24 replies to this topic

[bluesprite]

Has anyone used an office/computer chair as a front seat?



They look so damn comfy and by the looks of ebay you could get a leather (ish) seat with adjustable back for £20 if there's one near you (which is more likely as there are loads on ebay) which is also a lot cheaper than propper mini leather seats also; armrests.

Would it just be a case of cutting the rollers/leg bit off and fitting some rails/brackets to the bottom? or are there regulations and stuff regarding seats?

Thanks for your time

[M_Brown_Mini]

think that seats may be checked for the MOT.

If so, i doubt that an office chair would pass, they're a bit weak.

[bluesprite]

In what way? I know that when you lean back they are designed to give a bit but a decently made one should be fairly solid and not break if you push/lean back too far.
I mean like one in the picture that would be £150+ in a shop but as most are collection only on ebay they don't get much interest.

[M_Brown_Mini]

In what way? I know that when you lean back they are designed to give a bit but a decently made one should be fairly solid and not break if you push/lean back too far.
I mean like one in the picture that would be £150+ in a shop but as most are collection only on ebay they don't get much interest.

I'm no MOT tester, i couldn't give you a difinitive answer, my thoughts on the subject are above.

[MaxAndPaddy]

With our without the wheels still on?

No other seats with the wheels still on could be great fun round corners

[lewis]

Structural integrity is your issue, Partly due to materials but many other little things aswell.

Also the way a Car seat is designed to behave in a crash is different in many ways than that of a computer chair

It does look oooooh so comfy though!

[luke666222]

ive made a mini front seat into a computer chair.

i would make an office/computer into a mini seat though!

Edited by luke666222, 17 December 2011 - 06:25 PM.

[Timtom]

they're made of wood/plastic and lots of crummy foam usually. They definitely wouldn't last good in a crash and any MOT tester you took it to would definitely give you a funny look..

[firefox]

Try it with a crash test dummy, timber and plastic great in a crash, we will start a collection on here, just let us know what you decide
don't forget to wear a crash helmet, see you in heaven one day, merry xmas, downright mad and stupid idea

[Shifty]

As far as I know, no one has!!!

(and for very good reason!!)

They won't have been crash tested, will contain bit that will injure you in a crash, generally everything!!

Save some more money up and buy proper seats.

[bluesprite]

they're made of wood/plastic and lots of crummy foam usually. They definitely wouldn't last good in a crash and any MOT tester you took it to would definitely give you a funny look..

Try it with a crash test dummy, timber and plastic great in a crash, we will start a collection on here, just let us know what you decide
don't forget to wear a crash helmet, see you in heaven one day, merry xmas, downright mad and stupid idea

'usually' ? I would have thought even the crappest ones would have a metal structure and thanks for thinking I'd actually be stupid enough to consider one that didn't have a decent, strong metal frame.

And what's all the discussion about crashing? I've never considered my car seat to be providing any sort of protection in a crash, there's only the front two bolts holding a seat on anyway. The only thing I've thought of is if you are rammed from behind when you'd need the seat hinge and the back of the seat to be structurally sound and hold your body weight.
What do you think would happen in a crash? that the seat would just magically come loose and crush you against the windscreen with it's crazy momentum? It can be reasonably assumed that the seat would be reinforced and that it is bolted to the body at least as well as the standard one is.

As far as I know, no one has!!!

(and for very good reason!!)

They won't have been crash tested, will contain bit that will injure you in a crash, generally everything!!

Save some more money up and buy proper seats.

and if you are in a crash to the point where you think knives are going to start flying out of the seat then there's probably many other parts of the car about to crush/kill you anyway. As long as it's bolted down then the seat belt should do it's crash protection job and hold you against the seat.


I just want to point out I'm not planning on doing this, just I was in staples one day and saw the really nice office chairs (like in my first post) and having just been sat in the mini I thought having a nice leather chair with arm rests wouldn't be too bad.
I know it sounds like a stupid idea but I've been going through why it wouldn't be possible and seem to come up with a way to at least make it as structurally sound as the seat it's already got.

Edited by bluesprite, 17 December 2011 - 08:52 PM.

[firefox]

Listen dumbo front end crash seat belt may protect you, rear end shunt broken back or neck i wasn't in the fire brigade for 15 years for nothing i have been to more RTA'S than you have had Sunday dinners so just get the idea out of your head

[bluesprite]

Listen dumbo front end crash seat belt may protect you, rear end shunt broken back or neck i wasn't in the fire brigade for 15 years for nothing i have been to more RTA'S than you have had Sunday dinners so just get the idea out of your head

Dumbo?


Flaming

Actions considered as Flaming (the act of being offensive towards others) will not be tolerated, we try to allow people to voice their opinions, and allow for debate. However we do not want to see posts that offend other forum members.

Have you read anything I have said?

If for a second I thought that the hinge wouldn't be up to the job or that the back wouldn't support in a rear end shunt then it would have some kind of metal box frame built to reinforce it.

also:
"
I just want to point out I'm not planning on doing this, just I was in staples one day and saw the really nice office chairs (like in my first post) and having just been sat in the mini I thought having a nice leather chair with arm rests wouldn't be too bad.
I know it sounds like a stupid idea but I've been going through why it wouldn't be possible and seem to come up with a way to at least make it as structurally sound as the seat it's already got.
"

Edited by bluesprite, 17 December 2011 - 09:12 PM.

[firefox]

Splash out and buy a set of proven seats, compared to modern cars and crumple zones ect the mini is a death trap
please don't add to it, spend your money on something else

[Midas Mk1]

Im doing the exact opposite atm, putting my current seats from the Min in the house as office chairs

Does anyone have any spare unwanted office chair bases? lol