Cloth? Or Leather?

[2o6]

Whether for performance purposes, comfort, practicality, or otherwise, what type of material do you prefer to cover your seats in your car?




I prefer cloth. In OH, hot temps make it unbearable to sit on as well as cold temperatures. It also seems not to be as durable in cheaper cars equipped with leather.

[Laconian]

Leather. I prefer the look and feel of it over cloth.

Also, isn't synthetic leather a form of vinyl?

[Onslaught]

Both. Just for sport then cloth. But in just about any other car then leather.

[the Teuton]

Leatherette is vinyl.

When people talk about their BMWs, I ask them if they have the leather or vinyl interior. Usually, they tell me they have vinyl in their $40,000 cars.

[2o6]

Leatherette is vinyl.

When people talk about their BMWs, I ask them if they have the leather or vinyl interior. Usually, they tell me they have vinyl in their $40,000 cars.

Fixed?

[the Teuton]

Fixed?

Mos' def, Homes.

[Onslaught]

Leatherette is vinyl.

When people talk about their BMWs, I ask them if they have the leather or vinyl interior. Usually, they tell me they have vinyl in their $40,000 cars.

Yes, when I built a 3 on their website I couldn't believe it didn't just come with real leather. Pathetic.

[2o6]

Mos' def, Homes.

That's funny. My brothers 02' Corolla has a Vinyl interior.

[CALL_911]

Just saying, leatherette is actually quite good.

[giant_mtb]

I like leather.  Real leather.  Vinyl's crap in comparison.

[the Teuton]

Yes, when I built a 3 on their website I couldn't believe it didn't just come with real leather. Pathetic.

Indeed.

That's funny. My brothers 02' Corolla has a Vinyl interior.

Tell that to BMW.

Just saying, leatherette is actually quite good.

I have a friend with an E30 that has plaid cloth seats in it. I'd rather have those than vinyl.

[CALL_911]

I have a friend with an E30 that has plaid cloth seats in it. I'd rather have those than vinyl.

Congratulations.

My point still stands.

[the Teuton]

Congratulations.

My point still stands.

It's not leather.

And cloth is better than vinyl. School buses have vinyl. Cars have cloth or leather.

[Onslaught]

Just saying, leatherette is actually quite good.

In a cheap car then yes. In a 30 something K BMW then no.

[NomisR]

Sporty application, probably some faux suede stuff like Alcantara with some mixture of leather. Or all leather for regular cars.  Good leather is more breathable than vinyl.

[SVT666]

Leather in most cases.  Mix of fabric and leather for sport...like leather with alcantar inserts.  Those keep you from moving around.

[SVT_Power]

Leather in most cases.  Mix of fabric and leather for sport...like leather with alcantar inserts.  Those keep you from moving around.

+1

[S204STi]

Leather.  The feel, the smell, everything about it is preferred over fabric.

[Onslaught]

I did like the leather with suede  inserts the 10AM had.

[SVT666]

I sat in my buddy's 5 series and it has the leatherette seats and I hated them.  They felt stiff and they felt like the seat heater was always on.  Give me real leather any day.

[Submariner]

Just saying, leatherette is actually quite good.

It really is.  My girlfriend's mom has leatherette in her R350.  Not only does it look and feel fantastic, it's held up to the point where it doesn't even look worn.  Same with my girlfriends 9-3.  40k miles and it still looks great. 

[Tave]

40K isn't anything. Double that and see how well it holds. The vinyl around the bottom/side of the driver's seat in our Durango started cracking around 60-70K.

[S204STi]

I've noticed that whatever it is that used on 01-06 GM trucks/SUVs is pretty crappy.  I'm pretty sure it's pleather, and like Tave mentioned it starts to crack after a few years. 

The leather in my car isn't particularly high-grade, to be honest.  I think it's a kind of bonded leather, like a book binding would be, with perforations at least to keep things cool.  I'd rather have the STI seats with the alcantara, but I still prefer what I have over cloth.

[Cookie Monster]

Just saying, leatherette is actually quite good.

IMO not better than cloth.

I'd much rather have some nice cloth seats in a 30k BMW over vinyl.

[the Teuton]

I wish BMW brought plaid cloth back to the US. I'd rock it in a heartbeat.

[hotrodalex]

Alcantara.

If it's leather, it has to be real and quality. Otherwise I'll take cloth.

[Rich]

Cloth

I hate the the only way to have cloth heated seats is through MINI

I don't know why so many people like leather over cloth.  You slide around in it in turns (my biggest peeve), it gets really hot in the sun and ice cold in winter.  The only upside I see is that it's easy to clean if you spill something on it.

[hotrodalex]

Cloth

I hate the the only way to have cloth heated seats is through MINI

I don't know why so many people like leather over cloth.  You slide around in it in turns (my biggest peeve), it gets really hot in the sun and ice cold in winter.  The only upside I see is that it's easy to clean if you spill something on it.

I don't slide in my BMW, and it doesn't get very hot or cold. If you want to experience hot or cold seats, try vinyl.

[dazzleman]

I prefer leather, but I don't really have a strong preference.  I have leather now and don't have a problem with sliding, the seat being hot, etc.

[Rich]

I don't slide in my BMW, and it doesn't get very hot or cold. If you want to experience hot or cold seats, try vinyl.

I guess that's what must be in my Dad's truck and car, because it sucks.