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Sat Dec 08, 2007 3:47 pm

I was looking on a web site at high back front seats and bench for my project. The site sells both Empi and Beard. Face value, they look identical. Cannot tell construction from photos.
Any comments on preference?

The price is quite a bit different.

I would like one that will hold up to exterior weather. They will be in a Thing with no soft or hard top. However, it will be garaged during most bad weather.

Thanks in advance

Sat Dec 08, 2007 4:22 pm

I believe you get what you pay for... so I sprung for the Beards. A very nice seat, and I have two Corbaeu's for comparison. The beards have better padding (for my fat ass). Plus RedArt (who makes Beard Seats) is only three miles from my house... 8)

Sat Dec 08, 2007 8:58 pm

Avoid the Empi at all costs.......
If the beards are too much cash, theres PRP, Corbeau, Mastercraft and others... Dont limit yourself, you might find a good seat at a cheaper price than Beard but not as low quality as the Empi.

Sun Dec 09, 2007 3:11 am

for the project me and a fried are working on he picked up a single empi for mock up purposes, and then was gonna pick up 2 more when the project was farther along. when it came time to actually make the seat mounts the whole frame of the seat was crooked. and the padding sucks. we decided to go with beards for the front. and as soon as he can ditch the empi as the thrid seat and put another beard in he will.

Sun Dec 09, 2007 2:50 pm

Beard seat are top of the line. My Beard seats upholstry and stitching are 15 years old.THey sit outside most of the time. I doubt the Empis would last six months. I saw a set of Empi chromemoly push rods last the break in before faling. What a deal that guy got.

Sun Dec 09, 2007 6:50 pm

Sounds unanimous. Thanks for all the candid replys.

I really like the overall look of the Beards. I like the PRP as well. As I have done with the whole project, keep biting the bullet and avoid skimping.

Mon Dec 10, 2007 7:00 am

i just had my 20 year old beard seats recovered, the tweed was falling apart :lol: i had the upholstry guy use a vinyl instead of the tweed for the insert because i found a bunch of sand that had worked it way thru the tweed........

never seen a empi seat in person though.

Mon Dec 10, 2007 1:22 pm

In my experiance with Suspension seats Beard, or Master craft have always had the best quality. PRP is getting better every year it seems. The main problem that I have had with Beard is that the seats are not made the same. I have a Family member that makes High End off road, and sand cars. He always has to re-do the seat mounts in cars that the customers want thier old seats then decide to buy new Beards, or if the customer changes thier mind, and orders different Beard seats durring a build they wont fit into the previous seats mount. I have been to Beard to pick up customer custom orders, and seen the Employees just welding mounting tabs on outside of the jigs. Dont get me wrong. Beard makes a very high quality seat. Mastercraft on the other hand I have had many cars with many year seats fit right into the new, or old seat mounts. Either way your golden though. Both offer great seats, and support. Didn't EMPI buy out Race Trim???

Mon Dec 10, 2007 1:25 pm

Oh a lot of people don't know that you can drive out to Beard, and check out thier return room. Its in the shop, and its the custom seats that people order then decide that they are not "Exactly" what they wanted. You can pick up a set of seats for a lot less than you could get on line, or in another store. You have to keep checking, but there are always good seats, and benches there.

Mon Dec 10, 2007 2:40 pm

A friend of mine bought a set of Race trim seats last year. He has used them for a whole season and thinks there great and has not had any issues with them. I just picked up a set and I think they are a decent quality for the price. Here is a link to them for $250.00 a pair:
http://www.actionimport.com/index.htm

Mon Dec 10, 2007 4:28 pm

i'm all about my PRP's... I got mine for around $550 for the pair... but I got to pick the colors on every part of them, and they are 4 inches taller than normal. I'm only 6' even, and all other seats I sat in, the top of the head rest was in my neck....not my prp's... they are perfect.

Mon Dec 10, 2007 4:40 pm

I have PRP, i cut them re welded them to fit me better added foam, slid the cover back on. They feel great. On a 200 mile off road trip you want the best. over the counter does not work for me.