So many Fake Recaro Seats!!!

[Herblenny]

I just wanted to share with you regarding my recent experience...

I been looking at Recaro seats for my FD and also for my FE... Especially SPG (discontinued by Recaro) as it fits the FD without an issue.

Anyhow, I started to look on the forums and ebay and with my surprise, there are SEVERAL that being sold as 'REAL' Recaros but they are absolutely FAKE! I mean, they even have Recaro stitchings and also fake FIA tags.

For example this ebay ad:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p3907.m263&_trkparms=algo%3DSI%26its%3DI%26itu%3DUCI%26otn%3D 15%26po%3DLVI%26ps%3D54&item=260365827023&category=133209&viewitem=

It has 'RECARO' stitching and no picture of the FIA stickers.. Not only that, it should be priced 3x more!!

And another ebay ad:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/RECARO-SPG-Racing-Bucket-Seat-100-AUTHENTIC_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp3286Q2em20Q2e l1116QQitemZ260304325120QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ 5fPartsQ5fAccessories

It states that its authentic.. So, I emailed them to ask if they could provide with pictures of the FIA sticker, a build date sticker, and inspection sticker.. Never replied back. This is also a fake recaro being sold thru Ebay.

I also saw another set on the forum as Spirit R recaros/SPG. when I asked about stickers, they could not provide me with it. Just stating to me that previous owner said it was a real recaro.

Bottomline, if you are looking for Recaro seats, ask for pics of all the stickers on the seats. Including the date it was inspected and built... usually under the seat.

And if you are selling your seat, don't rip those stickers off!!!

[SHPmainMAN]

Funny story about that, i just had a company e-mail me the other day telling me they can give me really good discounts on Recaro seats in bulk order. and one of the links sent me to a Recaro ebay ad just like those.

[Brent]

Very good info Phil!


I also saw another set on the forum as Spirit R recaros/SPG. when I asked about stickers, they could not provide me with it. Just stating to me that previous owner said it was a real recaro.


I also looked at those seats as they would look great in my silver car. The sad part is who the "previous owner" is.

I think I've given up on the SPG's. I'm looking more for a Sparco Evo now I think.

[RETed]

I guess the fakers are done with the Brides...
*sigh*


-Ted

[Herblenny]

Funny story about that, i just had a company e-mail me the other day telling me they can give me really good discounts on Recaro seats in bulk order. and one of the links sent me to a Recaro ebay ad just like those.

WOW! That's scary!! So, some of the US vendors are selling fake Recaros??

I've emailed the guy I've talked to before at Recaro to shine some info about spotting fakes. Hope he will reply back with other information besides what I've posted.

Also, if you want to stop fakes on ebay, especially the ones Ive posted, Please scroll down to the bottom and report to ebay that they are selling FAKE seats!!

[To_Slow]

Good info..

Just the other day i was looking for a Birthday gift for my self. Came across this
http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/6552/rsgcl.jpg (http://img27.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rsgcl.jpg)
http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/rsgcl.jpg/1/w500.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img27/rsgcl.jpg/1/)

Looking to se what what will be the best price shipped to my door will be...

I might bite the bullet and get me a set. They look to nice and comfy:)...

[Herblenny]

That seat looks nice! What model is it?? And is it going to fit in an FD?

If you find it pretty reasonable, please share with us where you bought it and such..

[purerx7]

Interesting post. Stumbled on to this post searching for information on rz seats. I am clearly the owner of the seats for sale on the other forum. I do not appreciate you labeling my seats as fake when you are just "assuming" they are. Besides the fact, you state "Spirit R recaros/SPG. when I asked about stickers, they could not provide me with it." I spent several hours in e-mails writing to you about the validity of these seats and the fact that I bought them from Ramy/fdnewbieimports. I feel this post tarnishes my reputation as a seller on the other forum, where I personally live by my reputation, as I am clearly the only person selling these seats.

I do not know too much about the seats as I bought them from Ramy. Look at my seats, they look nothing like the fakes. Think about this from a business perspective. If you were going to make fake replica seats, you are going to mass produce a replica that people can identify with. Like the replica spg fakes above. Not a spirit r replica seat, that only a handful of people can appreciate.

