Cloth seating in an S2000

[robhousman]

It's almost time to replace my collection of leaks, squeaks, and rattles (otherwise known as a Mazda Miata) with a civilized car (S2000) but there is one "minor" problem - the S2000 is equipped only with what Honda calls "leather-trimmed seats." Despite leather's significant disadvantages (hot in summer, cold in winter, slippery year round) Honda fails to offer cloth seating surfaces in the otherwise wonderful S2000.

One solution is to retain the seats but remove the leather and replace it with fabric but a simpler solution would be to replace the entire seat assemblies with those from another Honda vehicle, preferably ones that can be bolted in without major modifications at the attachment points. Does anyone know whether other Honda front seats can be installed in the S2000?

An expensive alternative would be to install aftermarket seats such as from Recaro, but I'd consider this only if nothing else is practical.

Sitting on dead sheep or other covers over leather is not a solution for me.

[Java Junky]

Rob, like so many other folks I'm gonna advise you to get the car, drive it for awhile n' then see if this "problem" that you're concerned about is actually a problem.
I drive Miatas a few times a week, n' I abuse my Stewie most of the rest of the week. The leather of the seats has never (as in not once/not ever/nada/zipp/zilch/etc.,etc.,etc.) been any kind of a problem n' I'm not sayin' that you don't drive as "aggressively" as I do (it's entirely possible that you jus' might as I seem to be turnin' pansy in my old age) but if you find the leather of the seats to be any kind of a problem I'll be really surprised.
Take a look at the posts. Alodda gripin', grousin' n' whinin', but the only dissatisfaction with the seats'z been Izn's thing that he's got about red.
Be well.
Java

[gomarlins3]

Too bad that covers are not a solution for you, there are some that are made of neoprene that come highly recommened.

[robhousman]

Sorry folks, but leather just won't do. I'm your basic "hot body" so after even a short drive in the sun the sweat starts to show on my trousers - not a good thing. I've avoided leather but have endured vinyl in several roadsters. It has the same disadvantages as leather at lower cost. At least leather smells better than vinyl but otherwise it's the same to me.

Still looking for a reasonable solution.

[Java Junky]

That seatcover that Go recommended (Okole r' some such?) don't look like a cheap add-on Rob. The other option is some racin' seat that allows you the choice'a material.
I don't know that replacin' the seats from another Honda's gonna be an option r' not. Stewie's seats seem kinda "fit to the situation".
However you wind up goin', please keep us posted n' good luck with it.
Be well.
Java

[Bubblerboy64]

Seems to me the best answer would be to have a custom upholstery shop take the leather seats apart and using the leather as a pattern rebuild the original seat in the material of your choice. This would not be cheap but I don't think it would be as expensive as replacing the seats in entirety.

[Dr. Jimbo]

Wet Okole is the brand of neoprene (wet suit material) seat cover. Have them in my pickup and I love them. Problem is they wear out in a couple of years (maybe 3 or 4). They are custom fit for your seat, so they're not bulky or dorky lookin'. The getting in and out of the S is going to do the most wear on a seat cover like that. They're reasonably priced and good quality. I just noticed that there is a link just above Java's 1st post under "Sponsored Links". Check it out.
But if you won't do seat covers, Bubbler's idea is a good but fairly costly option.
Good luck on your quest.
Jimbo

[carguy123]

I came from a Miata as well and the leather seats almost made me not buy the S. I've had mine since 2002 and I still hate them. They're hot, cold &/or slippery at all the wrong times.

Some alcantra seats like in the new CR model or my old RX7 would be just fabulous, but pricing has stopped me.

I wish there were a good cheap alternative for swapping from another car but I havent' found any as nicely shaped as the S's.

[bladerunner]

This talk of seats reminded me that there's a tear in the back of my driver's side seat from the seat back touching the "jaws", as I would call them, of the seatbelt mechanism. Extremely disapointing, because now I have to have the seat up slightly more than I prefer to avoid contact of the seat belt "jaws". I'm gonna cry warranty because that's just ridiculous.

[fhinner]

Hi Rob,

I agree with Java, the leather seats in the S2000 are actually really good, but tastes are different. So I have seen a couple of seats on ebay that are not quit as expensive the the recaro's. The ARCs are fairly good and about $155 on ebay.

Also how I understand it from a friend the Acura Integra RSX stuff fits as well so that might be another avenue. The third is, and I only heard that the EVO TL14 Item Number: RS-505L + RS-505R that you can order with specific hardware to fit the S2000 hardware without modifications. The EVO is pretty firm (not a lot of comfort) and I liked it better the APCs, but my friend told me you can only get them in black and red (not sure why) and they have been seen on ebay for $600 for the pair.

I also heard the Honda DelSole seats fit if you take the hardware off and put the S2000 seat hardware on (but I'm NOT 100% sure).

So if you like that kind of seating you might wanna check. My remark on all of them, I wouldn't give up my leather seats for either of the options, but then that is just me and I always liked that I could simply wipe up a bird surprise when leaving the car parked open....

Hope this helps, Franz

[robhousman]

Thanks for all the replies, but the search must continue.

Soft leather, perforated leather, or other vapor barrier materials (neoprene and vinyl) all share the “too hot to sit on in the summer” problem, as do cloth or dead sheep installed over the non-porous factory leather.

I checked the Acura line of cars and found that, as I suspected, all have factory leather seating that is standard with no cloth option available.

The solution I was hoping to find was a bolt-in replacement seat , and the del Sol sounds promising, as does the Civic (according to a newspaper report regarding the theft of S2000 seats in Florida Stealing S2000 seats in South Florida - Hondahookup.com)

Another link Honda-Tech.com: Honda Civic/Del Sol (1992 - 2000): S2000 seat install into civic with pics done properly. Very long, not 56k friendly. tells of doing the opposite of what I want, folks “upgrading” the del Sol and Civic with leather seats from the S2000, so it looks like this scheme might work for me.

It looks like the theives have created a market for S2000 replacement seats, providing me with a way to profit from my preference for cloth. The prices quoted for replacing the S2000’s seats are much more PER SEAT than my '95 Miata is currently worth, which also makes it a bad idea to have an upholstery shop tear apart the leather and install custom fabric on the factory frame.