Audi TT Mk1 bucket seat guide
8N chassis, October 1998 to June 2006, Coupe and Roadster
Four different companies make a frame for this car. Sparco want 72.50 pounds for theirs, OMP 109.25 pounds, Cobra 212.50 pounds and Recaro 325.50 pounds, all for the same job in the same 8N floorpan. The cheapest one is not the wrong one, and the dearest one is not the safe bet. What separates them is a number.
Three of the four publish a bolt pattern, and so does every reclining seat on this page. Two numbers, one on the frame listing and one on the seat listing, and if they match the seat bolts on. That is a check you can do yourself in about a minute, which is unusual, because on most cars we write these for the maker publishes nothing and you have to ask. Here you can read it off the page. The rest of this guide is about which seats sit on which pattern, what the low roof does to your options, and why every cage listed for this car says Coupe on it.
- Four direct fit frames are made for the 8N: Sparco at 72.50 pounds, OMP at 109.25 pounds, Cobra at 212.50 pounds and Recaro at 325.50 pounds
- All four are base mount frames, each priced per seat, so doing both sides means ordering twice
- The Sparco frame is 345mm x 271mm, the Cobra frame is 291mm x 330mm, and the OMP frame covers 345mm x 271mm or 405mm x 290mm
- The OMP frame is the only one of the four that publishes the 405mm x 290mm pattern the Recaro Expert S uses
- Corbeau reclining seats are listed for 291mm x 330mm or 345mm x 271mm, so they suit the Cobra frame or the Sparco and OMP frames
- Planted make no bracket for the 8N, so all four routes here start with a direct fit frame
- Side mount shells still fit, on a set of side mounts bolted to the frame, from 62 pounds a set
- Schroth make a QuickFit ASM belt for the TT 8N at 232.55 pounds, which the old version of this page did not list
- Every roll cage listed for this car names the Coupe, from 295.62 pounds for a DIY half cage kit to 1395 pounds for a welded multipoint
- The Safety Devices bolt in cages all carry a harness bar and all state NOT FOR COMPETITION USE
Four frames, one car
A frame is the vehicle specific base that bolts to the floor mounting points in place of the standard runners. The seat then sits on the frame. On most cars there is one and the decision is made for you. On an 8N there are four, and they are not interchangeable, because each one puts a different set of holes in front of your seat.
The Sparco frame, part 00499076 at 72.50 pounds, is steel and drilled 345mm x 271mm. The OMP frame, part HC817 at 109.25 pounds, is steel and covers 345mm x 271mm or 405mm x 290mm, and OMP list it for the TT Mk1 from 1998 to 2006. The Cobra frame, part SU-AU-TT1 at 212.50 pounds, is drilled 291mm x 330mm and Cobra list it for cars from October 1998 to June 2006. The Recaro frame, part 862616 at 325.50 pounds, is listed for a TT built before May 2006 and publishes no pattern at all.
So the order of operations on this car runs backwards from what most people expect. Pick the seat, read its bolt pattern off the listing, then buy the frame that matches. Doing it the other way round is how you end up with a 212.50 pound frame and a seat that will not sit on it.
All four are priced per seat and the Sparco, OMP and Recaro frames are ordered as an RHD driver side or an RHD passenger side. If both front seats are being changed, that is two of everything.
Read the bolt pattern before you buy either partThis is the whole decision on a TT Mk1 and it is the one most orders get wrong. A 345mm x 271mm seat does not go on a 291mm x 330mm frame. The Sparco frame is 345mm x 271mm, the Cobra frame is 291mm x 330mm and the OMP frame does 345mm x 271mm or 405mm x 290mm, and every reclining seat further down this page publishes its own figure. Match them, or send us the two part numbers and we will match them for you. Recaro publish no pattern for their frame, and Recaro sub-frames really are Recaro only, so that one is a closed system: Recaro frame, Recaro seat.
Base mount or side mount
All four frames are base mount frames. That does not rule out a competition shell, it just adds a part. OMP put it plainly on their listing: the frame bolts to the floor of the car, and then you attach the appropriate bracket between the frame and the seat. Cobra say the same thing from the other direction, that their frame will not take a side mounted seat without side mounts.
