Lightguy Posted February 26, 2022 Share Posted February 26, 2022 (edited) I have my beady eyes on a Cat but it has no heat. Yes not a big deal most of the year but to extend a few months what is the "hot" set up ? Groan ! Caterham offers a factory option but I've seen PB Tweeks blowers fairly cheap. The car I'm looking at has the normal leather seats. I'd bet the carbon etc buckets would be extremely difficult here. Anyone with experience with electric seat warmers installed ? Edited February 26, 2022 by Lightguy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnifeySpoony Posted February 26, 2022 Share Posted February 26, 2022 I have the factory carbon tillets with heating elements. They do work, but in car with aeroscreen and no doors (my configuration) in winter, they can only do so much. I'd imagine that just the heat generate from the car would adequate if it was contained within windscreen/doors/hood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vovchandr Posted February 26, 2022 Share Posted February 26, 2022 (edited) 2 hours ago, KnifeySpoony said: I have the factory carbon tillets with heating elements. They do work, but in car with aeroscreen and no doors (my configuration) in winter, they can only do so much. I'd imagine that just the heat generate from the car would adequate if it was contained within windscreen/doors/hood. Correct. No heating can overcome an open dome and wind-chill. If you've ever ridden a bike in the cold you know the feeling well. Ive gotten caught with the windscreen only a few times late season after the sun goes down and temps plummet. It's not a pleasant experience even with the heat. You're sliding down in your seat to get out of the air stream as much as possible as cold air is blasting your face. With windscreen and or half hood it's a different story. Heat can actually stay. With doors even more so. The 7 you're looking for is it Zetec or Duratec? I ask because I know on Zetecs even without a heater all it takes is removing the pedal cover in the engine bay and you have unlimited heat in your compartment. More than you could ever need and much more than puny blower produces. Engine temp and your headers being directly ahead of your feet will make you miserable in summer and cozy in colder months. Edited February 26, 2022 by Vovchandr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnifeySpoony Posted February 26, 2022 Share Posted February 26, 2022 My daily is a bike. My 7 is my only car. I'm very familiar with dressing for the weather lol. I do find it easier to stay comfortable in the bike though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffs Posted February 26, 2022 Share Posted February 26, 2022 With a windscreen, doors and a top the inside of the car gets very warm... you wont even turn the heater on if you had one. I almost never use the top (even when I lived in NJ) and my winter setup is just the windshield and doors. I do have the factory heater and it does a little to keep the chill off, but it doesn't add all that much. That said I'll just wear a light sweatshirt down into the upper 40s. With actual winter gear I wouldn't hesitate to drive in much colder weather. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted February 26, 2022 Share Posted February 26, 2022 The best approach is to get a heated jacket. Heats the front of you that is exposed to the elements, instead of just the back and backside. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taber10 Posted February 26, 2022 Share Posted February 26, 2022 Plus one on what Jeffs said. I know I am in Northwest Florida, warmer than Dallas all year, but I picked the Cat (with Zetec) up in Denver, and we couldn't take the heater with doors and top on/up. Usually I have the top down, and only use the doors in the worst weather, dress for the drive, and never turn on the heater. Just my two cents..... Taber Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IamScotticus Posted February 28, 2022 Share Posted February 28, 2022 (edited) Hi. The last time I hit cold I noticed the foot well and transmission tunnel was plenty warm, as normal, but there is no way a heater blower could warm the open air. I would recommend gloves and a helmet or some head wrap and an insulated coat. I also remember the beating the top of my head was taking from the buffeting. I started wearing a welders bandana to keep what's left of my hair in place. This is open cockpit flying, on the road. Edited February 28, 2022 by IamScotticus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Mark Posted March 7, 2022 Share Posted March 7, 2022 On 2/26/2022 at 9:42 AM, Croc said: The best approach is to get a heated jacket. Heats the front of you that is exposed to the elements, instead of just the back and backside. I just ordered a Gerbing setup( I needed an upgrade anyway).lol...I also ride a few motorcycles and with the gas prices, I'm pulling one out early.... Just keeping your core warm is usually plenty...in my experience...I don't really want to add a heater to the 7... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lightguy Posted March 13, 2022 Author Share Posted March 13, 2022 On 2/25/2022 at 10:38 PM, Vovchandr said: The 7 you're looking for is it Zetec or Duratec? I Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lightguy Posted March 13, 2022 Author Share Posted March 13, 2022 Duratec. and prefer it for many reasons. Am looking into heated seats. Fairly simple compared to a new engine warmed situation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Austin David Posted October 3, 2022 Share Posted October 3, 2022 On 3/12/2022 at 10:56 PM, Lightguy said: Am looking into heated seats. It's that time, in SC. For what it's worth the blower/core is pretty amazing but it takes a solid 10 minutes to warm up enough to make the core effective. When the engine is HOT I have to put the plunger mostly back in (minimal heat flow to the core), it gets hot in there. Did you ever run heaters in your seats? I have used a kit like this one for a different car: https://leatherseats.com/shop/seat-comfort/seat-heaters/dual-control-switch-seat-heater/ Installation (99 Miata) was not hard. My cat seats might be annoying tho -- the back is crimped on, but the bottom / pan is glued so I assume I'll have to basically unglue the cover, then hope to be successful stretching & reattaching it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vovchandr Posted October 3, 2022 Share Posted October 3, 2022 Guys, I'm not sure why you're going through all the trouble. On my car during troubleshooting I'd sometimes leave the pedal cover off in the engine bay and heat was plentiful and quick. More powerful than any heater can provide. Granted it's a Zetec so the driver is directly behind the runners but I'm sure there is plenty of heat to go around in the Duratecs too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Austin David Posted October 3, 2022 Share Posted October 3, 2022 my booty gets cold, and is protected from the influx of tunnel-heat. This way I can toast my butt *and* my forelegs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
11Budlite Posted October 3, 2022 Share Posted October 3, 2022 I have a Gerbing heated motorcycle jacket that I have used in multiple sports cars, most with heaters and one without. It's been the most effective setup for me so far. I must admit that the heated seats in my 2020 Miata work very well though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IamScotticus Posted October 3, 2022 Share Posted October 3, 2022 How could you possibly be uncomfortable in such a wonderful car? 🤭 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Austin David Posted October 3, 2022 Share Posted October 3, 2022 to be fair it's not a question of uncomfortable, but more comfortable. In SC we have protracted and unpredictable spring/fall cycles. Hard Winter is usually a few nonconsecutive weeks, wrapped by a series of false fall / spring events on both sides. I'm OK with gear for road trips, but this is 95% grocery-getter and I don't want to have to pull out "layers" just to run out and get the milk. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IamScotticus Posted October 3, 2022 Share Posted October 3, 2022 I totally agree. Sevens are 30 minute juant cars. Longer than that requires a special dedication. I quit motorcycles. I found them too uncomfortable. Too hot if properly suited up, too windy and vulnerable if riding in casual clothes. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanM Posted October 3, 2022 Share Posted October 3, 2022 On my Westfield build, I plan to install 12V outlets on panel between the seats so I can use seat heater pads..... just to take the edge off my tush in the fall! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MV8 Posted October 4, 2022 Share Posted October 4, 2022 A sliding door with a control cable on the firewall, shelf, or on each side of the tunnel would be practical and plenty of heat from a much hotter source that warms up much quicker than coolant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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