats if the rest of the spec is right as there is a demand for GT cars to be specced that way. With the 996 / 997 GT cars this is less so, as they are a more track focused experience, but GT4 and 991. GT3 are more more road usable these days and therefore 18way seats can be more attractive for some owners. Hence why leather, contrast stitching and carbon etc are so popular, it a more luxury / comfort experience. My 996 GT3 had non of that, just buckets, a roll cage and a fire extinguisher. Because it was track car and a terrible road car. I suspect that since you don't track your highly specced GT3 you’d be better off with the versatility of 18 ways rather than the compromised buckets. They would go well with all the leather, and stitching and carbon and Bose etc etc. Could you please stop spouting your opinions as facts, ta. what was the bid ? Funny how every one knows what I do with my cars lol. 7 of the 10 OPC GT4 are comforts not selling the bottom 3 prices are comfort cars. facts you say !! Edited by Porsche911R on Tuesday 10th March 09:31 I'm not going to tell you what the bids were on my car. I'm now keeping it, so it doesn't matter. Not everyone knows what you do with your cars, but we all know you have a perfectly specced GT3 with buckets etc that you have never tracked. And the two highest priced GT4's have 18 way seats and more miles than the cheaper cars, what does that tell you? Yes, I do say facts! You say whatever suits your agenda and package it up as facts, when more often than not it's the nonsense of somebody who seems to know everything about everything to do with Porsche's apart from how to actually enjoy them. .

jcosh said: And the two highest priced GT4's have 18 way seats and more miles than the cheaper cars, what does that tell you? if they are still for sale it tells me they are over priced, that simple. Dealers are selling some cars at cost with £10k drops as they over bidded and still don't know the market after 20 years in it ! lets follow the prices of the 2 top OPC cars see what happens as they are not going to sell any time soon imo. Retail for a sub 15kmile car is sub £70k atm to sell one in real life :-) and as an outright bid you are looking min 10% and upto 15% off that, If you get a high bid in this market they end up selling at cost price in 3 months, we see it time and time again. while comforts do sell the ratio must be down to 20% vs 80% as the 2nd hand market demands buckets, it's that simple, new cars always get a load of comfort orders, again it's always been like that nothing new and nothing funny or odd about it. if you want to live in la la land that's fine ;-) nice place to be posting on forums with your fingers in your ears. As a trader I would not bid on a GT4 starting with a 6 on a comfort spec car knowing it will just bloody sit there all summer, infact I would not even offer to buy the car. SOR cars in this market have sat over 12 months !!! same old cars most comfort specs.

Porsche911R said: jcosh said: And the two highest priced GT4's have 18 way seats and more miles than the cheaper cars, what does that tell you? if they are still for sale it tells me they are over priced, that simple. Dealers are selling some cars at cost with £10k drops as they over bidded and still don't know the market after 20 years in it ! lets follow the prices of the 2 top OPC cars see what happens as they are not going to sell any time soon imo. Retail for a sub 15kmile car is sub £70k atm to sell one in real life :-) and as an outright bid you are looking min 10% and upto 15% off that, If you get a high bid in this market they end up selling at cost price in 3 months, we see it time and time again. while comforts do sell the ratio must be down to 20% vs 80% as the 2nd hand market demands buckets, it's that simple, new cars always get a load of comfort orders, again it's always been like that nothing new and nothing funny or odd about it. if you want to live in la la land that's fine ;-) nice place to be posting on forums with your fingers in your ears. As a trader I would not bid on a GT4 starting with a 6 on a comfort spec car knowing it will just bloody sit there all summer, infact I would not even offer to buy the car. SOR cars in this market have sat over 12 months !!! same old cars most comfort specs. Of course they are still for sale, as are all the other cars that are still for sale. They are still for sale until they are sold. What drivel. 'Dealers don't know the market after twenty years', what are you on about? You are wrong on price, based on bids I had last week. Again, just your usual nonsense. Good job you are not a trader then, I think it would be a very short and expensive career option for you. Although quite entertaining for onlookers. Back to the OP, buy what suits your needs in the spec and colour etc you prefer and if you want to try a GT4 with 18 way seats in the Sussex area, you are more than welcome. In the meantime, ignore the resident know it all, as he only offers opinions to suit his agenda.

I’m going for comfort 18 way seats in my GT4 PDK simply because I prefer them and they suit my frame best. I don’t spec my cars for the next owner. My car, my money, my choice.

