Need urgent help from those with leather seats

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by toyolover, Dec 5, 2009.

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  1. hsiaolc

    hsiaolc New Member

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    hehe better this way. The seat cover they rip out they discard them anyway and then others get to keep them ( I have a free set). :) Good setup.
    Besides all the installers has to be top installers and they will do a very good job because their reputation is on the line. If they constantly do bad job and customer complain then Toyota just chose someone else and the competition is fierce since installing seat covers is not exactly a high tech job.

    So lets say if you want factory installed Tinted windows. It is not factory installed either. It is done by someone else. They either come into Toyota dealer or the car is sent to them.

    Even my head mechanic doesn't know how to install the seat covers because they don't feel they need to know since it is too low a job for them.
     
    #21 hsiaolc, Dec 6, 2009
  2. freight48

    freight48 New Member

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    Ya I'm dealing with Toyota On Front. They are apparently the best dealership for Toyota hybrids. They sell a lot of them and have the tools and know-how to service them.
     
    #22 freight48, Dec 6, 2009
  3. chrisj428

    chrisj428 Active Member

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    HSI,

    While Toyota is the manufacturer, the individual importer has the final say on what options are available from which source.

    Having said that, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., as the importer, does offer factory-installed leather on both IV and V packages.

    Now, there are aftermarket leather installation options available for Package II and III vehicles. However, in the NAR, factory-installed leather seats are most certainly available.

    I believe there is an agreement with the importer for the southeast United States where their vehicles are equipped with port-installed leather seats as opposed to factory-installed.
     
    #23 chrisj428, Dec 7, 2009
  4. rrolff

    rrolff Prius Surgeon

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    Our neighbor has the factory leather and I have Katzkins leather (professionally installed). {IMHO} the Katzkins are nicer leather - and can be purchased with heaters...

    You can also choose colors... Total cost would be around $1000 (I'm sure that's less than the dealer).

    I would *not* get perforations (it is an option) - they get stuff in them, and generally look cheap. Our Lexus does not have them either...
     
    #24 rrolff, Dec 7, 2009
  5. TKY

    TKY Member

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    Hi Toyolover, I have a US, GenIII, Prius-IV with solar-roof/moon-roof package and factory (as far as I can tell) leather seats with seat heater. The switch is under the center bridge. The switches are a push-on/push-off; if I do not push-off, the next time I start the car, the seat heater is on and starts heating. This is different from my previous vehicle, in which if I turned off the engine with the seat heater on, the switch defaulted to off.

    To me, it sounds like the dealer is installing a third party (not Toyota) aftermarket seat-heater system. I would look and ask very careful questions about whether the leather seats and heater are truly toyota or if one, or both, are after market products.

    The issue may be warranty. As I recall, In the U.S. dealer installed Toyota accessories only have a one year warranty and if these are after-market products there might be an even shorter warranty. On the positive side, you might be getting a better product than the factory offers.

    Good luck, --TK
     
    #25 TKY, Dec 7, 2009
  6. toyolover

    toyolover Member

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    Thanks for your detail answers. Today, I took the car back to the dealer for the installation. I went with the salesperson together to the shop and check out the leather. The shop owner assures me that the leather kit is sent to them from my dealer which ordered it from Toyota. However, there's no way I can tell whether it is from Toyota or their own. It is perforated too. The heating elements don't seem to be coming with the leather kit from Toyota because he was showing me a promo leaflet telling me that they use xxx brand of heating elements. All in all, I think I am getting the "dealer installed" leather seat package with the leather kit supplied by Toyota. I called Toyota Canada earlier but they wouldn't verify anything at all but ask me to go back to the dealer :mad:. So I can only hope the workmanship turns out alright at the end. I also chose to install the switch on the side of the seat.
     
    #26 toyolover, Dec 7, 2009
  7. hsiaolc

    hsiaolc New Member

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    Not sure where you are getting your source from.

