What seats for a 296 gtb?

[erics]

my eyes been drawn to a car that has standard seats. I like the spec otherwise. Wondering if it is a very bad choice because of it.
I prefer comfort and not planning to track the car. What is the general wisdom?

[MingtheMerciless]

The main rule is buy it if you like it.

The carbon race seats are quite popular and regarded as a desirable option. Some people (and I include me in this) would probably only get a car with race seats unless it was a bargain. That would definitely be a minority view of course. There are alway going to be options you don't have that someone thinks is important - can't please all the people all of the time so please yourself.

Actually the race seats in the 296 are I think harder cushioned than the ones in the 458 I believe - although that may be just imagination at work.

[bennno]

The race seats look better and were very comfortable when we did a 3,000 mile trip to the alps and Italy in the summer.

Try both out perhaps?

[garystoybox]

Think the other consideration is that the race seats give more head and legroom in a ‘tighter than normal cabin” for a mid engined Ferrari.
Definitely need to try both.

[ANOpax]

I can't remember the specifics of the 296 but I'm sure owners will chime in;

In pretty much all Ferraris, the carbon seats are not electrically adjustable, rarely height adjustable and never heated.
Comfort seats will have electric adjustment and will often have seat heating and seat+steering wheel memory.

This will matter if you're short of stature or expect to share the car with someone of a different size to you (or if you like heated seats).

Edited by ANOpax on Tuesday 4th November 11:22

[is-uk]

The driver's Racing Seat in the 296 is electrically height adjustable IF the Racing Seat Lifter (option code RSES) has been spec'ed. Here is the page from the ordering guide for the GTS (it's the same for the GTB).

[ANOpax]

is-uk said:

The driver's Racing Seat in the 296 is electrically height adjustable IF the Racing Seat Lifter (option code RSES) has been spec'ed. Here is the page from the ordering guide for the GTS (it's the same for the GTB).

Thanks for that. Does it have the same range of height adjustment as the comfort seat? The manually adjustable carbon seats have a limited height range in comparison to the comfort seat and no squab rake adjustment.

[WCZ]

it's an 820hp car that's faster round tracks than a Mclaren Senna, I'd personally want the most supportive racings seats possible considering

[is-uk]

ANOpax said:

Thanks for that. Does it have the same range of height adjustment as the comfort seat? The manually adjustable carbon seats have a limited height range in comparison to the comfort seat and no squab rake adjustment.

I had the race seats with the lifter option in my GTB and the seat could be raised high enough to prevent the backrest being tipped forward for access to the rear shelf as it caught the headlining as you tilted it forward. I'd say the range of height adjustment is broadly comparable to the standard/comfort seat option.

[ferdi p]

Tried both & went standard, however if buying standard I would try find a car with alcantara as they feel, look & support way better imo.

The race seats look great but were just too hard for me.

[gunner]

I'd have to agree personally. For road use I find the comfy seats far preferable but I accept that won't help at resale time but that's a long way away...

[bennno]

bennno said:

The race seats look better and were very comfortable when we did a 3,000 mile trip to the alps and Italy in the summer.

Try both out perhaps?

Forgot to add i'm pretty sure the comfort seats are the same as ive had in my Portofino - whilst the sports seats feel firmer they are very comfortable, we found even for 8 hour days - quite unlike a Porsche bucket

[MDL111]

bennno said:

Forgot to add i'm pretty sure the comfort seats are the same as ive had in my Portofino - whilst the sports seats feel firmer they are very comfortable, we found even for 8 hour days - quite unlike a Porsche bucket

I would also get the sports seats. Having said that for me it was the opposite Porsche vs Ferrari - I had a Scuderia and a 997 RS at the same time and I found the Ferrari seats to be neither comfortable nor supportive, while the Porsche seats fit me perfectly and also had proper side support. The Ferrari seats were too wide for me (especially seat base) and the side bolsters not really high enough. Over longer drives the Porsche seats felt much softer in terms of the cushioning and generally more comfortable.

[erics]

ferdi p said:

Tried both & went standard, however if buying standard I would try find a car with alcantara as they feel, look & support way better imo.

The race seats look great but were just too hard for me.

thanks to everyone who responded. I suspect this may well be the answer i was after: road use + seeking comfort = standard seat prob better for me.

[erics]

another question: is seat heating standard when standard seats are ordered? If not I would assume they cannot be retro-fitted?

[is-uk]

The standard seats do not have heating. You need a car fitted with the full electric seats option (code RSFE) for that function.

[Trollbuster]

bennno said:

The race seats look better and were very comfortable when we did a 3,000 mile trip to the alps and Italy in the summer.

Try both out perhaps?

Defo try before you buy.

My personal experience with the new sport seats is a painful lower back after about 15 minutes, I had to use a lumbar support on the 296 I briefly owned earlier in the year to avoid this.

I never had these problems with the old race seats but maybe at 44 my back can no longer take it.

I have heard many get on with them well, it just seems I’m the exception to the rule.

[bennno]

Trollbuster said:

Defo try before you buy.

My personal experience with the new sport seats is a painful lower back after about 15 minutes, I had to use a lumbar support on the 296 I briefly owned earlier in the year to avoid this.

I never had these problems with the old race seats but maybe at 44 my back can no longer take it.

I have heard many get on with them well, it just seems I m the exception to the rule.

Im 52 and made it to Italy and back via the alps in comfort!

[Trollbuster]

Yep similar age to a friend of mine who also has no problems.

It really does pain me as I loath the look of the comfort seats

[MDL111]

Trollbuster said:

bennno said:

The race seats look better and were very comfortable when we did a 3,000 mile trip to the alps and Italy in the summer.

Try both out perhaps?

Defo try before you buy.

My personal experience with the new sport seats is a painful lower back after about 15 minutes, I had to use a lumbar support on the 296 I briefly owned earlier in the year to avoid this.

I never had these problems with the old race seats but maybe at 44 my back can no longer take it.

I have heard many get on with them well, it just seems I m the exception to the rule.

I also had the lower back issue with the Scuderia seats (in my case after multiple hours though) - it is literally the only seat I have ever experienced that, which is really weird as it is not a particulary extreme seat in terms of its shape and you can even adjust the angle (I like to sit very upright if possible)