New to me Recaros; a research rabbit hole

 Hello again.

On the most recent and last entry of being in Penang, I mentioned that we've finally secured a set of Recaro "Ergomeds"

Well, is it? What are they? How come some of them are different? What makes these unique? Why wasn't it possible to mount these as an office chair? Well, let me answer these questions.

First off. Recaro has a frankly very confusing line of seats.

Source Image: Recaro (Brochure)

To start, not all Recaro seats with this shape are Ergomeds. I'm not sure who else initially thought of it this way, but I was completely convinced it as such until I was doing research on my new-to-me set.

To simplify my summary, I won't be including the SR series and other seats as they are comparatively different in general design from the "Classic design". So seats like the SR-3, SR-4's and beyond I will not be talking about.

For these variant of seats, Recaro has offered many names for them, included but possibly not limited to:

Recaro Specialist
Source: RECARO

Recaro Ergomed
(Pictured is E variant)
Source: RECARO

Recaro Expert
Source: RECARO

 

Recaro LX
Source: RECARO

Recaro LS
Source: RECARO

Recaro DS
Source: Pinterest

The list might go on, becaue information is pretty scarce to do the necessary research. Plus, it tends to be the optional extras that could be optioned on the seats, and each variants complicate the matter even more. If I am not mistaken, there are other variants, like Orthopaedic, for one. 

Of course, the variants per model are many, like the Recaro Expert S or M, or Recaro Ergomed D and E, Recaro LS, LX, LS-VF, the list can go on forever.

However, again, information is plenty scarce since there are many variants, and these seats were produced over decades of different variants, patterns, offerings in different cars and more.

Ze cuck Recaro

Oh, here is my shoddy and quite possibly inaccurate attempt with trying to distinguish differences between the more common variants of each model.

Ergomed

Ergomeds have come in both thick and thin bolster configurations, depending on variant. Suppose the E variant that is currently available on RECARO's website (EN Link) use the thick configuration, while the listed Ergomed that is available on RECARO Japan's website (JP Link) is a thin variant similar to the LX.

The MV variant for instance and in comparison to the E is a thin variant with lumbar support, and an adjustable seat length.

The E has thicker bolsters and has a distinguishable inner seat padding, with adjustable seat length (or cushions), seat adjustment and an optional climate package that introduces seat heating and air conditioning.

Recaro Ergomed MV(?)
Source: RECARO

Recaro Ergomed E/ES
Source: MillerCanvas

Expert

The Expert model comes with a distinguishable inner seat padding, similar with the Ergomed. It features different prominent side bolsters compared to other models. The backrest side bolsters are adjustable as standard.

Recaro Expert
Source: RECARO

Recaro Expert Specifications
Source: RECARO

LS / LX / Specialist

Regarding the LS and LX, the difference in either is seen mostly on the backrest, with the LS having a more pronounced backrest bolster. Both came in fabric and leather choices.

Brochure sample for the LX and LS, differences in specs can be compared here.
Source Image: Recaro (Brochure)

The Specialist features a similar distinguishable inner seat padding as the Ergomed and Expert, with less bolstered lower side bolsters, and available from RECARO as an office chair. The upper side bolsters remain as the same as the LX.

Recaro Specialist
Source: RECARO

Recaro Specialist
Source: RECARO

Alright, so research on this whole line (Which I'm confident I barely scratched the surface, and it is likely pretty wrong as well), what is my set?

With heavy digging thanks to Ping and anti, we have come to the conclusion that these are a set of LX-VS Ellisse II.

Color me surprised that the set that I bought turn out to have a name similar to a certain Lotus. Suppose the stars have aligned again.

Source: trial.co.jp

If I remember, these were produced sometime from 1992 to 2004. They also came with blue inner fabric, and I believe red as well.

Source: aucfree

Source: riki.info

One of the seats still has the original tag on it. The other seat unfortunately had its tag completely disintegrated, and by the time we'd figured it out, the packaging box that probably had the rest of the tag was thrown out. But it is real, no doubt.

Now, onto converting it into an office chair. The base does not fit, which prompted the search for what the seat was, and etc. We figured out that the base was meant for a newer seat, prompting our search on how old the seats actually were. Again, we deduced it was a 1992.

Conversion wise, the screws also do not fit, and we're now looking to have the base modified so that it may fit on the next trip. Do note this if you're considering converting your old seats into office chairs with a seat base accomodating for newer seats, such as those Thailand-manufactured seats, or others. I'll be taking my leave for now, any other updates I will add to this post. Cherrio.

~Efini

A Ferrari F430's lonesome showcase

 Good day.

Not what I expected to find going out to do some karting with the mates. To begin, this mall in question that is hosting a karting track seems to be underdeveloped; no stores to speak of, and the overall quality is seemingly not that well. Pulling into the carpark and lo and behold.

