Is leather worth the extra $1,000 on a car?

[Svnla]

If all things equal then nice leather is better. I wouldn't pay 1K for leather seats though.

If you want leather seats and don't want to pay too much, get the leather covers from your local vendors instead of the dealer.

 

[isekii]

What car are we talking about ?

 

[TechnoKid]

Originally posted by: z0mb13
lexol is ur friend!

:thumbsup:

 

[Beau]

Originally posted by: Tremulant

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Tremulant
The leather in our '95 Ford E-150 Conversion van hasn't cracked and that thing sits in the hot florida sun all day long for 5-6 days of the week. It gets a good cleaning (inside and out + armor all/etc on the inside) about twice a year. We did take two of the captain's chairs inside the house though (brother uses one as a computer chair and the other as an extra chair in his room) and some of the leather on the arm rests is cracked/coming off.. but that's cause he picks at it when he's bored.

You watch NASCAR and wrestling don't you?

ROFL, no. My sister is disabled, that van has a wheelchair lift installed on it. When she's in the van the seats don't fit, so we took them out. One fits when she's not in the van (the mounting plate for one of the chairs was removed to put the locking bracket for her wheelchair in), but we never use the van without her, so we just took both chairs out. They were stacked in the garage for like 7 years and when my brother got a desk and computer we moved them into the house. They're actually really comfortable.


Edit: For clarity.

Hmm... that's actually an awesome idea. I've got a Porsche 924 parts car with a couple leather bucket seats that I just might do that to... 😀

 

[Jeraden]

I have leather in my current car. My next one will have cloth. When its hot out, it sucks having to sit on leather seats. The back of my shirt always gets wet from sweat. With cloth, it seems to breathe a bit easier.

 

[OutHouse]

Originally posted by: Beau
Good leather + seat warmers = 😎

I love my car's leather interior... don't think I'll ever go back to cloth.

same here. I bought a 04 Camry XLE in april and it is my first car with leather. i really like it and wont go back to cloth.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: MogulMonster
IT depends on what car. The leather in a Ford sucks ass, but the leather in an Acura would be nice. I love having leather in my car, but it does take regular maintenance to keep it looking and feeling like it should.

and here acura is known for their plasticky leather

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: MogulMonster
IT depends on what car. The leather in a Ford sucks ass, but the leather in an Acura would be nice. I love having leather in my car, but it does take regular maintenance to keep it looking and feeling like it should.

I hated the factory leather in my Acura. It was thin and and plasticky and despite constant maintenance (oiling, cleaning, etc.) began to crack and fade after only a couple of years. Freezing cold in the winter, burn your ass in the summer, slippery all year.
Cloth may not look as nice, but I'll take it over leather anyday.

 

[Ausm]

Originally posted by: Mith
I wouldn't bother with leather. Just don't eat in your car and you should be fine.

That wouldn't work for me ...I eat on the road all the time


Ausm

 

[fs5]

nope, I hate leather
it's hot in the summer, cold in the winter, and the smell gives me a headache.

 

[Nebor]

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: MogulMonster
IT depends on what car. The leather in a Ford sucks ass, but the leather in an Acura would be nice. I love having leather in my car, but it does take regular maintenance to keep it looking and feeling like it should.

I hated the factory leather in my Acura. It was thin and and plasticky and despite constant maintenance (oiling, cleaning, etc.) began to crack and fade after only a couple of years. Freezing cold in the winter, burn your ass in the summer, slippery all year.
Cloth may not look as nice, but I'll take it over leather anyday.

The quality of leather in an Acura isn't anywhere near the quality of leather in any European car. It's cheap, thin and just strange. A new BMW smells like a new leather jacket; A new Acura smells like.... I don't know.

 

[Ricochet]

If you live in hot areas like SoCal, NM, Arizona, Nevada, and etc with temperatures of 100+ degrees I would not consider leather as an option.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: Nebor

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: MogulMonster
IT depends on what car. The leather in a Ford sucks ass, but the leather in an Acura would be nice. I love having leather in my car, but it does take regular maintenance to keep it looking and feeling like it should.

I hated the factory leather in my Acura. It was thin and and plasticky and despite constant maintenance (oiling, cleaning, etc.) began to crack and fade after only a couple of years. Freezing cold in the winter, burn your ass in the summer, slippery all year.
Cloth may not look as nice, but I'll take it over leather anyday.

The quality of leather in an Acura isn't anywhere near the quality of leather in any European car. It's cheap, thin and just strange. A new BMW smells like a new leather jacket; A new Acura smells like.... I don't know.