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Frame plus a base mount seat
The direct route, and the one where the bolt pattern matters. A reclining seat or a base mountable bucket picks up four holes in its own base and bolts to the frame with nothing in between. Fewer parts, less stack height, and the backrest still adjusts if it is a recliner. This is where the Sparco, OMP and Cobra frames divide: the Sparco frame takes the five Sparco recliners and the three Corbeaus on this page, the Cobra frame takes the three Cobras and the same three Corbeaus, and the OMP frame takes everything on 345mm x 271mm plus the Recaro Expert S on 405mm x 290mm.
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Frame plus side mounts
The competition route, and it sidesteps the pattern question because the mounts do the translating. A fixed back shell bolts to a pair of side mounts and the mounts bolt to the frame. The Cobra steel set is 62 pounds, the Cobra Nogaro set is 65 pounds, the Sparco FIA set is 75 pounds and the Cobra alloy set is 104.17 pounds. Cobra list the alloy set as FIA approved and road and track, and Sparco list theirs as an FIA part, so if the car gets scrutineered that is the column to read before picking on price. Sparco also note their brackets fit OMP, Cobra and Sabelt side mount seats, not just their own.
The roof is the other half of the questionThe TT Mk1 has a low domed roof and it is the reason seat height comes up on this car more than most. Everything you bolt in adds up: the frame, then the side mounts if you use them, then a runner if you want the fore and aft adjustment back. The lowest stack is a frame and a base mount seat straight onto it. The tallest is a frame, a runner and a shell on side mounts. If you are over six foot and running a helmet on track, take the height out where you can, and tell us your height when you enquire so we can say which of these actually leaves you room.
The fitting kit for an 8N
The frame has to match the car and the seat. Everything after that is a choice. Side mounts only matter if the seat is side mount, and a runner only matters if you want to keep the fore and aft adjustment. On a car one person mostly drives, plenty of owners leave the runner off and take the height back, which on a TT is worth having.
Two of the reclining seats further down come with sliders included, so check that before adding a runner to the basket.
- Sparco Audi TT direct fit sub-frames, part 00499076, 72.50 pounds per seat, steel, 345mm x 271mm
- OMP Audi TT Mk1 direct fit subframes, part HC817, 109.25 pounds per seat, steel, 345mm x 271mm or 405mm x 290mm
- Cobra Audi TT Mk1 direct fit subframes, part SU-AU-TT1, 212.50 pounds per seat, 291mm x 330mm, listed October 1998 to June 2006
- Recaro Audi TT pre 2006 direct fit sub-frames, part 862616, 325.50 pounds per seat, Recaro seats only
- Cobra steel side mounts, part SUBFR25, 62 pounds, one set mounts one seat
- Cobra Nogaro steel side mounts, part SUBFR31, 65 pounds
- Sparco FIA steel side mount brackets, part SS004902, 75 pounds, steel, listed to fit OMP, Cobra and Sabelt side mount seats as well as Sparco
- Cobra alloy side mounts, part SUBFR26, 104.17 pounds, aluminium, listed FIA approved and road and track
- Endurance Motorsport sliding runner kit at 34 pounds, the cheapest way to keep the adjustment
- Sparco seat sliding runner kit, part 0049306, 34.95 pounds, steel
- Cobra premium sliding runners, part SUBFR07EL, 70 pounds, 291mm or 405mm handle width
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Tell us the seat when you order the frameBoth OMP and Cobra ask for it in writing on their own listings, and on this car it is not a formality. Four frames, three published patterns and a fourth that publishes none means the frame on its own is only half an answer. Put the seat you are fitting in the comments box at checkout, or send us both part numbers first and we will confirm the pairing before anything ships. Worth doing at the same time: a bucket seat usually moves the original seat belt buckle, so look at where the stalk ends up before the car goes out, and torque the floor bolts properly while the seat is out.
