Lowering Stock Seats/Aftermarket Seats. Headroom Needed!
 

Context - I live in South East London, England. I am looking into buying a GT86. When I test drove one I found that I have a good amount of leg room and feel generally comfortable in the car. However my head is less that an inch from the headlining meaning I end up with a new hair style upon existing the car. I am 6'4 btw.

Has anyone managed to lower the stock seats beyond what they can go from the factory. If so how much extra headroom where you able to gain? Also if anyone has installed aftermarket seats if you could tell me how much extra headroom you gained.

No mods = move seat closer to steering wheel, but reclaim more back of seat. Compromising a bit leg position for headroom. Maybe worth accompanying with steering wheel at offset/closer to driver.
Lowest probably will be aftermarket seats with low profile mount.
On stock seats one can cut cushioning, and bend/reweld a bit seat base to lower stock seats, but one has to know how/what to do. In US one shop offered service to do that, but you are on other side of pond.

Hi churchx,

Thanks for your reply. I guess a better look for something else then! It's such a shame cause I really like the car. I looked on some other threads and they suggested buddy club racing seat rails but even with them I don't think I would get the room I need.

Mentioned seat rails are for aftermarket bucket seats only, no?
If set on using stock seats, you can only trim seat cushions for slight gain, and then mod seat base for even more. +Deeper offset steering wheel?
I had issues with headroom aswell, though only if wearing helmet. I've heard of some long people fitting fine. I guess it's not just about how long one is but also about body/legs/hands proportions.
Well, there was even less space in mx-5 :).
Here is post i bookmarked about modifying stock seats. You can contact DD Performance and maybe arrange something .. eg. so that they buy some used base in some subbie breakeryard for cheap (complete new stock seat is expensive. just modded base will also cut shipping weight/size/costs), or ship yours to them, mod it, ship back to UK.

Yes exactly. Thanks for your help it is very much appreciated. Although I wouldn't want to chop the seats around as they are so comfy. Looks like if I get a GT86 after market seats would be the way forward.

Are you sure you had the seat all the way down and all the way back? I know of guys taller than you who do fine in the car?

Yeah, make sure you try.. pumping? the lever on the side of the seat to make the seat go down (while you're standing next to it). You should be able to see it getting lower as you go. It's possible you missed this, OP.

Regarding pumping .. btw, wasn't it so, that due height adjustment mechanism for driver seat lowest position of it was higher then height-unadjustable passenger seat?
I recall reading one case when someone wanted opposite, gain height for passenger seat for small g/f. He ordered RHD driver seat for that. I wonder if RHD passenger seat for driver won't do?

Failing that, perhaps your preferred position is too upright.
Try tilting the seat back a couple clicks and go for the laid back OG slow roll.

Hi Everyone,
Yeah I am positive that the seat was all the way down. Maybe my proportions are bit odd lol. I am looking into modifying the seat rails to gain extra height as someone told me that it could be done with some cutting and welding. It is just a shame that the car isn't slightly taller lol.

You could try flatter shoes and shave your head?

When I removed the headliner, I was surprised how much room is up there.


It's not a great idea, but it is one...


Removing and fabricating a custom headliner could work to add a few inches of head room.

Hi Leonardo, Thanks for your comment, I'll take a look into it!

When wearing a helmet my head was slightly rubbing. I removed the headliner and gained about an inch in space, maybe more. I'm looking into lowering the seat myself.