911 JOE said: I think the entry/exit over the high seat base side bolster would get a bit tiresome in a daily driver + seriously accelerate the bolster wear. Sounds like you need to do the Porsche bucket seat yump. No need to touch the side bolsters, strengthens the upper body no need for gym membership risk of contracting Covid virus etc win win.

av185 said: 911 JOE said: I think the entry/exit over the high seat base side bolster would get a bit tiresome in a daily driver + seriously accelerate the bolster wear. Sounds like you need to do the Porsche bucket seat yump. No need to touch the side bolsters, strengthens the upper body no need for gym membership risk of contracting Covid virus etc win win. There’s leather bolster protectors you can buy, just fastens onto the Velcro, looks OEM and can hardly see, I have them on mine and look great !. There’s always a way.

CorrosionInhibitor said: There’s leather bolster protectors you can buy, just fastens onto the Velcro, looks OEM and can hardly see, I have them on mine and look great !. There’s always a way. They're just a soft cover though, they don't prevent the original leather underneath creasing if you sit on the bolster...

av185 said: 911 JOE said: I think the entry/exit over the high seat base side bolster would get a bit tiresome in a daily driver + seriously accelerate the bolster wear. Sounds like you need to do the Porsche bucket seat yump. No need to touch the side bolsters, strengthens the upper body no need for gym membership risk of contracting Covid virus etc win win. I agree... I only collected the Spyder on Friday so I'm still perfecting my "yump" technique....at the end of the weekend it felt like I had been to the gym...muscles were used that hadn't been for a while!

The buckets can lead to some indignity on entry and egress. Last time I was the PEC a well-nourished gentleman climbed slowly out of a black Cayman that had buckets - it looked like a humpback whale giving birth. Maybe that's part of the unique driving experience!

As many have said it really comes down to what size and shape you are and how you intend to use the car. I've got a 992 C4S with 18 way comforts as my daily driver and full buckets in my 718 Spyder which will only be used for "high days and holidays"... different horses for different courses. I'm so glad I opted for the full buckets in the Spyder, as many have said before, these really do add to the feel and experience of the car (as well as looking fantastic!)... + recline angle and lumber support absolutely perfect for me. That said, I don't think I would spec these if it was my only car and daily driver etc... as great as they are when you are "in the driving mood", I think the entry/exit over the high seat base side bolster would get a bit tiresome in a daily driver + seriously accelerate the bolster wear. Edited by 911 JOE on Tuesday 10th March 15:35

So, after reading the comments ... if I spend the extra £3,800 on the carbon race buckets I should see a similar return on resale in a year or two.

Yep and more ££. A 'no brainer' option on the GT4 like the GT3.

1WEL said: So, after reading the comments ... if I spend the extra £3,800 on the carbon race buckets I should see a similar return on resale in a year or two. simple answer = yes

1WEL said: So, after reading the comments ... if I spend the extra £3,800 on the carbon race buckets I should see a similar return on resale in a year or two. Somehow I very much doubt that. You'll make it more attractive to some but from previous experiences having a lot of the extras ticked doesn't make much of an impact on the trade in. A lot of other factors come into play. Buy the seats you want not what you think the next person wants.

Armitage.Shanks said: from previous experiences having a lot of the extras ticked doesn't make much of an impact on the trade in. Depends on the extras on a GT Porsche. Some are 'no brainer' adding in excess of their option cost new, some are break even cost wise both making the car generally more attractive and easier to sell. Finally there are those options which do nothing to enhance residuals and can actually detract from value and saleability as many have found out to their considerable cost.

jcosh said: You are wrong on price, based on bids I had last week. post the bids then. it's a simple request. While a lot of cars have come and gone 20+easy there are cars which have been for sale 12 months. cars are tuning over slow but steady in the right spec, even the two stuck touring GT3's are , yep comforts !!! it's a very very tiny 2nd hand market, that's pretty clear and has been for 15+ years. the markets flooded with comfort tat in every era of GT car, really sparse cars for sale with buckets.