Bucket seats that fit
Five of these take base mount as well as side mount, which means they go straight onto a frame with no mounts underneath. The Sparco Sprint at 210 pounds, the OMP TRS-X at 220 pounds, the Cobra Monaco Pro at 235 pounds, the Sparco Sprint L at 237 pounds and the Sparco Pro 2000 QRT at 499.50 pounds. That is the shorter, lower and cheaper build. Everything else here is side mount only and wants a set underneath, which is another 62 to 104.17 pounds.
None of the buckets publish a bolt pattern, which is the one place the neat check above runs out. If a base mount bucket is going on one of the four frames, send us the two part numbers and we will confirm it rather than have you find out on the driveway. On a side mount build it does not arise, because the mounts handle it.
Height matters more here than on a saloon. The Sparco Sprint, the Sprint L, the Pro 2000 QRT, the Mirco RS2 3D, the OMP ARS-R and the Sabelt GT3 are listed for all heights. The OMP TRS-X covers over and under 6ft. The Cobra Monaco Pro, the OMP Champ-R, the Mirco GT 3D and the Recaro Pole Position are listed for under 6ft, which in a car with this roofline is a figure worth reading rather than skimming.
On width the Sparco Sprint L is the outlier at a 40in to 42in waist, the widest figure on this page. The OMP ARS-R covers 36in to 38in. The OMP TRS-X covers 28in to 32in as well as 32in to 36in. Most of the rest are 32in to 36in.
Two things worth knowing before ordering. The Mirco RS2 3D at 354.50 pounds is the only bucket here listed with head support. And the Sparco Evo QRT at 475 pounds is an FIA 8855-1999 shell, but Sparco publish no driver height, no waist figure and no HANS rating for it, so those cells are blank in the table below and we are not going to fill them in on Sparco’s behalf.
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Our picks, not the whole listTwo numbers and a tape measure
On a TT Mk1 the shortlist falls out of three answers. The bolt pattern, because that decides the frame. Your height, because the roof is low and half these seats are listed for under six foot. And whether the car gets scrutineered, because that decides whether you need an FIA 8855-1999 shell or whether a road and track seat does the job better for the money. Send us your height and waist, whether a helmet is going on, and whether it is a Coupe or a Roadster, and Cameron will work out the fit and the best combination for the car and cut this page down to two or three seats with the right frame under each one.
Reclining seats
On a TT that still does the school run this is very often the better answer. A recliner bolts straight to the frame with no side mounts involved, keeps the backrest adjustment, and leaves the car something you can hand to someone else. Everything below is base mount and road and track rated.
This is where the bolt pattern earns its keep, so here it is laid out. On 345mm x 271mm, which suits the Sparco frame and the OMP frame: the Sparco R100 at 235 pounds, the R500 at 274.16 pounds, the R100 Martini at 291.66 pounds, the R333 at 374.56 pounds and the SPR at 1549.12 pounds. On 291mm x 330mm, which suits the Cobra frame: the Cobra Daytona at 499.17 pounds, the Le Mans at 515.83 pounds and the Misano Anniversary at 1374.17 pounds. The three Corbeau seats, the VLS pair at 817 pounds, the Sportline RRS Low Base at 415 pounds and the PSR pair at 465 pounds, are all listed for 291mm x 330mm or 345mm x 271mm, so they are the only seats here that suit any of the three. The Recaro Expert S at 997.50 pounds is 405mm x 290mm, which only the OMP frame publishes.
The Corbeau PSR at 465 pounds is a pair listing, a shade over 232 pounds a seat, which makes it the cheapest way to do both sides in one go. If you only want the driver’s side, ask first, because some of the single listings in that range have been retired. At the top the Sparco SPR at 1549.12 pounds and the Cobra Misano Anniversary at 1374.17 pounds are the money seats, and the Misano is made to order with 4 to 6 weeks to allow.
The two Auto Style seats sit apart from all of this. Both publish 345mm x 280mm, which is not one of the three patterns the TT frames publish, and both come with their own sliders included. They are good value at 257.50 and 278 pounds and we are not going to pretend otherwise, but that pairing needs checking before you order rather than after. Ask us and we will find out properly.
