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RECARO Classic LX PEPITA

For my first blog of the year, I will talk about an air-cooled Porsche 911 (964) for the first time in a while.
Last year, this car had to spend a long time in the hospital for various repairs to the air conditioner, etc., and I could hardly drive it,After a safe and complete recovery and a one-year inspection at the dealership,I am getting closer to a new car step by step, replacing the rear shaft boot, fixing the sunroof, and so on.

The 964, which I have not driven in a long time, is wonderful, and I enjoy it even when I drive it slowly. Thanks to the Tiptronic, I can enjoy the luxury of being able to enjoy an air-cooled Porsche in any place and at any speed, without feeling self-conscious, so I end up driving it frequently.

In the midst of all this.RECARO has released a limited edition Pepita-patterned seat.I saw the news that

Based on the LX-VS, this model is limited to 700 pairs and is calledClassic LX PepitaThe product is called the "MICROPLAST". The price is a whopping 275,000 yen for a monopod, which is not a cheap price.

I had done some preliminary research, but since it was quite expensive, I was hesitant to buy it, but one day, while shopping, I went to a nearbySuper Autobacs Sunshine KOBEI stopped by the "K" and was amazed to see the actual product on display.

When I saw it in person, I thought it was very high quality and this would look very nice on my 964, so I asked for a quote.The total cost of the seat rails and labor exceeded 600,000 yen, but he immediately decided to purchase the seat rails on the spot.

He said he had not yet determined when they would be produced and in stock, but they seemed to arrive at the store in about two weeks.

Seat installation

These basic RECARO seats have three height adjustment options and are bolted in place.
At any rate, when I put it in the highest position and sat down to try it out, the space between my thighs and the bottom of the handlebar was so narrow that my hand would get caught when I held the bottom of the handlebar.

I lowered the front of the seat by one step, and it felt comfortable, so I rode it for a while, but I was still concerned about the high back of the seat, so later I had the back of the seat lowered by one step as well.

This means that the height is now in the middle of the three levels. Incidentally, in the case of the 964, if you want to go below the middle height, the feet of the slide rail will interfere with the floor,As the instructions say, you will need to cut some of the rails, so I recommend having a store do it for you.

Driving Impressions

I actually drove it, and it is better than I expected.

To be honest, I was not expecting much comfort since the LX seats were originally very basic and simple in construction, and I thought that if it was better than the factory seats, it would be fine.

Even though it is not a complex shape,The seat and back cushions are perfectly firm with just the right amount of hold, making it very relaxing to sit on.It is also much easier to get into the car and very comfortable to sit in than the stock one.

The original 964 factory seat (also made by RECARO) is narrow and the seat surface is relatively soft, so you sit on it as if you were trying to fit your buttocks into it. And since there was no lumbar support at all, in my case, my hips were inevitably bent and my back tended to ache when I sat for a long time.

But of course, this is not the case at all with this seat. The cushion is firm enough for city driving, and even the ride feels comfortable.

A cushion is included. By placing it on the rear seat, the rear will be unified with the Pepita pattern.

At any rate, I went touring at the beginning of the year for about 7 hours, or 300 km, and had no back pain at all.
Rather, I feel much less tired and this suits me better than the 4-way sport seats in the 981 and 991 plus the 4-way sport seats in the 992.

I was surprised that such a simple shaped seat, with only the angle of the adjustable backrest, did not tire me out as much as it did. As expected of RECARO.

It also provides ample support while cornering, which is perfectly acceptable for a little sporty driving on ordinary roads. At least it has a more secure hold than the stock seat. In addition, the seats are very rigid, and I feel a stronger sense of oneness with the car, which makes driving much easier.

Relationship between RECARO and Porsche

In fact, the Recaro company has always had a very close relationship with Porsche.

According to information on RECARO's official website, the prototype of the Porsche 901 was manufactured by the current RECARO (then called Reuter Body Manufacturing Company), and RECARO was also responsible for the interior design. At that time, the headquarters of Porsche and RECARO were located next to each other, and Porsche was in charge of the engine and chassis design, while RECARO was in charge of the body and interior design.

The PEPITA (staggered lattice) is said to be the symbolic design of Porsche interiors of that era.

The special emblem of RECARO is attached. This is proof that the seats are not simply reupholstered.

This may be one of the reasons why the Pepita pattern fits so well with Porsche interiors. The 50th anniversary edition of the 991 has Pepita-patterned seats, and even the 992 has Pepita-patterned seats if you choose the Heritage Design Package Classic.

If you have a classic Porsche and would like to give it a little makeover, we highly recommend the Classic LX Pepita.
In addition to its design, it should be possible to enjoy Porsche without getting tired even when driving long distances.