Armitage.Shanks said: Somehow I very much doubt that. You'll make it more attractive to some but from previous experiences having a lot of the extras ticked doesn't make much of an impact on the trade in. A lot of other factors come into play. Buy the seats you want not what you think the next person wants. 90% buyers 1st and 2nd questions will be. what is the spec, they know really as it's on the advert followed by what was the list price of the car. People are obsessed by the list price of a GT car, even on here we get a daily post "what's this cars list price" many many people won't pay a penny over. ease of sale also plays a big part as an example the OPC net work don't have a PCCB CS GT3 for sale, that's the demand and that's what sells. the issue then is lower spec cars are TOO MUCH money and asking for a bigger overs amount than a nice spec car at £135k at evens, so the more expensive car is A: better value and B even though more money will sell. OPC cannot value GT cars, that's fact looking at stock, but if you look at JZM and redline, Romans they know what sells and what to pay for a car. OPC will over bid on lower spec cars (handy for a seller) then have to drop it's price to cost after 3 months to move it !!! I guess they don't care as they sell finance, GAP, wheel protection, lifes te etc etc so even selling a car at cost they make >£20k

Twinfan said: CorrosionInhibitor said: There’s leather bolster protectors you can buy, just fastens onto the Velcro, looks OEM and can hardly see, I have them on mine and look great !. There’s always a way. They're just a soft cover though, they don't prevent the original leather underneath creasing if you sit on the bolster... I don’t plan on sitting on the bolster !

CorrosionInhibitor said: I don’t plan on sitting on the bolster ! Have you a link to buy them in UK,, have a cloth on mine at the moment.

Armitage.Shanks said: Somehow I very much doubt that. You'll make it more attractive to some but from previous experiences having a lot of the extras ticked doesn't make much of an impact on the trade in. A lot of other factors come into play. Buy the seats you want not what you think the next person wants. Very much agree Armiatge, 18 ways are a excellent choice in my opinion. Never spec a car for the 2nd owner, markets changed and I’m not 100% confident that you would see all of the £3800 back come resale, like 991r said OPC are not factoring spec into there trade bids atm. Buy what you personally feel is correct for you would be my advice.

I cannot see there being a 10k difference between full buckets and comfort, surely you would buy the buckets and retrofit them if there was.

You cannot buy 918 buckets though...

1WEL said: So, after reading the comments ... if I spend the extra £3,800 on the carbon race buckets I should see a similar return on resale in a year or two. Probably yes but you really need to be sure you like sitting on the seats too because it would be a bit pointless thinking 'the £3800 I spent on buckets is doing well financially' but hating the seats whenever you actually got into the car to drive it....

Melvynr said: CorrosionInhibitor said: I don’t plan on sitting on the bolster ! Have you a link to buy them in UK,, have a cloth on mine at the moment. Hi there I got mine like many others from Ed in the US. Delivery was very fast and no hassle from time of placing order, also Comms were great throughout.. Contact [email removed] Info from various installs https://rennlist.com/forums/991-gt3-gt3rs-and-911r... https://rennlist.com/forums/997-gt2-gt3-forum/9815...

isaldiri said: 1WEL said: So, after reading the comments ... if I spend the extra £3,800 on the carbon race buckets I should see a similar return on resale in a year or two. Probably yes but you really need to be sure you like sitting on the seats too because it would be a bit pointless thinking 'the £3800 I spent on buckets is doing well financially' but hating the seats whenever you actually got into the car to drive it.... Very true Isaldiri.

Porsche911R said: jcosh said: You are wrong on price, based on bids I had last week. post the bids then. it's a simple request. While a lot of cars have come and gone 20+easy there are cars which have been for sale 12 months. cars are tuning over slow but steady in the right spec, even the two stuck touring GT3's are , yep comforts !!! it's a very very tiny 2nd hand market, that's pretty clear and has been for 15+ years. the markets flooded with comfort tat in every era of GT car, really sparse cars for sale with buckets. You are the master of not answering direct questions. But since you persist, I will tell the trade bids I had on my car when you confirm how many track days you have done in your red GT3 and which exact track days you are doing this year. Of course cars are turning over slowly across all models and specs. The two touring GT3's you mention, what seats do they have? 'Comfort tat'. Why does a car that doesn't have your preferred bucket seats suddenly become 'tat' in your view?

CorrosionInhibitor said: Hi there I got mine like many others from Ed in the US. Delivery was very fast and no hassle from time of placing order, also Comms were great throughout.. Contact [email removed] Info from various installs https://rennlist.com/forums/991-gt3-gt3rs-and-911r... https://rennlist.com/forums/997-gt2-gt3-forum/9815... Cheers, have seen them ones in the US, looked very good.

