I'm sorry, but this is getting to be too much. All I want to have is get Katzkin in my car. I call up a highly recommended installer here in the SF Bay Area, someone recommended on these very forums, and they won't do it! Why, you ask? They quake in mortal fear of the dealer! That's right folks - the greedy dealer does not want to let go of their price gouging. My guess is that someone at the dealership(s) in question saw the posting on these very forums and gave the owner of that Katzkin installer a 'friendly' call, and suddenly the installer saw the value in 'loyalty'. Just like in Godfather, only it's a different business. Well, guess what - there are other Katzkin installers in town, and if you want to save $200, you'll just go to the Katzkin website and look up a local installer. Better yet, if you don't mind a little drive, you can save $700, because installers in nearby cities are putting it in for $995. Talk about rip-off.
I don't know what you're talking about, so I'll assume you're just venting. Well, good luck with your thing, I hope it works out for you.
Katzkin is the aftermarket leather seats. So you can buy a Prius without leather, and then have Katzkin put in there. The dealers want to gouge, and I don't like to be gouged. I like fair and reasonable, not rip-off. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Soylent @ Sep 7 2006, 11:12 AM) [snapback]315825[/snapback]</div>
<_< I'm with Soylent... primus seems to be letting off steam without providing complete information. Actually, I find several Texas dealers to be professional and well-informed regarding the Prius. I came close to making a trade-up deal (my 2004 to a new 2006) and found the saleslady to be well-informed amd professional. The "fly in the ointment" was the trade offer. There was no "market adjustment" or gouging with superfluous extras on the '07 and the '07 would have been delivered with my specific Options and package. As for "market adjustments" (AKA "ROBBERY"), several dealers did add it so I refused to even consider their dealership.
WOW BobZ!! that looks GREAT!! I had not even thought about adding the Katzkin before, be seeing yours had really made me think about that agina........... nice! p.s. were the "toyota" headrests part of the upgrade also? I've never seen them before.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(BobZ @ Sep 23 2006, 08:33 AM) [snapback]323879[/snapback]</div> Whoa!! Those are the most "factory-looking" aftermarket seats I've seen! Most of the other pictures floating around the net of people adding leather to their cars shows the leather of slightly poorer quality or they didn't stretch the leather tight enough around the seat or it's just too shiny but this is rather impressive.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Sep 23 2006, 03:29 PM) [snapback]323983[/snapback]</div> BTW...Factory doesn't offer heated seats. These are! B) B) B) The Toyota neck cushions and seat belt things were literally a couple of dollars on eBay. The eBay seller went by the name of autokiller as I remember
Car dealers come in all varieties, good, bad and the ugly. I'm aging myself, but I can remember my first experience taking the car in for service way back in 1966. Just needed a oil change. Get this... I drove in after work, got there about 5:20PM, didn't get out of the dealer till 11:45PM! Obviously I never went back for a dealer oil change. Fast forward... Couple years ago they build a JiffyLube across the street from my dealer. Killed that part of their service. So they wised up. Then send coupons in the mail every couple months, will do a oil change, throw in a free filter every other time plus each time you get a free car wash... all for $5 cheaper then JiffyLube.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(BobZ @ Sep 23 2006, 11:33 AM) [snapback]323879[/snapback]</div> The seats look great! So how did you do this? Did you order from Katzkin & have them installed at the dealership? Who did the heated seats? I'm in CT and want to treat myself to leather/heat this winter! Do you mind sharing total costs? Thanks!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Linny @ Sep 23 2006, 09:00 PM) [snapback]324082[/snapback]</div> The place I used is Auto Sunroof Of Larchmont. http://www.aslauto.com/ The regular price is $995 for the leather and $395 for two seat heaters. The place is in Yonkers (914)633-1550 or [email protected] Ask for Tony and tell him BobZ sent ya.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(BobZ @ Sep 23 2006, 09:14 PM) [snapback]324083[/snapback]</div> Thanks BobZ...it's not too far for me. I'll check it out.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(BobZ @ Sep 23 2006, 09:14 PM) [snapback]324083[/snapback]</div> Thanks BobZ. I just emailed Tony. I've been looking to do this all summer, ever since we got our Black Lab and also since i just really really miss leather from my old car. Plus i only live 20 mins from these guys. How long did the install take?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(BobZ @ Sep 23 2006, 01:14 PM) [snapback]324002[/snapback]</div> I just checked their site. They now offer heated AND ventilated seats. Cool. Too bad I don't have $1,000+ to spend.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(pshifrin @ Sep 24 2006, 09:23 AM) [snapback]324211[/snapback]</div> 24 hours for me. I probably had good timing that day although from what I understand because it's a pre-made kit it's kinda like putting on pillow cases (for a lack of better wording)
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(BobZ @ Sep 24 2006, 09:44 PM) [snapback]324480[/snapback]</div> I got mine through a Toyota dealer in New Jersey, so it was 2 days - they gave me a free loaner on Tuesday evening, the 3rd party installer picked it up on Wednesday and returned it Thursday. From other postings that I've read from people who got leather seats while waiting at the shop, it's about 5 hours of work.
