Is it worth getting a car with heat?

[Fitz]

Heat? Are you crazy?
That is what sweat shirts with hoods are for.
In the summer in Phoenix you are dying for cool air. I have a top like Mul suggests to keep that bloody sun off my head. It is the only way to go in the summer. A open roadster in the winter with heat makes no sense as the air just penitrates your neck. There is enough heat coming form your firewall to keep you comfy with a jacket. Put a ski jacket on and forget it.

[ROUSHAC]

Dean,

I installed these last Fall: http://www.cobraheat.com/warmseats.html

They work great! In fact, I usually use the low setting, since high gets VERY warm.

Takes the edge off on cold trips when going "topless".

Cheers!
Dave

[Got the Bug]

Dave,

Did you take the seats to an upholstery shop to have the inserts installed?

The latest SPF's have a mysterious cable that's in the piping right near the seats...not sure what it's for...heated seats perhaps??

[ROUSHAC]

Got the Bug,

No, I did them myself, but I did have to remove the seats to get the pad into the seat backs.

My battery is in the trunk, so I ran the wiring down low through the rear bulkhead and placed the switches on the rear bulkhead on either side of the battery cut-off switch.

A lot depends on how easy it is to get the pads into the seats and then get your seats back together. On my BDR it was easy. On an others like an SPF, I'm not sure how easy doing a neat job on the seats will be.

Cheers!
Dave

[cobish]

The latest SPF's have a mysterious cable that's in the piping right near the seats...not sure what it's for...heated seats perhaps??

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
That wire is for the Austrailian models seat belt interlock

[01yelrt]

Living in Indiana, with 3000 miles on a new Superformance this year. I have had the heater running 1/2 the time. Couldn't imagine my trip back from Ohio last month without heat. I had the top off and a hat on and was comfortable in low 30's, not at all possible without heat. Your mornings and late nights will be alot more fun with the heat on.. Good luck

[imagine2frolic]

Will you never leave Arizona? As I said before a heater will open up your options. For the small amount of money it cost as in comparison to the car, why not? I am sure if you don't go with heat. There will be times when you wished you had. I was raised to always take a jacket, or something with me. You don't have to wear it, but if it is not there. You will surely regret not having it with you sooner or later. Be thankful this decision is not as tough as the color one....LOL

[steven566]

I suppose what I really need to look into is cooled seats!!!

[davids]

Go to a mexican restaurant and eat alot of hot things along with alot of
beans..You won't need a heater I promise you... Dave

[John-Tucson]

Steven566, Yes on the heater. Without any question a heater is necessary if you are going to drive the Cobra. If you plan to let it sit in the garage and wash it every two weeks and wax it once a month then don't bother with a heater. Many of the Cobra owners drive them to an event within 100 miles of home and seldom get any real driving experience. That 100 miles is usually covered in 1 1/2 hours or less and for short periods like that you can certainly dress warm enought and won't need a heater. As for engine heat - yes, in the summer you'll get more than you want. In the winter while cruising down the Interstate you won't get enought to warm your little toe. I don't know if you have ridden in a Cobra yet, the more rides that you take the more you will find out about these topics and be able to decide what YOU want in a Cobra. I have spoken with guys who have the seat heaters and they love them. Any type of heater or lack of a heater will not affect your upper body front - that you have to dress for.

[Fitz]

Just put a hitch on the car and pull the trailor full of stuff you may or may not need at any given time. Water, tools, money, hitchhikers with money, food, rain gear, stereo equipment, cockpit covers, full covers, wax, detailers, fix a tire, rags, cell phones, and of course duct tape; portable air inflater.

[steven566]

Well, there's plenty of hp for that!

[Yetiman]

Initially reading this post I thought "You gotta be kidding me !".

I really don't see the need for heat in my cobra here in wisconsin, and I often drive in 20 degree weather. What I need is an electrically heated hat to keep my head warm, and a Dale wool hat works most of the time.
I have considered heated seats, but frankly am holding out for cooled seats like i had in my 05' Caddy DeVille. That car had a heated steering wheel also, which is really the bee's knees !

But reading the thread I see people in Az and Florida all recomending heat. After thinking about it I can see where it would be more important to people in a warmer climate who are used to being warm.
I work out doors, and am pretty impervious to cold weather (see my user name). Spending a lot of time with relatives in Ft Myers, I have seen them wearing wool sweaters on 78 degree days, so I guess it makes sense.

Personally I like the absolute simplicity of my Cobra and having all the plumbing for heat would be unacceptably ugly for me personally.

[Lowell W]

Only those who are extremely confident in their masculinity or have allergies like Fitz would ever put a top up on a Cobra. They are also pretty limber to enter and alight from the bloody thing. I had heat in the SPF and it was useless...

You guys...

Yeah, get the heater. I'm 6'6" tall and can get in and out of my car with no problem with the top on. In four years I've had the top on dozens of times. On many occasions I've started out in the morning with the top up and the heater going full blast, stowed the top during the day and then put it up again for the evening or the trip home. Having a top and a heater has made it possible to enjoy this car MUCH more than I would have without them. Having a heater also means you have a defroster, so when it's raining buckets and the windshield fogs up and you're trying to keep the freakin' car going in a straight line on the Interstate, you can see the back of the semi trailer while you're still behind it and not underneath...

In previous incarnations I worked outside too, but now I have a wimpy job where it's warm in the winter and cool in the summer and I spend most of my time sitting on my a$$, so heated seats sound pretty good, too...

Matter of fact, thanks for reminding me: I was planning to take the seats out anyway for some other maintenance, so this would be a good time to run them over to the local upholstery shop and have him slip in a set of heaters.

Lowell

[BPWilliams]

Heater? No way!
OK well after 3 years I finally broke down and put one in my car. Well it actually started in our boat when my wife's clattering teeth were on the verge of exploding. So I broke down and installed the best 12volt outlet I could find under the dash so she can plug in her electric blanket purchased at overtons.com and wala the teeth were fixed! I love my wife she is so understanding!

Blaa on the heater, but if you need one I have it on the shelf and will sell for a good price...

Enjoy!

[Mulv]

To be clear... the heater is useless, we have 330 sunny days a year so wipers are a waste of time and if it is cold or raining ( like it is about 12 days a year -Drive your real car... the top is a waste of time too - 330 sunny days... why would you have any of these crazy things?

[John-Tucson]

Mulv is 100 % correct, IF, you only drive in Phoenix.

[1blackbb66]

Steve,
I have heat in mine and I am glad I do. It takes the edge off on those cold mornings or evenings.

Ray

[Mulv]

Originally Posted by 1blackbb66

Steve,
I have heat in mine and I am glad I do. It takes the edge off on those cold mornings or evenings.

Ray

Sure, like in July when it is about 400 degrees? I agree with John as well, if you stay in the area a heater is just a liability when it breaks and pukes hot water on your feet... Besides, I am Canadian... I'm still in my Bermudas when it is 20 degrees...

He already got a car if you look at the other post and I bet it has a heater..

[steven566]

I drove the car to work a couple of days this week, and it wasn't too bad in the morning, nothing a jacket couldn't take care of.