Re-Trimming armrest in Leather

[GrahamFR]

Worth a punt, this one is to have it re-upholstered http://www.jd-trimming.co.uk/

And this one is a fancy cover of things - http://www.autoleathers.co.uk/index.asp?IDTSec=OnlineShop&IDTSub=Ford&IDNDoc=287

I image the cover is cheaper.

[Exonian]

Thanks chaps. I'll look into the G-Techniq.

I think I would like it in leather really though. I checked with a dealer on Saturday, and for just the armrest (not the complete centre console), they wanted over £270 (it had better be real leather for that price, from a cow raised on only the purest grass on a Swiss hillside, and sung lullabies to sleep !)

I'll keep my eye on German eBay as few come up on there now and again.

£270? 
It's pleather and looks like it cost £2 to make in a Chinese factory.

[Bungleaio]

What's all this talk about fake leather? I've ordered it and was told by the dealer it's all proper leather. It should be for the cost of it.

[JoeGTI]

What's all this talk about fake leather? I've ordered it and was told by the dealer it's all proper leather. It should be for the cost of it.

I really don't think it is. It's "leatherette" at best. The dealer would be the last person I'd rely on for reliable information 

[Sootchucker]

If you look at any of the VW brochures, when on the options page under Leather, there's usually an asterisk and in tiny letters it say "some parts of the leather may contain man made leather".

It's been generally safe to say that the only parts which are "real" leather are the seat squabs and back rest, with the side bolsters, and rears from man made material.

At least Mercedes Benz are up front with this. Their literature always say the leather is Artico (a man made leatherette), so at least you know what you are getting (and the price generally reflects that).

For VW to charge £1700+ when most of it isn't even leather is a joke. Most marques charge much less. If you look at the all new Focus (a main rival for the Golf), then an upgrade to Windsor leather from cloth is only £1,150 and on the titanium model also includes 6 way power drivers seat and heated front seats and it's all genuine leather. Not too shabby really.

Don't get me wrong, from a looks point of view it does look great, and maybe being artificial means it will wear better (?), I just think the price is way too high for a small hatchback.

[Watts]

Whilst in my local VW showroom recently I was having a nosy round various models and the 'leather' seats were pretty nasty. So perhaps they weren't leather. My old Audi had full leather which was a £1250 option in 2003 and it looked, felt and smelt like proper leather. My brother-in-law has a 2008 Lexus IS with black leather and after being in my car my sister asked him why his leather interior didn't smell like mine (a leathery smell should anyone think she meant I didn't wash or similar!)!

[Wo-Wo]

Drop these guys a note as they were going to do Bev's whole car for £900 in VW Vienna Leather!! So I cant imagine an armrest being much?

www.trimtechnik.net

Ben Goodheart
07818 044166
sales@trimtechnik.net

[VWcezGTI7]

Considering the half alcantara/ tartan option is not available in my country, I have contacted a re-trimmer who could do the job for me. I'm having second thoughts for the long run but I'd really like to fit the center, door armrests and the sides of my seats to a leather suede type. the cloth other than the middle tartan cover seem to be poorly done and they get dirty easily. The recaro part of the seats have split so wide as well giving an unattractive look. Retro-fitting to leather would cost a whole lot less than buying the seats as the dealer priced them at around $3,000.. The re-trimmer said that I could even order whichever material for it if what he has doesn't satisfy. Does anyone know where I could find leather close to the type fitted on the GTI? Or even better material would be great.

[Wo-Wo]

Considering the half alcantara/ tartan option is not available in my country, I have contacted a re-trimmer who could do the job for me. I'm having second thoughts for the long run but I'd really like to fit the center, door armrests and the sides of my seats to a leather suede type. the cloth other than the middle tartan cover seem to be poorly done and they get dirty easily. The recaro part of the seats have split so wide as well giving an unattractive look. Retro-fitting to leather would cost a whole lot less than buying the seats as the dealer priced them at around $3,000.. The re-trimmer said that I could even order whichever material for it if what he has doesn't satisfy. Does anyone know where I could find leather close to the type fitted on the GTI? Or even better material would be great.

I'd suggest letting the re trimmer find the material as they should have the contact etc.

[mcmaddy]

I contacted trimtechnik about leather in my new Tiguan and its 1000 +vat. Still not cheap but 500 quid or so cheaper than what VW want. Still too expensive for me to take the plunge.