I understand this, I have seen the differences, but I wouldn't want leather even in a BMW. It's slippery and doesn't grip your clothing properly, and (quite honestly) I hate the smell.

Leather is only good for the bling factor, and I've reached the point in my life where I no longer care about bling anymore.

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: ricochet
If you live in hot areas like SoCal, NM, Arizona, Nevada, and etc with temperatures of 100+ degrees I would not consider leather as an option.

I lived in AZ and got leather (not black), heat were never an issue for me.
Once I moved to muggy-ass Virginia the nice leather smell has been polluted with a funky moist smell. 🙁
God I hate this state, even thoughtoday has been very nice.

 

[CraigRT]

I could have gotten leather in my car...
only option I did not get.

 

[Nebor]

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: Nebor

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: MogulMonster
IT depends on what car. The leather in a Ford sucks ass, but the leather in an Acura would be nice. I love having leather in my car, but it does take regular maintenance to keep it looking and feeling like it should.

I hated the factory leather in my Acura. It was thin and and plasticky and despite constant maintenance (oiling, cleaning, etc.) began to crack and fade after only a couple of years. Freezing cold in the winter, burn your ass in the summer, slippery all year.
Cloth may not look as nice, but I'll take it over leather anyday.

The quality of leather in an Acura isn't anywhere near the quality of leather in any European car. It's cheap, thin and just strange. A new BMW smells like a new leather jacket; A new Acura smells like.... I don't know.

I understand this, I have seen the differences, but I wouldn't want leather even in a BMW. It's slippery and doesn't grip your clothing properly, and (quite honestly) I hate the smell.

Leather is only good for the bling factor, and I've reached the point in my life where I no longer care about bling anymore.

Have you ever seen a race car without leather seats?!?! 😛 😀

 

[glugglug]

Heh, $1000 extra for leather?! In some areas, like the southeast, I would say leather interior is a huge NEGATIVE to have in the car -- People who get cars with leather in FL actually end up keeping towels over them so that they can maybe actually sit down when they get in before turning on the A/C.

 

[oogabooga]

I love the leather in my car, and will have trouble going back to cloth, i live in socal, and drive a 1993.5 Infiniti G20.
It takes more effort, i don't know if leather is worth 1000 dollars... but i vote leather regardless.

 

[lobadobadingdong]

if you live in the heat, and wear shorts often, leather sucks big time

if you live in a more arid environment, and cold is the only issues, heated leather is bliss.

My 2¢

 

[Ornery]

"...it does take regular maintenance to keep it looking and feeling like it should..."

That's the difference between the leather in American cars, and foreign cars. American leather is finished to wear like iron, with no effort on the part of the owner. Soft & supple leather is all well and good... for clothing, but totally BS in the environment of an automobile. If you want to futz around with wimpy women's material on your car seats, then go ahead and buy the import type leather.

My wife insisted on cloth seats for her Grand Marquis. Trouble is, she wanted all the bells & whistles that come in the LS version, which usually includes leather... durable, indestructible American leather. Took a helluva long time, but we finally found one with cloth. Needless to say, she'd probably like the soft, squishy import leather. Also needless to say, she'd never take the time to fuss over it, like it needs to be.

 

[thomsbrain]

i love the way it feels to slide into a leather seat and i like riding around in them but when it comes to actually driving, cloth is more comfortable and you don't go sliding all over the place.

 

[Triumph]

In my experience, the Europeans typically have quite robust leather. Honda's leather is garbage. Nissan's feels pretty good. And American leather feels cheaper and thinner than the others, but it seems to hold up well. I love the leather in my VW, and haven't had a single problem. After 4 years it is holding up perfectly. There are some creases on the driver's seat bottom and that's it. Everything else looks brand new.

 

[Ornery]

GLOSSARY OF LEATHER TERMS

• Glazed (finish): Leather which has a very bright or glossy(glass-like) appearance.

That's the type of "American leather" I've owned for the last 25 years. It's the finish that makes it durable. Not as pretty or soft as split grain, but the advantage is no need for extra care on a regular basis. You can spill anything on it, and just wipe it away... whenever you get around to it.

 

[DurocShark]

Originally posted by: Albis
i would get it only if you want to replace the car after a couple years.

you don't want to deal with the old leather

If you properly clean and condition the leather regularly, it'll last forever.

That said, DON'T buy Toyota leather. Lexus leather is nice and supple, but Toyota leather is stiffer than my brand new baseball glove. I thought it was vinyl at first.

My Volvo had leather and I really liked it. It's destroyed because it wasn't taken care of, but it's still nice.

 

[Shawn]

I like leather.....