DSVette vs Vettessentials Center Console
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From: Chicago IL
DSVette vs Vettessentials Center Console
Happy Holidays All!!!
Can anyone tell me the difference between the leather center console lids from DSVettes and Vette Essentials??
I'm pretty impressed with the DSVettes consoles from the various other posts and pics.
Thanks!!
Pauly
Can anyone tell me the difference between the leather center console lids from DSVettes and Vette Essentials??
I'm pretty impressed with the DSVettes consoles from the various other posts and pics.
Thanks!!
Pauly
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Down South Vettes (Gerardo) stepped in to fill that void and for the C6 (speaking from personal experience) his work is fantastic, his leather match is perfect and his customer service is beyond reproach. I have received from Gerardo a new center console (best interior upgrade any owner could do), leather shift boot, shift **** along with a new ebrake boot, handle and leather covered visors. The work is tremendous. I always like to post this picture to compare the OEM console cover (right) with the improved console cover (left) from Gerardo at DSVettes. The picture usually speaks for itself.
Paul
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Different manufacturer using different leather. It will likely come down to personal preference and whatever price difference there may be. Vette Essentials has always had a reputation as a fine company and all through the reign of the C5 were the default aftermarket leather supplier. Admittedly, I've lost touch with what VE is doing now. After the untimely death of their founder and resident leather wizard they have seemingly toned down their forum presence.
Down South Vettes (Gerardo) stepped in to fill that void and for the C6 (speaking from personal experience) his work is fantastic, his leather match is perfect and his customer service is beyond reproach. I have received from Gerardo a new center console (best interior upgrade any owner could do), leather shift boot, shift **** along with a new ebrake boot, handle and leather covered visors. The work is tremendous. I always like to post this picture to compare the OEM console cover (right) with the improved console cover (left) from Gerardo at DSVettes. The picture usually speaks for itself.
Paul
Down South Vettes (Gerardo) stepped in to fill that void and for the C6 (speaking from personal experience) his work is fantastic, his leather match is perfect and his customer service is beyond reproach. I have received from Gerardo a new center console (best interior upgrade any owner could do), leather shift boot, shift **** along with a new ebrake boot, handle and leather covered visors. The work is tremendous. I always like to post this picture to compare the OEM console cover (right) with the improved console cover (left) from Gerardo at DSVettes. The picture usually speaks for itself.
Paul
Completely. I have had a LOT of work done by Gerardo and have NEVER had a problem or complaint. I have not had the opportunity to deal with Vette Essentials, so I can't comment except to say that I have never read a complaint about them either.Here is some of Gerardo's work -
Melting Slicks
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Completely. I have had a LOT of work done by Gerardo and have NEVER had a problem or complaint. I have not had the opportunity to deal with Vette Essentials, so I can't comment except to say that I have never read a complaint about them either.Here is some of Gerardo's work -
I always have to stop and drool over that pic...I love that two-tone interior combined with those two-tone shifter/ebrake boots!
Awesome!
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I'm not John but I'll answer anyway. The visors are not that hard at all to change out. Once the visor base is rotated (I have directions to remove them available) it pulls down from the roof. There is a simple connector up inside the pillar that needs to be unplugged. The new installation is a simple reversal of the removal procedure. Here are my visors installed:
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From: Chicago IL
Boy that's some nice stuff!!!
Haven't heard nothing but good things regarding Gerado. Going to get the two tone Cashmere/Ebony with Cashmere stiching padded console for my AO 2008.
Can't wait to get my new Vette in Feb.
Thanks for all your help Fellas!!
Pauly
Haven't heard nothing but good things regarding Gerado. Going to get the two tone Cashmere/Ebony with Cashmere stiching padded console for my AO 2008.
Can't wait to get my new Vette in Feb.
Thanks for all your help Fellas!!
Pauly
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From: Middle of Redneck Hell, NC
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What about the Mid America Padded Console??
