458 Italia - Carbon Fibre Racing Seats for Regular Use?

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?

 

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.

 

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!

 

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.

 

ok, what about this, for the same purposes: 3 point or 4 point seat belts?

 

carbon fiber seats are extremely comfortable- better than the standard one. I just spent 2 days driving 1000km in Dolomiti mountains.... a real pleasure!

 

I would think the 4 point belts would be a total pain in a car intended for street use.

 

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?

 

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!

 

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).

 

Who cares!!!!

 

+1. LOL, there should only be 1 seat in the 458 anyway...for the driver.

 

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?

 

LOL, pull over and call them a cab back home from you sync'ed iphone blue tooth hookup.

Just saying...........

 

Funny how you have to pay for "seats" in a Ferrari

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

 

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 ;-)

 

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.

 

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...

 

Tell your GF that you heard her complaints and now there are cupholders in the 458!
The other two things...she's just SOL

 

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

 

I am 44 and I wish I had bought the daytona seats.

 

+1 also!

 

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.

 

that's the new motto nowadays, the lesser it is, the more we should pay.

 

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.