What is SofTex?

Ok..I'm just about ready to bite the bullet and buy a V, but, I've still some concerns about what they call "SofTex". Having had vinyl interiors in the past, I don't want them again. They're hot, their cold and they give off a gas that gives a hazy coating to the windows that's difficult to remove and once it is, quickly returns.

I just returned from seeing a V five with the SofTex interior. I have to admit it feels a lot better than the leather seats they used in the past, but I remain concerned. The inner portion of the seating surfaces seems to have a different feel than does the outer parts and side bolsters. If I'm correct, does this mean SofTex is only used for a small portion of the seat, with the balance comprised of Vinyl? The extensive use of vinyl in leather seats has been somewhat of deal killer to me in the past, it may be again if this is the case.

Also, what exactly is SofTex? Someone in another thread indicated it's a polyster fabric and not at all related to vinyl? True?

 

One explaination I've seen is that SofTex, actually, is a polyester "fabric" that breathes, just like other cloth upholsteries. If true, it wouldn't need perforations and, for me, is totally acceptable. Provided, that is, that the entire seat is made of that material and not just the center seating surfaces, surrounded by that horrible vinyl junk. It feels like quality leather, rather than the hard, saddle like stuff Toyota used in previous Priuses and they DID use an awful lot of vinyl! But, It also seemed to have a "touch" that reminded me of cloth interiors I've had in the past and enjoyed. It's all part of my making an informed, regret free, decision for a car that I would hope will be in my household for the next 10 years or so. I could care less about eco friendliness. I also drive a smart and that's about as "eco friendly" as you can get in a car. I've done my part already!

 

My 19 year old Pontiac Trans Sport with 100% cloth seats that sat, constantly in the sun, never had the problem and that had a pretty large plastic dashboard. My understanding of the situation is yes, all interior plastics emit the gas, but, it's worst on the soft, "leather like vinyl". The dealer today tried to place sole blame on the dashboard,but my personal experience indicates otherwise.

 

Well..that doesn't sound too encouraging. In fact, it sounds EXACTLY like vinyl to me. UGH!!! That might mean no Prius for me unless I hear something more encouraging. Thanks for the reply!!

 

My experience with truly nice feeling vinyl dates beck to my 73 Mercury Capri ( billed as: the captive german import). The vinyl seats were beautiful! supple to the touch, plush, great looking. Leather wouldn't have looked or felt better! Only problems were they were really hot in summer when I always got out with the back of my shirt and pants soaked. Plus, my windows were always filthy! It was later that I read the story about vinyl seats emitting a gas that coated the windows, and it continued, the nice feeling soft stuff was the worst. I really don't wish to regress 40 years to endure that again.

Reading the info you provided, it indicates: 99 percent fewer volatile organic compounds (VOCs) than conventional synthetic leather....

I wonder if that means, without those volatile organic compunds, no gas emissions????

 

This is reassuring,thanks! Do you know or can you tell: Is the entire seat covered in SofTex or is part of it vinyl as was the case with the leather?

 

Polyester is great! I just wish someone with real access to information regarding it would respond. An "expert" from toyota customer service phoned me today to respond to my questions. He indicated it was "Imitation leather". LOL>.isn't that the definition of vinyl? Anyway, I sent him packing to seek more, REAL infomation. He did seem to indicate it, generally was vinyl.but again....that's not real info..just his opinion.

I've now seen two V 5's...and one seemed to have a different feel to parts of the seats..the other didn't. UGH....it gets more and more confusing. I'd prefer to have NO vinyl at all on the seats: it still gives off the gases that dirty the windows. Right now, unless I hear differnetly, I think I'm going to downgrade my purchase to a 3 with cloth seats and give up the other features about which I was looking toward but can do without.

 

Lol....last night I was just about ready to downgrade my purchase and go with the 3. Now, it sounds like I'm back with a 5. I did find a Softex company which manufactures non woven polyster fabrics but without further specifics.