348 348 Spider Seatbelts

Can an owner explain what goes on for the seatbelts in the 348 spider? Are they “mouse track” seatbelts?

Maybe a quick overview of th seatbelt differences between 348 tb, ts, and spider would be helpful.

What markets were “mouse track” seatbelts used outside of the US?

Thanks for the education.

Robb

 

Mouse traps that mount in middle and cross over to door. They have a separate lap belt. Proper use is to hook the slack to hooks at mirror for easy egress.

They suck. Early cars have normal belts. 89/90? I forget when they change. I had a 95’ 348 Spider. Some guys convert the belts. Swap buckles for lap belts and take the center belts and slide ebay buckles onto them making center pull belts that clip like some Lambo’s.

Europe had normal belts. I think Canada did too??? Condensed explanation.

Lots of 348 seat belt threads on here. Will try to find pics and links.


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Looks like the track is in the body of the car along the edge of the door. Haven’t paid attention to the detail in the past.

Wondering if it is crappy to live with.

Robb

 

I could not stand it. I was converting mine until I bought a 355


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I will add, that the only option for me to own a 348 is an early car. I think the Series Speciale have regular belts?? Cannot remember. Or I would convert it. I would pull my mouse belts, get them rewound by a guy I know in Oklahoma, to retract better. I think he could make them 4-6” longer and install factory buckles the way I want them. And then make them the Lambo 3 point belts. Not DOT approved of course and you may have a liability issue selling unless you got an acknowledgment and waiver signed??? Not that lawyers cannot beat that, but modifying the mouse belt while a practical improvement is not an approved design. So early cars have other issues, but not the belts.

I like the 348 for a few reasons, but the 355 out weighs those for so many more improvements, seat belts being a great one! I would confirm Series Speciale and go that route.


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I have them and it bothers me not one bit. I had that in the 90's on other cars it was once required of all cars for a real short period of time. It zips over to cross chest.... how that's worse or takes longer than doing it manually I'll never understand. I thunk its just a control thing. "I want to put hem on when I want to put them on".

 

I don't understand why people hate on them so much. I think it's part of the charm of an early 90's car. I will say though, I do not leave my belt attached to the mice. I buckle my lap, then I buckle my shoulder to the latch on the seat, not the mouse track (the inner of the two). I like the two step process. It's the little extra reminders that driving the car is more of an event than just jumping in my VW. It takes an additional 5 seconds. Who cares? I'm not in a rush when I drive this car. I'm going for a drive for the sake of driving. Not because I'm running late for something. That is my thought on the matter. YMMV.

 

Absolutely none. Also, the lower dash is different (bigger) in the US models which made the squared off radio cover required.

 

Or get a European car like me, or a Canadian car like Wade. Nothing says you have to buy a US Spec 348 these days.

 

Agreed 100%

The mousers are known for being finicky, so most owners just unplug them. One of the seat-belt ECUs on my first 348 shorted internally, which fried the speedometer.

348 Speedo Burned Internals

Bonus on the Canadian cars, they came with the front fogs configured as DRLs. So no more driving with my headlights popped up during the daytime (safer driving for Florida).