What is the best way to locate replacements for my black leather
bucket seats, driver and passenger?  I have a 1993 Acura Integra LS. I
live in Florida.

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Request for Question Clarification by pinkfreud-ga on 22 Sep 2002 09:38 PDT

Hello again!

I have two questions:

1. Are you needing to replace the entire seat mechanism, or do you
want seat-covers that give the appearance of new upholstery?

2. I am very flattered to note that you've put my screen name in the
subject title of your question. If it's OK with you, I would like to
leave this question fully open to other researchers for their input,
and if one of my colleagues is able to help, I hope that would be
acceptable. Most of us have an attitude of "team spirit" toward our
efforts here. The important thing is not that *I* should answer the
question and collect my share of the fee; the important thing is that
the customer should get a good answer.

~pinkfreud

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Request for Question Clarification by seedy-ga on 22 Sep 2002 12:44 PDT

Hello Schmooz:

There are several search sites for used or new auto parts.  You
normally need to register with them for a fee of about $5 - $10 and
then enter your search parameters.  Also, there are numerous junkyards
which can be called to locate the part you want.  I'd be glad to make
a few phone calls for you if you can anwer Pink's question and also
give me the following information:  1.  Where do you live in Florida??
Would you be willing to travel to Alabama or Georgia where junkyards
are quite numerous?? 3. Do you have a price point for these seats?

I notice that ebay lists some Acura Integra 1993 seats but they are in
cloth. I could provide the links to the used part search sites,
information from at least two junkyards in your area, and a listing
strategy to seek out the seats on the web.  Would that be satisfactory
to answer your question.

Please get back to us with a clarification.  We hope to help you in
your search.

seedy

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Clarification of Question by schmooz-ga on 23 Sep 2002 08:04 PDT

Hello to both of you.  I live in the Tampa/Clearwater area of Florida.
 I have called all the yards around here and have turned up nothing. 
The mechanism for the seats work just fine.  The leather has worn
completely through in spots and because of this, the foam has started
to deteriorate.  I have not established a price point.  I want black
leather and not cloth.  I could probably drive to a neighboring state
but, would rather have them shipped - if there is a reliable source. 
I would not just like to head to Alabama or Georgia to wander through
junk yards "in hopes" that they might have some seats.  You are right,
there seem to be tons of these yards in both these states.  Is there
any way to query without haveing to phone each one and "hold" for 10 -
20 minutes while they finish up with customers and then finally come
back to tell you that they have none available?
  
Pinkfrued - thank you for your comments on the team spirit of the
researchers and your thoughts about opening this and any other
questions to all researchers.  Well noted and I will most certainly do
this now and in the future.  I was just very pleased with how well you
researched and answered my question on auto-reverse/record boomboxes. 
I certainly got way more than I "bargained" for.

Seedy - Hello there, thanx for your interest in this question.  I will
leave it to you when you think the question is answered.  I would like
"listing stradegy for seeking out the seats on the web."  Perhaps you
could point me towards those sites on which you said I could register
for a fee and what are your thoughts on "trusting" those sites if I
were to find something and order it shipped?  Other than the seats,
the car is in perfect shape and I still love it.

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Request for Question Clarification by nenna-ga on 23 Sep 2002 11:16 PDT

Hi!
    Would you consider custom leather seat covers made exactly to your
car's model? I have a place that I called today, who custom makes
leather seat covers based on your car's exact model. They get
installed, not just slipped over, so it looks like the original seat,
the old one gets removed, and the new one put on, Would this suffice
as an answer? They told me they would have no problem making black
leather covers for your car. Their website also tells you how to
install them and the tools you'd need, or, you could go to any
interior shop, and I'm sure they'd install them for you, for a fee.
Any custom shop will do most work like that for you. I contacted one,
in Fl, about 30 mins away from you, I'm thinking, and he told me he
could do it, but there might be some wait, as they are quite a busy
shop, but he could maybe, get you in between other things. He said
they usually do custom cars that have a value of 200,000, so I'm sure
the work is excellent on installation. I have his contact inforamtion
as well. I also contacted an Acura dealership, and they told me that a
cover would be the best route to go, since, replacing the entire seat
would get very very expensive. Acura themselves does not make
replacement covers.

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Clarification of Question by schmooz-ga on 23 Sep 2002 12:29 PDT

Your referral to the website that makes the custom leather seat covers
made exactly to the car's model, with the instructions on how to and
the tools needed for installation, sounds like an answer to me, along
with any referrals to a fairly local places where these covers could
be installed. Do you think that this would be both as good an answer
considering both price and time commitment, as continuing to look for
used replacement seats?  You can give me your considered opinion and
then post what you have on this and I will consider my question well
answered and thank you.

