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Not enough leather

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Technical Discussion' started by prius2go, Nov 3, 2007.

  1. prius2go

    prius2go Member

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    Finally completed a leather install
    but not too happy as rather than smelling of leather the car smells of plastic :(
    The old cloth seats never smelled of plastic!
    It seems that apart from the centre bits in the seat base and back,
    i.e. 8 pieces
    the whole of the rest of the kit is simulated plastic

    One of the reasons for going leather was I wanted less man made stuff not more.
    Even the leather has a simulated foam backing

    If I decide to buy another kit - which one would be 100% leather?

    What percentage is the standard fit leather package?
     
    #1 prius2go, Nov 3, 2007
  2. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(prius2go @ Nov 3 2007, 05:10 PM) [snapback]534390[/snapback]</div>
    It's real plastic, not the simulated kind. :rolleyes:

    Tom
     
    #2 qbee42, Nov 3, 2007
  3. prius2go

    prius2go Member

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    Here's how they look
     

    Attached Files:

    #3 prius2go, Nov 4, 2007
  4. topkick

    topkick Member

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    I don't know about the smell, but you did a good job and they look great!
     
    #4 topkick, Nov 4, 2007
  5. Jeannie

    Jeannie Proud Prius Granny

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(prius2go @ Nov 3 2007, 05:10 PM) [snapback]534390[/snapback]</div>
    I got leather seats through Katzkin. I assumed they were all leather, but you could contact them to ask (www.katzin.com).
     
    #5 Jeannie, Nov 4, 2007
  6. Boo

    Boo Boola Boola Member

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    Hi prius2go,

    Wow, they look fantastic! Great job.

    Who made/sold you the covers?

    Are you going to do the center console and/or arm rests next? I think the black leather covers from Prius Hoods, especially for the center console, would look great.
     
    #6 Boo, Nov 4, 2007
  7. prius2go

    prius2go Member

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    thanks :p

    I'm sure an expert would know how to tidy up these few minor wrinkles, although theyre not too noticable and look authentic.
    I have some spare pieces to cover the remaining cloth arm rests, but I think that may look 'too much'
    Do the wood kits cover those?
    Besides - I need to find a bulk supplier of pegs :rolleyes:
     
    #7 prius2go, Nov 4, 2007
  8. Boo

    Boo Boola Boola Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(prius2go @ Nov 4 2007, 01:57 PM) [snapback]534621[/snapback]</div>
    Try Here ;) : http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/search...process=default

    NB: This is a continuation of a Lost In Translation moment from another thread.
     
    #8 Boo, Nov 4, 2007
  9. prius2go

    prius2go Member

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    I anyone is contemplating doing this don't
    If you really must - don't
    If after that you still have the urge
    1) the rears are the easiest - start with those
    - well ok start with those but theyre not the easier - - different,
    They have about 100 hog rings to play with plastic carpet clips
    allow about 10 hours
    2.5mm tie wraps are much easier than hog rings
    2) the fronts have only about a dozen hog rings
    disconnect the battery and delay for the airbags
    the front edges on the seat base are lethal
    allow about 5 hours per seat
    Worst job of all the plastic side pieces on the seat base
    The rear most clip on the side is a one way process it wont release but can be broken
    Instead search inside the seat hinge area for a screw holding the other piece of plastic
    With contortion the two pieces will slip together over the seat runner
     

    Attached Files:

    #9 prius2go, Nov 4, 2007
  10. Godiva

    Godiva AmeriKan Citizen

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    What you got was industry standard.

    I had an all leather interior in my last car. When I had to have the seats redone (because a car wash place steam cleaned my leather seats) I found out only the seat and back were leather. Around the edges and the backs and anywhere else my body didn't touch were plastic. (Real plastic, not the simulated kind.) And I found out this was industry standard.

    The wood kits do not cover the armrest cloth. I'd do all of the armrests and the center console in leather if I had any left.

    My next Prius I'm going to take to an auto upholstery place and have them do the armrests and center console in leather. I think I'll keep the fabric seats as I like them better than the leather I had in my last car. I think I'll do a "wood" kit on my next Prius as well. (BTW it's not really wood either so you better check first.)
     
    #10 Godiva, Nov 4, 2007
  11. prius2go

    prius2go Member

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    It must be different in the uk
    I've had a number of previous cars with leather
    Some were half leather where they either use cloth for the middle bits or cloth for the side bits
    I quite like cloth for the centres, leather for the rest
    I'm more than certain they were all leather where they were supposed to be
    (I checked some)
    and the car would smell of leather when opening it.

    These even have a 'leather' tag sewn inbetween two pieces of vinyl
    If these were uk seats and claimed to be leather the authorities would soon be onto it
    :blink:
     
    #11 prius2go, Nov 4, 2007
  12. blamy

    blamy Member

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    My local dealer has quoted me $1400 (US) for a leather interior install. I don't know if that is a good price or not. Supposed to be Liquidgel or something like that. Anyone have any experience with that ? Yours look nice but I agree that if you spend for leather it should at least smell like leather!
     
    #12 blamy, Nov 4, 2007
  13. Boo

    Boo Boola Boola Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Godiva @ Nov 4 2007, 02:40 PM) [snapback]534636[/snapback]</div>
    Yup. That's why Toyota calls the Prius' OEM leather seats "leather trimmed" seats. "Leather trimmed" (leather only on center seat and back panels) is the industry standard phrase as well.
     
    #13 Boo, Nov 4, 2007
  14. prius2go

    prius2go Member

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    #14 prius2go, Nov 6, 2007
  15. Boo

    Boo Boola Boola Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(prius2go @ Nov 6 2007, 04:54 PM) [snapback]535739[/snapback]</div>
    The Prius Hoods leather covers for the center console and arm rests are normally attached by velcro straps. That's why they don't look so good in the photos.

    They look their best in the Prius when they're in the black color and the existing OEM cloth covers are removed. That's pretty easy to do for the center console. But pretty difficult for the arm covers -- I think you have to disassemble the doors, and remember, you may need pegs in bulk ;)

    Here's a link to usb2000seawolf's thread, where he has pictures of his ride, with the black leather Prius Hoods covers, plus descriptions and a further link to another thread about his installation of the arm covers.

    http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=21527&hl=

    You can see from usb2000seawolf's photos why I think the center console looks great covered in black leather. For myself, I'm just going to get the black leather center console cover, and not bother with the arm covers. I think I have the skill level and desire required to install the center console cover like usb2000seawolf did. But I don't have the same skill level and desire for the arm rest covers.
     
    #15 Boo, Nov 6, 2007
  16. prius2go

    prius2go Member

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    usb2000seawolf has the later model with the black dash and door tops
    Might need to try for dark brown

    I like the minimalist wood too
     
    #16 prius2go, Nov 6, 2007
  17. Boo

    Boo Boola Boola Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(prius2go @ Nov 6 2007, 06:15 PM) [snapback]535796[/snapback]</div>
    What color is your dash and door tops?
    In any event, isn't there enough black in your interior such that a black center console cover would look best?

    Yes, for me too, the minimalist wood trim is the only way to go. But others, like Donald Trump, Arab Oil Sheiks, Gangsters, et al, favor an over-the-top look.
     
    #17 Boo, Nov 6, 2007
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