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Harnesses
Schroth build a belt for this exact car. The QuickFit ASM for the TT 8N is 232.55 pounds, a 4 point bolt in belt with a clip buckle, 2in shoulder and 2in lap webbing, rated road and track, in black or red and handed as an RHD driver side or passenger side. It was not on the old version of this page, which is a shame, because it solves the awkward half of the job on its own. Schroth list it as not HANS compatible, so if you run a head restraint look at the Magnums or the Profi instead.
The awkward half is where the shoulder straps go. They want mounting behind the seat at roughly shoulder height and no lower, and a TT Mk1 gives you nothing factory back there to use. Mounting them too low is the most common harness fitting mistake and it matters in a crash. The car specific Schroth is designed to bolt in without you solving that yourself. If you are fitting a universal belt instead, the answer is a harness bar or a cage, and every Safety Devices cage below has a harness bar built in, which is why the rear one at 486 pounds is worth a look even if a full cage is not on the cards.
On the universal belts, the TRS Magnum 6 Point Superlite at 245 pounds is FIA 8853-2016 and the cheapest current FIA belt here, with the Schroth Profi 3×2 at 370.01 pounds on the same standard. Both are HANS friendly. The TRS Magnum 4 Point at 205 pounds is FIA 8854-1998, an older standard some series no longer accept, so read your regulations before buying that one. The Clubman and Takata belts are the cheaper road and trackday options and all four are listed as not HANS compatible. Every FIA belt carries an expiry date that ends its competition life whether it has been worn or not.
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Our recommendationsSort the anchorage, then buy the belt
The belt is the easy half. On an 8N the question that decides what you buy is what the shoulder straps bolt to, and there are three honest answers. The Schroth QuickFit made for this car, which bolts in and is the simplest way to do it on a road car. A Safety Devices bolt in rear cage from 486 pounds, every one of which carries a harness bar, giving you a proper mounting point that can come back out again. Or a full cage if the car is heading further than that. Tell us whether it is a Coupe or a Roadster, what the car does at weekends, and whether a head restraint is going on, and we will tell you which of the three suits it and which belt goes with it. If the Schroth on its own is plenty, we will say that too.
Roll cages for the 8N shell
This car is unusually well served. Four makers list a cage for it, which is more than most cars on this site get, and the range runs from a DIY kit at 295.62 pounds to a welded multipoint at 1395 pounds. Read the next sentence first though. Every one of them is listed for the Coupe. Not one names the Roadster, so if yours is the convertible, ask before you plan around any of this and we will find out what is actually available rather than guess.
Safety Devices do the bolt in family, and all of them carry a harness bar as standard, which is the useful part if a harness is why you are here. The W022 rear cage is 486 pounds with a cross diagonal and harness bar and may be used on its own. The W027 track day rear cage is 670 pounds and comes as a single fixed diagonal with harness bar or a cross diagonal with harness bar, and needs the rear seats out but no trim modifications. The full W022 6 point is 879 pounds with door bar options. All are supplied black powder coated with other colours available at a surcharge, and Safety Devices state on all of them NOT FOR COMPETITION USE.
SW Motorsports do a bolt in half cage at 480.83 pounds in CDS or T45 and eight powder coat colours, and a full bolt in MSUK cage at 1120 pounds. They also make a seat delete kit at 131.23 pounds, CNC cut and 3D scanned to fit around their own cages and hide the exposed bodywork once the rear seats are out, which is the tidy way to finish that job.
JP Cages do a DIY half cage kit at 295.62 pounds, offered in CDS or in BS4 T45 which their own listing marks as unapproved for competition, and a multipoint competition cage at 1286.72 pounds listed as MSUK compliant and road and track. Custom Cages do a 6 point national spec CDS kit at 795 pounds, listed MSUK compliant and road and track, and a multipoint T45 kit at 1395 pounds, listed FIA approved and MSUK compliant. Both are weld in.
The material is not what makes a cage eligible. JP list the same DIY kit in two materials and mark one of them unapproved, which tells you the design and its certification are what a scrutineer reads, not the tube spec. If you are building to a class, tell us what the cage has to satisfy and we will tell you which of these is the right starting point.