I NEVER claimed them as authentic seats in my thread, as I personally do not know. All I know is that Ramy told me they were authentic and I do not see why he would lie to me. I presented the facts as they were handed as me. You do NOT have 100% proof that they are fake, just because they do not have labels does not mean they are not authentic.There is also nothing available on yahoo japan that looks similar to my seat, if they were a replica, they would be readily available.

I would appreciate you take a closer look at the facts before you indirectly call me out and make me look like a dishonest seller. Especially when I am as honest as can be and take the best care of my buyers.

Phil, I understand you are looking out for others and you were not directly attacking me. You just have to understand it from my side and my sellers reputation.

[Herblenny]

Purerx7,

I hope you understand I tried to be vague about not specifying who was selling those Spirit R/SPG seats... and unfortunate that not many are selling that.

And regarding you as a seller, I would say you were TOP NOTCH about disclosing info and answering all the question I have asked you. For that, I have nothing bad to say about you and ONLY have positive to say. You did infact go out of your way to check everything I asked and answered it in timely manner. For that, I would publicly say that I would do business with you ANY day and would not go by this particular sales in any way to be negative.

Point of this thread is for general population to be cautious. As stated by SHPmainMAN, he could of easily bought fake SPGs with tags thinking they were real and selling them on our community without thinking twice about it. I totally understand you yourself could be in similar situation and I only meant good to look out for the community by what I've learned... Again, I hope you understand I wasn't trying to attack you, but trying to watch out and share my experience...

[purerx7]

Thanks for the kind words Phil. I understand where you are coming from, and 100% respect & admire that you are looking out for the community at large. I am put in a tough place, as I have no way of verifying if they are original, but have been told COUNTLESS times by Ramy that they are authentic. I think I decided I am going to throw them on Ebay as is and just take a huge loss. My reputation as a seller is more important than a couple hundred dollars.

[KaiFD3S]

Wow those look real, should sell mine and buy some fake ones...LOL..Another thing to add I noticed that the fake ones dont have the plastic thing that protects where the seatbelts go for the 5th point...it just a cutout...

[Herblenny]

Here are some Recaro SPG vs Fake comparison pics.

http://www.rotarycarclub.com/rotary_forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=4438&stc=1&d=1235651266

Pic above, Look at the line where cloth comes down to the opening of two belt loops. Its much closer to the opens than the fake. I checked with my Spirit R seats and its same as the black SPG pictured.

Also look at the shoulder sides. The cloth seems to be bit wider on the fake.

This particular replica uses small plastic surround for the belt loops.. but I've seen others use the same size plastics.

http://www.rotarycarclub.com/rotary_forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=4439&stc=1&d=1235651272

Again, look at the shoulder area.

http://www.rotarycarclub.com/rotary_forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=4440&stc=1&d=1235651275

Again, the shoulder area. Real Recaro seems to follow the contour of the shell where as the fake doesn't

http://www.rotarycarclub.com/rotary_forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=4441&stc=1&d=1235651279

At this angle I can't tell..

http://www.rotarycarclub.com/rotary_forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=4442&stc=1&d=1235651284

Nor this angle.

Kai is also right about the real one having a plastic surround at the bottom of the seat. Also, fit and finish seems to be much better on real vs replicas. For instances, look for signs of covers taken off the seats. Real Recaros will not have any excess cloth materials sticking out of the plastic loops in the back of the seat. Usually when you see that, it shows either someone took the cover off the seat (to either put the embroil the Recaro logo on) or just bad craftsmanship.

But as stated before, 'Real' Recaros sold by Recaros to general public will have a serial number on each seats. Some recaros sold to car companies either have this serial number or it may not. For instance, Spirit R and RZ seats.... When I contacted Recaro, they told me that they can not sell any replacement cover or cushion backs as its Mazda has the rights to them. Recaro makes them for Mazda but Recaro can not sell them to general public. And when Mazda sell those parts, it has a specific Mazda part number to them.

And when Recaro sells it to a car company, usually they are different in looks and shape. Example, Spirit R seats look similar but CF/K shell shape is different from the Recaro seat above (SPG.. actually one above looks like pole position).

[To_Slow]

That seat looks nice! What model is it?? And is it going to fit in an FD?

If you find it pretty reasonable, please share with us where you bought it and such..

Recaro RS-G 　CL Not cheap at all. ￥225,750-2,288.45 USD not including shipping... Ouch. I have to find the specs on it to se if my fat ass will fit in them also if they fit in the rex..

