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I'm on the last leg of finishing my custom work on my 84 Vette. The seats are original and very worn. I got a quote from Ecklers on the driver's leather mounted seat covers for $906 shipped, but I've read that a few others have gone the route of the Corbeau A4 seats (cloth) for around $650.
I can't find any of the Corbeau seats within a decent driving distance to check out.
Gosh, good question..one I'm wrestling myself. I'm going to stick with leather covers. The aftermarket seats are pretty slick, but I'm a sucker for keeping her as close to her original beauty as possible.
You're spot on about the pricing. Don't worry about the dollars, you'll be happier if you get what you want.
As much as I love the comfort of my 89s original seats that original leather's torn and pretty ragged. I'm torn on this myself, leather is a real *** burner even in jeans, in a southern summer with the glass top like I have.
But they look great, the seat bolsters etc are perfect for the car I think, and are very comfortable *** burn aside.
if I was going to do it again I would probley go with the corbeau in black leather or cloth with the leather like inserts. you also have to keep in mind that you will need new mounts at about 100.00 each side. Check on ebay for them on sale then take it from there
Having just put new A4's in my own C4, I feel I can add to this discussion.
A. The Corbeau A4 is not a real high-quality piece. It's adequate. If these had no name instead of "CORBEAU" stitched in them I would have expected what I got. As it was, I was disappointed. I made my own mounting adapters out of aluminum and the cost was more like $40 in materials (each side) and a significant number of fabricating hours. Using the adapters, they bolted to the stock power bases.
B. Thirty-year old seats are worn in more ways than just the covers. The foam is certainly collapsed/missing in areas, and the supporting structures are usually wasted if they are even there. Unless the new covers are professionally installed, they look worse than what you replaced.
C. For spirited driving, leather is the worst choice in seating; you slide all over the freaking place. Leather/vinyl is also hot in summer and cold in winter, both of which are not big issues with cloth. Leather cleans up easier, though.
I also own A4's. No they are not high end seats, but are very good for the money. I will say if you're big around the middle you better stick with stock. Also the A4's come in a short lower seat height version, recommend it. I converted my stock sliders (with garage scraps) for a next to nothing. It's been over 10 years now and I don't regret it.
If go with new covers be very carefull what you get look hard at what's out where I got some new one not long back and was cheap not cheap to buy the leather was very cheap and thin and the color wore off one side in about 3000 miles ... I don't want to say were i got them but look outside of the Mid part of America look south or north not the mid part...
Dang, I feel like there is a clue in there. I've just got to figure it out.
The clue is that you can pay big money for crap ..Money and a big name don't mean it's the good stuff.. Look around and ask were is the good stuff... Just trying to help easy to spend $2-$3,000 and still not have nice seats...
I'm going to check out some seats tomorrow. A guy in the next town north has a few different seats that have come from some C4s. He has some stock ones and some aftermarket. I'll see what I can find and hopefully save a few bucks.
I'm so jealous of these tracks I see you guys on. Hmmm.
91ZO7, What did you use to mount them? Do your seats sit low or are they adjustable? Just curious, I'm only 6 foot but it seems like some seats might not fit properly.
I'm so jealous of these tracks I see you guys on. Hmmm.
91ZO7, What did you use to mount them? Do your seats sit low or are they adjustable? Just curious, I'm only 6 foot but it seems like some seats might not fit properly.
I'm using the Corbeau double-lock seat tracks. I had to modify them a bit, as they were flat to the floor and the seat bottoms really need to be angled a bit to be comfortable for long stints.
I put extended bolts on the front...and they feel really good now. I'm 6' as well, and there is about 2" or so between my helmet and the roof.
Well I am no purist, but I just can't pull the trigger to replace the sports seats in my 91 ZO7. I like the fact that I can adjust the bolsters. I can squeeze them all the way in and it's tight but it feels good and secure. Then I see your setup and it just looks right. Good luck to all who are trying to decide. Please post with how you "mount" them if you go to aftermarket.
Well I am no purist, but I just can't pull the trigger to replace the sports seats in my 91 ZO7. I like the fact that I can adjust the bolsters. I can squeeze them all the way in and it's tight but it feels good and secure. Then I see your setup and it just looks right. Good luck to all who are trying to decide. Please post with how you "mount" them if you go to aftermarket.
I really hated doing it...I really liked the fit of the sport buckets as well, but there were a variety of reasons.
1) Stock Sport buckets (on the drivers side) was shot. The bolster had worn through, and the foam was deteriorating at a rapid clip.
2) Stock seats had no capabilities to run the crotch-belt through, nor the shoulder harnesses through the seat.
3) a complete refit for both seats with new leather, new foam and the modifications for the belts = $1,300
4) New A4's came in at $635/ea
The stock seats will get treated to a refit sometime in the future...until then they are on a shelf awaiting resurrection.
07-15-2014, 04:19 PM
Leather seat covers or Corbeau A4?
