Cloth or leather? Please advise!

Leather has been, and always will be easier to clean. Dirt, liquids, whatever, gets stuck in the fibers of cloth, with leather you just wipe it off. Plus it looks and feels better.

 

I have the best of both worlds: leather and pseudo-cloth seat covers. I appreciate the leather for its texture and durability. The cloth seat covers are a "back up" to ensure the seats stay clean.

The seat covers were originally on my 2005 Prius. The leather seats came from the factory on my 2007 Prius. Source: www.gtcovers.com/

 

As always... A matter of opinion and personal preference... Here's my experience:

My 2004 had the fabric upholstery. I'm retired and don't usually haul dogs or messy items. The fabric did collect some soils but they removed easily with plain water, sometimes I used Meguair's "Invisible Glass" spray for more stubborn spots. In our case the soiling was mostly from skin oils and the like.

--Fast Forward 2 years to trade up to 2007 Touring Edition Prius with factory leather:

We've only driven the 2007 for 6 months and find the leather great. Factory leather also includes the leather-wrapped steering wheel. Port Installed leather costs about the same as factory-installed and does not include the steering wheel, It does include "Liquicell Comfort" - a fancy name for thin pads placed under the leather (My wife thought these made the leather feel 'lumpy.') Port leather also did not include the door armrests. It is well to note that the factory leather is for the 'seating surfaces' - the center console and door armrests are the vinyl-match - looks good. We preferred to wait a couple of weeks for the factory leather.

One persons 2¢ worth. You're gonna *LOVE* your Prius when you get it.

 

Like Charles said, "A matter of opinion and personal preference..." I prefer fabric and chose a #5 over a #6. The fabric cleans easily, as he said. I find leather cold in winter and hot in summer, and slippery. In a cloth seat I feel comfortable and more anchored.

For a baby in the back seat, you can always get a waterproof cover for the seats that the child carrier will fit over, whether you choose cloth or leather.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(skruse @ Apr 11 2007, 05:23 PM) [snapback]421677[/snapback]</div>

The best of both worlds or the worst? I haven't seen your seats, so I can't speak with any knowledge, but it seems to me you paid for leather but you only use & see the fabric (and what exactly is pseudo-cloth?)

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(nerfer @ Apr 11 2007, 11:09 PM) [snapback]421913[/snapback]</div>

Yeah that sounds pretty bad. It kind of reminds me of when you walk into someone's nice looking house, and you see their nice couches covered in plastic. Why have a nice looking interior if you're just going to cover it up?

 

The thing to remember about Package #6's leather is that it is perforated. So, when junior decieds to dump his formula on the back seat, you could find it literally impossible to clean all of it out of the little holes in the leather.

With that said, my wife and I are expecting our first next winter, and we chose Package #6.

 

My dealer told me they could add leather for the same price as factory leather but that the after market leather was twice as thick, and came in a choice of textures.

This was the deciding factor for me because I can use the cloth seats until they start to look worn, if ever, and then two or three years down the road, I can start with fresh new leather for the same price it would have added to go from package 5 to 6. I don't know if I will ever do that though, because I agree with Bill that leather gets too cold or hot and sticky.

I have seen after market leather packages that included heated seats, arm rests and center concil.

 

I would say cloth, but that's just from an animal right's point of view

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(cooljw @ Apr 11 2007, 05:08 PM) [snapback]421673[/snapback]</div>

Hi Cool. I had leather in my 06 prius and pk5 without leather in my 07 touring. After having both - I would chose pkg 5 again. Obvious stuff - leathers colder and hotter initially. Once leather patina's it starts looking old (which some people consider desireable). The 07 leather has breathing holes (perf.) which could allow both dirt and liquid into the seat cushions themselves and thats a smell hard to get rid of in some cases. The fabric is very high quality, durable and easily cleaned. I have not found any mark or stain that could not be removed yet and mine is the light cloth. The two most important things: expecting your first child (congrats) maybe the money can be put to better use. If you aren't happy with cloth - after market leather gives you more options in color, thickness and texture and you can heat the seats in the process. Enjoy both new arrivals. Greg

 

I always loved cloth seats UNTIL the Prius. I wish to hell I could go back a year and buy my car with leather seats. The cloth looks nice, and cleans up easy, but it shows EVERYTHING. Every other cloth seat I'd had before had a pattern on it that really hid spots. These seats don't at all, and with a three year old kid, they look pretty atrocious consistently. I've had to pay to have them cleaned twice already. I'd never done that with another car. It's my ONLY complaint about the Prius.

Just my two cents.

 

I did this on another Toyota. I would ask the dealer what the leather that is added by the dealer looks like and costs. I found the leather that was added this instead of a factory option to be much higher quality. If the the installer is local you could try out the cloth and then add the leather later if desired.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(cooljw @ Apr 11 2007, 06:08 PM) [snapback]421673[/snapback]</div>

Get leather! Your dealer can put aftermarket leather on for $900-1000 if you negotiate. After having leather on the preceding two cars, it was mandatory for us. Can't stand the cheap looking cloth. Leather provides a better seating surface plus a much better ambiance. Buy the Touring Model w/Pkg#2 unless you are an audio buff. Plenty of room for family with one child. Hatchback is great. B)

 

I love the leather with kids and animals...get the non-perforated leather and you will be soooo glad you did. Leather is now mandatory for us!!! Unless you can teflon the cloth seats, it will show everything even if it does clean up easy.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mywhitenoise @ Apr 11 2007, 04:11 PM) [snapback]421674[/snapback]</div>

This is a myth. The microfiber in the Prius is impregnated with polymers and will resist all the same soils that leather does, but will not be hot in the summer or cold in the winter.

Plus, more than half the "leather" is actually vinyl. Why pay more for vinyl? This is why manufacturers sell leather, it's actually mostly vinyl which is dirt cheap and gives them a huge profit margin over the cloth.

Don't believe me? Ask your dealer, he'll show you which parts are leather, and which parts are vinyl.

Nate

 

The seating surfaces are leather, the parts that are vinyl are the back and sides, thats all. Same as on nearly every production car.

I have the cloth and I'm used to leather seats myself. I *MUCH* prefer the leather, the cloth gets dingy as it ages and the leather just makes the car feel much more updaupscale. Its worth it.

As to leather patinas, if you maintain it with a good cleaner and conditioner it will look new for a *long* time.

 

i purchased a package #2--i couldn't justify spending the extra $$ on leather. when i first saw the gray cloth i was disappointed. i thought the color would be darker and a little nicer looking. but after having the car for a month in a chicago spring (snow, rain etc) the fabric has been fine so far. plus i had a slight easter incident where the dye on the eggs seeped through a bit in the hatch area (for greek easter we dye our eggs a deep red), but it came off and you can't tell where it was.

i also have a labrador, and despite the ease of a hatchback with a pet, i don't let her in and out the hatch anymore. i learned this w/ my last hatchback, the hair/dirt gets everywhere. i bought a back seat protector that extends the entire length of the back seats and it has been great!! this obviously doesnt' work w/ car seats or children, but for anyone w/ a dog i definitely recommend purchasing one.