Which Bucket Seats Will Fit My Fiesta ST180?
Seat guide, Ford Fiesta ST180
The Fiesta ST180, the Mk7 Fiesta ST built from 2013 to 2018, is one of the most popular hot hatches for track days and club motorsport. It comes with good factory Recaro seats, but they are built around a three point belt, and once you start pushing hard on track, or want to run a harness, a proper bucket seat makes a real difference.
This guide covers what fits: how big a seat the ST180 will take, steel framed or fibreglass, and the direct fit sub-frames that bolt seats to the car's original mounting points, with the bolt patterns each one uses.
- We list ST180 specific frames from Sparco, OMP, Cobra and Planted
- The ST180 has different floor mounting points from the standard Mk7 Fiesta
- Sparco ST180 frame: 345mm by 271mm, for Sparco and OMP base mount seats
- Cobra ST180 frame: 291mm by 330mm, runner included, built around Cobra seats
- We have fitted XL seats such as the OMP TRS-E XL, OMP WRC-R XL, Sparco Sprint L and Evo XL
- Recaro base mount seats go on the Planted bracket
What is on this page
Why upgrade the seats in an ST180
The ST180’s factory Recaros are good road seats. The problem shows on track: the car is quick enough and lively enough that drivers end up bracing a knee against the door card or the tunnel to stay in place, and a leg holding you in is a leg not braking properly. A bucket seat holds you so you can drive.
- Support. Proper bolsters keep you in place through fast corners and hard braking.
- Harness use. The factory seats are made for a three point belt. A bucket with harness slots lets you run a harness properly.
- Driving position. A fixed back seat gives you a consistent position every time you get in.
If you keep the original Recaros, a direct fit frame means they come out undamaged and can go back in, or be sold on. Garreth’s advice before you spend, though, is to tell us what you want to solve: for some ST owners, a harness bar, proper belts and a head restraint do more than a seat swap.
Will a large bucket seat fit?
The ST180 takes more than you might expect for a small car. We have fitted wide XL seats including:
- OMP TRS-E XL, a steel framed FIA seat, which is side mount only.
- OMP WRC-R XL, fibreglass, side mount.
- Sparco Sprint L, a steel shell FIA seat that can be base or side mounted.
- Sparco Evo XL QRT, fibreglass, side mount.
All of these need the right frame and, for side mount seats, side mounts. The Fiesta is still a small car inside, so headroom is the thing to check, especially with a helmet. Measure from the floor to the headlining, and send us that with your height.
Steel framed or fibreglass
Steel framed seats suit fast road cars and occasional track days. They are heavier and cost less than fibreglass, and many, such as the Sparco Sprint or the standard OMP TRS-E, can be base mounted straight onto a frame as well as side mounted.
Fibreglass seats are lighter and stiffer, with deeper bolsters, and are the usual choice for track and competition cars. Most are side mount only, and many are FIA homologated, depending on the model.
Both work in the ST180. The difference is in the mounting hardware, which matters most with side mount fibreglass seats.
Choosing the right ST180 frame
The ST180 has different floor mounting points from the standard Mk6 and Mk7 Fiesta, so use a frame made for the ST180, not the standard car. All four below bolt to the original mounting points without drilling.
Sparco ST180 sub-frame. A 345mm by 271mm base pattern, for Sparco and OMP base mount seats and, with side mounts, their side mount seats. Handed, so order one for each side.
OMP ST180 sub-frame. Steel, base mount, handed, with the 345mm by 271mm pattern for OMP and Sparco seats.
Cobra ST180 sub-frame. The standard Cobra 291mm by 330mm pattern, with a sliding runner included in the price. It is built around Cobra’s own seats, so a seat from another maker needs checking first, and may need adaption bars.
Planted Technology ST180 bracket. Laser cut steel, hand welded in the USA, and slotted to take runners from most major seat makers. Planted offer a standard pattern that includes the Recaro runner pattern, or an alternate that swaps it for the Cobra pattern. If you are fitting a Recaro base mount seat, this is the frame we use. Note that the factory ST Recaros will not bolt to standard side mounts.
Corbeau seats use 345mm or 291mm depending on the seat and runners, and Recaro and Corbeau patterns are not interchangeable, so for either brand send us the seat model and we will match the frame. Our ST180 sub-frames explained post goes into the frames in more detail.
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Roll cages for the Fiesta Mk7
If the car is heading further towards track or competition use, a roll cage often goes in alongside the seats. We list bolt-in and weld-in cages for the Mk7 Fiesta from JP Cages, Custom Cages and SW Motorsports, from rear half cages to full multipoint cages. A cage gives the harness something solid to mount to and stiffens the shell.
Plan the seat, the harness and the cage together, because the seat height decides where the harness bar needs to be. If the car is for competition, check your class rules with your scrutineer before you buy.
Will XL bucket seats fit a Fiesta ST180?
Yes. We have fitted the OMP TRS-E XL, OMP WRC-R XL, Sparco Sprint L and Sparco Evo XL, with the right frame and mounts. Check headroom first.
Can I use standard Fiesta Mk7 frames in an ST180?
No. The ST180 has different floor mounting points, so use an ST180 specific frame.
Which ST180 frame suits Sparco and OMP seats?
The Sparco or OMP ST180 sub-frame, with the 345mm by 271mm base pattern.
Which ST180 frame should I use for a Recaro seat?
We fit Recaro base mount seats on the Planted Technology ST180 bracket.
Does the Cobra ST180 frame come with runners?
Yes. The sliding runner is included, and the frame uses Cobra’s 291mm by 330mm pattern.
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Where to startPick the seat, then the frame
Choose the seat for your size and use, then the ST180 frame whose pattern matches it.
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