86 Knee Pads Functional?
 

To those that have the JDM knee pads: Are they functional? Are they really padded or are they just covered plastic? Did they make your interior more comfortable?

I don't have the "JDM" knee pads, but I had those pieces custom done by an upholsterer. I don't know what sort of gorillas typically drive this car, but I can't imagine them being functional. I'm 6'1 and have never hit my knees on either side.

For me, it was purely aesthetic.

I'm getting the knee pads (birthday present) so I'll let you know. My knee gets sore when I drive more than a few miles because it rests right on those hard plastic pieces.

I don't have them but I also don't touch either side. The door speaker one I'd imagine damaging since I already kick that section all the time anyways getting out of the car.

Link to the pads? I'm 6'7" and come close to hitting many times.

Our UAE mid-spec cars came stock with these knee pads. I did find them functional because my seating position in the GT86 is almost like lying down and when at a stop sign, I bend my knees to rest them on the pad attached to the mid-console(right) or the left pad(around speaker).

My suggestion; If you don't have that habit of resting your knees. I wouldn't recommend you shell money for these knee pads. Not as cushioned as I'd want them to be. The foam is just barely there. One can easily feel the stiff plastic behind the pad if pressure is applied.

Not functional, particularly the one on the center console. The whole thing moves inward as its not very solid and I don't rest my knee there anyway.

Knee pads aren't for hitting the car. They are there for you to brace your knees as you drive. Driving is a more than gangster leaning your seat and hanging your hand out the window. There are proper positioning guidelines and tactics to get the most out of your reflexes when driving on a tight track ;)

Understood, but that seems like an unbelievably wide stance to be able to use the pedals in any realistic manner.

my left knee ached from holding my body up after a weekend on track. you likely don't need them without sticky tires when the car turns harder. But I will either need some sort of brace or a replacement seat.

As an update for others: I am just over 6 foot and never thought my knees would or even could hit the knee pad area because of how far back I set my seat. Having my seat back so far, however, made me feel like I was reaching too far for the shifter. I decided to change my seating position a little bit so I could reach the shifter better, which I like, and my knees ended up right where the knee pads are suppose to be. Perhaps it is preference, or perhaps I am now in a more proper seating position. Just food for thought.

I find the console one to be very comfortable. Just as a light support. The door one , I find I cant touch my knee with.

I'm 6'5" and my right knee is always touching the center console. My left knee is basically resting against the door same as in my WRX. Overall I'm extremely comfortable in the car (especially with the amazing cloth seats) but I definitely need some form of padding for my knees. If the JDMs are more or less cosmetic I'll go with whatever I can find on eBay which are around $40 a piece. I would love more opinions on the JDMs because they look so nice :happy0180:

They are actually, the pad thickness is about 1.5 cm