Leather Reupholstering and Resale Value

**solitude00** · May 31st, 2009 11:31 PM

Am thinking of having my two week old Civic 1.8 S reupholstered in genuine leather. Curious lang, would this have an effect (positive or negative) on the resale value of the car? I'll probably have to upgrade after 3 years (company requirement).

From browsing the threads, it seems that people sell their leather seats separately (switching back to stock seats to sell the car). Does "stock" retain its value better?

Appreciate your opinions.

Oh, and has Kelseat really gone out of business? I really liked the work they did on a relative's Fortuner.

Thanks very much.

**number001** · May 31st, 2009 11:41 PM

If you are going to upgrade every 3 yrs, then spending extra for the leather upholstery is not worth the cost nor the trouble.

IMO, anything that does not make a vehicle "stock" *might* actually hurt its resale value.

**solitude00** · June 1st, 2009 12:14 AM

Originally Posted by number001

If you are going to upgrade every 3 yrs, then spending extra for the leather upholstery is not worth the cost nor the trouble.

IMO, anything that does not make a vehicle "stock" *might* actually hurt its resale value.

Thanks for the quick reply. I'd hoped somehow that leather upholstery would be considered a form of "stock" or even an upgrade.

Guess there really is a reason to keep one's stock parts.

**number001** · June 1st, 2009 08:11 AM

^If the workmanship is very good or better than OEM (those in the Civic 2.0 S-L), then it might actually constitute as an improvement. But alas, some of the leather reupholstery job, I have seen on units displayed in dealer showrooms are not upto par, and so botched up that it looks like leatherette seatcovers from a distance.

**solitude00** · June 1st, 2009 08:54 AM

Originally Posted by number001

^If the workmanship is very good or better than OEM (those in the Civic 2.0 S-L), then it might actually constitute as an improvement. But alas, some of the leather reupholstery job, I have seen on units displayed in dealer showrooms are not upto par, and so botched up that it looks like leatherette seatcovers from a distance.

Definitely agree on that one. It's not just the material that matters, it's also the workmanship. If you're going to be spending P40K ++ on upholstery, it doesn't make sense to skimp on few thousand bucks but end up having something that looks like like a seatcover. Hehe.

**4JGtootsie** · June 1st, 2009 09:33 AM

Anything you add in your car is nothing to a buyer, he will buy it at fair market value or less. Those things are bonus to a buyer and he will never pay for it. That is also why binabalik ng seller and mga OEMs then sells the upgrades seperately for more profit.
Honestly genuine and synthetic leather doesnt breathe like fabric and retains heat, maganda at mabango tingnan pero masakit sa balat pag babad sa araw.

**solitude00** · June 1st, 2009 01:55 PM

Originally Posted by 4JGtootsie

Anything you add in your car is nothing to a buyer, he will buy it at fair market value or less. Those things are bonus to a buyer and he will never pay for it. That is also why binabalik ng seller and mga OEMs then sells the upgrades seperately for more profit.
Honestly genuine and synthetic leather doesnt breathe like fabric and retains heat, maganda at mabango tingnan pero masakit sa balat pag babad sa araw.

Noted chief. Thanks for the perspective on the value of post-purchase additions. I wish I were rich enough not to care about resale value ... hahaha.