I dropped into the motor trimmers today and noticed an S2000 parked out front (parked between a late model Jag and a 60's Merc convertible. Nice company!). Apparently one of the S2000's seats had been ripped pretty badly.

I actually became acquainted with the trimmers because my seat had also been ripped/scuffed. It looked like a one clawed cat attacked it. A line of triangles pulled up on one side bolster. Fortunately it was fairly easy to repair. A guy came out to the trimmers, spent about two hours on it with all sorts of adhesives and dyes, and got it looking pretty much like new. Now that my bum has polished it up you'd never know it was there.

I got to speaking about the leather in the S2000 and was told that it is pretty low quality 'automotive grade' () leather. Rather than go to a lot of trouble finding an equivalent quality leather the owner of the S2000 in question opted for using the same high quality leather as used in our Aus Console Cover. I got to see the seat bases today and they look fantastic and feel amazing. They don't seem to be as tacky or sticky (I'm not sure if they're the right words) as the original leather. Your hand just glides across them.

At the same time, it's not the sort of leather used in living room furniture. The interior of a car, and in particular a convertible, is exposed to all sorts of variations of temperature and humidity and UV radiation that you wouldn't dream of in your living room. The best time to drive the S is when the sun is shining. Leather is a skin, and you don't go out in the sun without protection, so why should your seats. This leather has been treated with a UV protectorant so it is less susceptible to fading and cracking in sunlight.

I am considering having my seats re-upholstered in this high quality leather. It would also be possible to supply complete skins in red, black and possibly other colours. They would still need to be fitted by a trimmer but this shouldn't be too expensive. Would anyone be interested in this as a product?

 

 

Shameless advertising at it's finest!?!?

 

how much does it cost to re-do the seats? wouldnt it be cheaper to just buy new seats like some Recaro's?

 

Mea culpa!

Actually I'm countering a bit of an insinuation in another thread with a few facts. I believe it's a little more honourable than just knocking the competition.

As for advertising, I confess that I insisted that the trimmers make templates, but I can't be sure that this would even be commercially viable. I expect it would be a $1000-1500 for the skins and then probably another $100 or so to have them fitted. All that for the benefit of knowing and feeling higher quality leather.

I guess I could offer other colour options but the fact is you don't get silver leather without some pretty fierce treatments. I don't remember the last time I saw a silver cow.

Fact is, you could have it done locally and it'd cost plenty. Or you could have it done in Mexico for a few pesos (what's that movie where the young guys get there seats reupholstered in Tijuana and it turns out to be stuffed with horse dung?). Somewhere in between is high quality Australian leather, hand stitched by a third generation family business in Aus.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by bayarea408
[B]how much does it cost to re-do the seats?

 

I was only kidding around. It's good to see some competition around here. Are you a confirmed sponsor of the board yet? That needs to be on your "A" list!

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by airgate
[B]I was only kidding around.

 

What, but you do have RED cows in Aus?!?!?!?!

 

Yes, we just pull down their pants in front of all their mates then skin them!