I asked in another thread and determined that the heated seats in the FiST are both the set bottom and seat back. What I didn't think to ask is whether the heat is variable. In my VW, there were 5 steps, in the MINI, three. In SWMBO's regular Fiesta it's just on/off. And just the bottom, to boot! What is it in the FiST? Thx.
Thanks for the info. Put that on the list as a cheap-a** move by Ford. They're not alone: IIRC, that's true on the expen$ive leather seats in the Prius, as well as at least one Volvo I've seen. But it's still stupid, and cheap-a**.
Well in all fairness, it's a cheap car I don't mean that in a bad way, but they had a bucket of money to allocate towards turning the based Fiesta into the ST. I think they spent it well and delivered a lot of car for the money. I don't understand why people buy a $23k car that delivers a ton of performance and then complain about a few cut corners....what did you expect?
And to the credit of the seat heaters; they heat up faster than any other bum warmers I've had in a car.
Well in all fairness, it's a cheap car I don't mean that in a bad way, but they had a bucket of money to allocate towards turning the based Fiesta into the ST. I think they spent it well and delivered a lot of car for the money. I don't understand why people buy a $23k car that delivers a ton of performance and then complain about a few cut corners....what did you expect?
I think that beyond a "luxury" car, we all expect to see where the manufacturer makes cost-based decisions. What I don't like is seeing where the answer to those choices can so easily be identified as cheaping out. Two rheostats are more expensive than two switches, sure. But what? $5? When the technology and parts already exist in other Ford models?
Since I've had a car with heated seats, I've made the determination that they're on my "must have" list. My car is the one that's outside at night, so I use the bun warmers to get me warm until the climate control starts making heat. Not having the ability to vary the seat temp is a big negative for me.
I had 5 settings in my '12 Focus (leather seats) and tbh only ever used 0 or 5, always found the in-betweens never really heated the seat well (i.e. no real warmth until you hit 5). I actually prefer the single on/off setting
Being in Arizona, and seeing MAYBE 30 degrees at the coldest during the winter, ive never had heated seats till now. I turned it on the other day when it was about 38 out and it cooked my back and ass within a minute or two and I had to shut it off. I don't get very cold, im fat so well insulated, and I think ill never really use the heated seats unless I travel to northern AZ where it gets into the single digits.
Arizona weather is different than here in the Mid Atlantic, but I like the seat heaters when it's spring and fall evenings and I can have the windows down (which I like) and still keep warm. It's also nice for long car trips regardless of season if your back gets sore.
SWMBO's regular Fiesta has the stoopid bottom-only heat, and it's so feeble, she's convinced half the time that it doesn't work. I've got a heated saddle on the motorcycle, too. That heats up right now, and operates through a digital rheostat with maybe eight steps. I've never had it over "2"
The heated seats on the Recaros are pretty crazy. Heats up super fast and hot! If any of your skin touches the back, it will feel like its burning. The seats heat up in intervals so it doesnt stay super hot the whole time its on.
^I have noticed that. I actually used them on track in November at NJMP. They heat up quick, get really hot to where they are almost uncomfortable then back off and then crank up again. I still like to have them when it is cold, at least until the heater gets going good.
.CRazy hot. Way faster than the heater and I usually have to turn it off before the cabin is warm enough.....really bakes the prostate! I'd appreciate some increments of control but glad to have the heated mirrors too
I find them Way to hot. They come up to temp in 1 or 2 min, but for me they are to hot i do not like them at all. I may try to do some sort of mod to lower the temp (some sort of resistor in line). If it works out i will report back.
anyone else find them to hot?
The question I'd have would be to see if there was a retrofittable rheostat that could go in the dash. I've not looked closely at the dash in the FoST to see. Pity to have to perform surgery on a new car...
I like em. I need them to be super hot because if it is cold enough that I'm going to be using seat heaters, I'm probably already wearing a couple layers. On some other cars I've been in the heaters work well for just a shirt but I can't feel much if I'm wearing long underwear, a shirt, and a jacket.
Yup. I still have anxiety attacks after drilling out the front bracket through the bumper.
I could see a switch under the dash, just within reach to change the temp. I wouldn't consider that arm rest compartment. Ever try to connect the USB cable inside that thing? The Recaro bolstering is like a body cast and I can't even see down there let alone reach the sockets.
My UK ST2 has two settings, but the speed they warm up is incredible, way before the heater blows warm air. However I only use them until the air is warm but the UK is hardly North America and at the mo its fairly mild but damp.
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