Redline Goods Leather Shift Boot Review
10-23-2004, 09:33 PM
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Redline Goods Leather Shift Boot Review
Today I received my black leather shift boot with red stitching from Redline Goods. (I'd sent them my OEM vinyl boot for their template, and in return they sent me back my boot and a free leather one, which earns them a big :D. I only wish they had stitched my OEM boot back together before they returned it. 
)
The leather boot fits perfectly. As compared to the factory boot, it differs only in having slightly thicker material (making for a tighter fit) and in lacking the rigid plastic ring at the top. (Instead, it has loose leather "ears" that must be tucked in around the shaft of the shift lever.)
I rotated the boot around a few times, trying to make it line up right with the OEM plastic form that fits inside its base. Eventually I concluded that the boot may be positioned so that any of its four panels is facing in any direction: they are identical to each other. One of the four seams has red stitching that stops 2/3 of the way up (it is stitched together the rest of the way, just not in red), so I aimed that seam toward my right knee where the passenger and I can't see it. I also had to lengthen one (out of eight or so) of the slits in the boot, to fit over one of the tabs in the OEM inner plastic form.
It took some finesse, and three tries or so, to tuck the ears in perfectly, get the OEM padding just right inside the boot, and keep the boot from getting twisted around by the shift **** (I wound up overtightening it and then backing it off to "unwind" the boot). Finally, I got it all just right.
The whole job took me maybe 10 minutes, working slowly. Everything looks great and it's really snug and sano. The top wraps inside around the shaft just right. I'm delighted with it. No regrets.
Check the web site listed above for details and ordering. I think they sell for $35 or so. They come in various colors (even two-tone) and you can get same-color or contrasting stitching. They're made in Europe of nice, soft Italian leather, and they smell good.
Now if they just made an inexpensive RX-8 hand-brake cover!
)The leather boot fits perfectly. As compared to the factory boot, it differs only in having slightly thicker material (making for a tighter fit) and in lacking the rigid plastic ring at the top. (Instead, it has loose leather "ears" that must be tucked in around the shaft of the shift lever.)
I rotated the boot around a few times, trying to make it line up right with the OEM plastic form that fits inside its base. Eventually I concluded that the boot may be positioned so that any of its four panels is facing in any direction: they are identical to each other. One of the four seams has red stitching that stops 2/3 of the way up (it is stitched together the rest of the way, just not in red), so I aimed that seam toward my right knee where the passenger and I can't see it. I also had to lengthen one (out of eight or so) of the slits in the boot, to fit over one of the tabs in the OEM inner plastic form.
It took some finesse, and three tries or so, to tuck the ears in perfectly, get the OEM padding just right inside the boot, and keep the boot from getting twisted around by the shift **** (I wound up overtightening it and then backing it off to "unwind" the boot). Finally, I got it all just right.
The whole job took me maybe 10 minutes, working slowly. Everything looks great and it's really snug and sano. The top wraps inside around the shaft just right. I'm delighted with it. No regrets.
Check the web site listed above for details and ordering. I think they sell for $35 or so. They come in various colors (even two-tone) and you can get same-color or contrasting stitching. They're made in Europe of nice, soft Italian leather, and they smell good.
Now if they just made an inexpensive RX-8 hand-brake cover!
Last edited by Hard 8; 10-23-2004 at 09:44 PM.
10-25-2004, 11:03 AM
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OK; but do you know for sure? Vinyl looks a lot like leather these days. A buddy of mine had an older Lancia where for YEARS he swore up and down the seats were leather, not vinyl. He was wrong.
I assume yours is a GT or Touring model? On Wednesday, I'm going into the dealer for some warranty work. I'll check out some GT shifter boots then, and cheerfully eat crow if I'm wrong.
I assume yours is a GT or Touring model? On Wednesday, I'm going into the dealer for some warranty work. I'll check out some GT shifter boots then, and cheerfully eat crow if I'm wrong.
10-25-2004, 03:21 PM
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Looks nice and I'm tempted to get a one with yellow stitching to set off my yellow shift **** and yellow/black interior 
But, these guys need to figure out how to deal with digital images. I checked out a couple of their color examples and their comments all seem to boil down to "sorry but it doesn't look anything like this...."
wtf??
If I turn them on to photoshop maybe they'll give me a discount
But, these guys need to figure out how to deal with digital images. I checked out a couple of their color examples and their comments all seem to boil down to "sorry but it doesn't look anything like this...."