. Edited by 1WEL on Tuesday 10th March 19:17

Melvynr said: I cannot see there being a 10k difference between full buckets and comfort, surely you would buy the buckets and retrofit them if there was. Not even direct from Porsche?

Twinfan said: You cannot buy 918 buckets though... Not even direct from Porsche?

jcosh said: The two touring GT3's you mention, what seats do they have? If there was such as car as a GT4 touring comfort seats to most would make sense. I specced my Carrera T with standard heated comforts for this very reason whereas my GT Porsches all have buckets.

Melvynr said: CorrosionInhibitor said: Hi there I got mine like many others from Ed in the US. Delivery was very fast and no hassle from time of placing order, also Comms were great throughout.. Contact [email removed] Info from various installs https://rennlist.com/forums/991-gt3-gt3rs-and-911r... https://rennlist.com/forums/997-gt2-gt3-forum/9815... Cheers, have seen them ones in the US, looked very good. They are are and look oem, piece of mind and a bit extra protection at the end of the day

Melvynr said: Twinfan said: You cannot buy 918 buckets though... Not even direct from Porsche? Even if you could they would be horrifically expensive. At a wild guess probably c £15k.

av185 said: Even if you could they would be horrifically expensive. At a wild guess probably c £15k. Probably, Porsche seems quite the "jokers" with there parts.

Melvynr said: av185 said: Even if you could they would be horrifically expensive. At a wild guess probably c £15k. Probably, Porsche seems quite the "jokers" with there parts. You can pick the folding buckets up at around £6k+, the 918s probs command more...

I say just buy what you feel happy with. I’ve got a pretty basic spec 718 GT4 and I think it’s an absolute bargain. Wife and I will have it as a life time keeper, so resale not really important. Might do the occasional track day, but most miles will be twisty roads, and the standard 2 way adjustable seats are great in this environment. I’ve had all sorts of seats over the years, and often the better looking ones are more of a faff to climb in and out of / live with off track. My Westfield Megabusa with buckets and fixed racing harness was a nightmare at T-junctions ;-) OP get whatever you want, but sit in them as well as look at them before signing!

av185 said: jcosh said: The two touring GT3's you mention, what seats do they have? If there was such as car as a GT4 touring comfort seats to most would make sense. I specced my Carrera T with standard heated comforts for this very reason whereas my GT Porsches all have buckets. Exactly. They didn’t make a GT4 in a specific touring spec, but my car is a interpretation of that with 18ways, lots of extra leather (more than any other GT4) and loads of other spec that suits me and how I use the car. Which, by the way, is how I like it and fully respect some people prefer buckets. It’s what the owner wants, not what certain forum warriors tell you to have. And by the way a GT4 with 18way seats is no slower around a track than a car with buckets, its just a different experience.

PKZ4M said: I say just buy what you feel happy with. I’ve got a pretty basic spec 718 GT4 and I think it’s an absolute bargain. Wife and I will have it as a life time keeper, so resale not really important. Might do the occasional track day, but most miles will be twisty roads, and the standard 2 way adjustable seats are great in this environment. I’ve had all sorts of seats over the years, and often the better looking ones are more of a faff to climb in and out of / live with off track. My Westfield Megabusa with buckets and fixed racing harness was a nightmare at T-junctions ;-) OP get whatever you want, but sit in them as well as look at them before signing! I'll either be picking the standard 2 way or carbon buckets. Can I ask what spec you went for on your 718 GT4? I know what you mean about buckets & race harness. I once went to Le Mans in a Caterham with race harnesses. It was fun at the motorway tolls. I even went through one of the tolls backwards to try and reach the ticket without undoing the harness

1WEL said: I'll either be picking the standard 2 way or carbon buckets. Can I ask what spec you went for on your 718 GT4? I know what you mean about buckets & race harness. I once went to Le Mans in a Caterham with race harnesses. It was fun at the motorway tolls. I even went through one of the tolls backwards to try and reach the ticket without undoing the harness My spec was Racing Yellow, Steel Brakes, Standard 2 way seats, PDC, Racing Yellow dash insets, Passenger storage net, yellow seatbelts, yellow steering wheel stripe, Bose, folding mirrors. It looks brilliant and we love it..... Edited by PKZ4M on Tuesday 10th March 21:49

My current 718 is racing yellow and I’m thinking the same for the GT4. It’s a great colour and really suits the car

