458 Italia - Carbon Fibre Racing Seats for Regular Use? | FerrariChat

458 Italia - Carbon Fibre Racing Seats for Regular Use?

Discussion in '458 Italia/488/F8' started by nikita.ry, Jun 28, 2011.

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  1. nikita.ry

    nikita.ry Rookie

    Jun 28, 2011
    5
    What a great forum this is, I have only asked one question and the you have helped me so much!

    I am planning/dreaming up a 458 Italia and deciding on the specs and options, and have another question, this time regarding the seat options.

    The carbon fibre racing seats look amazing and quite comfortable, but having not the opportunity to sit in one just yet, I have to ask: do you think they would be suitable for regular use? Say street/track ratio of 80/20?

    I cant say that I will use this car as a daily driver, but would like to get as much driving time as possible. Would the optional racing seats be uncomfortable on long drives and the rest of the 80-85% "street" use of this car?

    Would the 15-20% track use justify this option? What do YOU think?
     
  2. mhh

    mhh F1 Veteran

    Feb 16, 2004
    5,894
    Australia
    Full Name:
    Mark
    For me, the Race seats are more comfortable than the standard seats for street use. The negatives are no electric adjustment and no heating - and price!

    They are very comfortable for long drives.
     
  3. rainforest

    rainforest Formula Junior

    Apr 14, 2010
    419
    Yeah, kinda sounds funny that you have to pay thousands of dollars and get less chair. Imagine what they would charge for a wooden stool!
     
  4. TheMayor

    TheMayor Ten Time F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Feb 11, 2008
    104,812
    Vegas baby
    #4 TheMayor, Jun 29, 2011
    Last edited: Jun 29, 2011
    Actually, if you take the very common electric chair option with Daytona seats, the cost of the racing seats is just slightly less.

    True, you don't get the electric seat adjustments. But, the electric seats are heavier and don't come in carbon fiber.

    It's just another way to look at it. Most people pay 7 grand for their seats one way or the other.

    As to comfort, I've sat in the racing seats and was surprised at how comfortable it was. My only real issue is that -- to me-- the style doesn't seem to go with the interior design. They look rather "alien" or foreign to the look. But, that's just my thinking. I like them. I just like the Daytona's better.
     
  5. nikita.ry

    nikita.ry Rookie

    Jun 28, 2011
    5
    ok, what about this, for the same purposes: 3 point or 4 point seat belts?
     
  6. stereotaipei

    stereotaipei Formula Junior

    Jan 27, 2010
    256
    Taiwan + Europe
    carbon fiber seats are extremely comfortable- better than the standard one. I just spent 2 days driving 1000km in Dolomiti mountains.... a real pleasure!
     
  7. boiseferrari

    boiseferrari Formula 3

    Nov 11, 2005
    1,077
    Boise, Id.
    Full Name:
    Kriss
    I would think the 4 point belts would be a total pain in a car intended for street use.
     
  8. ScuderiaTokyo

    ScuderiaTokyo Rookie

    Nov 13, 2008
    2
    OK. It seems the Carbon Fibre Racing Seats are winner from the drivers' perspective.
    How about from passengers' perspectives? Any feedbacks from the owners' wife or girlfriends on sitting on the racing seats for a long drive/trips/daily city use? Any complaints from them?
     
  9. racerdj

    racerdj F1 Veteran
    Owner

    Jan 19, 2003
    6,952
    Indianapolis
    Full Name:
    DJS
    I was absolutely going with the daytonas........until the test drive! Wonderful support. I must qualify that it was only for an hour. They look outstanding!
     
  10. racerdj

    racerdj F1 Veteran
    Owner

    Jan 19, 2003
    6,952
    Indianapolis
    Full Name:
    DJS
    Actually I have 45 minutes in the passengers seat from a friend who gave me my first ride. They are very confortable and only needs the angle adjustment(fore and aft).
     
  11. TheMayor

    TheMayor Ten Time F1 World Champ
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    Feb 11, 2008
    104,812
    Vegas baby
    Who cares!!!! :)
     
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  12. Rcktrod

    Rcktrod F1 Rookie

    Dec 21, 2010
    3,946
    USA
    +1. LOL, there should only be 1 seat in the 458 anyway...for the driver.
     