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What fits what
The mounting column is the one to read first. For a base mount seat, match its pattern to the frame. For a side mount seat, any of the three non Recaro frames works with a set of side mounts on top. Where a cell says not listed, the maker does not publish that figure and we would sooner say so than guess at it.
| Seat | Mounting | Approval | Driver height | Waist | HANS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bucket seats | |||||
| Sparco Sprint | Base or side mount, pattern not listed | FIA 8855-1999 | All heights | 32in to 36in | HANS friendly |
| OMP TRS-X | Base or side mount, pattern not listed | FIA 8855-1999 | Over and under 6ft | 28in to 36in | HANS friendly |
| Cobra Monaco Pro | Base or side mount, pattern not listed | FIA 8855-1999 | Under 6ft | 32in to 36in | HANS friendly |
| Sparco Sprint L | Base or side mount, pattern not listed | FIA 8855-1999 | All heights | 40in to 42in | HANS friendly |
| OMP Champ-R | Side mount | FIA 8855-1999 | Under 6ft | 32in to 36in | HANS friendly |
| Mirco GT 3D Fabric | Side mount | FIA 8855-1999 | Under 6ft | 32in to 36in | HANS friendly |
| Mirco RS2 3D, with head support | Side mount | FIA 8855-1999 | All heights | 32in to 36in | HANS friendly |
| OMP ARS-R | Side mount | FIA 8855-1999 | All heights | 36in to 38in | HANS friendly |
| Sabelt GT3 | Side mount | FIA 8855-1999 | All heights | 32in to 36in | HANS friendly |
| Sparco Evo QRT | Side mount | FIA 8855-1999 | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Sparco Pro 2000 QRT | Base or side mount, pattern not listed | FIA 8855-1999 | All heights | 32in to 36in | HANS friendly |
| Recaro Pole Position with ABE | Side mount | Road and track | Under 6ft | 32in to 36in | Not listed |
| Reclining seats | |||||
| Sparco R100 | Base mount, 345mm x 271mm | Road and track | Over and under 6ft | All sizes | Not listed |
| Auto Style Type LH, sliders included | Base mount, 345mm x 280mm, ask before pairing | Road and track | All heights | All sizes | Not listed |
| Sparco R500 Fabric | Base mount, 345mm x 271mm | Road and track | All heights | 32in to 38in | Not listed |
| Auto Style Type RS6-II, sliders included | Base mount, 345mm x 280mm, ask before pairing | Road and track | All heights | All sizes | Not listed |
| Sparco R100 Martini Racing | Base mount, 345mm x 271mm | Road and track | All heights | 32in to 36in | Not listed |
| Sparco R333 | Base mount, 345mm x 271mm | Road and track | Under 6ft | 32in to 36in | Not listed |
| Corbeau VLS pair | Base mount, 291mm x 330mm or 345mm x 271mm | Road and track | All heights | 32in to 38in | Not listed |
| Corbeau Sportline RRS Low Base | Base mount, 291mm x 330mm or 345mm x 271mm | Road and track | All heights | 32in to 38in | Not listed |
| Corbeau PSR, pair | Base mount, 291mm x 330mm or 345mm x 271mm | Road and track | All heights | 32in to 38in | Not listed |
| Cobra Daytona | Base mount, 291mm x 330mm | Road and track | All heights | 32in to 38in | Not listed |
| Cobra Le Mans | Base mount, 291mm x 330mm | Road and track | All heights | 32in to 38in | Not listed |
| Recaro Expert S, headrest included | Base mount, 405mm x 290mm | Road and track | All heights | All sizes | Not listed |
| Cobra Misano Anniversary | Base mount, 291mm x 330mm | Road and track | All heights | 32in to 38in | Not listed |
| Sparco SPR | Base mount, 345mm x 271mm | Road and track | All heights | All sizes | Not listed |
Common questions
Which fitting kit do I need for an Audi TT Mk1?
