The ride has been a little bumpy but it looks like I finally have something I can work with. It all started when Ford decided to include the optional Recaro seats for the 2011 MY. For me, the process went like this
- 2011's have them and I want them bad. Take out's are rather $carce.
- Speculation that FRPP may offer them ensues.
- 2012's have them available as well. Take out's are still $carce.
- In early 2012, FRPP makes them available in fabric as opposed to leather.
- 2013's have them available. Tak....you guessed it, big bucks for a used pair.
I gave up on FRPP ever offering leather. I found a pair of the FRPP fabric seats for sale that were barely used and for a very reasonable price. Problem was, the seller didn't want to ship. After working hard to convince him to ship, he agrees but states it might be a couple of weeks or so. Then, out of nowhere an ad from FRPP pops up stating that they were being offered in leather! I'm leery of the listing (price seems to low and the ad is ambiguous) and fire off some email(s) as to the legitimacy. I was able to cancel the deal on the fabric FRPP's. Then, in the wink of an eye, FRPP pulls the listing from their online catalog.
POOF!
The leather listing morphs into a second fabric seat listing. It covers an additional model year and is more expensive. Word slips out that FRPP will discontinue the less expensive fabric offering very soon. I inquire again as to whether FRPP will ever offer the Recaro's in leather and get a resounding no. The order goes in for a pair of the 'B' seats (the older, less expensive seats) as the white flag was now at the top of the pole.
Yesterday, my wife wakes me up to tell me that she found something in the back of the mailbox.
Seriously? No advance notice? And instead of an official slip, the above. I call and find out that it was legitimate (blurring courtesy of me). I ask, why no call to tell me that the seats were heading my way? I'm told it was because FRPP failed to indicate to CONWAY that it was necessary. Same thing happened when I purchased my FRPP Boss rear seat delete/X brace kit. So I make arrangements to have it delivered today between the hours of 10am and 2 pm (God I hate that). Today comes and since I'm a sleepless zombie working the nightshift, I call to see if I can pick it up this morning. Come on down says Conway.
So with 50 mph winds and heavy rain an hour or so away, I pick them up and haul ass homeward. I got them in the garage as quick as I could. A little nervous, I was...
Turns out, the seats are fine. Phew. Seriously FRPP/Recaro, those "boxes" are lacking a bit in the protection department. Somebody in Risk Management/Purchasing/Packaging needs a rather large boot in the ass. I know that Recaro has been shipping seats in similar boxes for years now (I purchased some Recaro Pole Position seats for my Fox body a few years ago) but that is no excuse. Everything else I have ever purchased from SVO/Ford Motorsport/FRPP has always been extremely well protected.
On to the seats.
My apologies for the picture quality in this thread. No sleep had me take the easy way out and use my Droid. I'll get better quality shots when I can but for now understand that the photos are a bit weak and not representative of the real thing.
Driver side
Passenger side
And a side by side with some '13 seats
A quick glance looked to show that a sensor swap in order to use these in my '09 shouldn't be that bad. I'm no upholstery guy but I'm willing to tackle this one just like anything else. More when I'm no longer one of the living dead...
- 2011's have them and I want them bad. Take out's are rather $carce.
- Speculation that FRPP may offer them ensues.
- 2012's have them available as well. Take out's are still $carce.
- In early 2012, FRPP makes them available in fabric as opposed to leather.
- 2013's have them available. Tak....you guessed it, big bucks for a used pair.
I gave up on FRPP ever offering leather. I found a pair of the FRPP fabric seats for sale that were barely used and for a very reasonable price. Problem was, the seller didn't want to ship. After working hard to convince him to ship, he agrees but states it might be a couple of weeks or so. Then, out of nowhere an ad from FRPP pops up stating that they were being offered in leather! I'm leery of the listing (price seems to low and the ad is ambiguous) and fire off some email(s) as to the legitimacy. I was able to cancel the deal on the fabric FRPP's. Then, in the wink of an eye, FRPP pulls the listing from their online catalog.
POOF!
The leather listing morphs into a second fabric seat listing. It covers an additional model year and is more expensive. Word slips out that FRPP will discontinue the less expensive fabric offering very soon. I inquire again as to whether FRPP will ever offer the Recaro's in leather and get a resounding no. The order goes in for a pair of the 'B' seats (the older, less expensive seats) as the white flag was now at the top of the pole.
Yesterday, my wife wakes me up to tell me that she found something in the back of the mailbox.
Seriously? No advance notice? And instead of an official slip, the above. I call and find out that it was legitimate (blurring courtesy of me). I ask, why no call to tell me that the seats were heading my way? I'm told it was because FRPP failed to indicate to CONWAY that it was necessary. Same thing happened when I purchased my FRPP Boss rear seat delete/X brace kit. So I make arrangements to have it delivered today between the hours of 10am and 2 pm (God I hate that). Today comes and since I'm a sleepless zombie working the nightshift, I call to see if I can pick it up this morning. Come on down says Conway.
So with 50 mph winds and heavy rain an hour or so away, I pick them up and haul ass homeward. I got them in the garage as quick as I could. A little nervous, I was...
Turns out, the seats are fine. Phew. Seriously FRPP/Recaro, those "boxes" are lacking a bit in the protection department. Somebody in Risk Management/Purchasing/Packaging needs a rather large boot in the ass. I know that Recaro has been shipping seats in similar boxes for years now (I purchased some Recaro Pole Position seats for my Fox body a few years ago) but that is no excuse. Everything else I have ever purchased from SVO/Ford Motorsport/FRPP has always been extremely well protected.
On to the seats.
My apologies for the picture quality in this thread. No sleep had me take the easy way out and use my Droid. I'll get better quality shots when I can but for now understand that the photos are a bit weak and not representative of the real thing.
Driver side
Passenger side
And a side by side with some '13 seats
A quick glance looked to show that a sensor swap in order to use these in my '09 shouldn't be that bad. I'm no upholstery guy but I'm willing to tackle this one just like anything else. More when I'm no longer one of the living dead...