CorrosionInhibitor said: Hi there I got mine like many others from Ed in the US. Delivery was very fast and no hassle from time of placing order, also Comms were great throughout.. Contact [email removed] Info from various installs https://rennlist.com/forums/991-gt3-gt3rs-and-911r... https://rennlist.com/forums/997-gt2-gt3-forum/9815... Are these really $590 per set + shipping? I'm sure they are great quality but it seems a lot of of money just the protect the bolster from a bit of wear. It's not like we are doing minicab miles in these cars. I wonder if it's possible to buy a single side as I rarely take passengers. On the seat there is a small bolster above where the seat belt threads through. On mine it looks like this is taking most of the abuse. It must be possible to replace or retrim this piece if it gets worn out.

I’ve said elsewhere before that I don’t see how buckets hold you better unless you have full race harness. I think lightweight buckets are fairly wide and don’t offer any noticeable support over Sport Plus. If you order buckets you have to get harnesses and then ask yourself if you are really going to use them or just end up sitting on them an wearing three point. The rest of the time they show wear and are harder to get into. Particularly in Cayman. Height difference is negligible. The buckets look better. But that’s it. When I bought my Comfort 981 GT4 two years ago, it’s true that bucket cars were more. Currently, I can’t see any significant variation in prices and I suspect it’s overall condition and mileage. Some basic cars priced similar to clubsport cars AUC.

Pull the harness back through the cushion and leave under the seat.

I've found: Full Buckets: you sit deeply within in the seat Sport Seats Plus: you sit on top of the seat There's quite a difference, and that's why the buckets hold you better.

Twinfan said: I've found: Full Buckets: you sit deeply within in the seat Sport Seats Plus: you sit on top of the seat There's quite a difference, and that's why the buckets hold you better. also the folding buckets are tighter at the base :-) regarding the full buckets they are not very nice seats anyway for a number of reasons, really poor design imo.

Porsche911R said: regarding the full buckets they are not very nice seats anyway for a number of reasons, really poor design imo. Is that because you don’t have them? The vast majority of people who prefer buckets to comfort seats go for the 918 carbon jobbie’s. I assume they are all wrong and those seats are just ‘tat’ compared to your preferred, less popular, option.

Having both the p3s (Spyder) and p11s (GT4) personally I prefer the newer p11s mainly because as Twinfan rightly says you feel as though you are sitting IN rather than ON the seat which is partly to do with the p11s being wider at the hip than the p3s but also positioned slightly lower in the car. This obviously enhances the driving experience which as we all know is what a GT Porsche is all about. As previously stated much is down to your body shape and height they are both great seats but theres no doubting the older p3s look dated compared to the newer p11s which look fantastic.

Just looked back on my spec sheet for the GT4 noting that the p11 buckets were only a £1907 extra. 981 Spyder folding buckets were a standard no option cost.

Melvynr said: Pull the harness back through the cushion and leave under the seat. I use some velcro straps to nicely wrapped them way when not on track.

jcosh said: Is that because you don’t have them? The vast majority of people who prefer buckets to comfort seats go for the 918 carbon jobbie’s. I assume they are all wrong and those seats are just ‘tat’ compared to your preferred, less popular, option. No it's because I did order them when they 1st came out and hated the things for a number of valid reasons. most people order them for resale as is seen here when going for full buckets and on the new GT4 NO CHOICE now. Do you not know anything :-) ? I thought you followed me and know every thing I own or do ! and knew the options on the GT4 ! 918 style are made for fat lass's ie wide at the bottom and tight at the top, far too upright, and just pretty horrid things imo. Not even a racing driver sits that upright in a race seat !!! also not helmet friendly as it pushes your head down !!! it's an over priced bag of crap imo not fit for purpose. ok if you are 20 stone and have no shoulders I guess. NO wonder 4 or 5 companies had to make tilting brackets for them !!!! but you still need a fat arse to not move about in them !! The reason I don't own them now is I ordered folding buckets in my GT3 as they imo are a far better seat. the only down side and there is only one if you are say over 6foot the folding cannot be lowered like the 918's at 5.10" the folding are perfect height and a far tighter fit lower down so hold you far far better, you also get heating and the folding allows access to the rear of the GT3, and last funny as it sounds the folding are lighter than the light weight buckets lol !!! The GT2 style won many fans and still does in all the past 997 era models and no one moaned till now. Quite a few people ordered 918 style and have moved to the folding. they hardly look dated and also better built, the side bolsters on the 918 style look cheap, feel cheap and now every ones panic buying bolster covers at £500 !! FFS I guess the fat people cannot get out of them without sitting on them ! I daily folding buckets for 5 years and the seats look like new. people have even said on here they buy 918style because they look good over how they fit !! very odd. Edited by Porsche911R on Wednesday 11th March 10:25

