MS3 Alcantara Seat Thread.

[RODSCALIP5]

I know it's early but everyone who got the 2008.5 GT please post pics of these sexy seats, front and back.

Also, can someone verify that these are just seat covers and can be purchased as such from the stealership? Lookin at mazda japan, the option for the seats cost $817.00, not sure if inserts are included.

[Bravnik]

I'm so there if they are just seat covers! That's the only thing the 2008.5 has that I want.

[RODSCALIP5]

I'm so there if they are just seat covers! That's the only thing the 2008.5 has that I want.


I plan on taking a trip to the local dealer to ask questions. I have a feeling they are just seat covers, $817.00 is pretty cheap.

[Haltech]

If its anything like the Alcantara seats in a Lightning, beware of getting the reupholstered in a few years. They look and feel great but they dont hold up to much for long.

[Munnugles]

ya someone get good pictures im pretty interested in them... dunno yet if i want them or not... is alcanara like a boot leg type suade feel? some one compare it to something so i get the idea plz

[RODSCALIP5]

ya someone get good pictures im pretty interested in them... dunno yet if i want them or not... is alcanara like a boot leg type suade feel? some one compare it to something so i get the idea plz

Yeah, it has suede feel, but it's not.

[redspeed]

Another thread w/o pictures?

WTF is going on on this forum?

[mxchaos6]

I dunno why nobody has linked to pictures, I've been hunting and a few good pictures of the seats have popped up the last few days, here are the best i've found on another board, posted by Zoominchick and Rshaffera on the other board

[mxchaos6]

and a couple more

[AJ08]

wonder if we can buy the dash kit

[Pirana]

God that shifter boot is horrible!!

[BLAZEONE]

that seems a bit much. Go get a quote from someone local

[mk_slayr]

I'm digging the alcantara on the doors panels....

[ispypsi]

eh im not feeling that. plus i'm with haltech, alcantara doesn't hold up for shit. gets so matted and dirt smudges are not your friend, they don't come out.




and whats wrong with the shift boot? that's the stock one...

[RODSCALIP5]

that seems a bit much. Go get a quote from someone local

Whats too much??

[Pirana]

too much material!

[Bravnik]

You know what? I'm not actually likeing any of the changes in the 2008.5's. I thought I would like the new seats but now that I have got a good look I don't think so. They seem like they will rip easy and stain easy as well. The Piano just looks very cheap to me and sticks out WAY too much for my taste. The white needles look ok, but I will keep my Red as it just goes with the rest of the interior.

So that leaves the Lights on the Mirrors that I like and the Power Seat option. I wonder if we can get the power seat motors/assembly and if it will work on our seats.

[Rany]

So that leaves the Lights on the Mirrors that I like and the Power Seat option. I wonder if we can get the power seat motors/assembly and if it will work on our seats.

think the only prob you'll find is the wiring. I'm sure they changed the harness for the 2008.5's

[dparm1984]

I was under the impression that Alcantara and other synthetic suedes actually held up better over time. My parents have a microsuede couch and that thing is incredible....no wear marks, doesn't stain, doesn't discolor...I could go on and on.

[Unoriginaluser]

I am in if someone is importing the covers... all the parts aren't in the system yet for us pricing

[Pirana]

So do all 08.5 come with power seats? Or is it an option on the GT?

[Unoriginaluser]

here's what i've been told thus far,... looks like it would cost south of $2k for just the seat covers

Seat Covers pricing in USD:
BR6E-88-161-63 TRIM LT, $234.38
BR6G-88-181-63 TRIM LT, $442.36
BR6G-88-131-63 TRIM RT, $394.73
BR6E-88-111-63 TRIM RT, $263.50
BR6E-88-201-63 TRIM RR, $821.76 (the seat)
Back reast and rear inserts missing in the system still

[dparm1984]

Labor is a bitch too, it's a few hours per seat.

[uncletime]

not to get off topic but man, the one thing i wish mine had is powerseats.

[Silver Ecstasy]

So do all 08.5 come with power seats? Or is it an option on the GT?
I'd like to know this as well?

[herrstreet]

I'm ambivalent about the alcantera one way or the other. What is a big improvement is getting rid of the cheesy silver color. I just don't care for two-tone seats done in that style at all. Black cloth would have been ok too. Or better yet, just leatherette for the whole seat. BMW and VW both do really nice leatherette seats that last forever and are cosy with a seat heater.

[myms3]

you can get something custom for a lot less. i dont like the look either.

very disappointed in the 2008.5's... oh well

[mrlilguy157]

as stated before, i'm glad i got the 07. i was excited about the 08.5's until pictures surfaced

[Sierra117]

If its anything like the Alcantara seats in a Lightning, beware of getting the reupholstered in a few years. They look and feel great but they dont hold up to much for long.