One of four direct fit frames, and which one depends on the seat rather than the car. Sparco part 00499076 is 72.50 pounds and drilled 345mm x 271mm. OMP part HC817 is 109.25 pounds and covers 345mm x 271mm or 405mm x 290mm. Cobra part SU-AU-TT1 is 212.50 pounds and drilled 291mm x 330mm. Recaro part 862616 is 325.50 pounds and takes Recaro seats only. All four are base mount frames, all four are priced per seat, and the first three publish a bolt pattern you can match against the seat you want.
How do I know which bolt pattern my seat needs?
It is printed on the seat listing under Fixing Bolt Pattern, and on the frame listing in the same place. Match the two and the seat bolts on. The Sparco recliners on this page are 345mm x 271mm, the Cobra recliners are 291mm x 330mm, the Corbeau seats are listed for either of those two, and the Recaro Expert S is 405mm x 290mm. The bucket seats do not publish a pattern, so if a base mount bucket is going on a frame, send us both part numbers and we will confirm it before you buy either.
Is there a Planted bracket for the TT Mk1?
No. Planted make brackets for a lot of Volkswagen Group cars of this era, including the Golf Mk4 the TT shares its platform with, but there is no 8N part in their range and a Golf frame is not a TT frame. On this car the answer is one of the four direct fit frames instead, and between them they cover more seats than a single Planted bracket would.
Can I fit a side mount competition seat to a TT Mk1?
Yes. The frame goes to the floor and a pair of side mounts goes between the frame and the seat, which is exactly what OMP describe on their listing. The Cobra steel set is 62 pounds, the Cobra Nogaro set is 65 pounds, the Sparco FIA set is 75 pounds and the Cobra alloy set is 104.17 pounds, each set covering both sides of one seat. Cobra list the alloy set as FIA approved and road and track and Sparco list theirs as an FIA part, which matters if the car gets scrutineered. Going this way also sidesteps the bolt pattern question, because the mounts take care of it.
Will a Sparco frame take an OMP or Corbeau seat?
On the base mount side, yes, and Sparco say so themselves: their TT frame is listed as compatible with Corbeau, OMP and Sparco base mount seats. OMP go one further and list Corbeau, OMP, Recaro and Sparco. Base mount Sparco, OMP and Corbeau seats share one bolt pattern, so a frame set up for one of them generally takes the other two, which is more than most manufacturer listings admit. Recaro are the exception in the other direction: their sub-frames really are Recaro only.
I have a Roadster, does any of this change?
The seats, the frames and the side mounts do not. The floor is the same car and the frames are listed for the TT Mk1 without distinguishing the body style. The cages do change, and it matters: every roll cage listed for this car names the Coupe, and none of the four makers list one for the Roadster. If a cage or a harness bar is part of your plan, tell us it is a Roadster when you enquire and we will find out what is available before you order rather than after.
Is there a harness made for the TT Mk1?
There is. Schroth list a QuickFit ASM harness belt for the TT 8N at 232.55 pounds, a 4 point bolt in belt with a clip buckle, 2in shoulder and 2in lap webbing, rated road and track. It comes in black or red and is handed as an RHD driver side or passenger side. Schroth list it as not HANS compatible, so if you run a head restraint the TRS Magnums or the Schroth Profi are the ones to look at instead.
Where do the shoulder straps mount on a TT Mk1?
That is the part to sort before you buy a belt. Shoulder straps want mounting behind the seat at roughly shoulder height and no lower, and there is nothing factory in an 8N at that height to use. The Schroth QuickFit made for this car is designed to bolt in without you solving that yourself, which is why it is the simplest answer on a road car. If you are fitting a universal belt, you want a harness bar or a cage, and every Safety Devices bolt in cage for this car carries a harness bar as standard. The rear W022 at 486 pounds may be used on its own, which is the neatest way to get a proper mounting point without committing to a full cage.
Does a bucket seat fit under the TT roof?
It does, but the roofline is low and domed and it is the reason we ask about height on this car more than most. What decides it is the total stack: the frame, the side mounts if you use them, and a runner if you want the adjustment. A base mount seat straight onto the frame is the lowest build available. Four of the buckets here are listed for under 6ft only, so read that figure rather than skimming it, and tell us your height and whether a helmet is going on and we will say which ones leave you room.
