So... about those headrests
 

Let me start off by stating: I'm not pimp. Neither am I dope, nor fly, nor crunk. I may have cruised once upon a time, but I certainly do not roll. Therefore, my driving position has all the cool-factor of black socks with khaki shorts: back nearly vertical (maybe 80 to 85 degrees from the seat bottom); hands at ten and two on the wheel; and distanced from the pedals so that I can mash the clutch all the way down without having to tip-toe it, but not too close either. It may not look cool, but it's how owner's manuals and books on racing have suggested you sit for many, many years now (there's a reason Recaro and Bride buckets are shaped the way they are).

So why is it that when I adjust my seat to that position in my new car, the headrest forces me to stare at my crotch while seated?

It's a rhetorical question. I know why they do it: it supposedly reduces whiplash injuries... injuries that wouldn't be an issue if people were riding with their seat and headrests in the correct position to begin with. Now, thanks to these erroneously mandated abominations, it is impossible for me to find a seating position in my new car that's anything less than "excruciating". I know too that half the population likes the new design, but half the population hates it; if you're in the first group, I don't need to hear from you. Congratulations on not having to modify your car to be able to drive more than 10 minutes at a time in it.

Where was I going with this? Oh yeah... QUESTION!!! Does anybody have experience bending the posts on the headrests, so that the angle is less severe? I'm going to try and find an upholstery shop or body shop that can do it for me, but if I can't I'd like to give it a try myself. Or, does anybody know of any other solutions for fixing this "safety" feature (besides turning the headrest around, which is both tacky and dangerous?)

I never thought I'd be looking at Bride buckets to improve commuting comfort in a car. :mad0260:

Most entertaining post yet. I would recommend aftermarket buckets, such as Bride. I wouldn't risk bending the metal post just for the sake of "what ifs" good luck!

Bride seats are amazing. Do it.

Heh... glad you're amused by my humorous lead-in (if you find things such as "excruciating spinal deformation" funny... which, to be fair, I do, when it's not my spine), but I was hoping to keep the stock seats. Bride's are very, very comfy for race-day seats, but I really want to keep that stock side-impact airbag in this car. I'd just like to have side airbags AND not have to have a chiropractor riding shotgun 24/7. (Spoiled, aren't I?)

http://cdn.mkimg.carview.co.jp/carli...3eba114a8d.jpg

http://autobacs-asm.com/blog/recaro/...20DSC_5377.jpg

I wouldn't mind either of these. The recaros do look more comfortable and look like a factory option

checking the owners manual; it states that the top of your ears should be about in line with the middle of the head rest for proper fit and safety. If that is not possible I would suggest flipping the headrest around.

In my seating position, reclined a few more degrees back than you are, I had to raise the headrest up to its maximum height to be comfortable. I am 6'1'' for reference.

Both are good seats. I used to own some Recaros very similar to those, and loved them. And I sat in those exact same Bride's at a Super Autobacs a couple of weeks ago, and mmm... Dirty, dirty thoughts about a seat.

But again, want to keep that side airbag. Real shame: this is the first time I've seen a factory seat that has been as supportive and grippy as an aftermarket race seat... and it's ruined by those damn government-mandated headrests.

What Recaros are those?

Those Recaros look perfect...even have the red stitching. Yes please.


Justin

If I have a ton of $$$ laying around I would buy this. & yes, those seats are for 86/FR-S
http://www.tune86.com/sites/default/...gt_86_20_0.jpg

Recaro SR-6. GoTuning.com lists the "ASM" version in special trims/colors:

http://autobacs-asm.jp/recaro/newseat_img2/150.jpg http://autobacs-asm.jp/recaro/newseat_img2/162.jpg
http://autobacs-asm.jp/recaro/newseat_img2/151.jpg http://autobacs-asm.jp/recaro/newseat_img2/161.jpg

This post p=224440&postcount=2 indicates the ASM branded stuff is over priced and suggests you get the standard Recaro. Which, in my experience, is never a bad idea. :)

The TRD seats would be a lot better without that big red stripe down the middle.

If any company can manufacture a quality replacement head rest, I'll buy a pair straight away.

Not saying I'm going to go this route, but let's assume for one moment I did decide to put in a Bride Stradia seat, in black w/ red stitching, on the driver's side, thus giving up my side-airbag protection and putting myself at risk of legal and insurance difficulties for purposefully removing a safety device in an automobile. Let's assume I'm okay with all of that.

Has anybody yet figured out the proper resistor to use to trick the car into thinking that airbag is still there? I don't want to put up with error lights on my dash, nor the possibility that none of my other airbags would work (something which was is apparently a real concern on some other cars, as when the system detects a problem with one airbag it shuts them all down).

Better yet, pretty seats and spam-bots aside... has anybody had any experience getting the headrests on an 09 and newer car bent into a proper position?