When I worked at a BMW dealership, we had to replace it on the 330i ZHPs all the time. Seats, steering wheels, shift boots, general upholstery.

[Silver Ecstasy]

I would imagine with proper care, they'll last a long time. Alcantara is a huge name, and an expensive product. No reason they'd upgrade the interior with cheaper crap.

[Jesse MS3GT]

^ Yeah and look at the bose stereo we got, its hardly bose quality. Bowers and wilkins ftw

[Silver Ecstasy]

Just because it says Bose doesn't mean it's the $2000 Acoustimass system. It's just advertising that the components and drivers were made by them, and are supposedly higher quality standards.

Anytime i've seen a brand name speaker package, I haven't been impressed. Only time I was impressed was with my 03 Grand Am and it's Delphi/GM "Monsoon" system. Sounded REALLY good, had great acoustics and highs, helped with the extra amp from the factory.

My SS's Bose system sounds good now, only it sounds way better once I added my aftermarket radio. Front component drivers bump real nicely, and highs are so-so.

[robin2660]

not to get off topic but man, the one thing i wish mine had is powerseats.

In my humble opinion, power seats are over-rated. If you're the only person driving the car, you never adjust the seat anyway, right?

[dparm1984]

Bose is okay, but for the same money there's better stuff out there. Bose is always lacking in the midrange.

[Pondo]

In my humble opinion, power seats are over-rated. If you're the only person driving the car, you never adjust the seat anyway, right?

Correct, its more of a novelty.

[iredremix]

that's sexy and i'd be interested but labor would kill me

[Pirana]

Confirmed...Power seats not available on MS3...only on MZ3 S GT

[Silver Ecstasy]

Confirmed...Power seats not available on MS3...only on MZ3 S GT

I hate to sound stupid by asking this, but what's the MZ3 S GT?

[Unoriginaluser]

I hate to sound stupid by asking this, but what's the MZ3 S GT?

normal mazda 3 GT model

[Silver Ecstasy]

I see. Btw, I love your signature banner on the C-SRT4 forums. Pictures look great!

[Unoriginaluser]

I see. Btw, I love your signature banner on the C-SRT4 forums. Pictures look great!

banner?

[Silver Ecstasy]

The picture of the MS3 with your screen name in it, in your signature on caliberforums.com

[Unoriginaluser]

The picture of the MS3 with your screen name in it, in your signature on caliberforums.com


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v252/cndxrs/unoriginalusernamesig06-1.jpg

or

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v252/cndxrs/Unoriginalusernamesig001.jpg

or

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v252/cndxrs/unoriginalusernamesig05.jpg

or

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v252/cndxrs/unoriginalusernamesig03.jpg

lol

[Silver Ecstasy]

Yeah they're awesome!

[GhostMercury]

this thread doesnt have to many good pics so i will add mine

[jam_asian85]

wow the interior doesnt look that bad, cant wait to see it in person !!! :D

[D_Roc7822]

yeah Ive definitely seen worse believe me. Im on the ropes with the seats. I like them but then I dont. Not worth 817 or whatever it is to convert them, i guess is what im saying.

[redspeed3tk]

i would get the seats recovered like the mps extream instead red leather would be awesome and if i was doin it i would put seat heaters in and it still wouldnt cost as much as the kit from mazda
http://www.tuningnews.net/news/071011/mazda3_mps_extreme-19.jpg

[GhostMercury]

its like everyone is hating on the 08.5 interior cause they didn't get it

[VermZ06]

this thread doesnt have to many good pics so i will add mine

Looks like they added a chrome ebrake button too...that's nice touch to match the shifter. I think the seats are very nice and that it's a posh upgrade considering the low cost of the car, but the cabin is far too dark now. Plus I think they should've made the entire seat suede material. The regular leather still doesn't look all that great.

[VermZ06]

its like everyone is hating on the 08.5 interior cause they didn't get it

Possible...but I have a sport and would've gotten a sport regardless. If you're in the market for the sport model the sport seats with the silver looks mucho better than the stark black ones on the 8.5

[zin9]

http://www.tuningnews.net/news/071011/mazda3_mps_extreme-19.jpg

I love your interior!

[mikespeed3]

its like everyone is hating on the 08.5 interior cause they didn't get it

i think so, that alcan. looks hot, with the red coming through the holes... damn, and the piano black looks classy, not junky silver cheap sports car like before...

[jam_asian85]

its like everyone is hating on the 08.5 interior cause they didn't get it

Nah I dont think so ... Hopefully I'll get to see it in perosn when my brother gets his ;)


I love your interior!

