Review: Cobra Nogaro seats (uniquely street friendly fixed back bucket seat)

[Obioban]

I'm used to a lot of metal around a fixed back seat, but thought my mindset could be dated. Appreciate the response.

What type of seats and restraints are you talking about? Super interested to hear more if it's not too much of a thread hijack.

PS. Note the triangles...

(properly designed) Metal around the seat is good around the seat, if you're fully restrained and wearing a helmet. Metal near your head when wearing a 3 point and/or no helmet is not. Wearing a 3 point, you move around a ton in a crash.

These days I mostly design seats for military and commercial vehicles, mostly with integrated seatbelts.

[Casa de Mesa]

Ha, well, weirdly I've given this a ton of thought, as I designed seat/restraint systems for a living. The longstanding myth that a reclining seat is better in a rollover has always bothered me, as it makes no sense. The load requirements on seat backs mean you're getting crushed either way, if the roof comes in-- your body forcing the seat to recline by being crushed by the roof isn't going to keep you alive.

I'm used to a lot of metal around a fixed back seat, but thought my mindset could be dated. Appreciate the response.

What type of seats and restraints are you talking about? Super interested to hear more if it's not too much of a thread hijack.

PS. Note the triangles...

[Obioban]

Cool. Been a while since I've heard a verdict on this one so figured I'd ask. I was thinking of doing the same, hence the real motivation behind the question.

And agree on the rollbar safety issue. Even with the proper rated padding wrapped around it (i.e., not pipe insulation), that padding is for use with helmets. And even then... you don't want to hit it.

Ha, well, weirdly I've given this a ton of thought, as I designed seat/restraint systems for a living. The longstanding myth that a reclining seat is better in a rollover has always bothered me, as it makes no sense. The load requirements on seat backs mean you're getting crushed either way, if the roof comes in-- your body forcing the seat to recline by being crushed by the roof isn't going to keep you alive.

[Casa de Mesa]

No— there’s nothing riskier about a fixed back than a reclining seat in a roll over. That’s an old myth that somehow keeps getting perpetuated, but there no data behind it. Stock cars are available with fixed backseats without roll bars in every country other than USA (including the e46– the CSL (or GTR)). Additionally, rollbars (that are in a functional position to actually help you in a roll) are a huge safety hazard when you’re not wearing a helmet/harness, so that would make me very uncomfortable.

Cool. Been a while since I've heard a verdict on this one so figured I'd ask. I was thinking of doing the same, hence the real motivation behind the question.

And agree on the rollbar safety issue. Even with the proper rated padding wrapped around it (i.e., not pipe insulation), that padding is for use with helmets. And even then... you don't want to hit it.

[Obioban]

Hey not trying to pee in the Cheerios (honest question here), but do fixed back seats spook you on a shared duty car (street and track) in the event of a rollover? I didn't see a rollbar in your car.

EDIT: that setup looks spectacular. Meant to include that and fat fingered the post button on my phone...

No— there’s nothing riskier about a fixed back than a reclining seat in a roll over. That’s an old myth that somehow keeps getting perpetuated, but there no data behind it. Stock cars are available with fixed backseats without roll bars in every country other than USA (including the e46– the CSL (or GTR)). Additionally, rollbars (that are in a functional position to actually help you in a roll) are a huge safety hazard when you’re not wearing a helmet/harness, so that would make me very uncomfortable.

[Casa de Mesa]

Hey not trying to pee in the Cheerios (honest question here), but do fixed back seats spook you on a shared duty car (street and track) in the event of a rollover? I didn't see a rollbar in your car.

EDIT: that setup looks spectacular. Meant to include that and fat fingered the post button on my phone...

[IND-Distribution]

Thanks for bringing your write-up over from M3F. Very detailed and good insight.

[Arith2]

I passed a super good deal on a pair of these for my BBK. It's good to know these are awesome seats. Adding these to the list of mods.

[Lip]

IIRC a few ordered in cinnamon. Does anyone remember where the hide is from? Relicate has a few napa hides listed but I'm not sure how the match was.

[BMWahba]

Cool thanks. Need to save some coin to do some M-tex centered set of fronts!

[repoman89]

Did you have them do something custom?

I was going to have them do relicate black leather but their own leather ended up being cost effective and a good match. But yeah HMS knew all about custom ordering options and pricing.

[Obioban]

Is it still possible to have cobras made in a custom centre fabric if I supply fabric? Where/how would I do that?

HMS doesn't respond to emails ;p

Yeah, having them done custom is something they always allow, and HMS is the way to go for that.... as slow as the plague has made them.

[BMWahba]

They do respond eventually but are probably extra slow due to covid right now. They took a week or two to get back to my initial email last fall but are great to work with. I’m local so went in to the store to discuss details.

Been waiting for my seats for a long time .. seat heater pads got lost in transit to them for a while and now shipping from England is ridiculous. I’m not really in a hurry though.

The group buy deal was ridiculously good compared to what mine cost, but I asked HMS if there are any discounts available and they threw 10% in, so that’s something!

Did you have them do something custom?

[repoman89]

Is it still possible to have cobras made in a custom centre fabric if I supply fabric? Where/how would I do that?

HMS doesn't respond to emails ;p

They do respond eventually but are probably extra slow due to covid right now. They took a week or two to get back to my initial email last fall but are great to work with. I’m local so went in to the store to discuss details.

Been waiting for my seats for a long time .. seat heater pads got lost in transit to them for a while and now shipping from England is ridiculous. I’m not really in a hurry though.

The group buy deal was ridiculously good compared to what mine cost, but I asked HMS if there are any discounts available and they threw 10% in, so that’s something!

[BMWahba]

Is it still possible to have cobras made in a custom centre fabric if I supply fabric? Where/how would I do that?

HMS doesn't respond to emails ;p