I'm considering doing some basic stuff to improve interior appearance on my 99 ES. It's got the gray cloth interior. I don't want to spend a lot though, and I personally think most attempts at going all out on an interior fail miserably. a select few wind up great, but i guess that's a matter of taste.
anyway, any suggestions on a few simple, relatively inexpensive mods for the interior?

 

Painting it.

 

Yeah, painting it is very easy and very cheap. You can change the trim color to match you exterior for about $20 or less. Just need a can of primer, paint, and clear coat.

 

http://www.protegeclub.com/showthrea...nting+interior

Yeah...ummmm....I'm not a n00b...and I did a write up....
Welcome to the site BTW!

-Phil

 

lol, you sure are touchy arn't ya? I was replying to the top post of pro2jES 99 and telling him how easy and cheap it is since you only said "painting it". Now there's a link to the write up, good stuff. Toughest thing for sure is the center console around the radio. Some models are easy, it just pops out and newer models have all kinds of extra steps. It used to be just push the a/c vents in and pull from there and it all pops off.

 

Oh, I was just being a smartass. Pardon my rudeness my friend!

Well, it was pretty much self-explanatory though right? lol.
"Painting it".
Next time I'll be a bit more specific

 

Change Guage Faces,Guage Bezels,Dave B Rings,Short Shifter,New Shift Boot, New Shift ****, Katskins Leather seating or Wet Okole Seatcovers,Mazdaspeed Floormats, Interior trim kit. These are just some ideas

I also removed the cloth inserts on the door panels and used some adhesive remover on them and guess what...Nice pretty vinyl underneath !!....

 

No kidding? vinyl underneath? I don't really like the cloth...please elaborate!
A quick how-to.

 

Hmmm...OK
1.Remove door panel....

2. Remove the plastic surround for the door lock.

3. Remove the Rubber trim at the top of the panel by bending back the clips on the inside of the panel

4. Peel back the cloth piece(it actually comes off quite easily)

5. Take some good adhesive remover and scrub all that nasty glue off(tip: use an old toothbrush to scrub the glue that will want to buildup in that little "channel" that goes around the cloth)

6. Reinstall peices you removed from the panel and reinstall panel

7. Armor All the hell out of it !(or whatever you like to use)

I suppose you could then use JDM's how-to to paint if you want contrasting colors

 

Ha ha... Thanx! Looks like I found a new project...and then I can do the bloody interior door handles everyone likes to give me flack about for not painting the first time...heh heh.

 

Painted interior pieces make the car look cheap most of the time. Maybe just a couple things, not a lot. People tend to go overboard with interior paint.

What makes things look good is when you don't know exaxctly how something was done. Pulling parts and rattle canning them is obvious.

*just my input.... I look at cars from more of an art/design type standpoint.

 

Hey! Pix of the door panels with the cloth removed!

It will be shabby soon and what a great solution!

 

I'll try and get some asap

 

Yay!

 

We are up WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY too early....


shoot, I've been up since 4:30....fawking had to hit the gym bro!