Birthday is coming... should I do seats or wheels/tires?

[Jesda]

I've been racking my brain the last few days. My 23rd birthday is around the corner and I'm pondering gift options and could use some of NICO's valued input.

My kind parents have offered to either resurface my front seats with Allante vinyl (I took a look at some samples, very nice stuff) or get me a new set of (used) wheels and tires.

Here are my options:

1. Wes's chrome piepans with new coopers.2. Keith's BBS wheels (missing one center cap) and I find a cheap set of Kuhmos.3. Have my seats done with Allante vinyl, which will include just the five ripped leather panels.4. Get new tires (no new wheels) and only do the driver's seat for now.

All of the above will cost about the same in the end. I'd have to pitch in $70-100 extra of my own for Keith's wheels and new tires.

Here's what my seats look like: http://q.spilky.com/seats/

My current wheels are stock piepans, and the tires are Firestone Insignias (about $75 per tire installed). The sidewalls are on the soft side, snow handling is excellent, and treadwear is 400. About 60% of tread remains, and Firestone's 40k warranty with lifetime balancing is nice. Unfortunately, vibration and flat spotting is a royal pain. Ask Wes about the seat massage function on my Q.

So, I ask... WWJD? (What would Jesda do?) Maybe I should just pocket the 200-300 dollars and throw a huge party.

-Jesda

[HeavyDuty]

You could buy these cheap & I can get you some tires for a smoking cheap price.

[louiegz]

Do the seats, but don't use vinyl. How about those Katskin leather seat covers. At least they're leather. Vinyl gets hot in the summer. forget about sit on those wiht shorts on. You'll burn your legs.

[911/Q45]

I vote seats, you'll smile every time you get in.

[90Q45blue]

Jesda,

Don't do the seats in vinyl. It's not REALLY what you want anyway. I would either pocket the money and save for Katzkin leather, or buy some wheels/tires.

Nick

[elwesso]

Just do both.. Ill be flexible on my payments..... VERY flexible, its worth mroe to me to have them out of my attic... You saw how bad it was up there!

Also, the massage feature is nice!!

[Rex]

Seats, and do 'em right. You spend more time in thre car going after Whitie's than you do looking at the car, so enjoy your part most.

[QE86]

YEAH I will vote for the "LEATHER" seats also.....no vinyl

[90Q45blue]

Forget all of this, just go out and buy a taco that poops ice cream. That would be the best present ever.

Nick

[Altiman94]

get some nice aftermarket rims. Why spend money on stock wheels that just look bland.

[OptimusPrime]

Dude... You have to do those seats. You have to be comfortable with your surrounding inside before you worry about the outside. Wheels and tires come and go. Besides if you sell it, people will more than likely notice the seats before the wheels.

[HeavyDuty]

I freely admit I feel like a tool with a nice exterior & two ripped front seats. Both inside & out are important, in my case, a couple sets of wheels have come my way but no new nice seats.

[JedCoop]

My vote is for tires.... I traded out my Kumhos for Yokohama ES 100's, price was just a couple of $ north of the Kumho 712's (~$120 mount, balanced, and taxes), but quieter, little better in wet, and gave better feedback than the Kumho.

And of course bigger wheels - 16" is a good blend of performance, looks and economy.

Or I can send you two more "Bridgestone Insignia" tires - free for the cost of shipping. I got them on the Q I just bought - plenty of tread, they just aren't round enough for my tastes.

[Now you know where all those "Firestone" tires went!]

Tires are what keeps me glued to the road, and I like that. With these Z rated tires you'll feel the improvement on every road you drive, evvery day. And they might keep you out of an accident some day.

[dareo]

Seats, when mine get like that they're getting recovered. Every now and then i see an old car come into work with brand new leather, its so nice.

[GreenQ45a]

"The Tires are the most important part of the car" Callaway

I know the pain of ulgy torn seats.

Not is bad is your broken chaingiudes.

Its NOTHING like the pain of looking at a wreaked Q.

Skipping on tires could mean sitting on your new seats in your driveway.

I say nice seat covers and WES's rims and real good tires.

Save up for REAL leather.

I am....

[maxnix]

Get the Michelin 235/70-15 XGTH on closeout and save the rest for leather seat repair. You will not like vinyl in the summer.

Maybe plan on Hüper Optik Stark 30 before the leather repair to protect the interior and keep cool in summer?

[GreenQ45a]

Hüper Optik Stark 30 ???

[elwesso]

Do a search.. Basically its a VERY expensive "tint" that allows nearly zero heat into the car.....

[docsmile71]

Those seats need some serious help.

I say to do the seats in a synthetic leather. You know that BMW leatherette type stuff? It's very much like real leather but doesn't need the TLC that real leather needs.

Plus it's a little less expensive.

OR...get those sheepskin seat covers from autozone and do the rims and tires.

[jEzTeR]

hrmmm.

lots of good options.

I have no imput other than let us know what the out come is and post pics!

[Q45denver]

Get the chrome piepans, some matching sheepskins and the Michelins 235's currently on closeout at Tirerack. Then wait for a nice set of seats to come up on eBay or your local recycler.

[Jeff Williams]

Definitely go with the seats. The chrome piepans would make the car look better, but the seats need help!

Dont go vinyl. It will not look as good, and won't feel very good, in the summer at all.

I agree, on the BMW simulated leather, but it might cost you just as much as leather.

The Katzkin stuff looks great, but I think it is over your budget, unless you do one at a time.

I say, take Wes up on his offer.

I wish you had enough, to get my chrome plated BBS wheels. By the way, I have some dirty pictures of the wheels in my member's ride section.

[JT_MONEY_2004]

You could buy these cheap & I can get you some tires for a smoking cheap price.

What do you call cheap HD, and where can those be gotten..you get em'?I'm chomping at the bit for some wheels and tires, I just hoping to get a deal.

Jesda, i think your seats need serious help kid, but there's no putting you or worse the safety for unsuspecting others in danger. Go tires and wes's wheels if you can afford it. New seats after tax time.

[HeavyDuty]

What do you call cheap HD, and where can those be gotten..you get em'?I'm chomping at the bit for some wheels and tires, I just hoping to get a deal.

Those are spoken for now, (sold)

But 1Qckser has a set for sale, as well as Wes, and I think somone else.

I would call some local aftermarket wheel shops, those pictured are original equipment 04 Maxima SE wheels & tires, there's bound to be some more take-offs around. They fit great!

[AlabamaDan]

Jesda,

Being rational I'd jump on Wes's wheels if he still has them, but you'd better move on 'em. You already missed out on HD's.

Tires are the rational and most prudent thing.

I'd look around for seats in a junkyard or wreck or something. You can probably find used OEM seats for what it would cost to recover seats.

Happy Birthday! 23 seems so long ago.

So, what are you going to do?

DM

[AlabamaDan]

How about these for less than $200?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...43955

[elwesso]

Lets not forget mine will come with 2 new tires, 2 extra center caps, gold spoke things (would be golden with the gold pinstripe) and a payment plan!

Plus he's coming to my place to pick them up...

[Jesda]

Yep, I'm sold on Wes's chromes. And I'm having having the seats done. Woowoo!

[Rex]

So, what was the official day??

[Jesda]

Was going to do it this week (they were going to leave me cash to pay for it), but the folks are going to New Orleans and they decided to just wait until they get back next weekend. I'll have an alignment done then too. The nearby Firestone just got a Hunter laser alignment machine.

I'm picking up Wes's chrome pies on the 17th. WHEE!!

-Jesda