Will I keep the fore and aft adjustment?
That depends whose frame you buy. Cobra include the sliding runner with their frames, so on a Cobra frame you keep the adjustment as it comes and there is nothing to add. On a Sparco, Planted, OMP, Recaro or SW Motorsport frame the runner is a separate part. Some seats also come with sliders of their own. The Endurance kit is 34 pounds, the Sparco kit is 34.95 pounds and the Cobra premium runners are 70 pounds in a 291mm or 405mm handle width. Two of the reclining seats on this page, the Auto Style Type LH and the Type RS6-II, come with sliders already. A runner adds height though, and in a TT that is a real trade, so on a car one person mostly drives it is worth asking whether you need it.
Which seat suits a taller driver?
Among the buckets the Sparco Sprint, the Sprint L, the Pro 2000 QRT, the Mirco RS2 3D, the OMP ARS-R and the Sabelt GT3 are listed for all heights, and the OMP TRS-X at 220 pounds is listed for over and under 6ft, which makes it the cheapest of them. Among the recliners the Sparco R100 covers over and under 6ft and the Recaro Expert S is listed for all heights and all sizes. Whichever way you go, keep the stack low: a base mount seat straight onto the frame, and think twice about the runner.
Which seat suits a wider driver?
The Sparco Sprint L at 237 pounds is listed for a 40in to 42in waist, the widest figure on this page, and it takes base or side mount so it does not need mounts on top. The OMP ARS-R at 428 pounds covers 36in to 38in and the OMP TRS-X covers 28in to 36in. Among the reclining seats all three Corbeaus, both Cobras and the Sparco R500 cover 32in to 38in, and the Sparco R100, the SPR, the Recaro Expert S and both Auto Style seats are listed for all sizes.
Is there a roll cage for the TT Mk1?
Ten are listed, all for the Coupe. Safety Devices do bolt in cages at 486, 670 and 879 pounds, all with a harness bar as standard and all marked NOT FOR COMPETITION USE. SW Motorsports do a bolt in half cage at 480.83 pounds and a full bolt in MSUK cage at 1120 pounds, plus a seat delete kit at 131.23 pounds that finishes the bodywork once the rear seats are out. JP Cages do a DIY half cage kit at 295.62 pounds and a multipoint competition cage at 1286.72 pounds listed MSUK compliant. Custom Cages do a 6 point national spec CDS kit at 795 pounds and a multipoint T45 kit at 1395 pounds, both weld in.
What is the difference between the CDS and T45 options?
They are two tube specifications, and the choice between them is not what makes a cage eligible for anything. JP Cages list their DIY half cage kit in both and mark the BS4 T45 version as unapproved for competition, which shows the point plainly: what a scrutineer reads is the cage design and its certification, not the material on the invoice. Custom Cages list their T45 multipoint as FIA approved and MSUK compliant and their CDS 6 point as MSUK compliant and road and track. If you are building to a class, tell us what the cage has to satisfy and we will tell you which kit starts you in the right place.
How do I know I have the Mk1?
The Mk1 TT is the 8N, built from October 1998 to June 2006, and it is the rounded one. Almost symmetrical front to back, a high domed roof that curves down evenly at both ends, round headlight pods either side of a small grille, strongly rounded wheel arches and a round flush fuel filler cap on the rear quarter. Cars from 2000 onwards have a small lip spoiler on the bootlid. The Mk2 that replaced it, the 8J, is longer and sharper with angular swept back headlights and a large single frame grille, and it takes different parts, including a different Cobra subframe and a different SW Motorsport frame. If there is any doubt, send us the registration and we will confirm the chassis before you spend anything.
More help
If you are cross shopping, the Audi A3 8L guide covers the car the TT shares most of its floor with, and the Audi S4 B5 guide covers the fast Audi of the same era if you want four doors instead. If you have ended up here with the later car, ask us and we will point you at the right page for an 8J. To get the fit on your own TT confirmed before you spend anything, or to have a frame checked against a particular seat, the contact link is the quickest way to get it looked at.
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