Rear Seat Delete

Yes someone has. There was a bench option in the Cali and apparently a very small percentage optioned for it. I'm sure you could offer Ferrari some insane amount of money and they'll build you a Cali T with it...

I like putting my sunglass case on one of the rear seats to hold them, haha. And soft bags.

 

By having a back seat you get a huge break on your insurance rates because officially it is not a two seater. The California T, FF and F12 get this perk/benefit. Where the 458, 488 & LaFerrari owners do not :-(

 

This is exactly why the 911 has a useless rear seat as well.

Thanks,
Erik

 

I'll just add that the seats aren't necessarily "useless"... they can be used in a pinch, especially if the top is down. They are more convenient (to me) to throw soft bags there than in the trunk (when the top is down). I prefer that the Cali T has them as opposed to not having them. But no... they aren't huge by any means.

 

A picture is worth a thousand words... in this case, maybe two pictures.

I was tempted to get one when I ordered my car but the bench option simply would not have offered the same flexibility of back seats, and if you put any shopping on the bench it would slide all over the place and spill. The rear bucket seats offered more stable multi-use platforms.

OTOH, if you mainly traverse the continent in this car, the bench + custom luggage would have been the way to go.
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My 2010 California has back seats, and my kids used them for 3-4 years. Now, they don't fit except in a pinch and for a very short ride. But - with the seats, you also get the pass-through to the trunk (don't know if you get that with the shelf) which has proved handy at times for stuffing in larger items.

Only downside for me is the carpool lanes on the approach to the SF Bay Bridge require 3 people (not the usual 2). I haven't been able to convince anyone to sit back there just so I can use the carpool lane. So - I typically use my S2000 when I have to cross the bridge during rush hour - no back seat, no 3rd passenger needed. I'd love a "pop-in" bench that fits over the seats and converts the car to a 2 seater!

 

Hey Michael...I had the bench option with the custom luggage with the 14 Cali I just sold...I will say this, it was much easy to clean with leather conditioner because the surface was flat. I also have no kids so it was an easy choice for me (Instead of kids, I saved money and bought a Ferrari...lol).

 

I'm glad it worked out for you Ron. The bench does look nicer in a way, very clean design especially with the luggage. With kids though... you have to really want them because it's always a bit of a crapshoot with family.

How do you like your 458 Spider? Do you miss not having a bit more space behind the seat?

 

Hate it when govt tells you how to live while at the same time they are happy taxing you whatever amount they feel like. Oh well, enjoy the scenery in the slow lane then.

 

I am loving the 458 spider (already got 4k miles on her) but there are definitely things I miss about the Cali. Space in general is more plentiful in the Cali-the footwell, headroom, back seat. And even through the 458 spider is probably louder, the Cali's burbles and gunshots on gear shifts is way better. I think they muted those on the 2012 software update on the 458's.

I saw the pics you posted recently your Cali...definitely a real looker.

 

I wouldn't have bought the T if it didn't have the back seat. I use it constantly.
Kids, teenagers and young woman love riding back there. The car is much more
practical for every day use with it.

 

Thanks Ron, I love my Cali30. I was chatting with my new salesman the other day. A white 458 Spider was sitting outside his office and our conversation drifted into a discussion of what might be my future Fcar interest. I adore the 458 but at my age, the attention attracted by a 458 would overwhelm me. I just love to drive. Savour the experience Ron.

 

I specifically ordered my Cali 30 with the bench. The seats seemed pointless, and I have the benefit of driving a two-seater in the diamond lanes. The pass through from the trunk operates just fine. I haven't yet used the straps to hold luggage, but they hold a spare hat nicely when I'm driving solo.

 

I'm in the process of purchasing my first Ferrari, a 2010 California. It has every option I was looking for, except it has the bench and not the rear seats. I agree that the rear seats are probably unusable for anyone but young kids, however the cuoio leather with the black Daytona inserts really look nice (IMHO) and would make the rear area look even nicer. Has anyone heard of a way to swap the bench for the seat configuration? I've heard that the configuration of the body is different for the two options, but I haven't been able to confirm that. Thanks for any ideas or suggestions.

 

Maybe the parts book would give a clue https://www.ricambiamerica.com/car-diagrams/ferrari/v6-v8/california-group/california-09.html

 

Benefits? See pics below! Not a T, though.

This 2010 Cali - which I think belongs to F-chatter Tides - has the bench back seat. Looks super slick!

http://www.naplesmotorsports.com/vehicle-details/2010-ferrari-california-convertible-1c59480e56adad4ab64e646e46660f4c

T

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I had to move the seat up a little (so I was a tad tighter) but my boys love it! Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

That's a great place to start. Thank you very much for the help!