Mostly you are looking at the provision in 13.2 which permits "appearance,
comfort and convenience modifications which have no effect on performance
and/or handling and do not materially reduce the weight of the car...".
IMHO, under this you are permitted. Different seat upholstery materials
[except maybe Velcro :-) ] do not affect performance/handling. And leather
would likely be heavier than the original cloth.
And, I would see this as an "appearance" item rather than C&C. You're
allowed the metal-flake paint job and the chrome dashboard knobs. So no
reason not to upgrade your seat material for "appearance" as long as you
don't change out the actual seat. Nothing that says the chrome dashboard
knobs must be matched with a barefoot-shaped gas pedal so I see no need to
have to convert the entire interior to match leather. You are not changing
the model of the car to whatever came with leather, you are merely making an
appearance upgrade (as well as repair).
But also, in the 5th paragraph of section 13 (Pg. 79 in the '03 book) is
"alternate components which are normally expendable and considered
replacement parts ... may be used provided they are the same type and size
as the standard parts and used in the same location." Okay, the rule is
thinking about things like bearings and seals, but we've all seen worn-out
seats (expendable component) that need reupholstering.
I seem to recall sometime a protest decision that effectively said it was
not allowed to remove the seat padding. The driver apparently wanted to get
lower in the car than the stock seat allowed, and unable to replace the seat
tried that method. So be sure your upholsterer retains the full shape of the
stock padding (including springs, etc.) even if it is replaced.
All IMHO, of course.
--Rocky
----- Original Message -----
From: "Craig & Cynthia Naylor" <magazine@pacbell.net>
To: <autox@autox.team.net>
Sent: Wednesday, March 03, 2004 1:39 PM
Subject: Hard & Set rules vs. Comfort & Convience interpretation
> I have my factory manual so I'm ready to change the subject, if
> others would be kind enough to assist me in my personal dilemma.......
>
> My '91 Acura Integra Seat fabric has been falling apart for years.
> The drivers seat is in such shape that my wife (her daily, my autocross
> car) is demanding it be replaced. My local Acura dealer says that their
> parts computer shows two options. One to replace just the fabric
> overlay (which includes the padding) or replace the entire seat (frame &
> fabric.). They did a nation wide search for the fabric, and our color
> is no longer available. The entire seat is, but they are $1500.00 each
> for the two front seats (and doesn't solve the rear seat wear issue).
> This cost would equal the KBB value of the car. I have been calling,
> and inquiring with the local salvage yards who specialize in Acura/Honda
> vehicles several times over the last year or so. I have never found a
> seat in better condition than ours.
>
> So hears the question, I warn it is mufti part. I realize I will
> receive differing answers, as everything in Team.net seams to, I'm just
> looking to see if I can derive a consensus.
> 1.) Is it legal to replace with after market fabric?
> 2.) If yes, my wife would like to replace the cloth fabric with
> leather. Although leather was an option on the car, a GS model, it was
> not available with the exterior color we have. I ask because there's the
> rule about changing all aspects of the car if we modify one aspect.
> 3.) So, If we switch to leather, does the exterior need to be
> repainted to a color that came with leather.
> 4.) If the change to leather with out painting the exterior of the
> car is ok (I'm not repainting the car), do we have to replace with a
> factory color (Gray or Black). Since my interior is blue, I don't want
> to have to replace the carpeting, dashboard, speaker covers, the glove
> box, the stereo bezel..........and all of the other assorted plastic
> panels that make the interior of the car.
> This is where comfort & connivance comes in.... if we have made it this
far
> 5.) Do I have to replace every part that was leather in the leather
> option with leather. i.e. I only want to do the seats, I don't want to
> mess with the door panels, or head liner (although not leather it was a
> different fabric than the cloth came with).
>
> --
>
> Cynthia & Craig Naylor
> Naylor & Naylor
> ph/fax 858-679-3754
> E-mail - Magazine@pacbell.net
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