  13. TheMayor

    TheMayor Ten Time F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Feb 11, 2008
    104,812
    Vegas baby
    Typical GF comments I have gotten (absolutely true):


    Why is it so LOUD? Is there something wrong with the motor?

    Why is it so low? I can't see anything. I could never drive this.

    There's no cup holder...how much did you pay for this thing?
     
  14. Rcktrod

    Rcktrod F1 Rookie

    Dec 21, 2010
    3,946
    USA
    LOL, pull over and call them a cab back home from you sync'ed iphone blue tooth hookup.

    Just saying...........
     
  15. Wolfgang1756

    Wolfgang1756 Karting

    Mar 30, 2011
    146
    Funny how you have to pay for "seats" in a Ferrari :D

    Others would argue "shouldn't seats be standard in a car?"...
     
  16. isuk

    isuk F1 Rookie

    Nov 11, 2005
    3,318
    UK
    Full Name:
    Iain
    The same is true for Porsche to be fair. They have a standard, part leather seat. The prices then start to rise dramatically if you change this to full leather, or electric seat, or sport seat, or adaptive sport seat, or sports bucket seat. Ferrari have simply learned from the marketing kings over in Stuttgart ;-)
     
  17. Lesia44

    Lesia44 F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Aug 5, 2009
    17,641
    Only for a week or so. You get used to them very quickly. And, once you're used to them, you feel very vulnerable when you go back to regular, inertia belts.
     
  18. Wolfgang1756

    Wolfgang1756 Karting

    Mar 30, 2011
    146
    How long does it take to fasten them on and off?

    Suppose you need to get something from the glovebox or just flex a little?

    They sure look pretty :) Especially in red and with those Ferrari logos...
     
  19. raclaims

    raclaims Formula Junior

    Jun 6, 2007
    493
    Northern NJ
    Tell your GF that you heard her complaints and now there are cupholders in the 458!
    The other two things...she's just SOL
     
  20. Street&Track

    Street&Track Formula Junior

    Nov 10, 2003
    662
    I had the racing seats in the F430 and the wife did not like them, she constantly reminded me that they were not compfortable for her.

    In the 458, she made the comment that they look better and definitely they were much more comfortable than the 430 seats.

    Actually, if she had said anything else, I was prepared to make her get out and walk:)
     
  21. f430xtc

    f430xtc Karting

    Jan 27, 2008
    103
    San Ramon, CA
    I am 44 and I wish I had bought the daytona seats.
     
  22. cridom60

    cridom60 Formula Junior

    Feb 2, 2007
    826
    France
    Full Name:
    dominique
    +1 also!
     
  23. euro_king

    euro_king Formula Junior

    Mar 18, 2009
    758
    San Jose, Jakarta
    Full Name:
    Jastien Weiss
    ordering my car this months and was thinking to order the sport seat option as well. but the again the purpose of the 458 is for me to drive more comfy and a complete different experience than my Scud. is the sport seat on the 458 is just a different padding and leather than scud? correct me if I'm wrong.
     
  24. SL%%

    SL%% Formula Junior

    Feb 25, 2008
    309
    that's the new motto nowadays, the lesser it is, the more we should pay.
     
  25. gzachary

    gzachary Formula Junior
    Rossa Subscribed Silver Subscribed

    Jan 10, 2011
    802
    California
    #25 gzachary, Jul 31, 2011
    Last edited: Jul 31, 2011
    I have the racing seats (large) and they are great. I am 45 5'10 185-ish and they are great.

    My wife and I drove 1500 miles in them a couple of weeks ago. Roughly 375 miles a day over 6-8 hours including stops. They were great. Back was a little sore in the lumbar region after 6-8 hours but not bad at all. And I am a person prone to back problems.

    My wife loves the seats as well. She is tall and thin and seats worked well for her.

    We both thought that a little more lumbar support in them would make perfect. But as they are they are fantastic.
     

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