458 Racing seats vs Daytona seats

I have the Daytona seats bc most people I spoke with said the racing seats are extremely uncomfortable. Esp if you will be driving for a extended period of time.

 

Many owners love racing seats and relish the style and the weight savings. I personally can't tolerate them for any distance but the Daytonas are great for me. So do sit in them for some time before you decide.

 

Had Daytonas in my 430.
Racing seats in my 458.
Love the comfort and style of the racing seats much better.

 

I also really wanted the racing seats but the 458 I bought just did not have them.

Not once while driving have I ever thought "wow I wish I had the racing seats" ..

The car is just that amazing and the Daytona seats are also great.

 

Personal preference totally. Go to atelier/drive different spec cars for a good few miles and then decide.

I have done 15,000 miles in 15 months in the racing style seats and have felt that they are better than my R8 seats in which I have done 78,000 miles - which I guess are as close to daytonas. Drove a dealer 458 with daytona for 15 miles, much much prefer the racing seats myself.

But totally totally personal preference and no way would I make that choice without experiencing, especially if you actually want to drive it and keep it for a while and not worry about depreciation. Race seats I think for depreciation.

Best wishes

Sunny

 

Had daytonas in my 430, now I have race seats in the 458. I've done 600mi trips with both, comfort wise both are great, but race seats are set up lower there is no manual height adjustment, dealer can adjust the height for you. I'm 5'9 factory height is perfect for me.
Since there is no power seat option with the race seats, you can slide the seat back instantly and step in n out with ease.

 

Racing seats give you extra inches of headroom. My head was bumping the headliner with the standard seats. No such issues with the race seats.

 

For me the racing seats are way more comfortable than the Daytonas - a completely different class of seat in terms of comfort. However, I as we all have different body shapes I doubt very much my view covers all drivers!! the advice of trying seats is good - but you would need to try them out for your typical journey times. The longest I sat in the Daytonas or race seats for any one time was around 3 hours. So that's where my view comes from and the race seats were way way better for that.

 

Disagree. Wish I had racing seats.

 

are they good for carrying garlic seeds too?
(inside joke lol)

 

You can order racing seats with daytona pattern. Have seen it before .

 

Racing seat is quite comfortable but con: The height adjustment can't only be done by bolts and nuts adjustments while Daytona can be ordered by full electrical adjustment.
To me .. personally.. I prefer Racing seat over Daytona seat.

 

To the OP:

You have a choice: Either (a) find someone who is EXACTLY your size, with the same back, hip, etc sizes, ailments and conditions and ask him which seat is more comfortable, or (b) try the seats yourself. Asking a bunch of strangers of unknown sizes really gives you no useful information. I prefer the full-electric Daytonas, but I can assure you that our spine x-rays won't match.

 

I love the looks of the racing seats with the center stripe. Stunning.

However I need full adjustment for my back. My wife sat in the Daytona seat when we test drove the car. If I got
racing seats and they had been uncomfortable for her I would've had heck to pay. Not worth the risk. My understanding is that the passenger racing seats have no adjustment at all.

 

I have an F430 Spider with Daytona full-electric seats and a 458 Spider with "large" racing seats. The seats in both cars are very comfortable, but I have more of a sense of sitting IN the racing seats, and sitting ON the Daytonas. I much prefer the look of F430 Daytona seats to the Daytona option on either standard or racing seats on the 458. That is purely my personal opinion, and I also think that non-Daytona racing seats best suit the character and look of the 458 Italia and Spider. To each his own, obviously. Fred

 

I did 2k miles in 4 days last week in daytonas, no lumbar or heat. I would Strongly recommend both options if you going to drive more than a few hundred miles a day sometimes.
I adjusted the seats quite often depending on the terrain and purpose of my drive every few hours. Ie, sat closer and higher for hairpin hour at mt rainier. Sat farther for cruise control hours down 101. The racing seats wouldn't have worked for that.
But, I would order a new car with race seats.

 

There are tons of threads about this. Racing seats generally "win out". You could start a "poll" if you want easy numbers. Having both types of seats, I can tell you the Racing seats hold up better (the side bolster on the Daytona tends to bend and the leather looks worn) and are FAR more comforatble on short AND long trips. If you ever plan on tracking the car (which I highly recommend ) racing seats are no question better.

As far as the "electric option" since there is no back seat you really don't need to adjust the seat ever (unless you either track the car in which can you can move it forward a little to give optimal leg bend for braking power) or unless multiple people will be driving. Its easy to move back and forth manually, its the up down that you cannot adjust on your own, but I hear the dealer can move the seat up or down if you need.

As far as size, if you are 5'10 or taller, normal build, get the large, they are most common.

 

I am not that big 5ft 10" and 175lbs and have sat in the "large" racing seats for 3 years now. I had Daytona's in both my 360 and 430 and although not as "cushy", the racing seats are comfortable. I have taken many long drives without an issue. I like how I am positioned in the cockpit. I also don't see the need for adjustable seats unless more than one person is going to drive your car, so the fixed position (except movement back and forth) is a non issue for me. Clearly, if on the track or even driving at speed, race seats are better designed for support. Finally, their weight and appearance seems more in line with the 458. As , I am sure, others will tell you, it is a "personal" decision based on your particular ideocyncracies. Best

 

Its really a personal preference. I think much depends on you, if you like one style, more than other; your size, weight, and perhaps fitness to some extent. I personally find the Daytona's more comfortable for me, and like the style better too. But that is just me. That said, as mentioned earlier, if ever decided to track or autocross the car, large racing seats are the only way to go.

 

There are three memory settings. I use the third to put the seat all the back and raise the steering wheel for easier ingress and egress. The other memory settings adjust the side mirrors, seat and steering wheel. Please note the side bolsters adjust and there is lumbar support adjustments.

The passenger and driver seats are heated. My wife really likes that as we drive with the top down 99% of the time.

Best

 

I have Daytonas and they are just fine. IMO I like the adjustment options and I like the look.

 

I have the racing seats and I think they best fit the race car look for the 458. Comfort is something you need to try for yourself. If you get racing seats get large if you're in the states.

 

I prefer the racing seats. They look better and are more comfortable for me. By that I mean I can feel what the car is doing more through them- I really feel more "one" with the car. They are more performance oriented and weigh much less. I also have had issues with Ferrari memory seats where the system will forget the settings etc. With manual racing seats you just need to know how many notches to move your seat- pretty simple.

However, its as everyone has said- you really have to decide what your preferences are. When I was new to Ferraris I would have said the electronic Daytonas would be my preference- but now with some experience I'd go race seats almost every time. (Maybe not in a more GT type car like the F1- maybe).

 

I have the racing seats and, without doubt, I find them to be the most comfortable car seats I've experienced.

With their firmness, I suspect that individual body shape plays a big factor in whether they will be comfortable or not.

Definitely try them for an extended period if you can and remember, to my recollection, there are three sizes.