458 race seats height adjustment?

Just drove a 458 Spider with race seats and loved it.

BUT...I wanted to lower the seats...only to be told that they can only be lowered at the workshop with the required tools?!?

Is this true? I loved them, but if this true they wouldn't be an option as I am 12cm taller than my father and my girlfriend (and they would both use the car).

Seems very strange to me. I guess I would be forced to stick to the standard seats in this case?

 

I understand they have 3 height settings, I believe they generally come set to the lowest position, it requires the dealer/workshop to change them between the 3 settings. Fixed & no height adjustment other than that.
I am 6'5" and mine were set on the lowest and were perfect for me, but I suppose if you need to swap driving with smaller people it could be an issue, might be right to go for the height adjustable seats

 

Actually there are 4 dealership adjusted settings for seat height, but if you are switching drivers you will need multiple phone books plus race seats or the full electric seats

 

Under your circumstances the race seats will not work. Best

 

The race seat brackets are similar/identical to the brackets on most (real) race seats. You can use wrenches/sockets to loosen/remove and adjust the seat up/down vertically.

I imagine they want you to do it at the shop in order to make sure everything is tight and secure, torqued....seat mounting is a critical safety item.

You should try the seats when they are at the lowest setting; ask a dealer to do it for you.

I believe the race seats provide the lowest seating position in the 458; the standard seats sit higher at their lowest setting. If the issue is your height, lower the seat to the bottom, if you fit, great.

To accommodate somewhat "less tall" people, I had a local Ferrari restoration shop make us a leather "booster pad" for my wife so she could drive the car and see over the dash. (have attached a pic from our FF, same idea, different seat/color). When she doesn't use it, one of our daughters use it....so they can see over the dash!
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I am 5'8". My seats are in the lowest position. I am comfortable.

Consider placing the seats in the lowest position for your father/wife.

 

Personally I don't see it being an issue. A couple of weeks ago I did the Pilota driving course at Maranello. There were 14 458s there and all had racing seats set in the high position - I'm not sure that any of the drivers was 6" 5" but I'm 6' and there were drivers there taller than me and there were ones a lot shorter. Didn't hear any complaints at all from any one of the 27 drivers.

I have racing seats on my 458 spider and they are the most comfortable seats I've ever had in a car - wouldn't consider standard or daytona etc. again.

David

 

There are 4 positions both at the back and front of the mounts to adjust seat height. Either front or back can be adjusted for height, such that if you wanted a different rake this can be achieved. I'm 5'11" and I like my seat low. Had mine adjusted by the dealer so that the back of the seat base is at the lowest setting, the front higher so that the seat tilts back a little more and I get more under thigh support. Works great.

 

It's the same height adjustment system they used previously in the 430 Scuderia. Here is the 458 parts diagram and a picture of the adjustment device itself in my Scuderia.

http://www.ricambiamerica.com/parts_catalogs.php?M=FE&P=&V=diag&I=114379

You can't adjust the seat height/angle without taking the seat out of the car. Easy enough to do at home if you have the right tools.
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Besides the height which seems to be adjustable at the dealership or with tools, can you adjust the tilt and forward/ backward on your own, manually and easily?
Thanks!

 

I adjusted mine the other day - just wanted more tilt so raised the front and kept the rear lower. Took 10 minuets to do. I am 6'4" and the race seats give me just enough room. The standard electric seats feel a bit too high for me.

 

Did you manage that then without removing the seat from the car 458Andy?

 

its not super easy with the seat in as the bolts are typically extra tight, I am 6'6 and have the rear at the lowest setting and like the front higher to support my thighs

 

Due to the forces when I'm on the track, my racing seats have a tendency to recline during a session, which is obviously not ideal.

Do you guys know of something I can tighten so that the seat back doesn't move on the track? Thanks