Why No Leather Option?

[GregT3-S]

Ok so my wife has just learnt to drive and i'm thinking about downsizing and trading in my 08 Avensis T180 for an Auris SR180.

However I don't mind going down in size but I don't want to lose the spec of the Avensis this includes the leather seats. Why has toyota decided to drop this as an option?

If anyone has gone from an Avensis to an Auris I would be interested to hear their opinions.

Cheers for any feedback.

[Rick D4D]

A women local to me has a brand new 2.0 D4D SR with black and red leather seats

[snugasabug]

Hi there

I recently changed my Rav4 XT5 for a new Auris SRD4-d and had the same issue - i didn't want to lose the leather, especially with a little boy sat in the back!

Leather is definitely an option as we did it, plus my local Toyota allowed me to customise the leather at no extra cost!

I am really pleased with the result - also added a few other extras like pedals, skirts & twin exhaust. I am a youngish mum & am really enjoying driving my Auris.

I have noticed alot of negativity recently on this forum about the Auris & the quality but I can honestly say that I have no problems and find the lowered suspension a joy to drive - especially when I have been used to a Rav!

I am sure your wife would have no probs with an Auris - take one for a test drive & see for yourself - don't go by the neg comments that you may read on here - make up your own mind - there are alot of satisfied Auris drivers out there - I for one am one of them!

Cheers

[OldSkoO1]

Thats odd - when i bought mine leather was an option, quite expensive but still an option. That was in 2007

[Johan007]

Blimey those look very nice B)

It is weird that leather is cheaper to make yet we pay more to have them :)

[GregT3-S]

The only way to get leather now is to have the seat covers changed after purchase costing a couple of thousand. And the only SR variant available now is the SR180.

I think that Toyota have missed a trick taking these options away.

[OldSkoO1]

Its sad to see them cutting costs like this

[Parts-King]

The only way to get leather now is to have the seat covers changed after purchase costing a couple of thousand. And the only SR variant available now is the SR180.

I think that Toyota have missed a trick taking these options away.

You can have after market leather fitted for a lot less than a few thousands

Kingo

[snugasabug]

My Auris is a new 09 plate and was collected in March. The leather was made and fitted by a company in Wakefield on behalf of toyota and cost £1200 which considering it was customised I was pretty pleased with that price - it cost no more than the leather option that used to be offered.

Cheers

[aur1s]

By removing the option of leather allows the manufacturer to lower their inventory of new cars which lowers their costs and has the benefit that you should get a newer car when you order one.

The additional cost of leather might also put some purchasers off buying the car because they may (unfairly) compare the price of the Toyota with leather to another make of car without leather and prefer the latter.

If the dealer retrofits leather their is a risk that they won't get it done to the same standard as the manufacturer's supplier who provides the complete assembly. It also gets more complicated when something goes wrong with retrofits because it's not obvious if it was the leather itslef or the fitting of it. It's quite common for a manufacturer to impose fines on their suppliers and expect them to pay for replacements and the labour costs of fitting to both lower their costs (because they can) and drive up the quality from the parts suppliers.

Kind regards

Aur1s

[Cablechap]

By removing the option of leather allows the manufacturer to lower their inventory of new cars which lowers their costs and has the benefit that you should get a newer car when you order one.

The additional cost of leather might also put some purchasers off buying the car because they may (unfairly) compare the price of the Toyota with leather to another make of car without leather and prefer the latter.

If the dealer retrofits leather their is a risk that they won't get it done to the same standard as the manufacturer's supplier who provides the complete assembly. It also gets more complicated when something goes wrong with retrofits because it's not obvious if it was the leather itslef or the fitting of it. It's quite common for a manufacturer to impose fines on their suppliers and expect them to pay for replacements and the labour costs of fitting to both lower their costs (because they can) and drive up the quality from the parts suppliers.

Kind regards

Aur1s

Actual, when the T180 first came out in the UK, there was a leather option in the Toyota brochure but it was not factory fitted, it had to be sourced locally to the dealer. So effectively, Toyota was doing the same then as some of their dealers do now.

I looked into and know the local company in my area and if you wanted to save more money you can get the covers made and fit them yourself using the online Toyota guide. I like the idea of light grey and black for my car.

[snugasabug]

When the company in Wakefield did mine for me they also did the door panels at the same time - black with red stitching to match the seats - it finishes it off a treat - that was all included in the price too! :D

[Beretta]

The only way to get leather now is to have the seat covers changed after purchase costing a couple of thousand. And the only SR variant available now is the SR180.

I think that Toyota have missed a trick taking these options away.

You can have after market leather fitted for a lot less than a few thousands

Kingo

Look up Seat Surgeons at York on Google for a far better price than a couple of thousands.

[GregT3-S]

Thanks for all the interest and replys to this thread I will look to get the aftermarket fitted ones listed on the toyota techdoc website.

Many thanks

Greg

[dieseldrinker]

you really would have been better off spending the money on a better car in the first place !

DD