Hi folks, as an early detractor of the new Fabia vRS, I've made a complete u-turn and am on the verge of ordering one. Don’t worry, plenty of humble pie has been eaten! My original beef about the vRS was that it just didn’t seem to be a £16k car, however, what with the VAT free deal, and my dealer willing to knock another £600 off, it’s actually being offered at a more palatable price.

I’ve test driven one and sat in a couple of them, and although the seat material is a big improvement over the original mk I vRS’s, it’s not a patch on my wife’s SE, what with its all leather upholstery with contrasting blue piping. Also, I see that Skoda haven’t seen fit to replace that nasty mesh-like material on the door cards with something more classy and durable. What I’d like to do, to lift the interior ambience, is to retrofit the seat material and door cards in leather. Has anyone on here had this done or knows where it can be done and at what cost? My dealer recommended Transcal in Livingston, but I wondered if there were any other alternatives out there, for example, Seat Surgeons?

Thanks in advance for your help. In the meantime, I’m off to have another mouthful of humble pie.

Statto

Edited 17 March, 201115 yr by Statto

Hi folks, as an early detractor of the new Fabia vRS, I've made a complete u-turn and am on the verge of ordering one. Don’t worry, plenty of humble pie has been eaten! My original beef about the vRS was that it just didn’t seem to be a £16k car, however, what with the VAT free deal, and my dealer willing to knock another £600 off, it’s actually being offered at a more palatable price.

I’ve test driven one and sat in a couple of them, and although the seat material is a big improvement over the original mk I vRS’s, it’s not a patch on my wife’s SE, what with its all leather upholstery with contrasting blue piping. Also, I see that Skoda haven’t seen fit to replace that nasty mesh-like material with something more classy and durable. What I’d like to do, to lift the interior ambience, is to retrofit the seat material and door cards in leather. Has anyone on here had this done or knows where it can be done and at what cost? My dealer recommended Transcal in Livingston, but I wondered if there were any other alternatives out there, for example, Seat Surgeons?

Thanks in advance for your help. In the meantime, I’m off to have another mouthful of humble pie.

Statto

This will be one of the first things I'll be looking into too. I hear seat surgeons are very good and have a good rep across the VAG forums. I suppose price would depend on options but i cant imagine it being less than a grand for something nice.

Some of the mkI VRS guys have used SeatSurgeons and the results do look good.

Figure on spending about £800 to £1000.

Thanks for the replies, chaps. I contacted Seat Surgeons yesterday aftie, and the chap that I spoke to (it wasn't Paul) said that they have done a couple of the mk II vRS's. After I asked if he had any photos showing examples of their work on a mk II interior, pointing out that their website only showed the mk I’s interior, he said that he didn’t have any. The good news, however, is that I was quoted £795+vat for the seats and door cards in standard leather, with any choice of colour, stitching design, piping, etc.

“Special” effects are also catered for, for example, having the vRS patch stitched onto the seat. I’ve got leather in my Octy, which has the vRS logo embossed into the seat, rather than a patch. I asked if this effect could be recreated, to which he said it could. Special effects like this command a small premium, I was told.

Finally, going back to the cost, he did say Seat Surgeons occasionally offer discounts for group buys. So, if there are any other mk II vRS owners out there who fancy giving their interior a touch of class (dirty hari, you’re one of them), then we’ll need to make sure we club together and go to Seat Surgeons en masse. I just need to get my vRS ordered now!

Hope that’s useful.

Statto

Sorry but I dont know why you'd bother retrimming the seats in a new Fabia vRS in leather, whats actually wrong with the standard cloth trim?

If you want a car with leather seats I'd say buy a car where it is a factory option. Just my opinion but I think such a mod has actually got to be the biggest waste of money going; trade the car into a Skoda dealer later down the line and they'll probably be thinking "what on earth have you done to this?!" They'll give you peanuts for it and it will be straight off down the auctions :-) Each to their own and all that but i'll be sticking with my nice Tempo grey trim thanks!

Finally, going back to the cost, he did say Seat Surgeons occasionally offer discounts for group buys. So, if there are any other mk II vRS owners out there who fancy giving their interior a touch of class (dirty hari, you’re one of them), then we’ll need to make sure we club together and go to Seat Surgeons en masse. I just need to get my vRS ordered now!

Was that price just the front seats (and door cards) ?

I'm interested. Like you, need to order the vRS first though.

Sorry but I dont know why you'd bother retrimming the seats in a new Fabia vRS in leather, whats actually wrong with the standard cloth trim?

If you want a car with leather seats I'd say buy a car where it is a factory option. Just my opinion but I think such a mod has actually got to be the biggest waste of money going; trade the car into a Skoda dealer later down the line and they'll probably be thinking "what on earth have you done to this?!" They'll give you peanuts for it and it will be straight off down the auctions :-) Each to their own and all that but i'll be sticking with my nice Tempo grey trim thanks!

Because both of our present cars have leather upholstery, and once you've had leather, there's no going back! I just think leather makes a car feel more luxurious inside, and that's important on the car's main contact points - ie steering wheel, handbrake and seats.

The price quoted by Seat Surgeons was for both front and rear seats, InsQuoOrgUk, which makes it a bit of a bargain really.

Cheers

Statto

Not sure I agree. I'm ordering a vRS this weekend and the lack of leather is not an issue. And my present motor has leather covered seats, doors and dashboard. I think cloth is more practical, easier to look after and won't get scuffed or creased like leather does.

Leather seats get hot in the sun and are bloomin freezing on cold mornings.

I do like leather on the dash though. No reflections or cheap shiny plastic to look at.

And besides you cannot see the seats when you are sitting on them enjoying the car as intended!

Seat Surgeons leather is great! I was really impressed with the quality, price and service that these guys delivered.

If you have them do your car, you won't be dissapointed.

Not sure I agree. I'm ordering a vRS this weekend and the lack of leather is not an issue. And my present motor has leather covered seats, doors and dashboard. I think cloth is more practical, easier to look after and won't get scuffed or creased like leather does.

Leather seats get hot in the sun and are bloomin freezing on cold mornings.

I do like leather on the dash though. No reflections or cheap shiny plastic to look at.

And besides you cannot see the seats when you are sitting on them enjoying the car as intended!

Here here! Still think you've got to be mad to spend a grand putting leather into a Fabia vRS unless you've got cash to set alight!

Porsche Boxster S.....fabulous car. My Dad has an 09 Boxster S PDK, as a sports car it's all things to all men I reckon. Fast, light, fantasic handling and brakes, great build and strangely very practical.....911 is no better really in my opinion, not for an extra 20-30k anyway.

As clarkson says, if you have a boxter all your showing is that your life hasnt panned out as planned and couldnt afford the 911 Id have the cayman over both the boxter and 911 anyway

I actually set out to buy a Carrera 2 but after driving a variety of 911s and Boxsters I knew mid engined is the way to go. The extra shove in the 911 is very nice but the mid engine balance is just sublime. And having two boots versus the 911s small front luggage area helps when you only have one car. Plus the back seats in the 911 are a waste of space anyway.

I do enjoy open air motoring but I agree with janner_Sy - the Cayman is the pick of the range. My mate has the pre DFI 3.4 and it is just amazing. Why the Cayman is still such a poor seller is beyond me.

Leather FTW

Can't go wrong with seat surgeons either so do it, do it, DO IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!