Cloth vs leather interiors

TridenT

Lifer
Sep 4, 2006
16,810
45
91
What do you choose? I prefer cloth over leather in just about every situation. I don't even like leather couches or chairs. While they can be nice and smooth sometimes... I've found myself them very impractical. It's hot out? I can't even sit on the seat unless I want to get burned. It's cold out? I'm gonna freeze. I'm starting to sweat? I'm going to be peeling my back off the chair and the leather will be wet too (It doesn't breathe well in my experience).

But, I don't know... a lot of people look at leather interiors as a plus. I look at them as a huge negative and welcome cloth interiors just because I know I'm much more likely to be comfortable.
 

Meghan54

Lifer
Oct 18, 2009
11,573
5,096
136
What do you choose? I prefer cloth over leather in just about every situation. I don't even like leather couches or chairs. While they can be nice and smooth sometimes... I've found myself them very impractical. It's hot out? I can't even sit on the seat unless I want to get burned. It's cold out? I'm gonna freeze. I'm starting to sweat? I'm going to be peeling my back off the chair and the leather will be wet too (It doesn't breathe well in my experience).

But, I don't know... a lot of people look at leather interiors as a plus. I look at them as a huge negative and welcome cloth interiors just because I know I'm much more likely to be comfortable.

I'll just state you're wrong on all counts. True, leather looks a lot like vinyl, a plastic that doesn't breathe, heats up fast in sun and heat and will indeed burn you if given half a chance.

But since leather is skin from a mammal and has pores, it behaves quite differently than vinyl.

While it will heat up in sun, it doesn't get nearly as hot as vinyl and cools off very fast. I never had the sweat spot crap you're crying about from being in a vehicle with a leather interior, and I live in the SE US, a place that has more than its share of sun, heat, and humidity.

The biggest problem I have with leather is after a few years, if not taken care of religiously, it'll begin to crack. Easily prevented, but most don't.
Second,
 

BlitzPuppet

Platinum Member
Feb 4, 2012
2,460
7
81
The biggest problem I have with leather is after a few years, if not taken care of religiously, it'll begin to crack. Easily prevented, but most don't.

I've always had more of a problem with Vinyl cracking that I've ever head with leather. The leather conditioners and cleaners always smell good/make the seat feel nice so I've never had a reason to not use them.
 

nickbits

Diamond Member
Mar 10, 2008
4,122
1
81
I prefer cloth but think leather looks better. However, I've never had real leather in a personal car, the closest I've had is leatherette (BMW). With leather you NEED heated seats and they are even worse when it is hot. I've driven in plenty of cars with real leather though.
 

Wuzup101

Platinum Member
Feb 20, 2002
2,334
37
91
I prefer nice cloth generally, but it's not always available. If there is a micro-suede / alcantara option I'd take that over leather.
 

NutBucket

Lifer
Aug 30, 2000
27,036
548
126
I prefer cloth but think leather looks better. However, I've never had real leather in a personal car, the closest I've had is leatherette (BMW). With leather you NEED heated seats and they are even worse when it is hot. I've driven in plenty of cars with real leather though.
I am not impressed with the pleather in BMWs. I'd rather have cloth. Honestly, if you're buying a BMW you shouldn't save a few bucks by not getting real leather.
 

tortillasoup

Golden Member
Jan 12, 2011
1,977
3
81
Leather computer chairs=Acceptable

Leather car seats/interior=Unacceptable.

Leather is miserable in a car IMO, I really don't care for it at all. True that they now make cooled seats that happen to be leather but I really don't find leather as comfortable as cloth seats.
 

Naeeldar

Senior member
Aug 20, 2001
854
1
81
It's funny but I won't buy a car or truck for that matter without a leather interior. Can't stand cloth and it's not like it takes long for a car to heat up or cool down. Even on my S4 I opted to go with leather over the alcantra - half for the color i wanted but half because I don't care for anything but leather.
 

nickbits

Diamond Member
Mar 10, 2008
4,122
1
81
I am not impressed with the pleather in BMWs. I'd rather have cloth. Honestly, if you're buying a BMW you shouldn't save a few bucks by not getting real leather.

It looked the same to me at the time (2003), I might have even liked it better. Hey, it was my first car ever, what did I know.
 

Vetterin

Senior member
Aug 31, 2004
973
0
71
The only car I have ever had leather in is my Vette and it's also the only car I ever WILL have leather in as I hate it. It's cloth or nothing for me.
 

chin311

Diamond Member
Feb 27, 2003
4,307
3
81
Funny, I just traded in my Altima SER that had leather and while I liked the look and smell etc of it, I really prefer cloth seats, I purposely bought my new car with no leather but all the other features I wanted.

I do live in FL and it's too damn hot all the time for leather IMO. In somewhere that isn't a swamp I would welcome it!
 

PricklyPete

Lifer
Sep 17, 2002
14,714
164
106
I like the feel of cloth, but I have had much better luck with leather when it comes to durability. My last Tacoma cloth seats (2005) was wearing poorly after only 3 years (when I put seat covers in).
 

FuzzyDunlop

Diamond Member
Jan 30, 2008
3,261
12
81
Leather stays cleaner long term.

I prefer cloth as it seems to warm up faster in the winter. Downside is it can start to fray, and shows spills from coffee, beer, puke, etc.
 

Leyawiin

Diamond Member
Nov 11, 2008
3,204
52
91
Cloth. I want something that breathes easily so I don't get a sweat-soaked back in summer. Really, either is fine just no "leatherette".
 
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twinrider1

Diamond Member
Sep 28, 2003
4,096
64
91
For those that like leather, do you have full leather or 'leather seating surfaces?'

The leather seating surfaces may last, but it's been my experience that the other, non-leather parts will eventually crack.
 

jlee

Lifer
Sep 12, 2001
48,513
221
106
For those that like leather, do you have full leather or 'leather seating surfaces?'

The leather seating surfaces may last, but it's been my experience that the other, non-leather parts will eventually crack.

My 1st gen CTS-V had leather with suede centers.
 

Zargon

Lifer
Nov 3, 2009
12,240
2
76
Leather stays cleaner long term.

I prefer cloth as it seems to warm up faster in the winter. Downside is it can start to fray, and shows spills from coffee, beer, puke, etc.

yes I made sure to get leather in the van, as its way more spill resistant than cloth seats
 

michal1980

Diamond Member
Mar 7, 2003
8,019
43
91
i dont mind leather up north. but recently in phoenix, around tx, and nm. bla leather is terrible.
 
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