I do believe thats just the interior of the MPS extreme in Austrailia

[builthatch]

its like everyone is hating on the 08.5 interior cause they didn't get it

from an aesthetic point of view, i really believe it looks worse and is harder to manage (keep clean) with all of that gloss black vs. matte gray. it really does nothing for me with the exception of the easier to take care of alcantara type material vs. the gray weave between the leather and vinyl bolsters of the pre "08.5" GT.

[mikespeed3]

it is easier to keep clean yes, but it looks better in the 08.5 it looks higher class, and proper if you will

[Rany]

it looks presumptuous, like it's trying to reach a higher class than it was intended for. like putting a steinway in a doublewide with 22's on it

[Silver Ecstasy]

Stop hatin people..it looks gorgeous.

[GhostMercury]

Stop hatin people..it looks gorgeous.

no shit... +1

[Silver Ecstasy]

Ya know?? Practically everyone who's complaining about it are the 07 owners, or 08 owners that may feel cheated since they have 08's and possibly weren't told about the new revisions. So they're justifying the upgrades as useless to make themselves feel better.

That's what it seems like to me, so i'm calling it like I see it. Either way it doesn't make a difference.

[DredPir8Roberts]

I wish they had at least put red inserts in the steering wheel (like the mps extreme)

[Chris Barnett]

Some of us purposely bought an early 2008 to avoid the piano black interior.

[Silver Ecstasy]

To each his own, I guess.

[mazpro]

I gotta say the seats look great on the 08.5s, but i am not fond of the piano black trim.

I prefer my 08's interior trim but would love to have the 08.5's seats (bow)

[stephani3]

Hmmm I thought I would like the alacantra but I'm really glad I have an 08, not an 08.5. I like the silver inserts in my seats and the alacantra all over just kind of looks cheap.

[GhostMercury]

haha. you have to see it in person. cause it looks not even close to cheap.

[stephani3]

I have seen it in person. it just reminds me of the interior in late 80's early 90's Nissans (lol2)... my grandparents drove those when I was little and I guess the little holes or whatever in the alacantra are what make me think of that.

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=127638

I dig the piano trim though. My 04 2.0 had the piano trim and I wish I would have switched the dash strip out before I traded it, LOL. Luckily my boyfriend upgraded his trim pieces to the OEM blue trim & he gave me the silver fake carbon fiber dash strip that he took out. It doesn't look as cheesy in my MS3 since the accent pieces & seat inserts are silver.

[Silver Ecstasy]

Before you say they're cheap...

http://www.alcantara.com/en/experience/applicazioni/automotive/automotive.shtml

Go there and tell me if Italian suede is cheap.

[VermZ06]

Everyone is going to have their own opinion but the alcantara is a very nice material. We should all be happy mazda is including this in their cars and hopefully they will include this on their upcoming models as well.

[stephani3]

LOL calm down 08.5 owners!!!

Different strokes for different folks ;)

[GhostMercury]

yes but you didnt say you just dont like you. you said it looks cheap.

[stephani3]

so what? LOL... I owned a 2.0 Mazda3... people called it cheap all the time. I never got butthurt or took it personally. It's called an opinion, and guess what... everyone has one!

Tell ya what kid, I apologize. At least its a MS3 and it's badass no matter what ;)

[Silver Ecstasy]

I'm just defending the fact it's not cheap. I don't even have mine yet but I am very excited for the new interior amenities.

Steph, your pictures of the car look great! When I was shopping for MS3's and couldn't decide what exterior color to pick, I came across your cardomain and liked the pictures alot! Unfortunately, i'm stickin to crystal white pearl to stay under the radar a little. Cops yanno..

[stephani3]

oh no doubt that it's not cheap... eh I'm done on that subject LOL

But thanks!! Congrats on the CWP! It's such a nice color in person. I haven't had any trouble from the 5-0... yet ;)

[Silver Ecstasy]

NP, and thanks! I haven't actually gotten it yet. I'm playin "the game" still between a few people, see who's gonna give me the best deal. One place has the CWP, one has the MetroGray. We shall see!

[stephani3]

I'm sure you'll end up happy no matter what! I love this car, I think it's my car-soul-mate.

[Silver Ecstasy]

Hehe, hopefully mine as well. I really enjoy driving it (test drives of course).

[mazdaspeedkid]

I Need Help I Need The Gt Pass Seat Somone Just Throw A Firework Into My Car And Lets Just Say I Need A New Seat How ,uch Would That Cost To Get

[oaklandopen]

Confirmed...Power seats not available on MS3...only on MZ3 S GT

dealer told me i'd be getting power driver seat on my 08.5 ms gt

i could really care less if i got it though. me and the wife have totally different seat spots, hers is waayyyyy up and mine is wayyy back, so i like being able to slide to position really quickly. in the jeep we have now it feels like it takes forever to get into position with the motor

[Renzokuken]

I kinda like the piano black trim, not diggin the Alcantara, I like the power seats, not diggin the white needles.