Car interior questions - your views
Discussion
Please excuse the lack of technical jargon used with these questions. I am trying to understand how to refer to a few interior designs in my chim. The upholstery is half 'carpet' and half leather - what is this referred to as ? (please no 
I am learning). Is it possible to replace the 'carpet' part of the interior to leather so it is all the same ? I appreciate everyone has there own preferences but assuming the 'carpet' part can be changed and if I had an option to either respray or get the interior done - which do you feel would add/retain the most value to the car ? Finally - Most of the respray posts I have read - someone has always said - get some engine mods done instead. Accepting that bottomless wallets don't exist in most cases - are engine mods really a great 'value add' to a car - I would expect them to increase insurance, increase potential problems which become costly if you aren't technical etc. Views welcome - I am interested to know all theories. Thanks
I am learning). Is it possible to replace the 'carpet' part of the interior to leather so it is all the same ? I appreciate everyone has there own preferences but assuming the 'carpet' part can be changed and if I had an option to either respray or get the interior done - which do you feel would add/retain the most value to the car ? Finally - Most of the respray posts I have read - someone has always said - get some engine mods done instead. Accepting that bottomless wallets don't exist in most cases - are engine mods really a great 'value add' to a car - I would expect them to increase insurance, increase potential problems which become costly if you aren't technical etc. Views welcome - I am interested to know all theories. ThanksIMHO it depends on what you are happy with...
Adding, changing or upgrading things on a TVR are primarily to add pleasure to your car whilst in your ownership...
If you are happy with performance, drivability, brakes etc etc etc, but want to change your driving environment (cabin) then go for it...
It surely is entirely up to the individual.
As for cost... Making upgrades will alsmot certainly add cost or sellability, but, there are also many factors which can cause the selling costs to reduce... Market prices, number available etc..
Adding, changing or upgrading things on a TVR are primarily to add pleasure to your car whilst in your ownership...
If you are happy with performance, drivability, brakes etc etc etc, but want to change your driving environment (cabin) then go for it...
It surely is entirely up to the individual.
As for cost... Making upgrades will alsmot certainly add cost or sellability, but, there are also many factors which can cause the selling costs to reduce... Market prices, number available etc..
Cheapest performance upgrade would be to chop it in for a 500 if you havent got one already.
You can have the carpet on the doors replaced with leather but this doesnt neccesarily refer to a full leather interior as the leather could be leather cloth apart from the facings of the seats that are always leather regardless of what the first owner paid or didnt in options (unless of course you own the chim that was specced by a veggie that has cloth seats).
As for retained value, replacing the carpet with leather will be neither here nor there. A colour change would probably affect the price in a negative way.
In summary get a 500 in the right combination for you.
You can have the carpet on the doors replaced with leather but this doesnt neccesarily refer to a full leather interior as the leather could be leather cloth apart from the facings of the seats that are always leather regardless of what the first owner paid or didnt in options (unless of course you own the chim that was specced by a veggie that has cloth seats).
As for retained value, replacing the carpet with leather will be neither here nor there. A colour change would probably affect the price in a negative way.
In summary get a 500 in the right combination for you.
The only carpet trim in a Chimaera I can think of, which you could change is the door cards. This wouldn't be to tricky to do yourself or wouldn't be that expensive to have done by a trimmer, on a used car it is going to add diddley squat to it's used value but will add to your pleasure while it's yours 
Very few mods add any value and some can reduce it, if you want to play about with it, do the door cards and Levenise the interior, you'll never see the few hundred ££'s again but when you move it on it might go a bit quicker
As for engine mods, unless it's already a 500 I wouldn't even consider it, £ for £ it's cheaper to sell a 400 and buy a 500 than try to increase a 400's bhp, but then 400's aren't exactly slow in the 1st place
Very few mods add any value and some can reduce it, if you want to play about with it, do the door cards and Levenise the interior, you'll never see the few hundred ££'s again but when you move it on it might go a bit quicker
As for engine mods, unless it's already a 500 I wouldn't even consider it, £ for £ it's cheaper to sell a 400 and buy a 500 than try to increase a 400's bhp, but then 400's aren't exactly slow in the 1st place
Toby - my Griff had: mid-grey vinyl, with mid-grey seats and mid-grey carpet.
I have just had a full carpet retrim to add some contrast which meant very light grey carpet with dark grey piping and changing the door inserts to a dark charcoal grey alacantra (suede). I also now have matching charcoal foot mats with a bright red pair on order (the car is red).
it has transformed ther interior and cost about £600. I probably won't get it back financially, but it makes the car that bit more desirable when you come to sell, so it may go quicker... I hope
I have just had a full carpet retrim to add some contrast which meant very light grey carpet with dark grey piping and changing the door inserts to a dark charcoal grey alacantra (suede). I also now have matching charcoal foot mats with a bright red pair on order (the car is red).
it has transformed ther interior and cost about £600. I probably won't get it back financially, but it makes the car that bit more desirable when you come to sell, so it may go quicker... I hope
Just had/having total re-trim (finished Wed this week), I was changing from magnolia vinyl to complete leather interior, I went two-tone (maroon and cream), maroon wilton carpet with cream edging.
It has totally transformed my car, I'm happy at present with the performance (but will look into this later). I think if you are considering selling in the future a crisp, neat looking cockpit are better selling points - they are 'touchy feely', you get pleasure everyday, your potential buyer can see the improvement. Stories of HC heads, cams, etc, etc could just be that 'stories' and maybe something the new owner would want to do himself!
My trimmer suggested that I change the door cards to leather to continue the two-tone and it looks FAB, I can e-mail pics if you like.
Northern
>> Edited by Northern_Paul on Monday 26th July 22:09
It has totally transformed my car, I'm happy at present with the performance (but will look into this later). I think if you are considering selling in the future a crisp, neat looking cockpit are better selling points - they are 'touchy feely', you get pleasure everyday, your potential buyer can see the improvement. Stories of HC heads, cams, etc, etc could just be that 'stories' and maybe something the new owner would want to do himself!
My trimmer suggested that I change the door cards to leather to continue the two-tone and it looks FAB, I can e-mail pics if you like.
Northern
>> Edited by Northern_Paul on Monday 26th July 22:09
My doors are all leather (well, on the inside).
I prefer it to the itchy carpet too. Id recommend doing it.
My centre console is all fake cow though.
Id like more real cow in mine but wont get it replaced unless it rips as its good enough for now.
AND
Where can I buy so Alcantara leather? There are areas Id like to recover in Alcantara.
I prefer it to the itchy carpet too. Id recommend doing it.
My centre console is all fake cow though.
Id like more real cow in mine but wont get it replaced unless it rips as its good enough for now.
AND
Where can I buy so Alcantara leather? There are areas Id like to recover in Alcantara.
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