Any moms lease a car and turn it in???

I had my 2 Britax Marathons installed in my 06 Envoy by the guy at Nassau County Transporation Board in Mineola. He got them in there rock solid. I have leather seats, which I chose thinking it would be easier to clean with two kids.

Fast forward to last week, my windshield cracked, my car was hit over the summer (while it was sitting in my driveway!) and my inspection was due, so DH gave me a loaner truck and took my car in to his shop to get it fixed and inspected.

And when I took the carseats out to transfer to the loaner car, the back seats were indented and basically ruined from the carseats pushing in on them for nearly 2 years. Now my DH is furious at me, saying we will owe the lease company mega bucks when the car goes back at the end of my lease (next December). The seats were out of the car for a week, and the leather did not rebound.

Still with me? Anyone ever turn in their lease with their seats ruined from carseats? did you get charged? Just looking for experiences. I know a lot of ladies here lease. Or maybe not?

Message edited 5/15/2008 2:17:05 PM.

Re: Any moms lease a car and turn it in???

We lease and have leather, but it's not up until May. Good luck!

Re: Any moms lease a car and turn it in???

My last car was a lease...the carseat didn't make any lasting damage. I do have one of those seat protectors under the carseat, ontop of the leather. Didn't pay a penny in any kind of damage.

Re: Any moms lease a car and turn it in???

Re: Any moms lease a car and turn it in???

Re: Any moms lease a car and turn it in???

Re: Any moms lease a car and turn it in???

Message edited 5/15/2008 2:17:41 PM.

Re: Any moms lease a car and turn it in???

Posted by chmlengr

Posted by CathyB

I haven't taken them out in a while and there were indents but I assumed they'd go away if the seats weren't in there. Now I'm worried.

I'm not even mentioning it to DH, his head will explode.

Please, you should hear my DH! I want him off my back about this, it's been going on for more than a week! I admit, yes, the seats are permanently indented. But what's my other option, not install them correctly so they don't ruin the leather? It didn't go away in my car after a week. So he's mad now. HE told me in the 17 years he's worked for the dealership, no one has ever turned in a car with the seats like that

Re: Any moms lease a car and turn it in???

Posted by chmlengr

Posted by luvsun27

My last car was a lease...the carseat didn't make any lasting damage. I do have one of those seat protectors under the carseat, ontop of the leather. Didn't pay a penny in any kind of damage.

I just ordered the carseat protectors from One Step Ahead, to get DH off my back about this! Although I was told they are not safe to have in there (by the guy when I had them installed).

DH keeps telling me the seats don't have to be installed that tight that it makes marks on the seat

Re: Any moms lease a car and turn it in???

Posted by CathyB

Ah, he's a car salesman, you can't believe anything he says anyway.

Re: Any moms lease a car and turn it in???

Re: Any moms lease a car and turn it in???

We recently purchased a newew SUV and when we traded in our old Lexus RX there were some indentation marks but we were also using a seat protector so it will not completely eliminate the issue.

I would consider massaging the leather in the indented areas with some kind of leather treatment and leaving the seats off a bit longer just to see if it will help raise the marks.

I don't believe they are completely permanent. Did they marks not improve AT ALL during the time the car seats were removed?

Also I would try some sort of heat or moisture - the leather will bounce back.

Our car was 4 years old and had a car seat installed for 2 of those years and the leather was far older than your leased car...

HTH a bit!

Re: Any moms lease a car and turn it in???

Posted by annienyc

We recently purchased a newew SUV and when we traded in our old Lexus RX there were some indentation marks but we were also using a seat protector so it will not completely eliminate the issue.

I would consider massaging the leather in the indented areas with some kind of leather treatment and leaving the seats off a bit longer just to see if it will help raise the marks.

I don't believe they are completely permanent. Did they marks not improve AT ALL during the time the car seats were removed?

Also I would try some sort of heat or moisture - the leather will bounce back.

Our car was 4 years old and had a car seat installed for 2 of those years and the leather was far older than your leased car...

HTH a bit!

Re: Any moms lease a car and turn it in???

Trish - we used to have a volvo with leather seats in it and had Jakes car seat in the back. When we returned it the car seat left marks on the leather but we did not get charged for it.

We also had the jeep - cloth seats and both car seats left marks, but we were not charged for that either.

I mean what can you do about it, they are car seats and have to be tight, they are going to leave marks. Tell hubby to lighten up on you. Its not like you did it on purpose. I'll see you tomorrow with a drink in hand for you

Re: Any moms lease a car and turn it in???

I got the car in February, when DS was 3 months. The salesman told me to get the protector because the child seats will ruin the leather. So, I did and when I changed the seat to forward facing, I looked and the leather does not have one dent in it. I hope it stays that way.

Good luck

Re: Any moms lease a car and turn it in???

I turned in a lease and they only looked on the outside of the car

Re: Any moms lease a car and turn it in???

When I turned in my last lease, they only briefly-and I mean briefly-looked inside. They were more concerned with the outside. I'm sure it will be okay. Also, you COULD put the seats back in when you have it inspected-they won't ask you to remove them!

Re: Any moms lease a car and turn it in???

i turned in my VW w seatdents w no problems. My Acura goes back soon, we'll see how that goes

Re: Any moms lease a car and turn it in???

Turned in my Caravan one month ago, not leather seats, but the seats were SERIOUSLY indented and stained as well. No one said a WORD about either issue.

GL

Re: Any moms lease a car and turn it in???

Thank you!!! I feel so much better! I am printing out the last few responses and showing DH!

Re: Any moms lease a car and turn it in???

if ur really concerned babies r us sells stuff to protect the leather in your car from carseats...just go to the car seat isle... I have a leased car, and i put one of those in and then the car seat on top, the leather is perfect.

Re: Any moms lease a car and turn it in???

Re: Any moms lease a car and turn it in???

Could you go to a company that reconditions leather and have it fixed yourself? There are companies that fix scratches, tears, bumps in leather seats for cars, planes, boats. It might end up cheaper than what the dealership will charge.

Re: Any moms lease a car and turn it in???

Posted by Mrs. Patticakes

Also, you COULD put the seats back in when you have it inspected-they won't ask you to remove them!

Re: Any moms lease a car and turn it in???

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Message edited 5/15/2008 2:16:44 PM.