Car Upholstery: seats, 1990 mazda 929, mazda 929

Question
Hi Mark,

I'm buying a new car thats less luxurious then my old near luxury 1990 mazda 929, but alot more economical, a 92' civic. The one thing i will miss however, is my leather interior. I asked one guy how much it would cost me for two leather seats and he said 500$ for both, i saw an example and it looked well done and professional. now i don't know what kind of covers they are, if they just slip over the seat or whatever, but he said they're easy to put on. If they aren't so easy, how much could i expect to pay to have it done? I'm in canada so i'm not sure what the price difference would be like, but for example my parents just got their car completely "leatherised" for 1000$ but its a brand new car and maybe it was part of the price and therefore cheaper. anyways, thanks for your help

Answer
All quality seat recovering should start by removing the old covers to prevent lines and tears from splitting the new covers. Make sure it is 2-3 ounce automotive leather cut from the middle of the hide on the seat and back inserts and side panels where you sit. Also the standard is nylon (never cotton) thread. Leather is a high profit option in new cars. If properly cared for good leather can last decades.This price is not bad as long as the materials and workmanship are good. Mark.