Just wondering -
I hear alot of great comments about DSVette's stuff, but not much about the Mid America console cover. I like the extra horizontal stitching that matches the way the seats are made. They offer MANY different color stitching & leather options. I don't know if Gerry can create the same stitching effect, or if it is really a good idea, anyway.
Can anyone give an opinion on the MA cover?
Link to MA Console Cover page
I hear alot of great comments about DSVette's stuff, but not much about the Mid America console cover. I like the extra horizontal stitching that matches the way the seats are made. They offer MANY different color stitching & leather options. I don't know if Gerry can create the same stitching effect, or if it is really a good idea, anyway.
Can anyone give an opinion on the MA cover?
Link to MA Console Cover page
Melting Slicks
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From: Lindenhurst, IL
Here's my Mid America console cover.
I believe that only the top surface is leather, and the sides are vinyl.
It's fairly easy to install yourself. But I worked with mine for about a half an hour to stretch out the material to give it a nice tight fit.
I've seen others that weren't installed very well & they look a little sloppy.
Just take your time & pull it as tight as you can.
It looks stock....but not as nice as the full leather ones.
My next step is the 2-tone shifter ****, e-brake lever & boots like johnodrake's.
They look great!
I believe that only the top surface is leather, and the sides are vinyl.
It's fairly easy to install yourself. But I worked with mine for about a half an hour to stretch out the material to give it a nice tight fit.
I've seen others that weren't installed very well & they look a little sloppy.
Just take your time & pull it as tight as you can.
It looks stock....but not as nice as the full leather ones.
My next step is the 2-tone shifter ****, e-brake lever & boots like johnodrake's.
They look great!
Last edited by car2fast4you; Dec 22, 2007 at 10:43 PM.
Burning Brakes
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car2fast4you -
Thanx much for the pic and info - it is very helpful since I have the SAME 2-tone titanium interior as you.
Though your installation does look very tight and OEM'ish, other published pics of these covers have indeed looked pretty sloppy, which was my reason for asking about them here. That also worries me about potential long-term appearance & fitment issues, too.
Also, I did not realize the MA console was not ALL leather. Though really, neither are our factory 2-tone 'leather' seats !!
That last fact may sway my purchase even more towards one of Gerry's DSVettes consoles ...
Thanx much for the pic and info - it is very helpful since I have the SAME 2-tone titanium interior as you.
Though your installation does look very tight and OEM'ish, other published pics of these covers have indeed looked pretty sloppy, which was my reason for asking about them here. That also worries me about potential long-term appearance & fitment issues, too.
Also, I did not realize the MA console was not ALL leather. Though really, neither are our factory 2-tone 'leather' seats !!
That last fact may sway my purchase even more towards one of Gerry's DSVettes consoles ...
Last edited by EvilBoffin; Dec 23, 2007 at 12:36 AM.
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I started off with the Mid-America console cover and then switched to a covered replacement from Vette Esentials. The Mid-America was better than the bare console itself, but the padding they used was less firm and thicker than what I was expecting. I always had the feeling that my elbow was sinking down into the cover like a pillow.
When I replaced the Mid-America cover with the one from Vette Esentials, I ended up with a cover more like I was expecting in the first place. The padding wasn't as thick, but it was firmer which felt more like my elbow was resting on a soft surface without sinking down into it.
Here's a few shots of the Vette Esentials console cover with few other pieces as well:
When I replaced the Mid-America cover with the one from Vette Esentials, I ended up with a cover more like I was expecting in the first place. The padding wasn't as thick, but it was firmer which felt more like my elbow was resting on a soft surface without sinking down into it.
Here's a few shots of the Vette Esentials console cover with few other pieces as well:
Last edited by gota07; Dec 23, 2007 at 03:01 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
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From: Lindenhurst, IL
car2fast4you -
Thanx much for the pic and info - it is very helpful since I have the SAME 2-tone titanium interior as you.
Though your installation does look very tight and OEM'ish, other published pics of these covers have indeed looked pretty sloppy, which was my reason for asking about them here. That also worries me about potential long-term appearance & fitment issues, too.
