It was a dark and stormy morning here is Los Angeles, so I quickly reached for the seat heater button in the Pontiac G8 GT.
It didn't get very hot, then I realized it defaulted to the lowest of its three settings. Most cars usually default to the highest and its up to you to knock it back. Or they default to the highest and gradually dial themselves back over time.
Not our Pontiac. It politely lets you warm up gradually.
Do you have seat heaters in your car? What is the default setting, high or low?
Donna DeRosa, Managing Editor
blkvogl says:
05:49 PM, 10/14/09
High (Mercedes C-Class) and Low (Chevy Avalanche).
fastsix says:
05:57 PM, 10/14/09
1996 Buick Riviera -High. Very High.
audikrazy1 says:
06:07 PM, 10/14/09
the new mercedes seat heaters are really good until they turn off the gradually go from high to low to off which is quite annoying. on the other hand the BMW's are fantastic and as long as the car isn't off for more than i believe 5 or 10 minutes they turn back on when the car starts back up.
subaru123 says:
06:12 PM, 10/14/09
Default is high (Tribeca, and they get HOT!!, plus they are heated seats NOT heated cushions) 2008 Prius is lacking heaters but my 2005 Sienna had a wheel that cycled from off to high (but they barely got hot even on high). However I will miss the heated steering wheel on my 2002 Maxima and 2005 Maxima.
bkochuk says:
06:23 PM, 10/14/09
is it just me, or are seat heaters overrated? sure, I live in NC, where it doesn't get as cold as some places, but if your car is garaged, they're unnecessary. even when they're on on a really cold day, they make my butt hot, not my body (ok, ok, maybe it's just me...).
what I need is a heated lumbar support. m-m-m-m-m-mmmm...now we're talkin'!
all that said, I like the low heat default.
subaru123 says:
06:41 PM, 10/14/09
@bkochuk
That's because you need heated seats (means back rest is also heated) not heated cushions. Car that I have experienced with heated seats are Buick Enlave, GMC Acadia, Chevrolet Traverse, Toyota Sienna, and Subaru Tribeca. And yes I'm sure heated seats are available in other cars. I just don't know them off the top of my head
slickersdrip says:
06:47 PM, 10/14/09
My mom's Trailblazer goes from hot to less hot. I'd prefer to have it the other way around. Whenever I accidentally hit the button on the arm rest it rapidly gets hot... considering the car is black with a black leather/suede interior it would be nice for the car to notify me slowly that I've messed up and hit the button... not suddenly, "Hey schmuck, see how it's already eight thousand degrees outside? You messed that up even worse."
altimadude00 says:
07:17 PM, 10/14/09
If my Altima had seat heaters, a rocker switch would select high or low depending on which way to pushed it. The only seat heater I have comes on after I leave the window of Taco Bell.
firstwagon says:
07:26 PM, 10/14/09
Neither of my cars have seat heaters... but then I live in Canada, not California so I don't need them.
s197gt says:
07:51 PM, 10/14/09
high, e90 bmw. i would prefer it start at low.
had a 2003 ford explorer that had only one setting as i recall.
wrinklebump says:
07:51 PM, 10/14/09
haha, firstwagon.
I live in Michigan and since last time I checked I wasn't an eunuch my vehicle isn't equipped with seat heaters
super_ongoy says:
09:00 PM, 10/14/09
Can someone confirm this. I'm wondering if it's just a urban legend:
1. If you spill liquid like coffee or pop while you are using seat heaters, you can get electrocuted.
2. It's not safe to turn on seat heaters when you are driving naked.
kimosen says:
10:13 PM, 10/14/09
My Aura has 2 settings: hellfire and scald. It defaults to hellfire.
pantherblack says:
11:04 PM, 10/14/09
TI live in Canada and when I use my G8's seat heater its quite nice. one thing I found by accident was went the seat heater's setting is on high, it also heats your lower back (90% positive), which is nice. Maybe another G8 GT owner can confirm but I swear its true.
wizard8873 says:
05:46 AM, 10/15/09
My M45 has a dial that you turn to set it and it goes from lowest to highest and it stays there. Best thing about the system us I can leave it turned to what i want and it'll be there when I start the next time and don't have to mess with the system. wish they were a bit warmer though.
mdpensfan says:
06:18 AM, 10/15/09
I finally got a chance to use the heated seats for the first time last weekend and I don't think the seats come with a low setting. My rear was on fire within 10 seconds at the lowest setting. I didn't get to find out from my very brief use, but I assume the G8 only has heated cushions and not a full heated seat?