[Herblenny]

Recaro RS-G 　CL Not cheap at all. ￥225,750-2,288.45 USD not including shipping... Ouch. I have to find the specs on it to se if my fat ass will fit in them also if they fit in the rex..

Yikes! That sure isn't cheap..

[Nopis1O]

Besides the fact that they are recaro. what makes the fakes any less attractive. they look like there made from the same material and quality for the most part. anybody had problems with fake that they dont think they would have had with the real ones?
I completly agree with the OP on the point of this thread about not being fooled. but if the only diff is the little bit more cloth here and less plastic there. why pay more for the same seat?

[Herblenny]

Besides the fact that they are recaro. what makes the fakes any less attractive. they look like there made from the same material and quality for the most part. anybody had problems with fake that they dont think they would have had with the real ones?
I completly agree with the OP on the point of this thread about not being fooled. but if the only diff is the little bit more cloth here and less plastic there. why pay more for the same seat?

You might be missing the point..

Lets say you went to a steak house to get some Filet Mignon.. But instead of getting a filet Mignon, you get a less quality chuck steak. Sure they are both come from a cow, but you didn't get what you paid for. Point is, if you went to the steak house asking for chuck steak in the beginning, there is no issue.. But if they are telling you its filet Mignon and selling you a chuck steak, then its an issue.

Do you see the point??

Its each at its own to go with replica or the real thing. The issue at hand is don't get scammed by those who's selling a replica and saying its real. Also people are after the real thing because certain seats only carry FIA certification. For instance, Recaros have FIA and replicas don't. Both could be made in similar fashion and replica could be as safe... But its just ifs.. where as one is tested and proven and FIA certification is given.

[staticpat]

Seats are something I wouldn't skimp on. If you are a racer you are most likely getting them because you trust the name and heritage. There is a reason FIA approved seats are so expensive, and I'm willing to pay that price.

[afgmoto1978]

Besides the fact that they are recaro. what makes the fakes any less attractive. they look like there made from the same material and quality for the most part. anybody had problems with fake that they dont think they would have had with the real ones?
I completly agree with the OP on the point of this thread about not being fooled. but if the only diff is the little bit more cloth here and less plastic there. why pay more for the same seat?

Ahh, no, I'm pretty sure the fakers didn't go through all the crash safety testing to validate that they will hold up in a accident. And as far as construction, I'm also willing to bet money the fakers are wet lay up fiberglass with a CF/Kevlar outer layer, not even vacuum bagged and autoclaved (where you get most of the strength in composite structures).

[Brent]

Seats are something I wouldn't skimp on. If you are a racer you are most likely getting them because you trust the name and heritage. There is a reason FIA approved seats are so expensive, and I'm willing to pay that price.

Ahh, no, I'm pretty sure the fakers didn't go through all the crash safety testing to validate that they will hold up in a accident. And as far as construction, I'm also willing to bet money the fakers are wet lay up fiberglass with a CF/Kevlar outer layer, not even vacuum bagged and autoclaved (where you get most of the strength in composite structures).

2 very good points on why you should not get fake seats!!! As stated above, most of the race sanctioning organizations require driver's to have FIA approved seats because, just like Adam said, they are tried and tested.

[Gomez]

If anyone wants photos of genuine RZ Recaros, stickers, etc....just drop me a PM and I'll get some done.

[Nopis1O]

awesome hey thanks guys. yea herblenny i got your point of the thread. like i said in my first post i understand why you made this thread and agree(i dont want to pay for something ledgit and get shafted either), but just didnt understand what the big difference is in the seats were.

thanks afgmoto1978 that was alot of good information.

[imstillonjava]

That seat looks nice! What model is it?? And is it going to fit in an FD?

If you find it pretty reasonable, please share with us where you bought it and such..



those are the TS-Gs or RS-Gs. I've got the ASM version. They are indeed comfortable, and they'll clear the doors :D

[Max777]

Yeah, the FIA cert is something I've been wary of too....

good call!

[therighthand]

Just wanted to say that I am not surprised there are these fakes on the market. Let's face it replicating composites isn't rocket science. Also with the emergence of computerized embroidery business everywhere I am sure there just rip the Recaro logo off the net and get it stitched that way.

Good heads up though btw. I wouldn't want to be in a crash and have some wet laid CF splintering into my brain....