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General Driver's Seat Problem

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General Driver's Seat Problem

John R Smith

John R Smith

Member
Joined
Feb 12, 2008
Messages
335
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Location
Cornwall
I have the 1.4 Sport with the fabric seats - they are black vinyl with a silver grey cloth for the actual seat cushion.

The problem is, that after 8,000 miles and 11 months, the driver's seat is looking decidedly tatty. The seat cushion itself (on the base) has rucked up, and is looking very sordid because rainwater stains it quite horribly. I am talking about clear, clean rainwater here, which you simply can't avoid getting in the car in Cornwall. This is not helped by the 500's doors curving inward so much at the top.

I never drive the car in dirty clothes, and I am quite anal about keeping it clean. But if the seat looks this bad after less than a year, it is going to be looking awful in a few more year's time.

Has anyone else encountered this problem?

John
 
John R Smith said:
I have the 1.4 Sport with the fabric seats - they are black vinyl with a silver grey cloth for the actual seat cushion.

The problem is, that after 8,000 miles and 11 months, the driver's seat is looking decidedly tatty. The seat cushion itself (on the base) has rucked up, and is looking very sordid because rainwater stains it quite horribly. I am talking about clear, clean rainwater here, which you simply can't avoid getting in the car in Cornwall. This is not helped by the 500's doors curving inward so much at the top.

I never drive the car in dirty clothes, and I am quite anal about keeping it clean. But if the seat looks this bad after less than a year, it is going to be looking awful in a few more year's time.

Has anyone else encountered this problem?

John
Click to expand...

Hi
We've had ours about the same time and only done 5,000 miles, but our Brown and silver Sport seats are fine, no wear or stains at all.... I'd get the dealer to look into it when you get it serviced in the next month and see how they can sort it out for you!
 
John R Smith said:
up, and is looking very sordid because rainwater stains it quite horribly.
Click to expand...


yep mine is the same,i mentioned it to my German dealer when i was last there at xmas,but because the shop was full i didn't press it,i will be going back or getting my missus (the German speaker) to ring them up.
I tried using a wet towel and wetting the whole seat but it leaves a tide mark on the edges,however they have gone only to be replaced by the rainwater "pee stains".
Maybe they will dry out completely in hotter weather ? who knows ? i've yet to drive mine on a warm day.
 
As well as the 500 i have a punto with blue seats - these watermark terribly - the only way i can get rid of the stains is to wait for a warm day and sponge down the whole seat squab with a foam carpet cleaner diluted in warm water.
when it dries the watermarks dissappear - i have no idea what causes them.

The 500 has black seats so no problem
 
Yup same ere:)

I have had my drivers seat base cleaned at the dealer once or twice! They looked ok after that.

I used a waterproof seat cover for a short time, but then said to my self "whats the point of the nice seat trim if you don't show it" and then took it off!

Si
 
Well, I have to say this is a pretty poor show. I have owned a good few cars over the years, and have never had one where the seat cushions looked so tatty after such a short time. Great heavens, it must rain in Italy at least some of the time, surely?

John
 
Post a picture John, I remember the seats in my Cinq and Seicento staining badly but I think many modern cars do this. A big thing with the 500 is the amount of water that falls off the roof onto the seats, its like gallons of it!
Mark, this 303 stuff, can it prevent stains etc like scotchguard?
 
As I really like my little car, and do intend to keep it for quite a while, I might contact a local upholsterer and see how much they would charge to re-trim the seats in leather. There are several firms in Cornwall who do this. Yesterday I asked my Fiat dealer for the costs on the Fiat leather covers for just the two front seats, and I was quoted £150 for the base, £310 for the backrest, per seat, plus fitting, so over £1,000 for the job. Ouch! I am sure that an independent trimmer could do the job for less.

John
 
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