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Leather upgrade

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by addlepated, Apr 17, 2005.

  1. addlepated

    addlepated New Member

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    I was surprised to see that PETA had given the Prius some award for not offering leather seats; on the Build Your Own Prius section of the Toyota website, if you enter an Austin zipcode (like 78701), after the package selection you will come to another screen which indicates that leather is a standard option.

    The one I am waiting for has the leather option. Are there any other Gulf States owners who have pictures of what their leather seats look like?
     
  2. Frank Hudon

    Frank Hudon Senior Member

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    it's a dealer installed option and isn't warrantied by Toyota.
     
  3. rookie

    rookie New Member

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    I am in the same place as to getting it or not :)

    Ordering a Salsa Prius tomorrow evening... I'm on the fence re leather seats. Would be nice, but - seeing this is going to be a family hauler (for a 3 1/2 year old and a not yet born on the way) and knowing how my son sometimes treats the car (when he throws a fit over something or whatever) - I think I'll stay away from leather as I am afraid it might not live up to abuse or might look like crap.

    I don't want to police every little thing kids do on car seats. I think cloth might work better + I might not feel bad to throw seat covers on few years down the road...

    THAT BEING SAID - if anyone has photos, that would be kewl! I did not see leather in a Prius yet. Don't have a feel for what the quality is.
     
  4. addlepated

    addlepated New Member

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    rookie, I also have small kids. Our current primary vehicle, a Suburban, has leather seats and they have held up well under the tyranny of the children. :wink: The main thing is that they show wear in places which see lots of contact, like the armrests. Spills generally pool right up. If you use a folded towel under the carseats, they should not stretch out the seat underneath.

    (Yeah, we drive a 'burb. We are keeping it for when we need to tow or use the 4x4 [a dirty truck is a happy truck] but the 13 mpg in the city was just killing us with gas prices. Our other car, a Jeep, is about to die a horrible death and needed to be replaced anyway, so the Prius immediately sprang to mind after discussing gas prices!)
     
  5. Robert Taylor

    Robert Taylor New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Frank Hudon\";p=\"82182)</div>
    Not true, it is not a dealer installed option. What is reported is true, Toyota Prius is avaliable in leather seats, they are installed at port in both Gulf States Distributors and SE Toyota Distributors geographic areas.

    And the official Toyota website does llst the leather faced seats as an option, if you input a zip code in those distributors states.

    I had mine done, its nice. The cleanup is vastly easier.

    Everyone here knows the Prius comes avaliable with leather as an option, but getting any Prius is a wait. My across the street neighbor wanted one, but got a new Camry instead. Wasn't willing to wait a month to get a Prius.

    10500 delivered units per month isn't enough to satisfy demand at all.
     
  6. Victoriatus

    Victoriatus New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Robert Taylor\";p=\"82203)</div>
    Is it leather or alcantara? The alcanatara option in Europe is pretty neat and easy to clean too. It's installed in port, and it's under Toyota's 3 year warranty.
     
  7. addlepated

    addlepated New Member

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    Here's what my invoice has as far as options. If anyone knows anything about the options besides package 6, I'm all ears. I'm especially interested in the leather, the upgraded tires, and the sound shield. Since this stuff is all listed on the Build page on Toyota, I did not realize until later that not all regions had the same packages available.

    BC Package #6 Includes Smart Key System, MSRP $5065.00
       -Package #6 Includes: Smart Key System
       -Ec Mirror W/Homelink
       -Dr/Pass Side And Curtain Airbags
       -Security Alarm
       -Hid Headlamps W/Auto Leveling Feature
       -Voice Activated Navagation System
       -Jbl Am/Fm/ Cass/6 Disc Chngr W/9 Speakers
       -Vehicle Stability Control
       -Frontfog Lamps

    A0 - The Extra Mile Option Package A $877.00 MSRP
       -Glass Break Sensor
       -First Aid Kit
       -Cargo Net
       -Fabric Guard
       -Carpet Mat Set (5 Pc)
       -Custom Tape Stripe
       -Wheel Locks
       -Carpet Floor Mats
       -Rear Cargo Mat
       -Rear Bumper Protector
    -Road Hazard Tire Warranty, Roadside assistance, Extended life tires

    L2 Leather Interior Upgrade MSRP $1,049.00
       -Leather Interior Upgrade
       -Incl: Leather Faced Seat

    P4 Vehicle Shield Package MSRP $349.00
       -Lusterizing Sealant
       -Sound Shield
       -Sealant Cleaner
       -Rental Car Assistance
     
  8. gschoen

    gschoen Member

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    The build page can be completely different from different regions, as I learned looking at Texas vs. Illinois. Not only the options, but the entire web site was different.
     
  9. addison1062

    addison1062 New Member

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    I wonder who the supplier is? Anyone know if the interior upgrade includes the steering wheel or is just the seats and door panels?
     
  10. Frank Hudon

    Frank Hudon Senior Member

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    The SE Toyota distributorship is independently owned and as such can have any options it wants port installed, but as far as I know it's not available anywhere else in NA
     
  11. DanMan32

    DanMan32 Senior Member

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    i dont' get PETA having a problem with leather. What else would we do with the skins of cows that are slaughtered for food?
     