    Why do you think so many people who ordered leather seats but came without it? Never heard of one that ordered a car with SATNAV but forgot to install it for them.

    Fleet here at Toyota dearler ordered 200 Prius with just one order and they all got their seats rippped out here by another shop. If they could have all the leather seats installed at FACTORY why do they order 200 cars and then have all ther seats ripped and installed leather here? BECAUSE IT IS NOT BY CHOICE. Dude my brother works in Toyota dealer and I go there too to do part time job. I would know what I am talking about.
     
    #27 hsiaolc, Dec 8, 2009
  8. toyolover

    toyolover Member

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    I think what happens with the North American is Toyota US/Canada order certain basic models (I,II in USA and Base, Premium in Canada) with the features that are easier to sell at certain price point. If customers want leather seats in these basic models, they will have it "port installed" or provide the leather kit to the dealer for local installer to do it for them. This could be an easier way for order control or for tax purpose. If the leather kit is from Toyota Parts, then it is "Toyota parts with dealer installation" (not exactly aftermarket yet). If the leather kit is not from Toyota but by other manufacturer and installer by dealer or its contractor, then it becomes "aftermarket". Since Toyota Canada refused to verfiy whether the "Toyota Leather Kit" exists or not, I'd have to trust what the dealer told me before - Parts from Toyota and install by their contractor: "DEALER INSTALLED OPTION" it is.
     
    #28 toyolover, Dec 8, 2009
  9. wammo

    wammo New Member

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    Toyota delivers vehicles in different states of readiness to various ports around the world. My paperwork stated everything was completed in Japan (including leather interior) except for the window tinting, rear bumper protector and vehicle shield package which were "factory installed" at the Distribution Center prior to delivery to the dealer.
     
    #29 wammo, Dec 9, 2009
  10. toyolover

    toyolover Member

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    LEATHER SEATS INSTALLED - FINALLY
    The leather seats finally got installed by the dealer's appointed shop. The leather kit, which they said are from the Toyota's exclusive supplier in Vancouver. The installer did a nice job. The leather is perforated. I prefer perforated because years from now, the leather will show crack line and perforated surface will help to hide it. The door side panels, center arm rest, and trimming near the vent next to the right rear passenger seat are all done but I think it is vinyl, not real leather. The heating elements do not heat up as quick as my last BMW X3. The on/off switch is on the side of the seats, not under the center console. Leather quality is not as nice as the Lexus which is butter smooth. I am posting some pictures for all to see.
     

    Attached Files:

    #30 toyolover, Dec 10, 2009
  11. ron390

    ron390 Junior Member

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    I just purchased 2010 IV.Came with heated seat switch under the center consol. ron390
     
    #31 ron390, Dec 16, 2009
  12. brad_rules_man

    brad_rules_man Hybrid electric revolutionizer

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    The heaters on my seats suck! On the passenger side the heat seems very uneven, and they both cycle in the most odd behavior. They heat up really hot and then they shut off. And sometimes I can travel 20-30 miles before they come on again. It's just bizarre. Is something wrong with it, or are they all really crappy?
     
    #32 brad_rules_man, Dec 17, 2009
  13. toyolover

    toyolover Member

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    From the responses since I posted this thread, seems like the IV or the top model have the leather seats installed in the factory. All others trim levels are OEM/Port Install. I think Toyota may supply the dealers with the whole kit with door panel trimmings while some dealers may choose to go with their own source and make more on the margin. I have the OEM and the heating element is not as good as my last BMW X3. It now takes longer to heat up in cold weather and only warm up the lower back and buttock area. Hope yours is better than mine.
     
    #33 toyolover, Dec 18, 2009
  14. toyolover

    toyolover Member

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    I think it has something to do with the heating element which is not supplied by Toyota. You should bring this up to your dealer. BTW, it may take longer for you to feel the heat due to temperature difference (ie. the colder the weather, the longer it will take for you to feel the heat.)
     
    #34 toyolover, Dec 18, 2009
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