Cloth vs leather interiors

[z1ggy]

Leather is good for a lux car that you don't drive fast around corners (unless the seats are very supportive on both sides). Looks nice, easy to clean and doesn't really stain like cloth. However, I'd prefer cloth almost in all situations over leather when it comes to driving or comfort. I've had both and the only thing that makes me wish I still had leather was my heated seats.

 

[Remobz]

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.

My Tribute has vinyl interior but I spend a lot on good products to preserve it. MY uncle has cloth but he has 3 kids who always spill drinks and food in it. Looks terrible inside.

Honestly, I prefer leather or vinyl interiors.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Leather is good for a lux car that you don't drive fast around corners (unless the seats are very supportive on both sides). Looks nice, easy to clean and doesn't really stain like cloth. However, I'd prefer cloth almost in all situations over leather when it comes to driving or comfort. I've had both and the only thing that makes me wish I still had leather was my heated seats.

If the seats don't offer enough support, being cloth doesn't save them. All cloth seats without bolsters do is make you uncomfortable because you're sliding inside your clothes.

Good seats have sufficient bolsters to where it doesn't matter if they're cloth or leather.

Personally, I prefer perforated leather. It breathes well, cleans easily, and if taken care of will last a long time.

ZV

 

[Remobz]

If the seats don't offer enough support, being cloth doesn't save them. All cloth seats without bolsters do is make you uncomfortable because you're sliding inside your clothes.

Good seats have sufficient bolsters to where it doesn't matter if they're cloth or leather.

Personally, I prefer perforated leather. It breathes well, cleans easily, and if taken care of will last a long time.

ZV

Not everyone has the money to spend on regular cleaning of interior cloth. Some vehicles car seats literally smells like ASS.

 

[Midwayman]

All the cloth interiors I'd had get rips or stains. Leather looks nice for much longer than cloth does in my experience.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Not everyone has the money to spend on regular cleaning of interior cloth. Some vehicles car seats literally smells like ASS.

Huh?

What does spending money on cleaning cloth matter when I said I prefer leather? This post makes no sense.

ZV

 

[996GT2]

I don't think the leather in cars really "breathes" unless it's perforated. Leather seats in cars are covered with a urethane coating to improve durability.

From another site:

There are currently four types of automotive leather:

ANILINE (Unfinished): Found in very expensive cars (300k plus), very soft to touch and basicaly flawless. It will absorb water. Stays cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Expensive.

Alcantara: Found in expensive sports cars (100k plus), looks like suede. Will require very specific care and products.

Semi-Aniline/finished: the second most comom type on cars. Has a protective coat that offers a nice supple fell and protects at the same time, but it also causes the seat to get hot in the summer and cold in the winter. Won't absorb water (drop some water onto the seat to test it). Very few products will condition it properly. Will require some scrubing to remove all the gunk and body oils.

Pigmented: The cheapest one. Found in american cars, this leather has a (very) strong coat to hide the natural defects (it's cheap, remember?), therefore it won't absorb water/conditioner at all. Clean it by giving a little scrubing. Don't bother with conditioners, because it won't work.

 

[GoSharks]

I don't think the leather in cars really "breathes" unless it's perforated. Leather seats in cars are covered with a urethane coating to improve durability.

From another site:

Except Alcantara isnt leather at all...

 

[JackBurton]

Cloth looks cheap, don't like it. For the people complaining about heat, you need tint or invest in better tint. I lived in Texas with leather interior and had no issues with heat.

 

[Wuzup101]

Cloth looks cheap, don't like it. For the people complaining about heat, you need tint or invest in better tint. I lived in Texas with leather interior and had no issues with heat.

Some states can't tint very aggressively (at least legally). Despite having my windows tinted with a high end 3M film, everything in my car still gets hot when it's left out in the sun (i.e. when I get into it to go home from work). Then again I wear pants... so I'm not exactly worried about my legs sticking to leather or anything lol.

 

[vi edit]

I did a car with black leather in Phoenix. Don't get much hotter than that. I could deal with the seats. What always got me was the keys in the ignition. The inside of the car would heat up so much and the ignition being a giant hunk of metal would turn into a massive heat sink. Put your key in there and drive home for half an hour.

Then on the way home that heat trapped in the ignition would transfer over to your car key . When you got home and tossed your keys in your pocket on the way from the garage that now smoldering hot key was parked against some of the most tender bits of your body.

No me gusta!

 

[Remobz]

Huh?

What does spending money on cleaning cloth matter when I said I prefer leather? This post makes no sense.

ZV

You are right. I was talking in general and not specifically to your post. I never should of quoted your post, my bad

I agree with you by the way.

 

[nickbits]

I have never had a stain or rip on any of the seats in any car I've ever owned.

