Leather, pros and cons

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rae Vynn @ Jul 19 2007, 10:58 PM) [snapback]482009[/snapback]</div>

Touche!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Pinto Girl @ Jul 20 2007, 06:34 PM) [snapback]482523[/snapback]</div>

Have leather in the Prius and installed Katzkin leather in my Tundra, both very durable, comfortable and easy to clean. Have had no issues with the heat in sunny Florida, the thing I hate about clotch is the thin and cheap material being used, also when you sweat the cloth absorbs it and you get the picture. I enjoy water sports so getting in the car or truck a little damp is no issue where my friends Ford truck has water stains(must be a Ford thing as I have never seen water stain seats in other vehicles )

 

My 27 year old DeLorean's leather seats are still in PERFECT condition.

Leather all the way! I rented a brand new cloth Prius and within minutes I got the seats dirty and I was trying to be very careful. Cloth gets easily dirty, stinky and it's hard to clean. Leather feels a lot better too.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PriusTouring07 @ Jul 21 2007, 09:01 AM) [snapback]482706[/snapback]</div>

totaly agree on the leather. We test drove a Prius with cloth and the wife commented about the quality/suitability with 2 young children.We didnt see the leather until the car was delivered and have been really impressed. My father In Law works with leather and he states its better quality than in his Volvo V70. Regards Paul

 

I'm very pleased with the leather in the Prius. It's reasonably soft and comfortable. I had cloth seats in an Acura for a number of years, and then later had leather in my Jetta. The cloth seats in the Acura did get stained over time despite repeated steam cleanings while the leather seats in the Jetta were like new.

It does get hot in the summer, though, especially here in Arizona. It's almost mandatory to have tinted windows and a front window shield while parked, and crack the windows a bit too if it's going to be sitting in one place for a while.

 

B) I must agree leather is the way to go. My first Prius was an2004 with cloth seats and it held up very well. it is like anything in life to each there own.

 

I always choose leather over cloth. My last car (Audi A4) had leather seats and the inside looked brand new up until the day I sold it (after 8 years). With that being said, I don't think the Prius leather seats are the best, but prefer them over cloth.

My boyfriend's cloth seats are kind of disgusting after too much sweating, dust and spills.

 

For me it's a matter of comfort. There are some cloth interiors that don't "grab" your clothes as you move in the seat - that makes for uncomfortable seating if they do. Leather allows you to adjust more easily when you're trying to find a little more comfortable position for you back or what-have-you .

When I test drove the Prius it had cloth seats and I did not find them very comfortable - they tended to hang onto your clothes when you moved in the seat :huh: .

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rae Vynn @ Jul 19 2007, 03:10 PM) [snapback]481854[/snapback]</div>

I live in Phoenix, AZ. It doesn't get much hotter. My leather stays comfortable and it's not slippery or sticky.

 

when you fart, on leather it comes back up, but it goes through the cloth

 

Had Katzkin installed on my Prius too. I live in McAllen, TX one of the hottest places in the nation. Wear shorts every day of the year. Have had both cloth and leather seats. After having leather in my last car, I've never had any desire to go back. I've found it really easy to clean and have never had a problem with it cracking (even on the previous car I owned for years) or anything like that. I also prefer the feel and look. I'm guessing that issues like those may vary depending on the quality of the leather?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(flareak @ Jul 29 2007, 01:34 AM) [snapback]486967[/snapback]</div>

Do you consider that a pro or con for leather?

 

Having a car with leather seats in an area that gets hot is just plain dumb.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(markgunn @ Jul 20 2007, 02:04 PM) [snapback]482335[/snapback]</div>

wetokole.com has very nice seat covers and it will have a cutout area for the airbag in the seat if the option is selected telling them so. They are custom made for the Prius and fit very tightly and looks awesome. Not sure the price comparison between OEM seatcovers though.

http://priuschat.com/index.php?s=&show...st&p=488274

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dareniott @ Aug 1 2007, 10:31 AM) [snapback]488637[/snapback]</div>

they offer fart cutout for FlareAK?

 

Cloth seats are acoustically superior. That's why all those 70's vans used cloth... and shag walls and dash... and the little fuzz-ball trim at the top of the windshield... and cloth curtains.

Hmm... cloth windows for the Prius would be an acoustic improvement too.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(GeoDosch @ Jul 29 2007, 09:36 AM) [snapback]487052[/snapback]</div>

that's totally up to you to decide. depends on the meal of the day.. if its pleasant smelling, then why not?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(zenMachine @ Jul 19 2007, 05:08 PM) [snapback]481850[/snapback]</div>

Leather seats get hot quickly in a closed in vehicle on sunny or cloudy days. I got sheepskin covers fitted to my seats and headrests which I love. Color matches the Prius beige nicely. These are easy to remove to wash (once or twice a year unless you spill alot) and much more comfortable and less expensive!
I did get leather add-ons on ebay (type in Prius leather in search box) for the center elbow rest and the inside door handles to add a layer of protection to the fabric. They sell them in colors to match Prius interiors. I tried the leather glove box cover they make and found it very hard, almost impossible to install...and I'm a jeweler with a lot of small tools on hand for tight spaces...when I was done (2 frustrating hours later) the fit was not good. But the center elbow rest and door handle add-ons seem fine.