I mean, the mall cannot be completely deserted. There's multiple cars here so that would represent the place having some population. It definitely isn't one of the popular malls either, but one hosting a supercar or two is seemingly uncanny. Either way, wow. The Ferrari 360 and F430 are my favorite "modern" Ferrari's, and my taste is probably aging like milk to call them modern. I'm not too into supercars, forgive me.

Anyways, like the Proton post, this is a sub-post of the main entry, linked here: Penang: December 2024: Entry 4 (4/4)

~Efini

Sight for sore eyes: Proton Wira Evolution II

 Hello, separating these photos from the main source just to avoid total clogging. I'll likely do this again in future articles, although it may be harder to find come the future. Let's see.

Anyways, this is a Proton Wira with Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution II parts, namely the front end, bonnet and spoiler. The rest of it is still Wira. The intercooler seems genuine, so best you don't play around too much.

Link back to the main entry is here: Penang: December 2024: Entry 4 (4/4)

~Efini

Penang: December 2024: Entry (3/4)

 Morning.

Its been a good while since I did a writeup, and for the last week we've been busy with renovation stuff, and others.

With regards to this blog, one thing we've done with this car is send it to the shops for another job of repairs again. You see, the steering column tends to "disconnect" the lights, be it signals, headlights, gauge cluster. You'd have to wiggle it until it comes back, which as you could imagine for basic things like indicating, is pretty dangerous. Speedometer doesn't work either because of the infotainment screen (Wouldn't track mileage either), so we're getting this fixed once and for all.

Believe this is a Celica with a TRD bodykit. I do like the design of these with the TRD bits, but at the same price point I would rather opt for something else.

A 190E with I believe a Cosworth bodykit. Its a good look.

The Alfa Romeo GTV from the last trip still remains.

So at this part of the trip, we're leaving Trek (Finally, a name!) here, and in the meantime will be driving an Innova instead.

Meantime now, a bit of carspotting random cars.

The Multipla.

Frankly, these few days I haven't been photographing much. Its just been multiple quick trips in and out of shops and malls to further finish up our renovation works, so sadly it hasn't been alot of interesting mediums to see.

White on white's are a clean combination

Haiz.. the Integra is still there. Practically same spot still.

Something I didn't expect to see. A Lotus Espirit here in Island Penang.
There is an Elan M100 here for sale, so maybe it wouldn't be that
far-fetched.

Pop-up store comprising of yesteryear products (Or their designs), selling CD's, vinyls, and other pieces like apparel.

I must admit its a bit of a refresher to see brightly painted cars. I know typically if you see online and what not that alot of modified cars in Malaysia tend to have bright flashy colors, but there isn't a lot when you actually sit and stare at regular traffic. These two, albeit the Hyundai Ge- hold on, its not a Getz? Sorry, this Toyota Nadia (Which I didn't even know was a thing) and this Civic FD was a nice breakaway from the literal sea of silver and white cars.

Ahh, this. if you look back on the previous post I made about Recaro seats, I was on the hunt to get a cheap pair since I wasn't fancying spending a thousand on a pair or a single seat. Messaging this feller on Facebook marketplace, and lo and behold, what a friendly introduction.

My thoughts driving the Innova? The lock-to-lock is criminal. I think its beyond three turns, but what I know is you need to turn a damn lot, which means some turns you are shuffling the wheel to get it to rotate. Don't do it in a inconsistent manner though, otherwise you're rocking the car uncomfortably because the suspension is that wobbly! Goodness me, furthermore no matter which output mode you are using, Eco mode, Power mode, normal, there is always a delay in throttle input, to the point its super annoying. Especially in Eco mode. The pedal positions also mean that stepping on them, notably the brakes, long enough means your leg gets sore because the positioning isn't that ergonomic.

Brakes too, you depress them a little and it doesn't do much, and you step a bit more and now the entire car is grinding to a halt. Overall, its a very difficult car to drive smoothly.

Little tissue box holder I found
in a furniture shop.

Bit of a surprise to see a current-gen
Golf R.

And with the magic of narration without adding the dates of each compilation of photos. I'm back to collect Trek. Part of the things being fixed was the aircon compresser, which I'm super confident I blew on my last trip from Ikea, sending it after a toll booth to chase a Volvo. 

Indicating feels way better now, and it might have been being adjusted to the Innova, but it feels evermore planted in the seat, and the seat position feels so much nicer. Goodness, I already miss it.

Unfortunately, the gauge cluster is still partially lit, no idea what's causing it.

But, it runs and drives, can pull well enough, and others. Maybe it isn't so bad after all. Sorry for this post being all over the place and lacking coherence. My life sadly isn't all that interesting, and its all I can really put down throughout this stay. I'll see you in the next entry, when it happens.

~Efini