Currently speccing a VRs TDI and can't decide whether to go for Leather or Cloth Seats from a durability point of view.

The reason I ask is that I drive around 30000 miles a year and plan on keeping the car for at least 4 years so I would be looking at driving around 120000 miles over the time i would own it.

If possible I would like to spec the interior to be a durable as possible so would like to hear peoples opinions / experience with either option.

Cheers

Leather every time....

They are both good and have their particular good and not so good attributes.

They say if you go leather you should have heated seats to go with them.

I have opted to Alcantara in my L&K ordered as it is darker and I do like to munch as I go along so was recommended to go for that rather than leather.

Having said that the leather in my 7 year old L&K is still good but it is black.

I think the one to thing about if you can live with light colours without pattern rather than leather/cloth/seude.

Edited 19 August, 201015 yr by lol

My '07 L&K has now done 134,000 miles and the driver's seat is still in excellent condition. I would opt for leather every time.

It's a biatch to clean though, the car arrived with the light leather which shows every mark. I dread to think what the light parts of the vRS seats will get like over several years. At least you can attack leather seats with some cleaner and a brush.

They both have good and bad points and who uses the car should have a big influence on your choice.

Leather

For:

Easy to wipe clean (ideal for messy kids!)

Look & smell nice

Adds a bit of luxury

Against:

Light coloured leather can be a PITA to keep clean if you don't live in a suit all day.

Hot in the summer and cold in the winter (heated seats help this)

Slippery (compared to cloth) if you drive enthusiastically.

If you have small kids then any stones etc in their shoes can scratch the leather

Cloth

For:

Warmer to the touch on a cold morning

Dont suffer with scratching from stones etc (see above)

Not as slippy as leather

Against:

Doesn't look as nice (IMO)

Harder to clean stains off.

Alcantara is nice too (I have a Alcantara Recaro seat in my Superb) but will probably wear and go shiny after a lot of mileage.

Thanks for the info, looks like leather it is then!

I had the non leather VRS seats in my old VRS. These still looked great after nearly 4 years of ownship and my son (from baby to 4 year old). Although I had only done just over 30k miles in it so can not comment on how it would look after 120k. I never had an issue with the light front panels and stains although I was concerned at the start!!!

I have gone for leather in my new VRS for a change and because I liked the look of them. They feel a little different to sit in (firmer) than the standard seats but still very comfortable.

leather is more durable, no question but i am impressed with how modern "non-leather" fabrics hold up to high mileages - its very impressive how good these things still look after very high mileages - most stains come off with a good fabric cleaning product too

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