OEM vs Non-OEM seats Options

[Xander_X]

So my car was pretty near mint for being 13 years old when I got it but I can be a bit of a perfectionist sometimes and want to fix all the little things in the car and take it from great condition to showroom quality (Let's not nit pick over what everyone's definition or condition's need to be met to meet "showroom" quality. This is not what this post is about).

Right now, my main focus is on either getting my leather seats repaired or replacing them. The front leather parts are still nice and intact, but the synthetic sides have a few tears in them on the outside sides and are starting to pull from the seams in small spots on the inside sides. I've talked with a couple upholsters (who I might add talk to me like I'm crazy for wanting to spend that kind of money on my Celica). So far I'm getting quotes for around $1200 to re-upholster JUST the fronts. I've been told that even though the front part, where the leather is, is still intact, it had become too hard with age to sew into and they can therefor not just replace the synthetic parts.

So I've been considering the option of getting a nice used set of Recaro's instead (Probably a set from a JDM Integra Type R). Does anyone here have either universal Recaro's or ones out of another vehicle? I'm wondering how hard it would be to mount the factory rails on them? I've never used Recaro though I've used Corbeau, Dynamic Auto Design (DAD) and a no name brand (of which my computer chair is made of now). All of which I had to make custom brackets for to fit into Integra's. I'm really not a fan of most aftermarket brackets which is why I like to keep the OEM ones. What has everyone else done that have switch out their seats? (And I'm not really fan of the 7th gen seats so that's not an option).

PS - I'd LOVE a set of JDM Celica Recaro seats. If you got 'em and willing to sell them .... PM me!

This post has been edited by Xander_X: Aug 15, 2012 - 9:32 AM

[njccmd2002]

do me a favor and buy this before i get tempted..

http://www.ebay.com/itm/94-01-Toyota-Supra...ea6&vxp=mtr

youll need the rails, but those are easy to find.

Confetti is sexy

[Xander_X]

do me a favor and buy this before i get tempted..

http://www.ebay.com/itm/94-01-Toyota-Supra...ea6&vxp=mtr

youll need the rails, but those are easy to find.

Confetti is sexy

LOVE those seats ... I think those are the same seats offered in JDM 5th and 6th gen Celica's too. Not sure which trims it was an option in, and I could be COMPLETELY wrong on that. Either way, too worn out for me man, go ahead and get them. The seats I buy need to be at least 99% perfect.

[bhawk94]

I came to the same crossroads you are at about 10 years ago when my OEM cloth seats started coming apart.

I ended up ordering a set of custom fitted leather covers for front and rear seats from Katskin.com and had a upholstery place install them. They placed some new foam in the seats and put the covers on. When it was all finished my seats looked really great. The fitment was perfect and you couldn't tell they were aftermarket seats to the unknowing eye. See my profile for a picture.

I also paid about what your upholstery place quoted you for covers for front and rear seats and install. They still look great to this day, 10 years later, except minor wear/fading.

HOWEVER if I had to do it again, I would go with a set of nice set of used OEM seats from an ST205--OR a classy set of aftermarket bucket seats (Recarro, Corbeau, etc) in the front and leave the back as they are or take them out completely. Who really uses the back seats anyway??

[Xander_X]

^ Yeah I was looking at Katzkin as well. I think I got a price of around $900 for the fronts (black with red stitching). I agree about the rears, mine look great and I never use them. I would LOVE a set of Recaro's out of a JDM Toyota bu that's the only way I would give up the leather.

[azian_advanced]

i have the confetti Recaro's on mine.. once you have the seat rails for the 6gc, you can just bolt on any seat. my driver side bolster was badly ripped so i just unscrewed the bolts holding each seat to the rails and swapped it with the passenger side.

[yellowchinaman]

Non oem.
I personally hate the Rector seats. The stock seats are plain and boring and so many people go from those to branded plain and boring! If you're gonads mod your car, do it properly and get some real racing seats or go custom. Not something which hasn't evolved and looks the same 99% of the time in Honda, Mitsubishi and Toyota.