Porsche911R said: No it's because I did order them when they 1st came out and hated the things for a number of valid reasons. most people order them for resale as is seen here when going for full buckets and on the new GT4 NO CHOICE now. Do you not know anything :-) ? I thought you followed me and know every thing I own or do ! and knew the options on the GT4 ! 918 style are made for fat lass's ie wide at the bottom and tight at the top, far too upright, and just pretty horrid things imo. Not even a racing driver sits that upright in a race seat !!! also not helmet friendly as it pushes your head down !!! it's an over priced bag of crap imo not fit for purpose. ok if you are 20 stone and have no shoulders I guess. NO wonder 4 or 5 companies had to make tilting brackets for them !!!! but you still need a fat arse to not move about in them !! The reason I don't own them now is I ordered folding buckets in my GT3 as they imo are a far better seat. the only down side and there is only one if you are say over 6foot the folding cannot be lowered like the 918's at 5.10" the folding are perfect height and a far tighter fit lower down so hold you far far better, you also get heating and the folding allows access to the rear of the GT3, and last funny as it sounds the folding are lighter than the light weight buckets lol !!! The GT2 style won many fans and still does in all the past 997 era models and no one moaned till now. Quite a few people ordered 918 style and have moved to the folding. they hardly look dated and also better built, the side bolsters on the 918 style look cheap, feel cheap and now every ones panic buying bolster covers at £500 !! FFS I guess the fat people cannot get out of them without sitting on them ! I daily folding buckets for 5 years and the seats look like new. people have even said on here they buy 918style because they look good over how they fit !! very odd. Edited by Porsche911R on Wednesday 11th March 10:25 Yawn!

It is an important choice, but I wouldn’t dream of telling someone else what they should choose, although I do have extensive personal experience of both, over many years. For me, even on on a Porsche GT model, I would now choose a ‘sport’ seat for regular, road use. I would only now go ‘bucket’ if I was intending to use it on track with a harness. Buckets look nice, can feel great on first acquaintance, elevate the GT feel of the car, and provide more lateral security. However, they are not comfortable for everyone, quite an upright driving position, limited range of adjustment, and much tighter to get in/out of, especially if you can’t fully open the door. Had 918s on a GT4 and also bought a GT3 Touring with folding buckets and, in both cases, wish I’d spec’d Sports. I think the market will adjust to the fact that different buyers will want different options, so the price difference will become marginal.

jcosh said: Yawn! you tried to catch me out and failed, …. AGAIN !!! hence that's the best you can come up with. best not to post in future :-)

I have full carbon buckets in my Cayman T and was worried as a 6’2” 17 stone they might be uncomfortable but so far so good. I’d really like a little bit more tilt adjustment so the seat could tilt back a wee bit more than the max on the button

R555MLR said: I have full carbon buckets in my Cayman T and was worried as a 6’2” 17 stone they might be uncomfortable but so far so good. I’d really like a little bit more tilt adjustment so the seat could tilt back a wee bit more than the max on the button many companies have a fix for you, imo worth the investment to get the extra bracket. I would buy the 918stye 2nd hand knowing the fix's now available. back in 2015 when my car was one of the 1st, there were no fixes and I hated how upright they were coming from the GT2 folding buckets. now a lot of people have fitted brackets and have modded the poor lumbar area. I still think are too wide and made for the larger client these days. being 5.10 and 11 stone I ratttle about in the 918's

Porsche911R said: jcosh said: Yawn! you tried to catch me out and failed, …. AGAIN !!! hence that's the best you can come up with. best not to post in future :-) No, I really didn't. I was just 'yawning' as you spout the same old nonsense that everybody has heard a gazzilion times, it's boring! I'll just try and do what others do and ignore you in future. Next you'll be telling us how good your Spyder is, even though it's got nothing to do with this thread. Yawn yawn yawn! Since you suggest not posting, I recall a period of time, a while back, when you disappeared from here. It was great and harmonious, please please please consider doing this again. Maybe just for a few months, that would be much appreciated. Ta.