  12. addlepated

    addlepated New Member

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    Pics of the leather seats:

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    (Sorry about the camera angle on the second pic... it's a little wonky.)
     
  13. DieselConvert

    DieselConvert Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(addlepated\";p=\"82988)</div>
    I'm still learning how to use the many features of PriusChat, so this may not be exactly what I intend.

    Thanks, "addlepated" for your photos. My wife and I asked our central California Toyota sales rep why only fabric was available, when we ordered our 2004 6 months before it arrived. He insisted that the #1, #6, and #9 options packages were the only ones available. We've found other "facts" about which the poor guy was ignorant.

    Your job looks absolutely perfect, allowing for color differences difficult to avoid in digital photos. Do you know whether it was installed over original upholstery, or was it a factory installation? Our miniature Poodle and miniature Dachshund are happy with the fabric, but keep ahead of us scrubbing their paw tracks from all horizontal (and some vertical) surfaces. We're not as agile as we were 50 years ago, so appreciate being able to slide in and out of seats of leather or leatherette in our previous cars. If you don't mind, I'd like to know how much you had to pay for the job, too.
     
  14. addlepated

    addlepated New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DieselConvert\";p=\"83112)</div>
    Actually, if you asked your California dealer, he may have been correct in saying leather was not an option. From what I have read, it's only a port-installed option in the Gulf States dealers. The cost was $1059. I am not sure if it's on top of the original upholstery or not. I have seen others say they have gotten after-market leather at prices anywhere from $1000-2000. Seems like there are also leatherette covers available; a search should turn them up.

    It also might be possible that the only packages available in your area are the #1, 6, and 9. I read something about that being the case in SoCal. One way to check would be to enter your zip code in the Toyota site and see what it says. You can try other zip codes around the country to see what's available there, as well. An Austin zip code to try is 78701.

    And you're right about the color differences, especially in the second pic. The flash does funny things to colors. :)
     
  15. Victoriatus

    Victoriatus New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(addlepated\";p=\"83137)</div>
    I think the original is removed before. I got my original upholstery in a nice plastic bag when I ordered my Prius with alcantara – just in case I want to switch back or build a 1:1 model in my living room. :mrgreen:
     
  16. DieselConvert

    DieselConvert Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(addlepated\";p=\"83137)</div>
    Actually, if you asked your California dealer, he may have been correct in saying leather was not an option. From what I have read, it's only a port-installed option in the Gulf States dealers. The cost was $1059. I am not sure if it's on top of the original upholstery or not. I have seen others say they have gotten after-market leather at prices anywhere from $1000-2000. Seems like there are also leatherette covers available; a search should turn them up.

    It also might be possible that the only packages available in your area are the #1, 6, and 9. I read something about that being the case in SoCal. One way to check would be to enter your zip code in the Toyota site and see what it says. You can try other zip codes around the country to see what's available there, as well. An Austin zip code to try is 78701.

    And you're right about the color differences, especially in the second pic. The flash does funny things to colors. :)[/b][/quote]

    I like the way the legs move on your (photo) widow.

    My HP 215 (PhotoSmart) is several years old, and takes several seconds, sometimes, to adjust settings automatically, especially when flash is being charged. If I fully depress the "shutter release" before I get the "ready" light, color is completely unpredictable (for me). I gather, then, that the color in your first photo is more like what you see - very nice.

    Thanks for the other suggestions.
    :)
     
  17. maltesemommy

    maltesemommy New Member

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    I must have lucked out. When I called the Dealer in North Little Rock, Arkansas, I just asked for one with Package 3,4,5 or 6. I didn't really have a color preference. They called me back within an hour and said they found one, and it also had leather. I picked it up one week later (Salsa Red, Package 5) Yeah!

    I have a 7 year old, and leather is the only way to go. The interor carpet and mats tend to get dirty easily, so I know the seats would have been the same.
     
  18. amaynard

    amaynard New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(gschoen @ Apr 18 2005, 12:37 PM) [snapback]82238[/snapback]</div>
    I live in the Gulf States region and am getting a new Prius due to arrive in the port in Houston week after next. It did not come from the factory with leather, but my dealer said he can have the factory leather installed at the port or send it up to Shreveport to the upholsterer all the dealers use for leather here. The Shreveport leather would not be the factory leather. Same price either way. He seemed to think the factory leather installed at port would be better. Of course, it is a lot easier for him.

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(In_Louisiana @ May 11 2006, 01:45 PM) [snapback]253620[/snapback]</div>
    P.S. I talked to a dealer in North Carolina and he said he could get the leather installed at the port in Jacksonville. So its available at the port in the SE region also.
     
  19. mike_m

    mike_m New Member

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    I have mine on the way with gray port leather in the SE. Do they also do the arm rest and the center console? The Prius I rented had some crappy fabric that I can see being trashed and stained in a matter of months.
     
  20. vazquezt

    vazquezt New Member

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    I purchase a 2006 Prius with leather seats and it looks great!:eek: