Please allow me to apologize in advance for being so pissed over such a seemingly stupid thing. In 9-98 I bought a used F-150 SC XLT. I thought I was saving money on a low mileage vehicle. I loved the truck until I took it in to have the door cracks repaired and discovered massive damage and a bent frame from a former accident. It had captains chairs, which to me, is a handy feature and lends itself to making my work easier. I took the truck back in 6-99 to threaten the used car dealer into taking the truck back. They happened to have my current truck sitting on the lot with only 532 miles, more options, and gave me a good deal on it. I bought it (after a careful underbody inspection) figuring I could do without the captains chairs. I liked the new color interior (dark graphite) very much. Well, on the third day I had it the plastic on the bottom of the seat cracked and I do not have any place to store any of my stuff in the 60/40 that the 99 has. I thought "no big deal" I will find some captains chairs and I'll sell the 60/40.

I spent the next nine months scouring the net, trading publications, local junkyards etc. trying to find captians chairs in the correct color. I was limited to buying all of the individual parts from the dealer or waiting until one of the 100 or so (I pressume) trucks with this color interior ever made with captains chairs gets wrecked. I finally found some in TX. and after a shipping fiasco, they turn out to be incorrect, not even close. I am hellapissed about this. This is the most insame thing I have ever seen.

My options as I see it;
1) live with the breaking plastic and lack of utility (for my needs) of my current seat
2) pay the $1600.00 for the pieces at the dealer and put them together myself
3) continue the search for the seats at a salvage yard
4) sell the truck outright, take a small loss and drive my 89 Dodge van
5) give the truck to my girlfriend and drive the Explorer with the sport buckets and storage space
6) trade the F-150 for another truck that I will order to my specifications from now on if I do it at all

I have my current seat sold for $500 to my buddy which would have made the seats I got today cost effective had they been correct. At this point I am leaning towards getting rid of the truck. I even stopped by the Toyota dealer, as much as I hate Toyota, to see all of the Access Cabs (all of which had captains chairs). I gave the chick at the junkyard another day to locate the correct seats. I don't want a few hundred bucks for a stupid seat to ruin this whole truck thing for me. If I had medium grpahite or tan, I could have bought enough seats to fill a Super Wal Mart. Geeees, I am really starting to hate Dark Graphite. Anyone have any ideas? Stupid seats! Sorry for the long post.

 

how about taking the seats you just got to an upholstery shop anf getting them recovered. yes it will cost more money but then you would have the seats you want. most hot rod places can tell you the names of quality upholstery shops who could easily get the color you want.
maybe you could talk to the person you bought the seats from and explain to them that they are the wrong color and agree to keep them at a discounted price.
just a thought. good luck
terry

 

Seacrow I found a Co that makes tweed seat covers that look like original Eq. (only better) I have dk Graphite 60/40's and am considering getting this because I think the covering Ford made is too cheesy anyway. I think they were $150 or $300 (either $150 total or $150 each piece, I can't remember)
Do what wildchild sugests (negotiate discount) and get the Tweed covers. Thats what I would do. It still has to be cheaper than $1600.

[This message has been edited by Andthensometoo (edited 05-18-2000).]

 

Yes, I thought of that but the seats that showed up were for a Dodge Dakota, I think. They were so far off that i couldn't have used them for patio furniture. I am about to call that LWM enterpirses (I think it is called) and order medium graphite seats. Then I will get them recovered at an upholstery shop and purchase the center console from the Ford dealer. I shouldv'e done that in the first place when I found out how RARE the dark graphhite seats are. After sleeping on it I think that is my best plan. Now I gotta get my money back from that place in TX. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

didn't realize that the seats weren't even from the right truck. sorry. how about after market seats? i've seen some pretty nice looking ones for $6-$700. seems expensive but they may be even better then stock captains.

 

The solution is quite simple. Sell your truck. Buy a cargo van, in between the front seats you can put a filing cabinet. Problem solved.

 

Rick99 LOL

I e-mailed this picture of the seats I need to the lady in Tx. They should be on the way. Thanks again guys.

 

Update! the seats never showed up so I called today to confirm shipping. The lady that worked at the place got fired and the A$$hole that owns the place got on the phone and said she tried to send the seats and I refused them. I explained to him that his incompetent employees were not my problem and demanded my money back. He told me he did not make a dime and wanted another shot. I gave him one more day. I expect another failure on the part of his establishment. I am MEGASUPERPISSED about this. I may be taking a trip to Paris,Texas soon.

 

Seacrow: If you get too fustrated with them, you might give these guys a call. They specialize in truck accessories. I am sure they can give you help. If they don't have the seats, I'm sure they can direct you to someone who does.


Padgham Pickup Accessories
4615 S.E. 15th
Del City, OK

(405)672-3389


Del city pickup Parts
3109 S.E. 73115
(405)677-2431
1-800-701-5969

They are in the same city but are different companies. I have been in both, and bought parts from them and they have a wide selection of trucks seats.

 

Thanks Past and eveybody else for the help. The verdict is that these seats do not exist. The guy found more than 1400 medium graphite captains chairs but not a Dark Graphite anything. After a lengthy argument over my money, I finally agreed to a 20% restock fee and one way shipping. It cost me over $300 bucks to find out they don't exist. In almost a year over diligent searching I was unable to find anything from thousands of salvage yards. I checked the price to recover another color seats and to buy new ones from the factory. That would have cost me a few grand either way. So I have come to terms with the fact that I am keeping the 60/40 but I will probably be selling my truck soon and ordering another one. Sorry for the repetitive posts and all of the griping. Thanks again.

[This message has been edited by seacrow (edited 06-03-2000).]

 

That is an amazing story! If you can't find seats for one of the most popular vehicles in the WORLD -- wow!

 

Yes, it was absolutely the most unbelievable thing I have ever flustered myself with. I even located some captains chairs in "Willow Green" an extremely rare color used in 97/98 F-150s. I think Dark Graphite captains chairs are on the Endangered Species List.