Found a car — woohoo!

The fabric used in the Prius is pretty easy to clean, I don't have kids but I do have a dog who has gotten mud on the seats. I have spilled coffee and the mechanics have gotten a little grease on them. So far everything came off easily, sometimes with cold water, sometimes with fabric cleaner.

My decision would be based on comfort rather than ease of clean up. I think leather would be more comfortable because clothes slide on leather and you can move around easier, important on long drives. The Prius fabric sticks to your clothes which I find uncomfortable sometimes. But I'm not sure leather would be $1200 more comfortable?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(rebbi @ Aug 22 2006, 07:04 AM) [snapback]307456[/snapback]</div>

That was my biggest debate with ordering the Prius. I was torn between package #7 and #8 because of the cloth/leather debate. I after much pondering I went with the leather for the reason that spills will likely be easier to clean up. I've heard that the cloth in the 2006's is pretty easy to clean as well, but my concern was with potential staining, seeing as we're expecting the arrival of our first little one this winter and I wanted the lighter colored interior (bisque/beige) as opposed to the darker gray for personal aesthetic purposes. It was worth the extra $ to me for sure! I can verify that it is indeed quite comfortable, after a handful of 5+ hour roadtrips.

 

This has probably been discussed before to some extent, and it wasn't really in your set of criteria, but my definitive reason for not wanting leather goes hand-in-hand with my reason for getting the Prius in the first place: leather adds to the lifetime cost of the vehicle in terms of resources consumed. Maybe not in a hugely significant way, but I see everything as a chance to conserve just a little bit more.

 

Gulfstates Toyota dealers use leather with "liquicell comfort technology," basically gel inserts. You'll be unable to take your Prius as carry-on, TSA will make you check it, just so you know.

 

Leather's a little hot for your climate. I'd recommend you skip it for now, and see how much you like the cloth fabric. It's pretty nice and cleans easily. If you want leather, you can add it later for $1200 or less, and choose your color. I've got cloth in my 2005, leather (Toyota OEM) in my wife's 2006, both gray. It's a toss-up.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(rebbi @ Aug 22 2006, 10:20 AM) [snapback]307526[/snapback]</div>

I recommend cloth. I have it in my current car; and I'll have it in the next. IMHO, leather is a cruel luxury.

 

I would have felt like a total nice person getting leather in the car after lecturing my co-workers about beef consumption and cows being #2 to cars in terms of CO2 emissions.

 

If TX weather is as hot as AZ, skip the leather. Everytime I get into a friend's car with leather seats ... a question pops into my head: how would you like your eggs done?

 

My recommendation would be to skip the leather. You can always add it later and for less than $1200.

Leather is hot. My last car had leather. I always got burned in the summer. What's the point of having leather if you still have to sit on a towel?

It isn't all leather. Only the seats and backs that touch your body are leather. The rest, around the sides and the backside of the upright chair part are vinyl. So....what's the point of spending $1200 when most of it will be vinyl?

The cloth cleans *really* well. (Especially as you have gray, I have ivory). I got TAR on my seat. It was on the bottom of a box of groceries I bought at Costco. I put the box on the seat. When I got home and unloaded I was totally pissed. But...I got most of it off with GooGone. Then I washed the remainder with liquid Tide. You can't see it. It's gone. I've read of other removing chocolate and coffee. I haven't tested it with taco sauce or the red dye from Hawaiian Punch, but that stuff will stain leather too. I am amazed at how easy it is to clean the cloth and how stain resistant it is.

I recommend the cloth. Since this is a port add-on and not factory, there is no loss in waiting and adding it later. You could also probably do better than $1200 if you shop around.

My next Prius will be the equivalent of a #7. I'm sold on the cloth. The only thing I miss is the leather steering wheel. And you won't have that with port added leather either. I have a "Wheelskins" leather cover and it's just fine. The only leather I am going to have "installed" on my car is leather armrests and center console cover. And that won't cost $1200.