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Tweaking c900 dashboard/interior Posted by MattWiltse [Email]  (#263) [Profile/Gallery]
(more from MattWiltse) on Sun, 20 Dec 2009 15:40:23
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Okay, so I bought a new stereo and a nice alarm for my old 'vert. Found a nicely done veneer dash, too. (Had to find one that didn't look garish with the dark red interior, but eventually one was found... and looks SO sweet. That is a cherry-stained dark walnut burl.) Also, did the horn buttons in a brushed aluminum finish (same used for the wheel caps).
This is the best part- I had pulled the storage console out of my old sedan (years ago), and really appreciated the extra foot space that opened up. (Width is not the c900's most "generous" proportion, is it?.) I wanted to do that with my newest SAAB, but the convertible top switch lived down there (really the only component besides the ashtray that does- on my old sedan back in college, I just let the power sunroof switch dangle... God I was an idiot.) My previous experience is that this area is finished behind and below the console (except for a very small metal brace that can be topped with carpet from under the rear seat lip), I do not smoke, and had hard wired a 4-point switched hot-spot below the dash (for my Garmin, laptop, and fridge that I use when on business trips), why not use the space so I can sit "high, wide & proud"?!?
So, you will see if you zoom in to the center section photos, the convertible top switch now resides between the switches where the lighter once lived. This took some doing, but it looks better than new! The top is the focal point of the car, not the ashtray, shouldn't the switch for it be right there in front of you?!? (BTW, my switches have all begun sitting "caddywampus", as my dad would say. Is there a fix to make 'em sit right again? Flipping 'em over works for some, but it makes the rear defroster symbol look like a urinal! That just will not do.)
I don't claim to be on the road to having the best c900 interior (Jouko's amazing work is probably the final word, see the photos below, and there are likely many others of you) , but I really like the way this car is coming together! Take a look at my photos, let me know what you think.
Next, I want to get some high-end sheepskin custom seat covers (I have always appreciated how comfortable those are to sit in for hours on end, and that on my Accord's lousy, flat seats. On the wonderful SAAB seats, in the same dark red as the rest of the interior, how nice would that be, especially on real hot or real cold days.
Also, the fabric insert on the doors is fading, and the glue is releasing. Replacing that will not take much effort, but what sort of material should I use? More red would be okay, but why not bring something different to the party? One thought I had was using the same black speaker fabric I used to cover the ugly black plastic speaker housings in the back seat (again, a very easy touch w/ 3M spray adhesive). But how 'bout something different... some kind of wild fabric/upholstery pattern, or maybe leather, or some other neat texture, and what color? I'm open to suggestions here! Let me know.
Please bear in mind that I was still finishing my project when I snapped these photos, and that I had not yet cleaned my car (usually it is spotless, inside, outside, and under the hood). Also, the flash makes the discoloration of the dark red leather worse than it is, although it certainly is noticeable. Oh, the moisture that you see on the carpet is water from my shoes, not some kind of heater core or windshield leak... this is Seattle, and was raining outside. It is always raining here. If I waited for nice weather, I'd be waiting for 30 minutes of sunshine in late July! ;-)
My photos: http://saabnet.com/tsn/members/gallery.html?memberID=263&do=show&id=14229
Matt
'88 c900 Turbo 'vert auto 119k
, Sun, 20 Dec 2009 15:40:23 <-- Viewing This Message, Sun, 20 Dec 2009 20:27:17, Mon, 21 Dec 2009 14:33:15
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