rjwz28

I'm shopping pretty hard for a C5Z right now and ran across one that seems pretty solid, but doesn't this look like excessive seat wear for a 2003 with 21k miles unless somebody spent more time pretending than actually driving? Or is my analysis skewed by seeing too many cars under 30k miles with OCD driver's seat maintenance? I just want to avoid being taken because of a cluster swap or the like...

Leo23

Doesn't look too bad. The leather on these seats is not exactly the highest quality.

kybilt

the left side bolster doesn't look all mashed out like some I've seen. If the PO is a decrepit old man like me, it doesn't take long to wear it out. My 01 has <17K miles and the console lid and arm rest in the door are beginning to show a slight depression already.

HawnHog

Not a big deal. If the rest of the car meets your standards and the seat is the only issue, buy it. Seat covers are a cheap and easy fix.

rjwz28

Thanks, I'm dealing with a couple MINT ones in the same mileage range and red really isn't my ideal color, so we'll see. I just lost a 26k 2004 black with mod red for $25k at a DEALER, first time I've seen one just a hair under NADA retail at any stealership and made a retail offer on a mint 22k 2002 black/mod red car that the manager refused to even budge from his asking price on ($3k over NADA retail). This Z06 hunting business is a serious game! Anyway, my point was that neither car looked like anybody had ever even sat in the driver's seat.

Glad to hear it isn't out of the ordinary

Sonny71

Vette leather has been that way for as long as I've owned them (and that's 47 years).

MSG C5

It looks about average. I had only 10,000 miles on mine when I installed real leather seat covers from Vette Essentials and mine were already starting to show similar crease marks.

Another thing is that the OEM seat design of the C5 caters to people who tend to fall into their car. Many drivers also use the side seat bolster as a prop to lift themselves out of the car causing additional wear and tear. Add the fact that many Vette owners are older and have (ahem) "gentlemen's fit" physiques and those OEM seat skins and seat foam have taken a beating.

rjwz28

Got it. Yeah, I'm an athletic build (my joints have taken a heck of a beating, but I deal) so I would be able to reasonably avoid any issues with getting in and out. Honestly, if I'm recovering the seats I'd want to go REALLY nice though and would prefer not to be doing that immediately. The good news is that this seems to be normal so I'll make an offer

Silverbullet00

Nice set of neoprene seat covers,,,$300 or so. My seats looked like crap 45K ago when I bought my 2000 coupe. Haven't seen them but one time when I swapped out the covers for a better newer/better set. az don't sweat as much is a bonus!

Keith Richards

When I recently bought our '98 with 44k 1st thing I wanted to see was that the mileage shown on the Carfax report was consistent with the car which it was as mileage was shown at every smog throughout the years and when it came to Calif. from Michigan.
GL with your search!

lonerider2002

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but the sport seats(w/the hole on the back) have a softer, more supple type of leather and holds up much better to entering/exiting the car. My 2002 has over 80000 miles and except for the wear on the side bolster and the flattening on the lower left part of the seat(which were both repaired for around 150.00) the pewter/gray leather looks great--almost like new on the passenger side.

Vetteman Jack

For a ten year old car, those seats really do not look bad at all. Doesn't take a whole lot to show wear on the stock leather.

Evil-Twin

if the car is solid and that drivers side seat bottom is the only problem, you can get just the bottom from GM for 200 dollars. if that's a dealer car have them change the seat bottom, its much cheaper for them. You will then have a nice car

MSG C5

Maybe get the car and then get these skins offered by Marc at Vettnuts.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...s-blk-red.html

The original buyer, backed out after selling his car. You would need to use Sports Seats style foam.

rjwz28

Does this seems about right for a 17k-mile 03? I'm amazed; this one (unlike the majority I've seen) appears to have actually accommodated a passenger

Most of my concern here has had to do with attempting to determine actual mileage; I know the factory leather sucks, but that's an issue for another day

6speedsteve

Just crappy plastic coated/finished leather that all of the domestic cars have now days, here is some good info

http://www.advleather.com/leathercare.html

Mr.TT

Yes that looks about right. The seats look like that after 100 miles so seat wear is not going to be a reliable indicator of mileage.

My first C5 was probably a 7/10 overall but the seats were pristine. A small woman owned the car before (I believe, bought the car at a dealer).

My current C5 is pristine, a 10/10 but the seat was trashed. The guy I bought it from was neither overweight nor limited of movement.

Either way the stock seats are garbage and should be replaced with real seats befitting of a sports car.

Black 02

Mine was ripped with a big hole in it when I bought my 97k mile car. That one looks fine. I ended up swapping a new cover onto mine. C5 seats are nothing to brag about and they won't wear well at all.

HawnHog

After my post yesterday I went out to look at my 1 year old replacement leather seat covers. I noticed two spots on the driver's bolsters where the color had worn off. (1/4"X2") I rubbed in some black shoe polish, followed that up with neutral and then leather conditioner. Looks good as new.

rjwz28

Good to know I bought the car and the Carfax records match the mileage, so looks like we're good to me