Hey Everyone, Since I bought my 348, it took about one ride for my dad to "get it" (he's always been a drag racer/musclecar guy). Anyway, I let him drive my car and he loved it, but it was almost comical how he barely fit in the car, even with the seat scooted back (he's about 6'1" maybe like 230 lb). I'm 5'10" 160 lb and I feel like the car is tailor made for somebody my size. Anyway he's shown interest in getting a Ferrari but was pretty bummed that he doesn't really fit in my car well enough to want to own one. I know the 355 is built on the same body structure/chassis etc but does anybody know if the seats/seat tracks/interior panels etc allow for a bigger person to fit in the car easier? I had him sit in a 360 and he fit great but he likes the older stuff better. I've sat in a Testarossa and it had a ton more room inside so that's an option I've sort of been nudging him towards, but I know he really likes my car and the 355 as well. I should mention that my car has a sub box built onto the package tray but it doesn't impede scooting the seat back at all, and I don't think it blocks the amount you can lean it back by much either. In other words, I think he legitimately doesn't fit in my car that well. His knees definitely come close to the steering wheel/column and his head is pretty close to the roof (a problem I also have when racing with a helmet on...). Any help is appreciated. Thanks.
Get a Spider. It has a bit more headroom with the top up due to nothing but the canvas above and there's obviously no problem when the top is down. Not sure about the 348 but the 355's steering wheel will tilt upward that might help with knee clearance. I suppose the best thing would be to have him sit in a 355 Spider with the seat all the way back and the wheel tilted up and see if that works.
i would think that your dad might be most at home in a TR. Not only is the interior more accommodating, it also offers a lot more of what he's used to: torque. The TR is an awesome car (especially the 512TR iterations), as well as a solid investment. Certainly worth considering...
If his legs are long (in proportion to his height), then he may also have problems with the steering wheel being too far away. The steering wheel does have adjustment for height, but there is no reach adjustment. I'm 6'3" with long legs and basically have to drive with my legs splayed and my torso upright. Sitting upright may be more difficult for heavier guys. Of course, you could fit a wheel boss and different steering wheel for extra reach where laws allow. Note that headroom on my spider doesn't seem to be an issue, even with the seat upright (but that could just be my proportions). Note also that tilting the steering may help with leg clearance, but tilting may also move the top of the steering wheel away from his hands. Really, the only way to know would be to go for a test drive, a sufficiently long one, to see if he fits comfortably for long periods. You didn't mention age. Agility to get into the car may also be an issue, especially with the F355's wide sills and low seat height.
A steering wheel spacer makes a huge difference in such cases. I'm not as tall as you but my idea seating position means the seat is well back and reclined. That puts the steering wheel a good deal further away than I prefer, but a 2" spacer makes everything just about perfect. Won't gain you much-needed leg room, but might make the car a better fit for your height.
I guess 2" might not make too much difference to the airbag wiring (?), but it's the legality. It might void my insurance if my airbag is not in the official (factory) position. I'm also not sure where I could have one made (I have only heard of adaptor kits for fitting non-airbag wheels with different bolt patterns) (EDIT) P.S. I added a 2~3 inch boss on my previous car, but that wasn't fitted with an airbag as standard.
Kris: I am almost exactly your dad's size, 6' 1" and 232 this morning on the scales, and I have plenty of legroom driving my 1995 348 Spider. In fact, I don't have the seat all the way back. Before buying my Spider I drove my friend's 1992 348 TS and I found the TS cramped for my size. So far as I know, my Spider does not have a steering wheel spacer. Getting in and out underneath the steering wheel requires a bit of maneuvering but very doable (though in a tight parking space, a few more gymnastics are required). One slight irritant is that, at my height, the top of the windshield frame, where the convertible top attaches, perfectly blocks the location of most traffic signals so a bit of head tilting is required. Headroom with the convertible top up is fine for my height. Anyway, I was concerned about this before I sat in my Spider the first time but it hasn't been a problem. Hope some of this helps.
I am 6'2", 195lbs and fit a 355 with inches to spare without having to lean the seat back more than normal. Not sure how the 355 and 348 compare inside dimensions wise. It all depends how your height is spread.....legs vs torso....will determine how one fits.
For track days my helmet rubs against the roof on my 355 so I had a new lower center seat cushion made (covered in black leather that looks identical to the oem seat cushion) however had them insert memory foam instead of the regular foam......this effectively drops my seat height while still providing some comfort. So for track days I replace the lower center cushion (takes maybe a minute to swap) and have plenty of helmet clearance. You could consider substituting some of the driver lower seat foam with memory foam to gain extra roof height for your Dad.
Yes, I agree-- fitting one to an airbag equipped car is most likely a bad idea unless you ditch the airbag at the same time. But it might work out fine for the OP if his dad winds up with a 348.
Thanks for the suggestions guys! I'll relay some of that to him. I think he's looking for a hardtop so I'll probably keep steering him towards a TR. All that being said I love the center cushion memory foam idea! Whenever I autocross I have to adjust my seat in the worst position to stop my helmet from hitting the roof the whole time I drive. I didn't think about changing the center cushion... is it easily removable?
on the 355 its just a couple of clips holding the center seat cushion in.....literally can be removed (from the front of the bolster) in 20 seconds.
