Leather seats in a FAMILY sedan?

[jemcam]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
How long do heated leather seats usually take to warm up?

In my car (2000 Intrepid) and my wife's minivan (1998 Town & Country) you can feel the heat within a minute or so, and within 5 minutes, you're either turning it off, or turning it down.

 

[RossMAN]

Wow that's pretty damn fast, I was thinking 10-15 mins.

If we ever get leather we'll probably get heated seats as well, although it's usually standard on $25k+ cars.

 

[jemcam]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
Wow that's pretty damn fast, I was thinking 10-15 mins.

If we ever get leather we'll probably get heated seats as well, although it's usually standard on $25k+ cars.

Yes, they're the first cars I've ever had that have heated seats, and I'm surprised at how fast they heat up and how well they work. I almost wish there was another setting lower because even at the lowest setting you don't leave it on because it's so hot you start sweating. For heating up cold seats or getting in a cold car, they are great. They'll keep you warmer until your engine heats up and your heater starts working.

 

[Ranger X]

The commute to work is about 10min on average for me. I turn on my heated seats and I'm ready to turn it off within 2-3 minutes. I think the combination of your body heat and the heating mechanism working together help the seat become nice and warm quickly. 🙂

 

[rudder]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Con's - more expensive, cuts/punctures more visible, cheap leather can be uncomfortable to some

This con is very important if you have kids. Cut and punctures is what I would worry about. We have cloth seats and my wife is able to fix and problems. I know, I know... what are kids doing with stuff sharp enough to cut a seat. Don't ask me, but maybe those happy meal toys break, get stuck under a car seat, then bam, you have a hole.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: jemcam

Originally posted by: RossMAN
Wow that's pretty damn fast, I was thinking 10-15 mins.

If we ever get leather we'll probably get heated seats as well, although it's usually standard on $25k+ cars.

Yes, they're the first cars I've ever had that have heated seats, and I'm surprised at how fast they heat up and how well they work. I almost wish there was another setting lower because even at the lowest setting you don't leave it on because it's so hot you start sweating. For heating up cold seats or getting in a cold car, they are great. They'll keep you warmer until your engine heats up and your heater starts working.

Cool (or warm 😉 ). My wife would really appreciate that as she gets cold easily where as I could wear shorts/t-shirt 24/7 here in Oregon and it wouldn't phase me.

Then again she's from dry hot climate (Aussie) and it's a huge transition moving to Oregon.

 

[Sketcher]

I have Leather in my Camry XLE V6 and my Town & Country Limited.

We have kids - that's reason enough to spend for the leather. CLEANUP, CLEANUP, CLEANUP!! Leather's w/out question much easier to clean up and treat.

As for HOT/COLD weather concerns, never been a problem. Had a couple days last summer where the heat warranted putting a towel down, but if you can afford leather - you've already got A/C.

I sat in non-leather seats of the same version of both vehicles I have, the leather seats are definitely more comfortable. Now, not all leather's the same, and some of what's advertised as "Leather" is actually pleather (imitation). Some of it's still good - but get a feel for how thick and pliable it is. See if you can look at a used version of what you want and see how the leather holds up in a used vehicle.

It's just plain good stuff. Spills wipe up easier and don't soak into the cushion. Marks and smudges can be rubbed out and treated whereas if you stain cloth in your car, unless you're a OxyClean guru you won't be gettin' much out w/out paying for services.

One nice "Idiot" factor w/leather seats. Accidently leaving windows/sunroof open when it rains doesn't result in a soaked body when you don't have towels or plastic bags to put over the seat. Rain typically rolls off the leather and doesn't soak into the cushion (requiring your car to air out for a few days). Now, water soaked floorboards are a different issue - but more manageable than soggy cloth seats AND a soaked floor!

And lastly, Leather doesn't retain odor the way cloth does. If you care for it properly, it will always have that nice "leather" smell and feel. But cloth, no matter how well you keep it retains odor. So if smoking, or wet from rain, perfume or whatever smells happen to be prevalent - just more of an issue with cloth.

I had a Honda Civic w/cloth and I do have a Accord with cloth - but I didn't buy either of the cars new. The cloth was fine and worth what I spent on the cars. Before I owned leather, I thought of it as excessive luxury. Now that I've owned a couple vehicles with it - I don't want to own another vehicle w/out it.

(of course, HEATED SEATS are nice 😀)

 

[Spac3d]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Pro's - easier to clean, doesn't stain, and easier to repair punctures/tears, wears better if taken care of
Con's - more expensive, cuts/punctures more visible, cheap leather can be uncomfortable to some

My opinion - after having leather I could never go back to cloth. The smell, the feel, and the durability of it is great. I've got black leather and even with 100 degree weather I don't have much of a problem with it for heat. As for it being cold, with heated seats that ain't a problem.

Well said. I will never go back to cloth.

 

[Angrymarshmello]

Might be easier to clean spills at first but once the stains set you're kinda fubared. And it gets hot and cold during the extreme temperatures of the season

 

[Lonyo]

Cloth seats, black ones at least, get really hot in summer, I've never had a problem with hot leather seats in summer.

 

[Sketcher]

Originally posted by: Angrymarshmello
Might be easier to clean spills at first but once the stains set you're kinda fubared. And it gets hot and cold during the extreme temperatures of the season

What kind of stains are you leaving there so long that they set so bad you can't get them out? Perhaps if you don't pre-treat or periodically condition the leather or if it's cheap leather... I've owned leather for 8 years running and they've never even come close to being FUBAR.

As for the hot/cold extremes, I used to think it'd be a problem before I had leather in my cars. But, the leather isn't nearly as hot as most people think and in the cold, they warm up quickly enough for it not to be an issue. I've only had Tan & Cream though - I can't speak for the black leather.

If you can afford it and the car's worth putting it in, the Pro's just outweigh the Con's IMO.