when i first noticed, i immediately assumed that the previous owner may have swapped a red stiched one for a normal one as surely VW would have supplied it with red stitching -theres red stitching everywhere else FFS!
MUM....MUM.... 
Where's the sewing machine!?
That has got me thinking.... from the point of view of a leather trimmer / upholster, how difficult would the job be to replace the grey stitching with red stitching? Saying that, how difficult is it to remove the leather trim / cover from the arm rest lid???
removal of the armrest lids is easy. early types (pre 09 i believe) you just lift up the armrest, pull off the plastic undertray and the unclip the lid. Newer ones when you take off the plastic undertray you just undo the 2 torx screws and then push the lid downwards to disengage it from the 4 hooks it locks in to.