The first PICTURE below IS TAKEN WITH A FLASH, which makes the colors more intensive. It's a bit less aggressive of a color in reality. Picture #2 makes it look creamish. But it's not creamish at all. Sadly, we don't have better pictures than those two, but please believe us that you will like this color!
If I turn them on to photoshop maybe they'll give me a discount
10-26-2004, 02:40 PM
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Originally Posted by Nubo
Looks nice and I'm tempted to get a one with yellow stitching to set off my yellow shift **** and yellow/black interior
But, these guys need to figure out how to deal with digital images. I checked out a couple of their color examples and their comments all seem to boil down to "sorry but it doesn't look anything like this...."
wtf??
If I turn them on to photoshop maybe they'll give me a discount
But, these guys need to figure out how to deal with digital images. I checked out a couple of their color examples and their comments all seem to boil down to "sorry but it doesn't look anything like this...."
wtf??
If I turn them on to photoshop maybe they'll give me a discount
I'am still improving my skills
)Przemek
10-27-2004, 11:10 AM
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Originally Posted by abbid
Mines leather.
Originally Posted by Rotary Rasp
mmhmhm D70, nice camera!
Last edited by Hard 8; 10-27-2004 at 11:34 AM.
10-27-2004, 11:22 AM
#14
Originally Posted by RedlineGoods
Still waiting for reply form Omicron...
Don't worry
Don't worry
10-27-2004, 05:13 PM
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Originally Posted by truemagellen
sweet, you want to make an aftermarket console cover for the front and back, in leather?
As I said we are based in Europe and Eclipse 3G super rare car.
Przemek
10-27-2004, 05:31 PM
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Originally Posted by Hard 8
One of the four seams has red stitching that stops 2/3 of the way up (it is stitched together the rest of the way, just not in red), so I aimed that seam toward my right knee where the passenger and I can't see it.
~ Matt
10-27-2004, 05:53 PM
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Good catch; no one else asked me that.
Maybe Przemek can answer this question. I'm no seamstress, but my theory is that the machine that does the red stitching is too big to fit into the very tip of the boot, so they stitch three of the four seams with the material laid flat, then they do the fourth as high as they can. (That fourth seam does have black stitching at the top, but not the red.)
BTW, if you look at my picture closely, you can almost see the area in question. I say almost, because that side faces away from someone in the driver's seat and away from anyone in the passenger seat. It's really impossible to notice it unless you position your head in front of the shifter.
Maybe Przemek can answer this question. I'm no seamstress, but my theory is that the machine that does the red stitching is too big to fit into the very tip of the boot, so they stitch three of the four seams with the material laid flat, then they do the fourth as high as they can. (That fourth seam does have black stitching at the top, but not the red.)
BTW, if you look at my picture closely, you can almost see the area in question. I say almost, because that side faces away from someone in the driver's seat and away from anyone in the passenger seat. It's really impossible to notice it unless you position your head in front of the shifter.
10-28-2004, 05:31 PM
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Originally Posted by RedlineGoods
Can you tell me more about it? Some pictures?
As I said we are based in Europe and Eclipse 3G super rare car.
Przemek
As I said we are based in Europe and Eclipse 3G super rare car.
Przemek
Sorry guys, I was writing posts at two forums at the same time...RX8 is not so popular in Europe, so I am not familiar with interior details. Thats why I was asking for some pictures.
10-28-2004, 05:33 PM
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Originally Posted by Hard 8
Good catch; no one else asked me that.
Maybe Przemek can answer this question. I'm no seamstress, but my theory is that the machine that does the red stitching is too big to fit into the very tip of the boot, so they stitch three of the four seams with the material laid flat, then they do the fourth as high as they can. (That fourth seam does have black stitching at the top, but not the red.)
BTW, if you look at my picture closely, you can almost see the area in question. I say almost, because that side faces away from someone in the driver's seat and away from anyone in the passenger seat. It's really impossible to notice it unless you position your head in front of the shifter.
Maybe Przemek can answer this question. I'm no seamstress, but my theory is that the machine that does the red stitching is too big to fit into the very tip of the boot, so they stitch three of the four seams with the material laid flat, then they do the fourth as high as they can. (That fourth seam does have black stitching at the top, but not the red.)
BTW, if you look at my picture closely, you can almost see the area in question. I say almost, because that side faces away from someone in the driver's seat and away from anyone in the passenger seat. It's really impossible to notice it unless you position your head in front of the shifter.
Hard 8 I am impressed
That is exact reason why one of the seams is shorter...
Przemek
