Dealer Installed Leather seats

[GasX]

I am buying a car long distance in preparation for my pending move to FL. I found a car that meets all my specs except leather seats. The dealer is offering to install leather for $1400. Is this going to be the same quality as factory leather and is it worth the expense?

For what it is worth, the car is a 2006 Honda Pilot and a Honda dealer would be doing the leather. I want leather because I have small children who spill drinks and cloth seats would stink to high heaven in no time.

 

[angry hampster]

They will probably order leather seats from the factory and install them.

 

[MixMasterTang]

I'd wait a year and then buy them. That way you let the kids get the old seats dirty, and then blam, you get new seats and your interior is nice again! I feel your pain, I have two small boys and my interior has had all sorts of stuff spilled/smeared/tracked around in it.

 

[dirtboy]

$700 per seat??? Just buy a car with leather seats as a factory option. This deal has 'sucker' written all over it.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: angry hampster
They will probably order leather seats from the factory and install them.

Not for $1,400. A driver's seat alone costs more than that. Replacing both front bucket seats and the rear bench in a Pilot would cost thousands.

Originally posted by: dirtboy
$700 per seat??? Just buy a car with leather seats as a factory option. This deal has 'sucker' written all over it.

A Pilot is a largish SUV - the leather is presumably for the front seats, the rear bench, and perhaps door trim as well. I am not offended by the asking price, which is probably similar to what the factory leather option costs.

As for whether or not this is a good deal, it totally depends on the skill of the installer and the quality of his materials. I have seen aftermarket leather that looked great, and some that wasn't stellar. I have owned a Honda with OEM leather and frankly it wasn't anything special - it may well be the case that this aftermarket install will be superior in quality. I'd be wary of trusting an installer sight-unseen, but if you find out the name of the installer it may be possible to do some internet research to learn about his reputation.

 

[GasX]

The pilot has 3 rows, so there is quite a bit of work for that price.

 

[iamwiz82]

For that price it's probably only seat covers. Actually removing the cloth and custom stitching panels would be significantly more. My father does this professionally.
Just a guess, put you will probably need 4-5 leather hides, those aren't that cheap, plus there are many, many hours of work involved. Usually the cloth is pulled, the seams seperated, and each piece patterned out and then leather is cut and sewwed. Lots of work.

 

[Jugernot]

My guess would be covers also... if so, not a super deal. You'll never get a great fit with covers versus new seats. jeez, they make some damned good pleather seat covers out there for like $300....

Just an idea.

 

[GasX]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
For that price it's probably only seat covers. Actually removing the cloth and custom stitching panels would be significantly more. My father does this professionally.
Just a guess, put you will probably need 4-5 leather hides, those aren't that cheap, plus there are many, many hours of work involved. Usually the cloth is pulled, the seams seperated, and each piece patterned out and then leather is cut and sewwed. Lots of work.

How good can the seat covers look - great, mediocre, obviously not right?

 

[MikeMike]

when we did leather seats where i worked, the cost was substantially lower than you expect... it cost us about 1100 to install leather for the seats, and we would charge probably around 1500, it allowed for another negotiating point, and more profit... The leather we sold was warrantied and it was typically better quality because most manufacturers dont use leather on all surfaces of the seat, such as high wear areas on the bolsters... but that can cause issues in the future..

 

[GasX]

Originally posted by: MIKEMIKE
when we did leather seats where i worked, the cost was substantially lower than you expect... it cost us about 1100 to install leather for the seats, and we would charge probably around 1500, it allowed for another negotiating point, and more profit... The leather we sold was warrantied and it was typically better quality because most manufacturers dont use leather on all surfaces of the seat, such as high wear areas on the bolsters... but that can cause issues in the future..

were they seat covers and how good would it look?

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: GasX

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
For that price it's probably only seat covers. Actually removing the cloth and custom stitching panels would be significantly more. My father does this professionally.
Just a guess, put you will probably need 4-5 leather hides, those aren't that cheap, plus there are many, many hours of work involved. Usually the cloth is pulled, the seams seperated, and each piece patterned out and then leather is cut and sewwed. Lots of work.

How good can the seat covers look - great, mediocre, obviously not right?

Depends on the quality of the fitting. One-size-fits-some versus stuff that rivals Wet Okole seat covers.

 

[Rio Rebel]

There have been a couple of times that we considered having existing seats re-done with leather, but I never did it because I was never willing to risk it. They were only willing to do it if I bought the car first (reasonable demand), but that means you get what you get when it's done.

 

[MikeMike]

Originally posted by: GasX

Originally posted by: MIKEMIKE
when we did leather seats where i worked, the cost was substantially lower than you expect... it cost us about 1100 to install leather for the seats, and we would charge probably around 1500, it allowed for another negotiating point, and more profit... The leather we sold was warrantied and it was typically better quality because most manufacturers dont use leather on all surfaces of the seat, such as high wear areas on the bolsters... but that can cause issues in the future..

were they seat covers and how good would it look?

i dont think they were seat covers, then again i wouldnt probably know the difference since i havent explicity been shown what they look like vs. leather seats... The car looked good ,the leather was of good quality, and the seat work was pretty good.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: GasX
I am buying a car long distance in preparation for my pending move to FL. I found a car that meets all my specs except leather seats. The dealer is offering to install leather for $1400. Is this going to be the same quality as factory leather and is it worth the expense?

For what it is worth, the car is a 2006 Honda Pilot and a Honda dealer would be doing the leather. I want leather because I have small children who spill drinks and cloth seats would stink to high heaven in no time.

So, don't let them drink anything other than bottled water in the car. There, I just saved you $1400.

Edit-I have a 6.5 year old son and I own a 6 year old car I bought new that has cloth seats. It doesn't stink at all. In fact, the interior still looks almost new.

 

[thomsbrain]

This is a Honda Pilot, not a Mercedes Gullwing or a 1930's Bugatti. Just find another one that has leather from among the dozens for sale in your metro area and buy it instead.