Cost of replacing seats/seat covers?

kissenger · 19 Oct 2015 at 20:17

I'm looking at a used Prius that ticks all my boxes, except I'm really put off by the red leather seats the current owner has installed and I'm wondering how much it would cost to either replace the seat covers or the actual seats, depending on which is necessary and most economical.

Is that a costly job? Would my best bet be to buy the seats from a write off and see if I can get a mechanic to install them?

Jim99 · 19 Oct 2015 at 20:18

Red leather for a Prius? What exactly was the thinking on that one?

kissenger · 19 Oct 2015 at 20:47

Jim99 said:
Red leather for a Prius? What exactly was the thinking on that one?

My thoughts exactly, but it is a really nice Prius apart from that. T Spirit with satnav/bluetooth/parking assist/cruise control, full Toyota service history, etc, and for a good price.

lemonade · 19 Oct 2015 at 21:10

Cost couple of hundred pounds to properly custom reupholster.

rodenal · 19 Oct 2015 at 21:11

Or if by some.miracle the interior is desirable it could be a zero cost change if you can find an entire interior that you want

kissenger · 19 Oct 2015 at 21:39

So I have two options:

1. Custom reupholster for a couple hundred quid, or

2. Source an interior I want (e.g., from a Prius with serious mechanical faults which is being broken up) and see if I can get a mechanic to do the switch, which would cost much less.

I will ask the owner when I go to view the car if he replaced the original seats or just the covers. If the latter, I'd imagine that's a cheaper thing to fix.

Howard · 19 Oct 2015 at 22:09

Isn't it easier to just buy one in a colour scheme you like? They're not exactly rare.

Got a link? I'm curious what it looks like. I reckon it might elevate it a bit from the norm

Iron-man · 19 Oct 2015 at 23:02

Re upholstering will cost a good chunk maybe better to get some seats and bolt in yourself just make sure they are the same ie if they have any electrics or heat etc

xs2man · 19 Oct 2015 at 23:06

Get on a prius owners forum or something (if such a thing exists), and see if anyone wants to do a swap? There would, I'd imagine, be owners out there who would happily swap their standard interior for leather.