Hello Schmooz,
     First of all, let me tell you why I consider covers to be a
better alternative then used seats. First of all, when I contacted the
Acura dealership, the cost of removal and installation of new seats
will cost you somewhere around $800.00 with labor for a basic seat,
not counting of you have power adjust, etc.... Not to mention, the
cost of the seats themselves, and what you'd pay for them at a
junkyard (Approx. for a GOOD seat,150.00 per seat, good condition,
leather). Also, one of the factors to take into consideration is at a
junkyard you do not know what elements those leather seats were
exposed to. With new covers, you know it's brand new, and has a
warrenty. If it was my car, I'd buy the covers, 100%.

Now, the place that sells the custom made leather seat covers is
(http://www.leatherseats.com/) I contacted them by phone, and they
told me to make covers for the front 2 seats would run you approx
$579, with $25 for ground shipping.  Call 1-800-NEWSEAT, and they'll
be more than willing to help you with any questions you may have.
I found them by looking up
replacement leather seats cars
On Google.

Now, for installation. I contacted
(http://www.streetseats.com/aboutus.html)
and asked them about installing already made covers. They said they
could do it, not a problem, but they'd have to fit you in
somewhere....So, it's not like you may be in next week, but, for the
quality of work they seem to do, I would say it's worth the wait. I
would have them professionaly installed, if it was my car. As far as
cost, he said he would have to take a look at the covers and the seats
before he could quote a price. They're located in New Port Richey, FL
which he told me is about 30-45 minutes away from Tampa/Clearwater,
so, not too far of a drive.
I found them by looking up
custom interiors cars tampa florida
On Google.

I think as far as price, covers and installation is the better way to
go, as far as time committment, I also beliee it's a better way to go,
for the fact you'll have the covers to you, shipped, and save yourself
the LD charges, gas, and time by not hunting them down, and as far as
waiting on the installation work, I have the feeling it's very very
much worth it.

I hope this helps you out, and you get exactly what you want. Must be
a special car!

Nenna-GA

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Clarification of Answer by nenna-ga on 23 Sep 2002 14:16 PDT

Oh, as well. If you're satisfied with the answer, and even if you or
not, would you mind rating my answer. I seem to have the bad luck of
never getting rated.

Thanks!

Thanks for giving me your opinions on the alternatives.

Schmooz:

It appears that neena has given you a very viable alternative to
buying replacement seats for you Acura.  In fact, my search of
junkyards did not show seats as a category in online catalog searches.
 Of course if you can get the part #, there are search forms at many
sites which will, supposedly, get back to you with availability of a
specific part.

Here are some search sites for the parts you require:

http://www.rockauto.com/
Good online catalog (does not list seats) but gives you a part price
immediately if the item is in the catalog.

http://www.langstonsauto.com/
Extensive auto junkyard in Tampa with online part request form. Looks
like you will need a part number and the vehicle VIN # to get a decent
inquiry from this site.

http://www.brandonauto.com/
Online part request form....Need vehicle VIN # plus part number to
make an efficient inquiry

http://www.theodoreguide.com/hollingers/hollingsworth.html
Appears to only be available by phone in Alabama.

http://www.mrpart.com/used-auto-part-locator-for-foreign-car-truck-and-body-parts-online.shtml
Part locator company

http://www.allforeign.com/
Extensive inventory but located in California (ship anywhere)

http://www.alphauto.com/
Specialize in BMW, Acura, and Honda
Online inquiry form but you need the part number.

http://www.fullcircleautoparts.com/parts_locator.htm
Online inquiry form but you need the part number.

This information should give you the ability to balance the cost of
the seat covers versus the cost of replacement used seats. If you
haven't gone out to Langdon's, you may want to give it a try.  An
in-person visit may give you more alternatives than telephone or an
online inquiry form.

I'd also suggest going to your local Acura dealer to talk with the
parts man to determine if this seat was duplicated on any other model.

Good luck....If there is any clarification I can give, please don't
hesitate to ask.

seedy

Schmooz:

Another thought....

Leather repair kit    http://www.leatherrepairkits.com/

You have seen these kits on TV...for the low price, it may be worth a
try before you try any of the other options which are going to be much
more expensive. I drove a 1979 Buick Riviera for 16 years and 217,000
miles putting more money into it than I should have because I was so
in love with it.  Never tried the leather repair kit.

seedy