Seat Covers for Gen III

A few years ago, I would have agreed completely. Then I married someone with a big dog with pointy claws, oily skin, and a propensity for skin infections. So no, I don't want a 10 year old car with new looking seats... but the dog is only going to live a few more years and I darn sure don't want a 3 year old Prius with a completely destroyed interior either. So please park the sarcasm and let the information keep flowing! :focus:

 

Because my region (GST) isn't providing IIIs with the solar roof yet and I don't want to wait the 3-6 months they quoted for my new car. Plus, the lumbar support, heaters, HomeLink mirror, etc. are nice additions. I just wish they didn't force you to take leather to get them... I suppose it will help with the value at resale/trade-in time also.

 

Isn't life ironic. I did not want anything in the IV but leather so bought a III and am having it installed. Looked at "real" sheepskin but two good front seats alone is $400+ and then have dry clean every year. Going to an installer that many dealers use, but direct, which should bring the total cost to about $1,200 (unheated seat). This replaces front, back, door material, console and the wheel will be leather wrapped. Did not realize how much I miss that. Ironically since it has to be hand sewn, $200 of the cost is the wheel. Leather is nicer than toyota... Some people have said changing will void the air bag warranty but I have called several non-selling Toyota folks who said no. The seats are not coming out, just the covers coming off. As long as the installer knows what they are doing, should not disrupt the wires underneath the seat. PS I am in the minority because the III seats are the most comfortable I have ever had (having had higher end cars with it).

 

Actually, the reason I get them is so that my seats don't end up creaking. I surf often and all of my car seats have started creaking/squeaking eventually because of the moisture from my back. Even though I towel off and wear a shirt sometimes the moisture just gets through.

If you've never experienced this before, trust me it's very annoying.

 

I have one of these: http://www.akc.org/breeds/newfoundland/

So I'm being environmentally wasteful for protecting my seats from slobber, claw marks and mud? Well then, we need to stop babies from wearing diapers (for the environment) and those adults that wear Depends must cease that immediately! I mean, those disposable diapers are for protection.......

 

I have these seat covers on my 06. I must say that once installed they do not look like seat covers. They fit very well. The sides and backs of the seats (non-perforated areas) are not real leather (pvc). They are comfortable and have a bit of cushioning under the covers that improved my 06 seat comfort. Though not as luxurious as some leather seats, they are a good price compromise, I believe I paid approx $400. They took me about 6 hours to install.

John

 

Yep, I replaced my cloth/leather seat covers top and bottom in my Volvo about five years ago. $550 per side on the front seats or $1,100 not including the labor to install them. $250 to protect the factory OEM seat covers is well worth if your going to spend any real time driving it. You only keep the car five years 60K miles seat covers are a waste. You plan on keeping the car ten or more years I'd get seat covers.

 

OK post until the last sentence. When I get sarcastic it won't be gentle chiding. So lets make a deal. You won't tell me what to post and I won't point out how irresponsible it is to have a large dog loose in a moving car, with or without a skin infection.

 

Forget the dogs then, what about those of us who have kids? Even if we completely bar any eating/drinking in the car - you can`t expect a baby or toddler to tell you if they suddenly feel ill. You`ll know it when it`s all over the seat and soaking in.
Actually, I`ve had the family CAT puke out the front of the secured carrying case on a 10 minute ride to the vet. (Luckily had a cover under the case!)
Anyway...:focus:

We`re buying the official waterproof seat covers. They are light grey, so won`t match the interior as much as I`d like... But will keep the seats clean until the son is big enough not to spill anything on them or fall asleep and forget the toilet. (He`s getting close, but not close enough to trust with very light colored seats.) A few hundred doesn`t seem like a bad investment to keep us from weeping when he or a friend inevitably decides to sneak chocolate in, drop it, and forget about it in the summer sun... (8 year old cousin did it to our current car.)

Does the US offer dealer installed seat covers? Here they are about $350, but seem to be of quite high quality and include dealer installation and free removal when we want them off. We checked out a car with them installed, and I honestly wouldn`t have guessed they were covers had I not already known.

 

It is actually more environmentally responsible to look after what you have than destroy and replace it, well that's how I think about these things. I have sheep skin on my front seats for comfort and protection of the seats. I believe sheep skin is biodegradable. It is kinder to the environment to replace seat covers every 5 years than buy a new car or new seats every 5 years because the seats are buggered.

 

Good points but you must be more tidy then me because when I had sheepskin in Atlanta (hot and humid much of the year), several years ago, I had to have it dry cleaned every year which cost a lot of money and meant a week a year without them. Even after being OC and using a towel in between the SS and me after hiking, etc. That means chemicals being used to. While the US is starting to get more "green" cleaners in many places they are still MIA (like Boise where I last lived).

 

You sir are getting to be a real PITA

 

So all the bull$hit aside, how many people actually bought a kit online and installed it?

Thanks

 

I went to Wet Okole store in costa mesa CA on saturday and ordered only front seat covers for my Pkg III for 235. I did not take piping or any other options, just plain simple dark brown color that matched with my interior.

 

Can anybody recommend a rear seat cover that does not need to be installed (e.g. removing the rear seat) and that can be easily removed? I would like a rear seat cover for when we bring our dog along for a ride, but want to be able to take it out (or fold up the half that isn't under our carseat) when we have a back seat passenger or for cleaning. Everything I have seen on this thread looks like it requires hours to install or remove the seat covers. Any suggestions?

 

You might try something universal, like this one from Cabelas:
[oops, haven't posted enough to be able to post a link. go to cabelas dot com and search for "Back Seat Pet Cover", should be a blue cover with a black lab laying on it]

 

My 2008 Prius Wet Akoles front seat covers actually fit my 2010 Prius extremely well.I do not know about the rear covers as I did not buy them.Outstanding seat covers that wear well and clean up beautifully.Worth every penney.

 

Thanks for the heads up, KreeH. I got in touch with Coverking and they are coming by to my garage on Monday to use my Prius for the patterns.

Anyone interested in Coverking, they should have 2010 patterns available to order sometime after Monday.

 

my wet okoles seat covers just came in and I am planning to have them installed in the next few days. I will try to post up some pics. I know these are worth every penny because half the state uses these. (slight exaggeration)

 

I did. A little hassle but not so bad because I had an air ratchet to unbolt the seats and it was not a hot day when I did it.