• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Cloth vs leather interiors

TridenT

TridenT

Lifer
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.
 
TridenT said:
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.
Click to expand...

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,
 
Meghan54 said:
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.
Click to expand...

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.
 
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 prefer nice cloth generally, but it's not always available. If there is a micro-suede / alcantara option I'd take that over leather.
 
nickbits said:
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.
Click to expand...
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
NutBucket said:
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.
Click to expand...

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.
 
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.
 
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!
 
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).
 
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.
 
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".
 
Last edited:
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.
 
twinrider1 said:
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.
Click to expand...

My 1st gen CTS-V had leather with suede centers.
 
FuzzyDunlop said:
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.
Click to expand...

yes I made sure to get leather in the van, as its way more spill resistant than cloth seats
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top