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vwtopia
Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2001
Posts: 184
Location: LaPorte, IN
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 Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 11:34 am Post subject: Why are high back seats cheaper than low back seats? |
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| Need to replace the seats in my fiberglass buggy project and like the look of low back seats. I am finding that low back seats with covers are about $100 minimum but high back seats with covers are around $70 minimum. Is it supply and demand? Can't be material cost since there is less in the lowback? Can I cut the high back part off the fiberglass seat without disrupting the strength of the seat? Any thoughts? |
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slalombuggy
Samba Member
Joined: July 17, 2010
Posts: 9145
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 2:47 pm Post subject: |
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Before you go for lowbacks I have one word for you to think about.....whiplash.
I've come to find that anything that looks "cooler" is usually "spendier"
Are they both made of the same material or is one plastic and one fiberglass?
brad |
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EVfun
Samba Member
Joined: April 01, 2012
Posts: 5475
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 4:19 pm Post subject: |
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| slalombuggy wrote: |
| Before you go for lowbacks I have one word for you to think about.....whiplash. |
Don't you have to think about seat belts first?
_________________
| Wildthings wrote: |
| As a general rule, cheap parts are the most expensive parts you can buy. |
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Hank22
Samba Member
Joined: March 16, 2004
Posts: 452
Location: Inside the pizza oven
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| Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 4:32 pm Post subject: |
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| I have come to find that, in the buggy world, price & availability is directly proportional to how much you want it. |
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didget69
Samba Member
Joined: July 22, 2004
Posts: 4927
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
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| Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 4:37 pm Post subject: |
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| EVfun wrote: |
| slalombuggy wrote: |
| Before you go for lowbacks I have one word for you to think about.....whiplash. |
Don't you have to think about seat belts first? |
No. People got whiplash in car accidents in cars with low-back seats, before seatbelts were even required.
_________________
I never found the need to impress people with any mechanic certifications, trophies or track wins... unless it was for Mom to post on the refrigerator door. |
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Roys_Big_Toys
Samba Member
Joined: April 30, 2011
Posts: 225
Location: Richmond, VA
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| Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 4:53 pm Post subject: |
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You need frontal air bags, side air bags, a solid multi-point roll CAGE, 5 point seat belts High back seats with a wrap around head rest and a Hans Device to protect your neck. It goes on and on......
Nothing is going to help you if you get hit front the side, front or rear. Get over it.
"Just drive it like you stole it"
Have fun and maybe we will meet, on the road. I run cheap plastic seats, seat belts to keep me in and a roll bar, but surely, don't want to roll it over thinking these POS are going to save my ass. If you get hit with another car, you are SOL. I hope you don't think a buggy will pass the IHHS tests.
Have fun!
_________________
I'd rather be an hour early than 5 minutes late. (Mine)
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Original Meyers Manx
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EVfun
Samba Member
Joined: April 01, 2012
Posts: 5475
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 6:19 pm Post subject: |
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| Roys_Big_Toys wrote: |
You need frontal air bags, side air bags, a solid multi-point roll CAGE, 5 point seat belts High back seats with a wrap around head rest and a Hans Device to protect your neck. It goes on and on......
Nothing is going to help you if you get hit front the side, front or rear. Get over it.
[snip]
Have fun! |
...and that was my point. I run old school fiberglass low back bucket seats, no seat belts ('64 registration), no roll bar, and no bumpers. There is no side impact strength as the frame is in the center and you hang out over it surrounded by a little fiberglass and some light gauge sheet metal. The body supports the floor! The tires are at the corners so if you want to stay in control I highly recommend you keep the corners away from solid objects. The little thing weighs hundreds of pounds less than even a Geo Metro. It's a go-kart with license plates. They're a hell of a lot of fun to drive! 
_________________
| Wildthings wrote: |
| As a general rule, cheap parts are the most expensive parts you can buy. |
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didget69
Samba Member
Joined: July 22, 2004
Posts: 4927
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
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| Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 9:20 pm Post subject: |
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Many states allow cars built prior to 1968 to be driven without wearing a seatbelt. Take your chances & run without them if your state allows it.
Me? I choose to use highback seats and seatbelts regardless.
_________________
I never found the need to impress people with any mechanic certifications, trophies or track wins... unless it was for Mom to post on the refrigerator door. |
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slalombuggy
Samba Member
Joined: July 17, 2010
Posts: 9145
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2012 7:18 am Post subject: |
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| Roys_Big_Toys wrote: |
You need frontal air bags, side air bags, a solid multi-point roll CAGE, 5 point seat belts High back seats with a wrap around head rest and a Hans Device to protect your neck. It goes on and on......
Nothing is going to help you if you get hit front the side, front or rear. Get over it.
"Just drive it like you stole it"
Have fun and maybe we will meet, on the road. I run cheap plastic seats, seat belts to keep me in and a roll bar, but surely, don't want to roll it over thinking these POS are going to save my ass. If you get hit with another car, you are SOL. I hope you don't think a buggy will pass the IHHS tests.
Have fun! |
I don't ever expct to not be injured driving my buggy, that's why I drive like everyone else on the road is retarded. However, If I can put something in my car that will save me from a serious injury at relatively low speeds, I'll do it, so I can keep driving my go-kart with fenders and not a motorised wheel chair..........
brad |
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manxdavid
Samba Member
Joined: November 24, 2003
Posts: 1841
Location: David Jones, Anglesey, North Wales, UK. Manxclub #678.
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| Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2012 9:16 am Post subject: |
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The 'headrests' on most traditional plastic and fiberglass buggy seats are way too low to afford any whiplash protection anyway.
As shalombuggy says, defensive street driving's the only way. |
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