Seating Surfaces: Ranked

"Logansteno: Bought a VW?" (logansteno) 01/01/2015 at 17:09 • Filed to: None

7

60

If you don't agree you're wrong and I hate you.

1. Cloth

Pros:

Stays cool(er) in the summer and warmer in the winter
More durable than leather
Doesn't stick to your legs when you're wearing shorts

Cons:
Holds stains better
Isn't considered "Premium"

2. Leather

Pros:
Leather smell (mmm)
Easy to clean
Considered "Premium"

Cons:
Requires more upkeep to look nice
Gets hot in the summer and cold in the winter

3. Leatherette (Vinyl)

Pros:
Easy to clean
Looks like leather

Cons:
No leather smell
Same upkeep as leather
Basically what luxury makes use as a base interior rather than cloth

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 01/01/2015 at 17:11

3

I disagree

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 01/01/2015 at 17:12

4

Well then you're wrong and I hate you.

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 01/01/2015 at 17:13

0

Mouse-fur velour trumps all cloth.

CB > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 01/01/2015 at 17:13

0

Gotta say, if I were ever going to get a GTI, it would be with the cloth seats. They look so cool.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind 01/01/2015 at 17:14

0

My Safari and my dad's Silverado has that stuff. Nice and soft, I'll give it that.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 01/01/2015 at 17:14

5

I'll get over it.

LETHA FOREVA!

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > CB 01/01/2015 at 17:15

2

I think it'd be blasphemous to get a GTI without the plaid seats.

Michael Maguire > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 01/01/2015 at 17:15

0

I agree, but to be fair I've never had a leather interior vehicle.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 01/01/2015 at 17:16

1

Until it starts looking like this.

 > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 01/01/2015 at 17:16

0

Stays cool(er) in the summer and warmer in the winter.

Wouldn't they both be same temperature as the rest of the interior? If it's 10 degrees outside they will both be 10 degrees. The difference is in the way your ass interprets the feels when it touches them.

jkm7680 > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 01/01/2015 at 17:17

0

Leatherette is better for people with pets, Easier to clean and you can't really screw them up as bad. They also don't show wear quite as much.

Cloth seats are good for cold, and warm weather but do stain profusely and can carry odors more.

Leather feels more luxurious, Looks better usually, easy to clean but it does show signs of wear more.

IMO, Leather and cloth are tied for me.

My citroen won't start > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 01/01/2015 at 17:18

2

I disagree.

1.Leather with Alcantara

2.Leather

3.Vinyl

4. Peasant Cloth

Logansteno: Bought a VW? >  01/01/2015 at 17:18

0

Either way I shouldn't feel like I'm giving my ass third degree burns or frost bite.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 01/01/2015 at 17:19

0

So don't park in the sun. You have to have a car for a seriously long time (and kind of treat it like crap, TBH) for it to look like that.

Also, you forgot velvet, vinyl, whale penis, and a couple other seating materials.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Michael Maguire 01/01/2015 at 17:20

0

Try it. You'll never want to go back.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 01/01/2015 at 17:21

0

My seating material shouldn't dictate where I park my car. And why my aunt's leather seats in her 328i are starting to wear, even though she babies the car.

Your boy, BJR > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 01/01/2015 at 17:22

7

you forgot the pillow top velour master race.

The correct order goes this, leather, vinyl, leatherette, and then woven cloth. (Seriously, modern cloth, which I'm pretty sure is the same shit they make backpacks out of) is the absolute worst.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 01/01/2015 at 17:22

0

No clue, I have 122k miles on my car, park outside as much as anybody, and the seats still look fine.

 > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 01/01/2015 at 17:23

3

That's it, my next car will have whale penis seats.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Your boy, BJR 01/01/2015 at 17:23

0

That's what a real luxury interior looks like.

What the hell modern cloth seats have you sat in? I've never once thought to compare them to backpack material.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 01/01/2015 at 17:24

1

What about Suede or Alcantara? Leather smell, but cloth benefits like staying cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

GhostZ > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 01/01/2015 at 17:24

2

Cloth seats FTW.

 > Your boy, BJR 01/01/2015 at 17:25

1

What's the cardboard looking and feeling crap that they use on headliners and seats in newer cars?

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Your boy, BJR 01/01/2015 at 17:25

0

2nded. Also, I have some Cadillacs for you.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Michael Maguire 01/01/2015 at 17:25

1

I don't see what's so great about leather. I feel like I shouldn't dread sitting on my car seat because it'll burn my butt.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 01/01/2015 at 17:26

0

That has one con: Usually an uber expensive option.

Michael Maguire > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 01/01/2015 at 17:28

0

I feel like I'd be very Slidey during aggressive driving...and I would want the heated/cooled for the reasons stated in the article. I guess you can't knock it til ya try it

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Michael Maguire 01/01/2015 at 17:29

1

If you had a ridiculously flat leather seat w/o seat belts, you'd slide. In any normal car, not really.

Also, most cars w/ leather have heated seats.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 01/01/2015 at 17:32

0

For the most part, you're right, but the STI has it. So there are a few decently priced cars with it, they are just are for really specific groups.

Aya, Almost Has A Cosmo With Toyota Engine Owned by a BMW. > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 01/01/2015 at 17:34

0

How about the worst seat ever?

ranwhenparked > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 01/01/2015 at 17:34

0

Not really sure what vinyl upkeep you're thinking of, MB-Tex will outlast all life on the planet.

Your boy, BJR >  01/01/2015 at 17:35

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Recycled cardboard, maybe?

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > ranwhenparked 01/01/2015 at 17:36

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MB-Tex is the exception to that bit, but most cars I see that have vinyl are just as worn as cars with leather.

