What is SofTex?

My 4Runner's leather seats have two different materials (or at least different spec of the same material) on the center portion and the bolsters. The reasoning is to prevent wearing out the seat material as quickly. I personally thought the Lexus CT200h's Nulux (I'd assume this is softex) was a much more supple material than my 4Runner's leather. I finally saw a v5 today but I didn't pay particular attention to the seat material (I was running and saw someone at Domino's getting pizza; i asked them some questions about their v5 AT).

 

I hope it wears better than the eco-plastics in my GII Prius.

Vinyl chemistry has come along a bit since your Capri. I suspect most vinyl car interiors release less VOCs than in the 1970s.

Personally, I'm reveling in terms like "synthetic leather," and SofTex, and NuLux. Mercedes-Benz has their version of vinyl, called MBTex.

It sounds like a promising material. I have mixed feelings about cloth seats. They're not as sweaty and can be very durable, but over time I wonder how dirty they've actually become.

 

What about durability? Will this stand up to dog paws jumping up and down on it?

 

My humble Honda Fit Sport has cloth seats; I like them very much, actually, and they feel like they'll wear forever. Which isn't easy for me to admit, since I'm a bit of a leather snob.

I like regularly using leather cleaner followed by leather conditioner; the smell makes me happy and with lighter colored leather it's obvious if it's still dirty or not.

 

it all other industries, softex is called pleather Lmao

 

It's good explanation

 

Depends on the dog and how short nails are. I'm fussy so I use a pet hammock which covers the seat and gives the dog a level surface. I do use a seatbelt harness but the hammock also prevents floorboard crashes.
W

 

After having it for 7 months, the best description I have for Softex is "cheap feeling". I had cloth seats in my Civics that felt much better and more durable. The leather in my other cars feels much better. I could see "Softex" in a $15k econobox, but its the worst part of my V.

 

I've had the softex for three months and 5500 miles and I am happy with it. However, the first month I had the car, whether it was the seats or the dash, triggered asthma attacks. And, I have very slight asthma, like one or twice a year.

 

So far so good hear.. a few incidents and it came through just fine.

1. Got sun block on them and cleaned off with wet wipe even after weeks of being on there. Stain gone.
2. Seat best buckle sandwiched between folded rear seat. It was caught at a bad angle and really dug into it leaving a deep sharp impression. Few days later, gone!

Comfort in term of temperature, better than leather as advertised... but only slightly. NTL better.

Overall, satisfied even though it's not expensive high end Dakota leather as I had in my previous car.

 

What is Softex?

Well I believe Toyota owns a small private island in an undisclosed location where Toyota scientists experiment in extracting DNA from bits of fossilized amber in an effort to recreate Pre-historic life and/or clone Bob Lutz.

In a semi-failed attempt to recreate a T-Rex that could also drive a GM vehicle, the product Softex was inadvertently created. When controversy as to it's application out in the real automotive world arose, it is rumored that Toyota President, Akio Toyoda simply replied "Life found a way".

So began the marketing guise of producing the genetically manipulated "hyde" and selling it as Softex under the hard to prove fantasy of it being a " Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU)".- This is Toyota's "official stance". However those with cloth seats, and a greater sense of wonder can imagine an island of skinned T-Rex's. You don't upset the animal rights activists, if it's an animal nobody acknowledges exists. The steaks and hamburgers sold and served in the Toyota Corporate lunch room have reportedly taken on a distinctly original flavor.

Peripheral problems in the operation of what is referred to in Toyota inner office memo's only as "The Island" , have also been linked to the original US advertising campaigns for The Prius c.

" If we weren't so distracted by the " sudden growth of the company "-code for " The Island "-, we would of probably noticed that the advertising was annoying and insulting." - A source within Toyota

No official word on the success or failure of the creation of Mini-Lutz or Tiny Bob.

 

I'm sure Softex is a heck of a lot better than Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) which is what you're probably referring to.

 

Morning,

I know this is an old thread, and it seemed like an appropriate place to continue a conversation about SofTex.

Over the summer i purchased a 2013 Prius V Wagon with the Softex leather. As we move into the colder months, i've been utilizing the seat warmers more and more. Then, one day, to my horror, the light tan seats showed tremendous staining from blue jeans (mind you that they have been washed probably 20 times, and are a year or so old).

Googling, i found a thread on another forum that mentioned a solution. Here's the content since I can't post links:

"Woolite and water at a 6(water) to 1(Woolite) will do the job. A soft bristled brush may be needed. The seats are leather with a vinyl coating so a product like Aerospace 303 will keep them supple once cleaned without being greasy/shiny. I always use distilled water due to the super hard mineral content of the water where I live but it's not a must. Using high dollar leather products on "treated" leather (vinyl encapsulated) is pointless. On Euro leather (no vinyl) then quality leather products are called for.
The New 2017 Corolla iM" (Rav4 forum post from 2010)

I haven't tried the woolite yet to get the stains off. The first time the staining occured, I used leather cleaner/conditioner all-in-one to remove the staining, though some was still visible. I plan to use woolite next to try to get new staining out.

Now, the stains have returned AGAIN and are equally as marking. Reminder, i have 3 pair of jeans that are at least a year old, so it's not something that should be happening. Regardless, I've never seen a leather seat stain from jeans, ever, in any other car.

The car is three years old, and had zero signs of staining on the seats. Why now are the seats staining? Is there some sort of repellent that has worn off finally?

Can anyone else chime in on a solution, or experience with this problem. I can't imagine having to deal with this on a regular basis. The stains are saddening and make my new (to me) car seem beat-up.

Thanks in advance!

Edited: grammatical errors fixed

 

Tan Softex seat coverings here installed on a v Three with the same parts the distributor would have added at the port. No seat warmers. No stains. Wear jeans probably 70% of my 36k driving. Certainly new ones sometimes, 5 year old ones others.

I wonder at the heaters and their influence. Or the detergent you use. Just in the last year, I've noticed blue stains on white bed sheets. Never before, rather small. Could detergent reformulation be at work?

 

bump. would really like to see if this is going to be a life-long battle with a car i just got. It only has 35K miles, and this issue is infuriating

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

We have the grey Softex and wear the gamut of new to vintage jeans, without issue. Could it be an incomplete rinse of the detergent?

 

Your problem is that you used a leather treatment on Softex, and it just laid there and caused your jeans to continue staining the material. Ask as many times as you like, the answers will be the same: No its not a problem with Softex. Soap/water is all you need or want to use on it.

 

I have the bisque colored softex in my 2012 with 110,000 miles. The seats still look and feel brand new. I occasionally wipe them off with nothing but a damp cloth if needed. No treatments, cleaners, conditioners, etc ever

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