New armest mod?

[cej22]

New armrest mod?

My girlfriend recently bought a P5 and I've noticed that the center armrest is fairly useless because it sits so low. I wanted to see how many people are interested in having their armrest modified so that it would be 1 inch taller, padded, and covered in Katzkin leather to match the color of the center console. I already do a center console conversion for the Miata community and you can see my work at www.leatherlids.com

I have to buy the material in bulk and would be using a much thicker foam than I currently have on hand so I'd need at least 10 orders to get this started. You would have to send me your console to have it converted but my customers typically have the completed armrest returned to them in less than a week after I receive their lid. Final cost would probably be around $75. Who would be interested?

-Cam

 

[Moeed]

id be interested, can you also get one for the back seat?

 

[cej22]

id be interested, can you also get one for the back seat?

Wouldn't be very feasible for me to do. Any competent upholsterer could make something for you to add to the back seat if you came up with a design.

 

[MarkSpark]

Sounds like a great idea, but I would not pay $75. That's just me though.

 

[MrFoggy]

Sounds like a great idea, but I would not pay $75. That's just me though.

I agree. I'd be interested in one, but that price seems to high. Then again I don't shiot about the materials involved, so you may just be covering costs.

Maybe you could cover it with another fabric for those of us that don't have leather interiors.

 

[cej22]

The cost isn't necessarily in the materials, but these are labor intensive to make (though it'll cost me about $400 to get set up with the correct thickness of foam and right color of leather). I would use leather to match the center console so that it looks like a factory piece. Your console lid is covered in rubber that has a leather grain to it. I've never had any of my customers complain about my pricing on Miata products, but I understand that the Protege community is a much younger demographic and that $75 is more than an hour or two's work for the average wage earner around here. That's why I'm checking to see if there's decent demand, but it doesn't look like it.

 

[+ friction]

I would be interested if the price was a bit lower. Not saying you are overpricing at all, it is just a bit much for me to pay for an armrest.

BTW, your work looks nice!

 

[cej22]

BTW, your work looks nice!

Thanks. btw, all of my pricing includes shipping. It says it on my website, but I didn't point that out here.

 

[Micah]

The cost isn't necessarily in the materials, but these are labor intensive to make (though it'll cost me about $400 to get set up with the correct thickness of foam and right color of leather). I would use leather to match the center console so that it looks like a factory piece. Your console lid is covered in rubber that has a leather grain to it. I've never had any of my customers complain about my pricing on Miata products, but I understand that the Protege community is a much younger demographic and that $75 is more than an hour or two's work for the average wage earner around here. That's why I'm checking to see if there's decent demand, but it doesn't look like it.

Is it just me, or did he just insult the majority of people on this forum?

( Micah does some quick math - that thing would cost me 3 hours of work )

Yep, I've been insulted.

 

[cbcbd]

I think I'd have to see at least a concept of how it would change my center console (ie. how would it need to be modified, would it be possible to order the lid and modified it myself?)

btw, I think for the quality of your work plus to ship a whole console there and back, $75 is a real good price.

 

[cbcbd]

but I understand that the Protege community is a much younger demographic and that $75 is more than an hour or two's work for the average wage earner around here.

No need for that

 

[+ friction]

Is it just me, or did he just insult the majority of people on this forum?

( Micah does some quick math - that thing would cost me 3 hours of work )

Yep, I've been insulted.

No, I think he is simply saying that Miata owners, as a whole, tend to be a little older and, therefore, better off financially. I don't think that was a blanket statement at all.

 

[bazooka joe]

i'd be interested. by the way my, age and wage rate might not be the only deciding factor! if you could do up a sample and post the pic's that might help. thanks

 

[cej22]

Is it just me, or did he just insult the majority of people on this forum?

( Micah does some quick math - that thing would cost me 3 hours of work )

Yep, I've been insulted.

Wasn't meant as an insult in any way. Sorry If I offended. I'm a young guy too and make less money than someone in my field who's fifty years old (typical Miata owner). Just making a practical statement, that's all.

Maybe I'll do one in black so you guys can see a finished product.

 

[+ friction]

Maybe I'll do one in black so you guys can see a finished product.

That would be great. Is there any sort of permanent install required, or does it just sort of "sit" on top of the old one (sorry if I missed this on your website)?

Thanks.

 

[cej22]

Yes, it's permanent. This is not any kind of stick-on pad. It's a complete conversion.

 

[cej22]

I think I'd have to see at least a concept of how it would change my center console (ie. how would it need to be modified, would it be possible to order the lid and modified it myself?)

btw, I think for the quality of your work plus to ship a whole console there and back, $75 is a real good price.

No you couldn't do it yourself. You simply remove the armrest part from your center console and ship it to me. I convert it and ship it back. No modifications would need to be made by you.

 

[cbcbd]

No you couldn't do it yourself. You simply remove the armrest part from your center console and ship it to me. I convert it and ship it back. No modifications would need to be made by you.

Oh, ok. For some reason I imagining that I'd have to ship out the WHOLE center console instead of just the cover.
Nice, yeah, I'd like to see a sample.

 

[Micah]

I'm interested in seeing the results. $75 isn't bad. Perhaps you could even extend it forward a few inches?

Guess I'll wait for you to post some pics of the prototype.

 

[cej22]

I've thought about extending it forward, but if you go too far then it becomes difficult to use the latch. I personally haven't noticed a problem with the placement, but find that it's just too low.