Package 8 Leather vs. Aftermarket Leather

[Denvergirl]

Just got a surprise from my dealer - our '06 prius is in but it's a package 7 instead of package 8. He's offered to put aftermarket leather seats in and charge us the same price as the package 8 (which basically saves us $220) and said that the warranty would be the same for these seats as the package 8. I'm concerned that the aftermarket seats won't be of the same quality as the factory installed ones - that there will be gaps, sagging, etc. Any insight into what to look out for and request would be much appreciated. I'm going to try and haggle him down on the price but want to make sure that even if it's cheaper that we'll end up getting what we want.

Thanks in advance for your input. I'm so disappointed as when I saw the dealer's name on caller ID I thought we were all set. Jerk.

[Dripps]

You won't get the steering wheel in leather, the armrests and center console covered in leather I think. It's not same as package 8, but seats should be fine.

[SomervillePrius]

aftermarket can probably be higher wuality leather then the Toyota ones but as prevous poster say you will miss out on the steering wheel and middle console.

[rockmon1!]

we did NL #7 with the plan to do aftermarket Leather. They did a very nice job. We got to select from 15 different charcoal grays and the shop added heating elements to the front seats for $1800 additional to the NL package.

I, too, was concerned about the pucker-factor, but it's a non-issue.

Check the references from the shop, first. We did.

Originally posted by Denvergirl@Jan 25 2006, 05:42 PM
Just got a surprise from my dealer - our '06 prius is in but it's a package 7 instead of package 8.  He's offered to put aftermarket leather seats in and charge us the same price as the package 8 (which basically saves us $220) and said that the warranty would be the same for these seats as the package 8.  I'm concerned that the aftermarket seats won't be of the same quality as the factory installed ones - that there will be gaps, sagging, etc.  Any insight into what to look out for and request would be much appreciated.  I'm going to try and haggle him down on the price but want to make sure that even if it's cheaper that we'll end up getting what we want.

Thanks in advance for your input.  I'm so disappointed as when I saw the dealer's name on caller ID I thought we were all set.  Jerk.

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[rockmon1!]

Also... I was glad that the steering wheel isn't upholstered with Leather as the OEM finish will hold up much better over time. Plus, I think leather addition to steering wheels makes them thickish, unfavorably.

Originally posted by Denvergirl@Jan 25 2006, 05:42 PM
Just got a surprise from my dealer - our '06 prius is in but it's a package 7 instead of package 8.  He's offered to put aftermarket leather seats in and charge us the same price as the package 8 (which basically saves us $220) and said that the warranty would be the same for these seats as the package 8.  I'm concerned that the aftermarket seats won't be of the same quality as the factory installed ones - that there will be gaps, sagging, etc.  Any insight into what to look out for and request would be much appreciated.  I'm going to try and haggle him down on the price but want to make sure that even if it's cheaper that we'll end up getting what we want.

Thanks in advance for your input.  I'm so disappointed as when I saw the dealer's name on caller ID I thought we were all set.  Jerk.

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[augustson]

The after-market leather can actually be better than the package #8 (usually with more color choices). Also-- you CAN get the center console and armrests done as well. (My dealer actually paid to have my center console and armrests done after market because they didn't do it at port.)

[DocVijay]

I concur, the quality of the leather is top notch. Not really concerned about the center and doors not being leather. And as stated, I'm also glad the wheel isn't leather.

[SomervillePrius]

Originally posted by rockmon1!@Jan 25 2006, 07:17 PM
I think leather addition to steering wheels makes them thickish, unfavorably.

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Interesting. I haven't seen the leather wrapped steering wheel on the Prius but I think the standard steering wheel is too thin. How is thick bad?

[mcorautomotivellc]

Old post-but a matter of clearing up. The Prius kit DOES include the door armrest and console covers. No aftermarket kit includes steering wheel but the leather is of much better quality (most dealerhips will even tell you that). With over 2000 kits we have installed over the years, I have NEVER had a warranty issue due to wear. At most, we may get 2-3 warranty issues per year on some little stitching coming loose in the high wear areas but it is usually 3 or more years after the initial installation. It is a quick repair. Many OEM leathers themselves don't even last this long in high wear areas!

[PriusLewis]

I replaced my cloth seats in my '06 myself (a two-weekend job, not for the faqint-hearted) with Bartlett leather (you can search for Bartlett to see the long thread about how a bunch of us on the board bought and installed this kit). I believe it is at least equal to factory. I've heard that Katzkins (or however it's spelled) is good.

Personally, I didn't replace the center console and door arm rests, as I like the ultrasuede that is stock better than what came in the Bartlett kit. Also, I had already put a Wheelskin-brand leather steering wheel cover on the wheel (get your dealer to do that, too).

I posted a couple of pics in my album (see the link below in my sig). Note that flash photography really accents any waves or so-called wrinkles - mine doesn't really have wrinkles, but there are some minor waves you can see in the pics. However, the stock leather isn't smooth as glass, either. I'm more than satisfied with mine, and everyone that has seen it is blown away.