[Tigawoods]

Ive always wanted a set of confetti's

[Xander_X]

^ I get you, but I like the clean OEM look. I don't want anything too "ricer" anymore. Plus I'm looking to stay under a grand price wise. I'm not sure what you mean by "real racing seats". If you mean like fixed, non reclining I'll pass on that thought. The car is not fast and will never be a race car; just sporty looking and pretty. Plus I want something comfortable enough to take a road trip in down the coast with the little woman if I want to. Right now I'm thinking either Sparco, or BRIDE, they seem to be cheaper than Recaro, plus most of the used Recaro ones I see are worn or dirty as hell. What do people do in these things!? lol ... I've never worn out or stained a seat.

Well I've never stained a FRONT seat

This post has been edited by Xander_X: Aug 15, 2012 - 3:30 PM

[yellowchinaman]

I would class sparco and bride as race seats and if you think they''re comfortable for long distance driving them get them cos they look a million times better than recaros and if you can afford real bride seats then the sky's your limit because they're a grand price.

[trdproven]

just get the nicer seats from a 6gen to a 7gen. 6gen has different color schemes, and Recaro versions, also leather versions. 7gen, has black gray cloth/black blue cloth/leather. or do the mod with the MR2 seats. keep it clean and OEM, don't dare go get honda stuff.

This post has been edited by trdproven: Aug 15, 2012 - 6:08 PM

[Box]

What are they smoking, and where can I get it? It's been some time since I went by my local upholsterer, but they only wanted $75 a seat plus cost of material. Then again I live in rural Alabama and you're in New York, guess that has a lot to do with it. Which I know how you feel, have the cloth seats in mine and the (now) passenger seat is worn out. I was looking into finding leather 6GC, 7GC, or MR2 seats. Since the foam needs replaced on one of the seats, that ruled out just recovering...

[diegohiga]

i love the recaros but i really like the stock seats too so i decided to keep them oem with a fresh suede fabric. i cant use leather because im in florida and the seats get too hot.

[Xander_X]

just get the nicer seats from a 6gen to a 7gen. 6gen has different color schemes, and Recaro versions, also leather versions. 7gen, has black gray cloth/black blue cloth/leather. or do the mod with the MR2 seats. keep it clean and OEM, don't dare go get honda stuff.

I want the nicer 6gen seats, hell I HAVE the nicer ones ... LEATHER ... but I can't find anyone who's willing to sell a mint set of them. I refuse to go to cloth unless it's for a nice set of Recaro's, preferably the Toyota Confetti ones. As I stayed, I do not like the 7gen seats so won't use them. I'll spend 2 grand re-upholstering my seats before I settle for what I don't like.

i love the recaros but i really like the stock seats too so i decided to keep them oem with a fresh suede fabric. i cant use leather because im in florida and the seats get too hot.

I know dude, I love your seats and I saw on another post that you paid only $900! I'd pay that in a second so get all my seats done custom! Can't find that around here though

[b22ri22an]

i paid $975 with the embroidering work and they recovered the armrest look at a few more upholstery shops i drove 60 miles to find the right price

[njccmd2002]

i paid 375 for mine and

but i installed them.

got them in ebay

[Xander_X]

i paid $975 with the embroidering work and they recovered the armrest look at a few more upholstery shops i drove 60 miles to find the right price

Are those leather or synthetic? I like them.

i paid 375 for mine and

but i installed them.

got them in ebay

I've been trying to find some on ebay. I keep finding 4th, 5th and 7th gen ones but no 6th. Guess I'll just have to keep looking.

[b22ri22an]

i paid $975 with the embroidering work and they recovered the armrest look at a few more upholstery shops i drove 60 miles to find the right price

Are those leather or synthetic? I like them.

they're a high quality synthetic, i cant tell the difference from real leather myself. but they won't get damaged as easy with water and i have a convertible so i went with that over real leather. real leather would have been +200 on the cost as well but that wasn't a factor in my decision.