re-upholstery questions

**lgbalfa** · #1 (**permalink**) 02-12-2008, 09:45 AM

1. has anyone just re-upholstered one seat? my drivers side seat is a little worn but my passengers side seat is in perfect condition. prob not a good option because it wouldnt match, right?

2. what is a ball park price to re-do both front seats? i would want them to be an exact finish of OEM. i know a lot if depends on where you live. i am in NYC.

3. i know IAP sells the seat covers in leather for my car for $960. does anyone have these? i know murray has them in vinyl and the fit and finish look great on his car. i think he bought them oversees?

thanks

tamurphy67 · #2 (**permalink**) 02-12-2008, 06:29 PM

I did just one seat, and it looked stupid. I have the same car as you. I ended up doing the other a year later. I spent 500 the first year and 600 the second. I had them done in high quality vinyl, it matches the texture and color of the tan knee bolsters. I really wanted leather, but the guy talked me into vinyl. He said it would last longer, and I must admit it looks really nice, but I kinda wish I did them in leather. I just love that smell that comes up when you turn the heat on.
If your going to do the driver seat, it is worth getting a new seat cushion. I bought one from IAP and it is much stiffer than original. Takes a while to break in, so you may want to see if you can have the upholsterer make one.

Pat Braden · #3 (**permalink**) 02-12-2008, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lgbalfa

1. has anyone just re-upholstered one seat? my drivers side seat is a little worn but my passengers side seat is in perfect condition. prob not a good option because it wouldnt match, right?

2. what is a ball park price to re-do both front seats? i would want them to be an exact finish of OEM. i know a lot if depends on where you live. i am in NYC.

3. i know IAP sells the seat covers in leather for my car for $960. does anyone have these? i know murray has them in vinyl and the fit and finish look great on his car. i think he bought them oversees?

thanks

**msiert** · #4 (**permalink**) 02-12-2008, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lgbalfa

i know murray has them in vinyl and the fit and finish look great on his car. i think he bought them oversees?

thanks

**lgbalfa** · #5 (**permalink**) 02-12-2008, 07:45 PM

thanks - i am very impressed with the quality and turn-out of yours.

Quote:

Originally Posted by msiert

Hi lgbalfa,

I got seat covers and new foam seat bases at Alfaholic's in England. I had the same promblem as you did with the passenger seat looked great but the drivers suede inserts were looking worn.

The problem is matching the tan vinly trim we have in our interiors I looked at many samples but couldn't find any leather that look good till I found the ones at Alfaholic's. They are a tad bit lighter then the counsel, knee bolsters and door panel's but they are the right shade.........kinda a mustered color.

IAP sells the new foam seat bases now (they didn't when I got mine) and I highly recommend getting them when you redo the seats.

After installing the new foam seat bases I ended up seating up a little higher then I did with the old worn foam base.

**msiert** · #6 (**permalink**) 02-12-2008, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tamurphy67

I had them done in high quality vinyl, it matches the texture and color of the tan knee bolsters. I really wanted leather, but the guy talked me into vinyl. He said it would last longer, and I must admit it looks really nice, but I kinda wish I did them in leather.

**lgbalfa** · #7 (**permalink**) 02-12-2008, 08:21 PM

they are def worn but they dont look too bad.

i am surprised you cold not find a perfect match in leather.

thanks again for all the info.

Quote:

Originally Posted by msiert

I went through the same decission process as you did in deciding on vinyl over leather. I would of been happyier if they were leather for just the reason that was what I had before but the color matching was more important to me. All the leather samples I looked at seemed to have more of a brown then a musterd color to them.

I had a small shop that does high end work do the install of the seat covers and bases, he was impressed with the quiality of the Alfaholic's product and they told me that vinyl will hold up very well too

Here's my old seat covers.

**msiert** · #8 (**permalink**) 02-12-2008, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lgbalfa

they are def worn but they dont look too bad.

i am surprised you cold not find a perfect match in leather.

thanks again for all the info.

JoeCab · #9 (**permalink**) 02-12-2008, 09:07 PM

We also have the OEM vinyl/alcantara seat upholstery sets in stock at Centerline, as well as new seat foams and door panels. The upholstery kits are Italian-made and are identical to the originals.

**lgbalfa** · #10 (**permalink**) 02-12-2008, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeCab

We also have the OEM vinyl/alcantara seat upholstery sets in stock at Centerline, as well as new seat foams and door panels. The upholstery kits are Italian-made and are identical to the originals.

JoeCab · #11 (**permalink**) 02-12-2008, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lgbalfa

im assuming you dont have the leather?

**lgbalfa** · #12 (**permalink**) 02-12-2008, 09:16 PM

thanks - i will keep you posted.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeCab

We don't stock the leather. With today's exchange rate, it would be, well, really expensive to get them in Italian leather - probably double what IAP charges for their domestic leather kits w/o the suede inserts. The Italian leather is amazing, though.

If there's solid interest at that price, we can work on getting these.

**lgbalfa** · #13 (**permalink**) 02-12-2008, 09:23 PM

murray - could you have installed them yourself?

joe - what is your experience on people who buy your covers as far as the installation? do most of them just take it to a shop to get it done?

thanks