Thank you everyone for your input. So what I’ve learned is: 1. They look good. 2. They may or may not add value 3. They suit the perceived image of a GT car 4. They can be a bit of a pain in the @rse to get in and out of. 5. They are a little upright (but kits are available to recline a little) 6. I’ll still fit in them if I gain a pound or two.

R555MLR said: I have full carbon buckets in my Cayman T and was worried as a 6’2” 17 stone they might be uncomfortable but so far so good. I’d really like a little bit more tilt adjustment so the seat could tilt back a wee bit more than the max on the button

av185 said: Have you fitted these? Easy fit? Quality ok etc??

av185 said: Very interested. These could be the difference between keeping/selling my GT3. Have you bused then. Where do you get them fitted.

I have a set for my driver seat. The website has instructions, and they are easy enough to do yourself if you have the tools and willingness, else you could ask a friendly Indy to do it for you if you don’t have a friendly tech at an OPC to help.

As said above its a GT car so for me 918s, I wouldn't buy any Porsche GT product with out them, also the other nice have racing options they offer, comforts are for a GTSs but this is just my opinion each to there own

Got to admit, the 918s are excellent with perfect driving position.

TDT said: I have a set for my driver seat. The website has instructions, and they are easy enough to do yourself if you have the tools and willingness, else you could ask a friendly Indy to do it for you if you don’t have a friendly tech at an OPC to help. What’s your view? Do they make a big diff?

R555MLR said: Have you fitted these? Easy fit? Quality ok etc?? Just to be clear no I just posted this up don't have them I am happy with stock p11s.

2010spy said: TDT said: I have a set for my driver seat. The website has instructions, and they are easy enough to do yourself if you have the tools and willingness, else you could ask a friendly Indy to do it for you if you don’t have a friendly tech at an OPC to help. What’s your view? Do they make a big diff? It is noticeable, but not night and day, so you are still upright (which is good) but just in a slightly more reclined position, which takes a bit of pressure off upper back and allows you to engage all of your back right from the off, as opposed to your body having to conform to the seat during the first 30mins of a drive, if you are affected. I noticed a difference with use with my helmet and HANS, which is the main ‘issue’ for track users. Head and neck are able to relax naturally back onto headset, rather than head being forced slightly forward due the shell of the helmet, this fatigues the neck until you get used to it. These shims are the best solution for these seats. Other solutions that change the length of the levering bar, change too many other parts and have other adverse affects on the positioning and tilt of the seat. Edited by TDT on Wednesday 11th March 19:56

Just to add the TPC option is interesting also - it actually change the angle of the carbon seat, relative to the mounting hardware.

Please excuse my ignorance, what seats are these in my Cayman R.....P11’s??

P3 folding buckets P11 918-style don't fold:

Ok twinfan thanks, trying to work out if I’ve got the s t ones people are talking about, lol

gordy.t1970 said: Ok twinfan thanks, trying to work out if I’ve got the s t ones people are talking about, lol Depends who's talking - I think they're s t, 911R loves them

Out of interest does anyone know if there is a technical reason why Porsche offer seat heating on the folding buckets but not the 918 fixed ones? It's just a set of heating elements in the seat pads right?.. even my Caterham 620 with Tillett fixed buckets had heated seats! I would have liked that facility in my Spyder but the 918 fixed buckets were just a much better seat for me than the folding ones and I considered that more important.

Melvynr said: Got to admit, the 918s are excellent with perfect driving position. not true hence the 4 or 5 companies making brackets !!!!

Porsche911R said: not true hence the 4 or 5 companies making brackets !!!! They are for me, but then again, I am not a short ass fooker like yourself.LOLOL.

Porsche911R said: not true hence the 4 or 5 companies making brackets !!!! Who are the 4 or 5 companies making the brackets. I could really do with looking at what options are available before I go into spec lockdown. At the moment I’ve gone for the comfort seats, but I think the carbon buckets suit the car more.

Autoquest, TrackSpecAuto, TPC Three different solutions.

TDT said: Autoquest, TrackSpecAuto, TPC Three different solutions. Thanks

I'm with 911R on this one. I think that the 'standard' sports seats (so, neither of the two bucket seat styles that are available) perhaps offer the greatest levels of overall comfort for most people because of their adjustability (whether 4, 8 or 18-way adjustable, depending on the type available and fitted to different car types) - but to my mind a Porsche GT car really benefits from a bucket style of seat. As mentioned, there are two styles of bucket seat available (although, at various times, only one or the other seat style has been available as OE fit, depending on the vehicle type). The 'newer style' of bucket seat, the so-called LWB (light-weight bucket), or fixed back, or 918 seat, is for me too upright to be comfortable although it does have a built-in height/angle adjuster. The height adjustment (such as it is) cannot be adjusted independently of the angle of the seat frame. I find that the upright, fixed backrest and headrest pushes my head too far forward, and that this problem is compounded when a helmet is used (your head is pushed down so you have to raise your gaze, looking upwards slightly, to look forwards out of the car). I know that the aftermarket adjuster pieces help to address this problem and are recommended by many as a way to reduce this issue. The 'older style' of folding bucket, sometimes called the GT2 style or the sports bucket style, provides a slightly more reclined seating position that certainly suits me (at 5'8") better. I am told that the folding bucket sits a little higher than the newer LWB/918 style but I've never found that an issue. I think it's definitely the case that the older style of seats wear better than the newer fixed style - side-bolsters on used cars nearly always look great on the folders whereas side-bolster creasing and scuffing appears to be a problem, even at low mileage, on the newer version. The ability to tip the backrest forward on the folders to gain access to the rear-cabin is useful, too. It is also very interesting that the folding style is considerably lighter than the so-called light-weight 918 style! I imagine that the motors and mechanisms fitted to the newer seats account for that difference. Both seat styles incorporate side (thorax) airbags so there's nothing to influence preferences in that area. To my eyes, both bucket seat types are really attractive and fit well with the GT car 'idiom' though, on balance, I'd agree that the LWB/918s do perhaps look a bit more contemporary, But for me, those marginal appearance benefits do not outweigh the advantage of greater comfort being provided by the older sports-bucket, GT2 or folding style of bucket seat. James Edited by short-shift on Thursday 12th March 17:55

Twinfan said: gordy.t1970 said: Ok twinfan thanks, trying to work out if I’ve got the s t ones people are talking about, lol Depends who's talking - I think they're s t, 911R loves them definitely depends on the individual i think. i find the folding buckets extremely comfy - definitely more so than the so called 'comfort' seats, and a big bonus is that you can feel the car more and they put a big smile on my face whenever i open the door to get in the car. one final plus is they are heated and as i use the car all year round it's a big plus. not convinced the newer buckets look any better (though they look great too) and the fact they are more upright and can't be heated is a bit of a step backward IMO.

Like you say, it's personal. I like a very upright seat and as I don't use a helmet or HANS they're perfect for me. Lack of heating is a non-issue in a coupe, especially with all the alcantara

Twinfan said: Lack of heating is a non-issue in a coupe, especially with all the alcantara even with alcantara it's still nice to have a warm seat on a cold winter morning

Driving a GT4 on a cold winter morning is just wrong

Digging up a 2.5 year old thread. What do people make of the comfort v. bucket debate today, especially with respect to resale? There seems to be a lot of comfort cars out there, and some are very expensive.

LiamV12V said: Digging up a 2.5 year old thread. What do people make of the comfort v. bucket debate today, especially with respect to resale? There seems to be a lot of comfort cars out there, and some are very expensive. Think buyer's are realising that the buckets are no longer essentail, they look great, are comfortable for some but not others, but a pain getting in and out on a regular basis, plus deny any acces to the rear luggage area for 911's, hence more comfy chairs being specified. I specced LWB's in GT4 and GT3, but changing to comfy chairs in the GT3 touring as better for my needs. Forget about resale, buy what you want to sit in, as hopefully you'll be spending many hours sitting in them.

Have just bought a 981 spyder with the 918 buckets, and find them perfectly comfortable but it’s a pisser that they aren’t heated Both Ashgood and RPM told me these seats make a few grand difference to prices vs the other types - and it seemed that way to me looking at the various adverts Go back a generation to a Cayman R or 987 spyder and cars with carbon folding buckets are far more sought after

I had to use a recliner bracket as I'm tall and found the lwb seat too upright for long trips, but I now find them the most comfortable and hugging road seat I've had to be fair, better than the oe recaro seats I once had in a Celica GT4! You could certainly do a full day in them.