Seat Cover Review

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(heavenleigh @ Jun 27 2006, 07:14 PM) [snapback]277665[/snapback]</div>

Been a while since I put them on...

Put the seats flat back
Unhook the OEM seats from the metal wire/rod underneath.
You can then thread the straps and tighten them under the seats, front to back
The velcro side to side, you should be able to fit them underneath and then, blindly tighten and attech the two velcro strip.
The 'bad' part is I could find no way to secure the back of the front buckets underneath. I just folded the oem back up and secured the velcro from the backs to the bottom base velcro exposed/

 

I just finished putting it on my '06 "Bisque" (beige) interior. The color of the covers is more of a light tan than beige but it still is a good match. Overall, I think it's a good fit, looks fine (not great), and is a very good value.

Regarding the front seat back, my set had both bottom ends with velcro loop strips, i.e., there were no velcro hook strips anywhere on the seat back covers. Whereas the instructions showed that one side should be hook and the other loop. Anyway, I was able to secure the front section to the hook strip of the bottom seat cover, but the back section is just hanging down. Any suggestions?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dancekat59 @ Jul 1 2006, 04:41 PM) [snapback]279782[/snapback]</div>

The bottom of the seatback had a velcro strip, The seatbotton had velcro that was at the back after putting it on/..

I folder the original up and then pressed the setaback bottom onto the bae covers velcro strip at the bottom. I can try & post a photo if you like. It's not a 'perfect' install, but it functions and looks OK.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Catskillguy @ Jul 1 2006, 08:08 PM) [snapback]279867[/snapback]</div>

If I understand correctly, what you describe is:
- unhook the back flap of the OEM cover of seat back and fold up and under the new cover
- tuck back flap of seat back cover under seat back (velcro loop) and attach to the seat bottom velcro hook.
I understand this part.

What did you do with the front flap of the seat back cover? Since both front and back flaps of my seat back cover had velcro loop strips, it seems I can only attach either the the front or the back flap to the seat bottom velcro hook strip... not both... so either the front flap or back flap is unattached???

 

fshagan -

It's been a few months since you installed your seat covers. Any update on how they are holding up? Still happy with them? Still look good?

Thanks

 

I bought and installed my seat covers from exact seat covers (http://stores.ebay.com/Exact-Fit-Seat-Covers ).

I am very satisfied with them when you factor in cost. For $72 with shipping they were a good deal. I did have one of the buckels on the front seat bottom rip out, when I contacted Michael Stevens - ( seatcoverfactory @ sbcglobal . net ) - he got back to me quickly and said to send it back to have it fixed or replaced. I have a sewing machine and know how to use it so I had it fixed in a few minutes. Word of warning, don't tug to much on those buckels. Also, you don't have to pull the plastic siding away from the base of the seat very much to slide the velcro strap through.

I scanned and attached the directions I recieved. They say that you don't have to remove the bolsters on a Prius.

Specific Toyota directions for rear seat
[attachmentid=4296]

Front seat directions
[attachmentid=4297]

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Catskillguy @ Jul 1 2006, 09:08 PM) [snapback]279867[/snapback]</div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dancekat59 @ Jul 3 2006, 12:54 PM) [snapback]280539[/snapback]</div>

Catskillguy, I just got these, and I am having the exact issue as dancekat59. How did you resolve it, and do you by chance have pictures you mentioned?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(fshagan @ Feb 26 2006, 07:27 PM) [snapback]217030[/snapback]</div>

fshagan, your pic actually looks pretty neat and clean. How did you get the front and back of the seat back piece to attach to one another at the bottom and/or to the seat bottom piece?

Thanks to all,
Jim

 

To Fshagan and others - Thanks for the information. I'll probably be ordering a set of the Exact fit seat covers.

To Catskillguy or anyone that knows- Any comments about the Endura fabric compared to the Velour?

How long do they usually take to arrive? Thanks again.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(fshagan @ Aug 12 2006, 12:17 AM) [snapback]301958[/snapback]</div>

Thanks for the fast response!

