Quote:
Originally Posted by 86MLR
A 4 point harness is a compromise and only a "look at me" mod for people who know no better.
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Yes and no. There's always situational differences. I haven't got a harness installed in this car yet but I had a Schroth quick fit pro in my previous car (doesn't quite fit the BRZ). It's a 4 point with ASM and street legal (in my area). Once the mounts are installed it's only 1 minute to fit or remove. I don't use it on the street as it's frankly unsafe (can't shift forward at tight intersections, etc) however I did use it on the track.
I agree that a 5 or 6 point is superior on track and especially with upgraded fixed seats. Unfrotunately in the local racing leagues it would have cost me performance points or straight up bumped me a class to upgrade the seats. Additionally the modifications for the harnesses would have made me illegal on the street.
Do I think the 4 point harness was safer than the stock belts? No not really.
So why after all of that would I bother to do it at all? With the stock belt I just couldn't get myself really stuck down in the seat. I had to do a lot of bracing to stabilize myself through the corners, over bumps, etc. This distracts you from fully focussing on the track, your line, and available grip. The only real upgrade (other than looks) provided by the 4 point was to plant my ass (and torso) securely in the seat.
EDIT: IIRC the only point that doesn't connect between the BRZ and the E46 (previous car mentioned) is the rear belt buckle. I may look at swapping out this buckle with one that would fit the harness (I don't have rear passengers and I would still mount it with the proper hardware or not o it at all) but if I were to do it all over again I'd try and pick a harness that would allow me to still use the stock belt on the street but also be compatible with HANS device on the track. Due to the ASM release on the quick fit pro I don't believe it was compatible with a HANS device.