Don't eat/drink in car and don't have kids. Problem solved.

 

[Remobz]

I have never had a stain or rip on any of the seats in any car I've ever owned.

Don't eat/drink in car and don't have kids. Problem solved.

Although my Tribute came with leather seats it was previously owned by God knows how many others before I bought it. The front seats are showing its age (2003 Tribute) but I might just replace the leather on two front seats in the near future.

I hate cloth and love leather seats

 

[Fritzo]

Cloth gets all stained and smelly over time, and it's impossible to clean. I always go with leather or at least vinyl. That way you can wipe it off easily.

Hot seats have never really been a problem. They're pretty breathable these days, and cars have AC now.

 

[Fritzo]

Although my Tribute came with leather seats it was previously owned by God knows how many others before I bought it. The front seats are showing its age (2003 Tribute) but I might just replace the leather on two front seats in the near future.

I hate cloth and love leather seats

I have never had a stain or rip on any of the seats in any car I've ever owned.

Don't eat/drink in car and don't have kids. Problem solved.

One day, your world will come crashing down

Except Alcantara isnt leather at all...

Yeah, it's the WORST material ever for auto interiors. It's like a suede material, and it holds dirt and oil stains like crazy. On top of that, the fuzzyness wears down over time and it almost solidifies, looking like dry rot.

I turned down a BMW M3 that was pristine other than the interior. Avoid at all costs.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Don't eat/drink in car and don't have kids. Problem solved.

If you're "that guy" who won't let people eat in his car, then the "don't have kids" advice will be easy because most women I've known won't put up with someone being that obsessive about a car.

ZV

 

[TridenT]

Cloth looks cheap, don't like it. For the people complaining about heat, you need tint or invest in better tint. I lived in Texas with leather interior and had no issues with heat.

K, rolls royce owner.

I don't tint my cars. Reduces visibility and I am highly against that. I've been in cars that were heavily tinted and they're still scorching hot when you get in them.

I have never had a stain or rip on any of the seats in any car I've ever owned.

Don't eat/drink in car and don't have kids. Problem solved.

Mostly this. I've had people spill stuff in my car accidentally but it cleaned out just fine. I don't have any stains in my car.

 

[Midwayman]

I don't tint my cars. Reduces visibility and I am highly against that. I've been in cars that were heavily tinted and they're still scorching hot when you get in them.

Clearly you need this then.

 

[NutBucket]

I was basically not allowed to eat in my parents' cars....what's the problem? Yes, my wife and I are those people too and we have a little one on the way.

 

[vi edit]

I don't let kids eat or drink in my car. My wife on the other hand...her car has gold fish in the pull handles of the back doors. There's three happy meals worth of food bits under car seats. On any given day there's a curdled sippy cup of milk jammed between the floorboard and the front seats. About 20 cereal bar wrappers crinkled up and jammed into the storage area of the drivers side door. A couple dirty coffee mugs in the cup holders at any given time. Ect.

I don't like my vehicles being a waste basket.

 

[JackBurton]

K, rolls royce owner.

I don't tint my cars. Reduces visibility and I am highly against that. I've been in cars that were heavily tinted and they're still scorching hot when you get in them.

Quit looking at crappy tint, and you don't have to go dark. Huper Optik provides great visibility and heat rejection without the need to go limo tint dark (which I hate).

Little darker in cars, but you get the picture.

Huper Optik

 

[JackBurton]

Some states can't tint very aggressively (at least legally). Despite having my windows tinted with a high end 3M film, everything in my car still gets hot when it's left out in the sun (i.e. when I get into it to go home from work). Then again I wear pants... so I'm not exactly worried about my legs sticking to leather or anything lol.

I don't have dark tint. See above post.

 

[NutBucket]

I don't let kids eat or drink in my car. My wife on the other hand...her car has gold fish in the pull handles of the back doors. There's three happy meals worth of food bits under car seats. On any given day there's a curdled sippy cup of milk jammed between the floorboard and the front seats. About 20 cereal bar wrappers crinkled up and jammed into the storage area of the drivers side door. A couple dirty coffee mugs in the cup holders at any given time. Ect.

I don't like my vehicles being a waste basket.

Yuck. I can't deal with that.

 

[tortillasoup]

If you're "that guy" who won't let people eat in his car, then the "don't have kids" advice will be easy because most women I've known won't put up with someone being that obsessive about a car.

ZV

ironically my mother WAS that person who wouldn't let us eat in her car as she was obsessive with keeping it clean. I kinda agreed with her so the times I DID eat in the car, I made it a point to her that I wouldn't make a mess and if there was a mess I'd definitely clean up after myself. Carbon based life forms are typically nasty little creatures.