Leather, pros and cons

[skruse]

I have the best, or worst, of both worlds. My 2005 had cloth seats with GT seat covers. The covers kept the cloth in mint condition. I now have a 2007 with leather seats. I put the GT covers from the 2005 on the 2007. I get the durability of the leather and the leather stays clean. Not overkill, but peace of mind.

[geodosch]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(naterprius @ Jul 20 2007, 12:05 AM) [snapback]482013[/snapback]</div>

Plus, it's not leather anyway, it's mostly vinyl.

Nate
[/b]

I'm curious about the basis for that last statement. Is it something you have on good authority? If so, then it sounds like time for a class action suit, if Toyota is charging people extra for a specific material, but actually giving them something else.

[JSH]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(skruse @ Jul 19 2007, 11:14 PM) [snapback]482018[/snapback]</div>

I have the best, or worst, of both worlds. My 2005 had cloth seats with GT seat covers. The covers kept the cloth in mint condition. I now have a 2007 with leather seats. I put the GT covers from the 2005 on the 2007. I get the durability of the leather and the leather stays clean. Not overkill, but peace of mind.
[/b]

I have a question for those that are putting seat covers on their seats. Do these covers have a provision to allow the airbag that is located in the seat to still deploy correctly?

I'm not a fan of leather seats for the hot in summer / cold in winter reasons. That and I haven't seen that leather is any more durable than a good cloth seat and leather requires more care to keep looking nice. Yes, the cloth seats in the Prius are very cheap and were showing wear when I bought the car at 25K miles but the cloth seats in my VW still look like new after 140K miles.

[DelerPrius]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(GeoDosch @ Jul 20 2007, 07:45 AM) [snapback]482146[/snapback]</div>

I'm curious about the basis for that last statement. Is it something you have on good authority? If so, then it sounds like time for a class action suit, if Toyota is charging people extra for a specific material, but actually giving them something else.
[/b]

Yah, well good luck with that. Many other manufacturers besides Toyota use vinyl for the side and back covering for the seats, and leather on the seating surfaces only, and have been doing so for years.

[okiebutnotfrommuskogee]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DelerPrius @ Jul 20 2007, 08:13 AM) [snapback]482167[/snapback]</div>

Yah, well good luck with that. Many other manufacturers besides Toyota use vinyl for the side and back covering for the seats, and leather on the seating surfaces only, and have been doing so for years.
[/b]

I just looked at a local Toyota dealer's inventory listing for Prius cars and found one with leather. It actually says "leather faced seats" Which means only the seating surfaces, just like the previous poster said, but we all know that anyway.

I have had cars with leather seats before. They were used cars and just happened to come that way. I prefer cloth seats when buying a new car. When we bought our 05 Avalon we had to take the XL because any higher trim level came with leather seats. Would have liked to have bought one with more goodies, but didn't want leather.

When we bought the prius the one that was the right color had cloth seats so everything worked out fine. To me, leather is too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter. My wife doesn't like leather for car seats either, so we get along just fine when it comes to picking out a car. I am not totally anti leather though because I do like my leather jackets.

[markgunn]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jhinton @ Jul 20 2007, 05:35 AM) [snapback]482153[/snapback]</div>

I have a question for those that are putting seat covers on their seats. Do these covers have a provision to allow the airbag that is located in the seat to still deploy correctly?
[/b]

Yes the ones that I purchased (directly from my Toyota dealer) do. They were OEM, but I cannot remember the manufacturer. If you go OEM for Prius, and clarify that you have side air bags, you will get the right ones with flaps in the side to allow the airbags to operate. For seat covers, OEM is the only way to go, not only for this issue, but also to ensure the covers fit properly, and definitely worth the extra cost over the generic brands.

[markgunn]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jhinton @ Jul 20 2007, 05:35 AM) [snapback]482153[/snapback]</div>

I have a question for those that are putting seat covers on their seats. Do these covers have a provision to allow the airbag that is located in the seat to still deploy correctly?

I'm not a fan of leather seats for the hot in summer / cold in winter reasons. That and I haven't seen that leather is any more durable than a good cloth seat and leather requires more care to keep looking nice. Yes, the cloth seats in the Prius are very cheap and were showing wear when I bought the car at 25K miles but the cloth seats in my VW still look like new after 140K miles.
[/b]

Yes the ones that I purchased (directly from my Toyota dealer) do. You need to make sure that they have the slit in the side for the airbag.

[Tideland Prius]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(GeoDosch @ Jul 20 2007, 04:45 AM) [snapback]482146[/snapback]</div>

I'm curious about the basis for that last statement. Is it something you have on good authority? If so, then it sounds like time for a class action suit, if Toyota is charging people extra for a specific material, but actually giving them something else.
[/b]

good luck. Unless you buy a Bentley, or I guess even a luxury car, it's mostly "leather seat surfaces" which means the side and backs are vinyl.

higher models in btwn "common" cars and luxury cars may use synthetic leather in lieu of vinyl in those areas.

[San_Carlos_Jeff]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(naterprius @ Jul 19 2007, 09:05 PM) [snapback]482013[/snapback]</div>

The leather myths continue! The microfiber in the Prius cleans up more easily than leather. Ball point pen will come out of microfiber, but not leather. Plus, it's not leather anyway, it's mostly vinyl.

Nate
[/b]

Having one car with leather (2001 Audi) and one with cloth (2005 Prius), and two young children to clean up after my experiences are the exact opposite of what you say. The Audi seats still look like new and that is the car the kids ride in most. The Prius seats look good, but definitely have some stains already.

[geodosch]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DelerPrius @ Jul 20 2007, 09:13 AM) [snapback]482167[/snapback]</div>

Yah, well good luck with that. Many other manufacturers besides Toyota use vinyl for the side and back covering for the seats, and leather on the seating surfaces only, and have been doing so for years.[/b]

My comment about a class action was meant facetiously. Yes, part of the seat are vinyl. There is also steel, aluminum, foam, etc. But the part my butt sits on is leather, which is hardly what I would call mostly vinyl. On my Subaru the tops and sides are leather-- only the back is vinyl. On the Prius it seems to be the same way, though since they're new it's a bit tougher to tell.