2017 GT350 -- Electronics Package or Convenience Package?

[DyNaMiC]

Shelby gurus,

What are your thoughts on the two packages offered with the GT350 non-R? Which did you choose and why? Are the Recaros worth it? Is the heating/cooling worth it?

When I find one at MSRP this and the color (Ruby Red or Lightning Blue) are my two biggest dilemmas. I'd like to hear your thoughts.

Thanks all!

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[nastang87xx]

More like are the Leather non Recaro seats worth it. I'm 5 8, 180 with a 32 waist and I love the Recaros. I bought my car to drive and race. It's not a cruiser/GT car for me. That decision should be up to you.

 

[icormba]

Shelby gurus,

What are your thoughts on the two packages offered with the GT350 non-R? Which did you choose and why? Are the Recaros worth it? Is the heating/cooling worth it?

When I find one at MSRP this and the color (Ruby Red or Lightning Blue) are my two biggest dilemmas. I'd like to hear your thoughts.

Thanks all!

I think it all depends on how you are going to use the car.

Is it a weekend or daily driver? If so... I say the heated cooled seats are outstanding.

If it's a track car that will be used a couple days a week or on the weekend... then the Recaros are probably worth it.

 

[CANTWN4LSN]

Never owned Recaros and a bit hesitant because I do plan to cruise with just a little track time. Have gotten diametrically opposite opinions on them from those with 15/16 track pack when asked on other threads but they have a great reputation for body support if you fit and personally prefer cloth to leather from feel and maintenance standpoint. So went with electronics. Car has A/C and heat for crying out loud so heated/cooled seats seem a bit much to me unless you live in the desert or North Pole and just one more thing to go wrong. Open to other thoughts as well though.

 

[Grunholle]

Do the opposite of Leno, get it with the couches and order a single recaro when you track it. ;)

 

[GT_Dave]

You don't need the Recaro's to track the car. The heated and cooled leather seats are plenty sufficient for the track. I use my Tech Pack for autocross and the seats are great. I had Pro drivers take my car for laps and got the same feedback from them: the seats are great for the track.

 

[mattlqx]

Yeah, I'm a fairly competent track person and the non-Recaros hold you just fine with the seatbelt locked. If you're going full "race" anyway with roll bar and harnesses, there are better options than the factory two-piece Recaros in terms of safety.

I wish the coolers worked better when the car is hot and you need them to cool down. The heaters work marvelously in colder weather though.

 

[barstowpo]

The seat heaters are great for low back pain too!

 

[Kurac]

I'm 5'11, 235lbs with a 38" waist, and still powerlift. The Recaros are awesome. This is a high performance track car. Don't ***** foot around. Get the Recaros, or get another car.

 

[302toVoodoo]

I'm 5'11, 235lbs with a 38" waist, and still powerlift. The Recaros are awesome. This is a high performance track car. Don't ***** foot around. Get the Recaros, or get another car.

^THIS. It's effectively a race car....leave the heated and cooled seats to your luxury daily driver.

 

[Ndo]

I own a 13 boss 302 track pack love the seats make the car look bad ass!! I hate the regular seats that's why I ordered my 17 gt350 with the navigation/ recaro seats I'm 6-0 220 fit just fine in my boss

 

[Hack]

Try sitting in other Ford Recaros and decide what you think. My hips, back and shoulders are WAY too wide to fit into the Recaros that Ford makes. I'm 6'4" 235. I have a wide frame but I'm really not that big of a guy IMO. If you are small you'll probably fit fine in the Recaros, but they might not provide the support you need for tracking either. Typically if you want a really good seat for tracking it should be tight enough to be uncomfortable daily driving. Of course just buying for the appearance of the seats is a legitimate reason as well. The Recaros look more "racy", that's for sure. I bought the tech pack 2016 not caring about the technology but just wanting seats I could fit into. I ended up really liking the features in the tech pack car and feeling lucky I bought it. The transmission cooling on the 2016 is a niggle that will be fixed eventually, but the car is really enjoyable to drive. I drive it nearly every day - only skipping if there's a threat of severe weather or in the winter when it's sloppy and super cold. I always knew I would track the car, but 99% of my driving will be on the street and my decisions reflected that. I didn't want the car to just sit in my garage and save it for special days or race days. I wanted to drive the car a lot.

I've been to a couple autocrosses and the tech seats worked fine for me. Only the track pack GT350 buyers on this forum seem to think of them as couches. Most people including the instructors riding with me during my autocross time think they are good, grippy and supportive seats. I'm going to a road course on Monday, and I will post about that here. I'm sure the seats will be fine for that as well.

Sorry about the long post - the last thing I'll say is that if you plan to drive a lot I think the features in the tech pack are better for street driving. If you are mostly on the track, consider still buying a tech pack and get better seats than the Ford Recaros for your track days.

Edit: I guess they are calling it the convenience package in 2017. That is what I'm advocating.

 

[ForTehNguyen]

if i bought one it would be electronics to keep the recaros but also have the bigger screen

 

[Rogue]

I wouldn't consider a car without Recaros, stereo/nav stuff is all fluff for me - if it has it great, if it doesn't great. Electronics become out-dated so quickly I never let that determine my purchase and if you want a stereo plenty of room to add later.

 

[mattlqx]

^THIS. It's effectively a race car....leave the heated and cooled seats to your luxury daily driver.

Nothing wrong with making the GT350 a luxury daily driver. Why daily a slow car?

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