I have a Ford Fusion as my daily driver, and the heated seats in that are nice. It only has one temperature setting, but allows you to toggle between full heated seat or just heated cushion.
bkochuk says:
06:22 AM, 10/15/09
@ subaru123: my previous car was an Audi S4. current one is Infiniti G35 S sedan
@ firstwagon: funny!
dougtheeng says:
06:29 AM, 10/15/09
My last 4 cars have had seat heaters:
VW Golf - dial control from 1-5 (5 being hottest) - this is the best control
2008 Mitsu Lancer GTS - rocker switch with high-off-low - no default due to switch style
MINI Cooper - 3 setting, default to high
Kia Soul - one settting - default to HOT HOT HOT
wobbly_ears says:
07:24 AM, 10/15/09
@1487,
I stand by my claim that extending standard warranty is a good option for GM to condider. I have a coworker who is trying to decide between a CTS, Genesis and a Bimmer 3. But he has told me that he might be choosing the Genesis over CTS & 3. He likes the aggressive styling of CTS but is queasy about the Caddy because his last GM car engine threw a rod right after the warranty ended.
I still say the 60 day money back is a gimmick. It isn't like going to Walmart to return a 10 dollar pair of pants. You'd be signing all sorts of paperwork & make big financial commitments. People aren't going to sign those papers cavalierly.
wobbly_ears says:
07:28 AM, 10/15/09
^^^^^^
Sorry about that. I was replying to 1487 on another thread & in my rage didn't see which post I was on.
hondaaffinity says:
09:41 AM, 10/15/09
No default in the 2007 Honda Accord EX-L. It's three choices: Off, gentle roasting or HOT AND TOASTY :)
audisport says:
09:53 AM, 10/15/09
My A4 has the tried and true VW/Audi dial wheel thingy. It goes from 1-6 and works perfectly.
bodyblue says:
10:01 AM, 10/15/09
Come on Donna, how cold can in be in LA?????? You must have a sensitive tushie.
audisport says:
10:04 AM, 10/15/09
@kimosen- You can't forget the best settings, "Hot lava on my back", and "Did I pee my pants or should I turn this off now?"
schildt says:
10:09 AM, 10/15/09
The default on my '08 Jeep Patriot Limited is hot. REALLY hot.
My previous car was a 99 Volvo C70 convertible, and it only had one setting: on. It didn't work all that well, but the car was eight years old when I got it.
cr_driver says:
11:01 AM, 10/15/09
Yes donna has a sensitive and very spoiled tushie....
And whats with the love affair between 1487 and wobbly ears?
Even here ears posted a rant vrs 1487...in the wrong thread! LOL
bodyblue says:
11:46 AM, 10/15/09
1487 just brings out the best in everybody.
eidolways says:
11:59 AM, 10/15/09
The G8 has heated seats, actually; not just heated cushions. It heats the seat bottom and the lumbar support, as well. Or at least it does in mine. Defaults to high like the IL car's control, of course. :)
audisport says:
12:23 PM, 10/15/09
1487 is The Mechanic!!!!
bodyblue says:
12:32 PM, 10/15/09
Naww he cant be the Mechanic....did you see his last article on the Vette? 1487 had to change his Vette jammies after that.
whoosierdaddy says:
01:39 PM, 10/15/09
When is the long-term G8 going bye-bye?
cah11705 says:
03:19 PM, 10/15/09
I have a rocker switch, one side goes to high, the other to low. Problem is, high is to hot and low is to low.
stephen_k says:
03:25 PM, 10/15/09
I have an '05 Audi S4 and it has a dial for the seat heaters, which starts from 0 and goes up to 6. So I guess that would mean mine starts at low.
I personally can't think of if I would prefer for it to start high or low. I guess if it would all depend on your geographic location. If you're area is usually really cold, it makes sense to start on high, and vise versa.