Michael Maguire > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 01/01/2015 at 17:36

0

hmm good to know. I guess my only barrier of entry to leather seats is cost...one day

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 01/01/2015 at 17:36

0

But I do fully agree with this list, as long as it is leather without heating/cooling.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Michael Maguire 01/01/2015 at 17:38

0

True. The big pain in the ass with leather (apart from the other legitimate concerns brought up by Mr. Steno) is that it is only standard on more expensive cars, and is a pricey option on those that don't have it standard.

And yes, it gets a tad sticky when it's hot and humid out.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 01/01/2015 at 17:38

0

Even then, unless your remote start can turn on the cooler/heater in the seat, you're going to have to settle for a hot/cold seat for a while.

Jonee > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 01/01/2015 at 17:39

0

Don't forget wicker.

Your boy, BJR > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 01/01/2015 at 17:40

0

ford focus, hyundai sonata, Camaro, mazda 3, golf, CRV....the list goes on.

Michael Maguire > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 01/01/2015 at 17:41

1

I heard of people taking their brand new cars that could have come with leather to a shop to install leather Becuz it was thousands cheaper than the manufacturers and better leather.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Michael Maguire 01/01/2015 at 17:45

1

Carmax will also install stuff like leather and sunroofs aftermarket, I believe.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 01/01/2015 at 17:51

0

Some do. GM's intellilink or whatever it's called turns on the heated/cooled seats depending on ambient temperature. So I imagine others do it as well, then again, some others still don't have automatic headlights, which sucks. Getting used to not having it was annoying.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 01/01/2015 at 17:53

0

I think I remember the saleslady who was selling us on the Impala saying that. Leather would be totally livable then, apart from the quicker wear.

Klaus Schmoll > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 01/01/2015 at 17:53

0

I agree with you. Yet I propose a differentiation between different types of cloth seats.

1. Yelours: Once an expensive option that cost about as much as leather. It was the choice of suit-wearing types because you could drive a few miles and not look like you slept in your suit. It breathes, is nice to sit on, and is nice to the touch. It's a bit more flammable, so smokers can ruin a nice velours interiour in no time (but you shouldn't smoke in your car anyway).

2. Plain Cloth: Cheap, breathes, easy to maintain....

3. Leather: Smells nice, but as the car ages it needs some attention or it will look like ass. Doesn't breathe so you will either feel a little uncomfortable on longer journeys or you will need ventilated leather seats (Get rich or die tryin')

4. Leatherette: My grandparents' Lada had that. Haven't encountered it ever since. They had velours seat covers on the front seats. In the rear, when wearing those short boy's trousers that all boys wear in retrospective movie scenes, your legs would melt to the seat in summer and freeze to it in winter. Not available in Europe right now (I think). It seems like manufacturers try to trick American customers into believing it's the real deal.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 01/01/2015 at 17:54

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I see about as many cars with torn cloth as I do with cracked leather. The difference being, the leather can be treated to prevent that.

kinjasignedmeout > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 01/01/2015 at 17:58

0

I agree

kinjasignedmeout > My citroen won't start 01/01/2015 at 17:59

0

Eww alcantara

Steve in Manhattan > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 01/01/2015 at 18:03

0

Agreed - cloth seats in my SHO were great.

DipodomysDeserti > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 01/01/2015 at 18:04

1

These seats were out of a 25 year old car that spent it's entire life in Arizona. If you take care of leather it will last forever. I have a 100 year old baseball mit that is still pristine. There is nothing you can do to condition cloth seats. Leather is much more durable than cloth, it just requires a little upkeep. They do suck for summer though, especially black leather.

Alex B > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 01/01/2015 at 18:10

1

I agree. Leather for life. I'll never go back. Cloth can burn.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 01/01/2015 at 18:15

0

I've seen cloth with split seams, but it's incredibly rare to see tears in them.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 01/01/2015 at 18:45

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Cloth wears really easily, especially in trucks/suv's. Unless you are incredibly light or just super careful, it wears out holes on the front edges, like a shirt in places that you move the most. Think of it like cloth jackets vs. leather jackets, which material usually lasts longer?

shop-teacher > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 01/01/2015 at 19:10

0

Plaid seats really need yo make a comeback already. My truck would be twice as cool with plaid bench seats it it.

shop-teacher > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 01/01/2015 at 19:32

1

I can see both sides of the leather vs. cloth debate. I prefer cloth, but I like leather too. Those of you who say vinyl/leatherette is superior to cloth, however, are animals.

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 01/01/2015 at 20:07

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My new Outback has tan cloth, and as much as I am trying to like it, I know it is going to be insanely easy to stain, and I really miss having leather from my last two cars.

I think that I am going to start saving up to get my seats recovered so that I do not have to worry about stains, and also because I find it to be much more comfortable. In addition, I love that real leather smell, along with the buttery texture of real leather.

I intend to get them recovered like this.

Vicente Esteve > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 01/01/2015 at 20:29

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I don't hate vinyl. Its damn easy to clean, and most people think its leather.

What I do think is best of the best is plaid seats.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 01/01/2015 at 23:11

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$15 or so a can, used once a season, will keep a good leather interior from getting like that.

TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 01/02/2015 at 11:03

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In my opinion, the best seats were the sport seats that were fitted to my family's Freelander Sport. They were amazing - firm with loads of support, felt like leather but repelled anything foreign like liquids and crumbs with ease and were easy peasy to wipe down. More than four years in the family, and they never wore out. No creases, lumps or bumps to speak of.

CaptDale - is secretly British > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 01/02/2015 at 15:01

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Personally i like leather with cloth or alacantra inserts.

Axial > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 01/02/2015 at 22:32

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It smells awesome if you take care of it.