Rivage interior will changing interior affect value/collectability?

[superslayer]

Hi guys

I have just bought my dream car - Mk1 golf Rivage and she is beautiful but does need a little work.  Her leather interior is a little saggy and grubby looking and the driver side bolster has rubbed right through.  i would like to address this asap but was thinking about getting the whole interior retrimmed in cream with blue piping to match the paintwork - is this a bad idea as i dont want to put off enthusiasts in the future from buying her - although i am hoping to keep her for many years.  Any one have strong opinions on this?  Any other advice on restoring her to her former glory?

Many thanks

[eyeletboy]

gibby's the man to see.he's well up on the rivages as he has one himself.

[Madone_si]

Well it all depends on how it will look compared to how it is today... If the blue piping is dark then this will go well with cream and the cars colour, remember when you customize your car - it will not always be to everyones liking.. but getting it re-leathered always put value on car in short or long term...

My view is if you want to change your car do it.. when you come to sell it (why would anyone want to sell a cab I don't know... lol) - you can always sell the interior seperate and find and put another standard interior in car instead.

[gibby]

Personally I would prefer to have the original interior if I was buying one, but I've thought about getting mine re-covered when it's beyond repair and if I was doing that then I'd try to get the re-cover done as close to standard cream as possible as I've seen them with yellowy cream leather and thought it looked naff. I think a re-trim in original cream with blue piping would look good but just remember that it might not be to everyone's liking (as Madone said) and if you are wanting to think of future sales then you need to keep it plain and standard.

I dont think it will detract from the collectibility/value unless someone is determined to get a mint original Rivage and as time goes by these will be few and far between anyway. 

[golfpro]

If i were you id do it toy your own taste mate. If you constantly worry about pleasing others youl end up not liking it.

Your plan to do it in cream with matching piping sounds lovely. thing to remember is you will never get your money back on a car so u may as well make it look how you want it and enjoy it while its yours.

[Phil303]

Sounds like a nice idea.

If it's done properly and tastefully then it'll look good. Remember, less is more! 

As the others have said, ultimately it is *your* car so do whatever will make you happy. if you plan to keep it then don't worry about resale value too much. Apart from a bodged job interior made from Leopard skin print vinyl in lime green, I shouldn't think that a nicely done non-stock retrim will affect the price a great deal in the long term.

Better a new leather interior than a tatty original one?

[The Hoax]

I have gone down the originality route before when I restored a Mark two Jaguar and it becomes a monkey on your back. If what you do is tasteful, appropriate, suits you (sir!) and does not in your view detract from the overall idea of how the car should  look then just do it!

When you come to sell the car you can show that it has been loved and is a Little better than your average.

At the end of the day, condition, history and price will dictate whether or not you sell. This is my opinion after 4 brandies. I will probably get back to you at about midnight when I have had 7 or 8. The views I express then may not necessarily concur with this post.

Cheers

The Hoax