I discovered the "release-able" straps for the factory seat back cover beneath the seat bottom, and I got the bottom piece of the new cover secured with no problem. The problem is securing the seat back piece. There is a strip of "hook" Velcro on the bottom piece near where it tucks between the seat bottom and back, and the front of the seat back piece, with its "loop" Velcro, connects to that easily enough. There is also a "loop" Velcro strip on the bottom flap of the rear of the seat back piece that looks like it could also be designed to fit to the "hook" on the bottom cover, but the flap is much too long to fit snugly. It looks like it is the right length to wrap under the seat bottom and connect somewhere beneath the seat, perhaps to the flap of the factory cover as you described, but that would only work if it had a strip of "hook" Velcro.

Hope this makes sense. Any ideas?

Jim

 

No answer to my Eudura fabric question?

Perhaps someone can tell me the difference between seat covers that are fitted for airbags vs ones that are made for seats without airbags? It seems the Ebay store is only offering Prius covers for seats with airbags.

I sent an email to the ebay (exactseatcover) staff asking if they offered seat covers without the airbag pocket, and they responded saying I'd have to purchase those directly from the the exactseatcover's website. The price is around $79 plus shipping if I order directly from their website.

I don't believe the my seats have airbags, since Im not seeing an
emblem on the side of the seat. Right? There is a side airbag curtain, but it comes from above the window.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JimboK @ Aug 12 2006, 12:04 PM) [snapback]302153[/snapback]</div>

I've never been able to figure this out either and have just let the back flap hang down. Even so, I still feel that these seat covers are an incredible value.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(riva @ Aug 12 2006, 09:54 AM) [snapback]302092[/snapback]</div>

I ordered the 'Endura', but they shipped the velour. When I asked why, they said that was all they would come in... The endura is a bit more nylon/canvas' feeling. The velour has been fine in the 5 months they've been installed.

 

...and mine took about 2 weeks to arrive.

 

To Catskillguy, Fshagan and Jack Kelly - Thanks for answering my questions.

Does anyone know if package #3 includes airbags in the seats? I don't see an emblem on the side of my seats, but there is an airbag curtain above the side windows. Anyway, if I don't have seat airbags, I'll probably be ordering directly from the exactcovers's website. The price is still pretty reasonable at $79.00.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(riva @ Aug 13 2006, 12:04 PM) [snapback]302545[/snapback]</div>

I can't tell you anything about alternative fabrics. What e-bay had and what I received was velour.

Not having air bags in the seats, I did the same thing you did: e-mailed the vendor via their e-bay link for clarification. But their response to me was different than the one to you. They responded with the e-bay item number to order. It was interesting to note that the description of that item indicated it was for cars with side air bags (as all of the e-bay items appeared to be). So I figured I'd order that item based on their guidance. If it worked, great. If not, they would get it sent back. When I processed payment via PayPal, I made a note in the "Note to seller" (or whatever it says) box: "My car has NO side air bags." Lo and behold, I received seat covers without the hole for the side air bags.

As opposed to Jack Kelly's experience, mine arrived in 3 days, via FedEx.

As far as the install and my earlier question about the rear seat back flap, pending information from fshagan to suggest a better approach, I have improvised by tucking the excess flap through the crack between the seat back and seat bottom, up inside the front flap. This means I can't re-attach the flap for the factory cover back beneath the seat bottom again as fshagan described. So I just tucked its straps into the factory pocket on the rear of the seat back to keep it up and out of the way of the seat cover flap. On the whole, the cover fits well, and it looks good except at the bottom of the back of the seat. It doesn't look bad there, but it's just not as clean looking as the pics fshagan originally posted.

I have two other options I might choose to pursue, depending on insight from fshagan: 1) Call the vendor for advice, the thought of which has been a little underwhelming, given the inconsistency of their customer service reported here; or 2) Have my significant other, who likes to sew, sew some elastic straps with hooks to the bottom edge of the flap to hook beneath the seat in a fashion similar to the factory cover.

As others have suggested, I still think these covers are a good value given their price. Again, they look good, and the beige color is very close to the factory color.

Jim

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jack Kelly @ Aug 13 2006, 09:24 PM) [snapback]302752[/snapback]</div>

Package 3 has side airbags - only package 1 doesn't for 2006.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jeannie @ Aug 14 2006, 09:43 AM) [snapback]302950[/snapback]</div>

Hi Jeane- I thought so, but I haven't been able to find the airbag emblem on the seat anywhere. When I called the dealership, I was told if there was no emblem on the side of the seat, that meant there was no airbag installed in the seat. Perhaps I'm looking in the wrong place.