Also, I did not realize the MA console was not ALL leather. Though really, neither are our factory 2-tone 'leather' seats !!
That last fact may sway my purchase even more towards one of Gerry's DSVettes consoles ...
Thanx much for the pic and info - it is very helpful since I have the SAME 2-tone titanium interior as you.
Though your installation does look very tight and OEM'ish, other published pics of these covers have indeed looked pretty sloppy, which was my reason for asking about them here. That also worries me about potential long-term appearance & fitment issues, too.
Also, I did not realize the MA console was not ALL leather. Though really, neither are our factory 2-tone 'leather' seats !!
That last fact may sway my purchase even more towards one of Gerry's DSVettes consoles ...
I like how the ribs on the pad match with ribs on the seats.
With respect to the the "cushiness".....it is pretty soft.
I actually like it that way.
We'll see how it holds up.
Safety Car
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For me, he made a mold starting with 1/2" foam material and pushed/sewed down to less than 1/4" making it better looking with its slimmer look albeit with less cushioning. Turned out very good for me and that now can be ordered from Gerardo. Just tell him you want the 1/2" foam console cover. No extra charge.
Last edited by siffert; Dec 23, 2007 at 09:52 PM.
Burning Brakes
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From: Middle of Redneck Hell, NC
St. Jude Donor '09
I recently had Gerardo make the "improved" II console cover for me. He normally uses 1" thick foam pushed/sewed down to 1/2" which gives it a bit of a thick and bulky look but very comfortable.
For me, he made a mold starting with 1/2" foam material and pushed/sewed down to less than 1/4" making it better looking with its slimmer look albeit with less cushioning. Turned out very good for me and that now can be ordered from Gerardo. Just tell him you want the 1/2" foam console cover. No extra charge.
For me, he made a mold starting with 1/2" foam material and pushed/sewed down to less than 1/4" making it better looking with its slimmer look albeit with less cushioning. Turned out very good for me and that now can be ordered from Gerardo. Just tell him you want the 1/2" foam console cover. No extra charge.
Now that sounds like a great new option. The ONE thing I like about the stock console lid is it's slim profile.
Do you feel it is cushy enough to be alot more comfortable then the stock lid?
Could you please post some pics of this new 'reduced fat' version console when you get the chance?
Safety Car
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From: Makena, Maui & NM
Siffert-
Now that sounds like a great new option. The ONE thing I like about the stock console lid is it's slim profile.
Do you feel it is cushy enough to be alot more comfortable then the stock lid?
Could you please post some pics of this new 'reduced fat' version console when you get the chance?
Now that sounds like a great new option. The ONE thing I like about the stock console lid is it's slim profile.
Do you feel it is cushy enough to be alot more comfortable then the stock lid?
Could you please post some pics of this new 'reduced fat' version console when you get the chance?
Last edited by siffert; Dec 24, 2007 at 01:09 AM.
Burning Brakes
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From: Middle of Redneck Hell, NC
St. Jude Donor '09
Siffert - 
you and your GF will just have to learn to SHARE !!! 
We should be very glad it was designed wide enough to be comfortably used by driver and passenger at the same time - that's pretty rare these days.
It seems that EVERYONE who has ridden in my new '08 coupe immediately plops their Funny Bone on that center console!! It's a natural ergonomic action when they first get seated.
That's probably why this is such a popular and important 'first mod' if you care about upgrading the interior comfort and style.
In some cars, the center console is too low, narrow or far back to be useful at all. Not so in a C6 !!
you and your GF will just have to learn to SHARE !!!
We should be very glad it was designed wide enough to be comfortably used by driver and passenger at the same time - that's pretty rare these days.
It seems that EVERYONE who has ridden in my new '08 coupe immediately plops their Funny Bone on that center console!! It's a natural ergonomic action when they first get seated.
That's probably why this is such a popular and important 'first mod' if you care about upgrading the interior comfort and style.
In some cars, the center console is too low, narrow or far back to be useful at all. Not so in a C6 !!
Last edited by EvilBoffin; Dec 27, 2007 at 05:09 PM.
