Ever since I have owned my '05 8, I have longed for leather seats. Yea, I know that they can be hot in the summer, etc., but I just really wanted that feel and look. The local Mazda dealer recommended a couple of places...and I ended up taking my car to a little shop in a very, very small Georgia town. Today I picked the car up...and I am totally blown away at how good it looks...black leather seats, as well as black leather door interiors...all look striking in my velocity red 8! I have the same enthusiasm I did when I bought the dang car! In fact, I'm gonna go for anothe drive right now!

 

Got Pix?
Did you consider using red leather on the door cove inserts?

 

this thread is USELESS without pictures... lol

 

GA, eh? If you don't mind me asking, how much did it set you back? I have been wanting to do the same thing.

mccain

 

I heard it typically costs around $2,000. Sometimes there are owners who sell their entire leather set (all 4 seats) in the used parts forum...and all you'd have to do with those is take out your cloth seats and snap the leather ones right in. Wouldn't even need to get a shop involved or anything. Probably would be the cheapest route to take.

Then again...if you want the added security of knowing you've got brand new leather seats, I guess used seats are not an option.

I am thinking of putting the red/black leather combination into my yellow 8 eventually. Don't care what anyone thinks...I think the red/black combo would be just fine in the yellow.

One nice thing (in my opinion) about having a shop convert your seats from cloth to leather is you don't have to get a driver side leather seat with the sloooow power seat controls. If you swapped out the entire seat, you'd lose your mechanical driver seat. Some enjoy the power driver seat controls, but they're just too slow for my taste.

 

i'd love to see a yellow 8 with black/ yellow leather interior- only 'cuz that would've been my first choice of color- PERIOD! if only mazda had offered that combo in 2005...

 

Detrich, I was thinking the same thing. That would look really sharp

 

Somewhere near Valdosta?

 

PICS! please

 

Ya, did they make it look like the stock black leather seats?

 

lets see some pix

 

My friend got the black leather with the milky white color combination, you guys got it there? It looks sweet in a black 8

 

I bought mine with a flawlessly installed and matched blue and black two tone interior to match my winning blue exterior. Get compliments at every dealer I go to.

 

Nubo did that with his yellow two years ago. Here's his thread.

I liked it for a while but now I think it's just way too much banana action going on. From the outside the double yellow is stunning...but actually sitting in there would probably drive me a little nuts. Maybe I just need it to grow on me again.

 

I want silver leather seats in my Sunlight Silver.

Black is too damn hot.

But silver leather with black piping would work, too.

 

the pix aren't that clear. but, if he did it right, i'm imagining that it looks very nice. i don't think it's too much yellow- cuz when ur inside u only see black & yellow.

 

Whats the average cost to change over to full leather for the seats and door inserts?? anyone

 

I paid about $1100 for my custom leather. Its black/tan in my Nordic Green. The leather quality is also of a higher grade than the factory specs and you don't have those hideous rubber bolsters (of course leather won't last as long in those high wear regions). The door inserts are typically vinyl for wear and tear reasons. The smell alone was worth half the price.

 

The upholstery shop that did my car is the Recovery Room in Whigham, Georgia. That's about 40 miles from Tallahassee. I took the car up on Monday afternoon and picked it up Wednesday afternoon. When I ordered the seats, I was not aware that that would also include the doors...what a pleasant surprise! Total cost: $900.00. The red door panels would have been an interesting option, but I am quite pleased with what I got. I will try to take some pics later today if I can figure out how to post them. Right now it is raining and the lighting in my garage is not the best.

 

I am also in Tallahassee and had the dealer add leather to a Touring model they had in stock. Cost was $900. I bet our cars have the same leather installed from the same place. I personally prefer it to the stock leather. Mine doesn't have the sporty looking ribs like the GT version, but it is smooth and supple.

 

Was yalls Classic Soft Trim or Katzkin leather? Mine was Katzkin

 

900 is way cheaper than i was expecting. i might have to follow suit on this one and get myself a set of leather seats.

 

Only $900? Are you ****** kidding me? I'd drive up there tomorrow for that price.

I think I'll really miss the bucket seats though..