seat replacement or reupholstering experience?

For better or worse I'm probably going to have my beater car for quite some time. Its a 1997 Hyundai Accent base model with 155k on it, and understandably the stock drivers seat is a bit on the worn the heck out side. In an effort to make it more comfortable, I'd like to either replace or reupholster the seat for more comfort and support. I really just want more comfortable padding and better back (particularly lower back) support for commuting and trips. Is this something an upholstery shop can do? Are there aftermarket seats that aren't race buckets and don't cost a fortune while still being comfortable? I know nothing about fixing up interiors...

Paying an upholsterer to not only recover but modify the stock seats will cost thousands....Seriously.

I would look for some stock seats from a different vehicle that you like and modify the rails to fit your car.

skierd wrote: Are there aftermarket seats that aren't race buckets and don't cost a fortune while still being comfortable?

They sure do! Most seat companies have more pedestrian offerings than the wingback chair race seats. Recaro, Corbeau, Cobra ect. all do. Scat Procars are a nice middle of the road price/quality brand......Or at least they used to be.

http://www.procarbyscat.com/

Car-part.com has lots of stock seats in the $35-60 range. Since you describe it as a beater, that's what I would be doing (or duct tape)

Find a used drivers seat from a pre airbagged dead Volvo.

I found a $950 recaro in the junkyard once that was in almost prefect shape, it cost $30. You can;t get adapters for them for most cars though, so unless you want ot build your own they arent that useful. I would just look for another less worn out seat in the junkyard, thats what i did in my 300SD and it was only like $75 for 2 seats.

Go to an upholstery shop and get a quote - you may be pleasantly surprised. I've had several seats redone over the years, and none has cost a huge amount. Even the Flofits (quality aftermarket similar to Recaros) I had reupholstered weren't cost prohibitive,and they are really complicated seats. Sure, they cost me $400 total, but I paid $400 each for them new, 25 years ago. Doing one stock driver's seat with some extra lumbar support may actually be pretty cheap.

Should cost nothing to get a quote, and worth checking out.

Good to know. I'd love to get my Ram seats redone in the F150 King Ranch leather, though I'm sure that'll be plenty expensive. I'll get a quote and report back

My good experiences have been with quality automotive cloth. I'd think that leather is going to be significantly expensive.

Woody wrote: Find a used drivers seat from a pre airbagged dead Volvo.

whats significant about the pre airbagged volvo?... pretty sure on the 700 it was the same for all of em (owned 3 ranging from 86 up to 91 now)... but could be wrong... or are you talking 200s?

In reply to donalson:

Volvos have a reputation for having very ergonomically designed seats. Pre-air bag would ease installation and be lighter.

I just went through this- was gonna be $1100+ for two front seats, one back in the Swift GTi. The guys at the upolstery shop agreed to peel, restitch, rebuild foam, and replace the cover for the driver's seat for"about $50". the cover was sort of decent, the foam sucked. I'll get back to you.

I'm debating this for my ti. The stock foam is available, but 110 for the seat back, and will take a month to get in from Germany. Or take it to a shop and have them make some new foam. I've also had luck with stuffing old seats with polyfill, and at a buck for enough to do two seats it can't be beat price wise.

Maybe just buy some memory foam and a decent seat cover. Bolster as needed.