Just wondering - what do people like so much about leather seats so much, esp. when considering how much they cost? Every post with a leather seat in people seem to go mad for them.

I had them on my Mazda RX-8 (heated) and as far as I can see they're:

1. too cold in the winter 'til the heaters have kicked in (most re-trims aren't even heated!)
2. too hot in the summer. I only weigh 11 stone at 6'3" (so not like I'm on the larger side), but they made me sweat on long drives, and were generally unpleasant
3. less gripy than fabric counterparts
4. expensive (better re-sale?)
5. age/sag/tear more easily unlike fabric ones
6. need more treatment to stop 5.

Granted, they arguably look better (until 5 happens anyway!).

So unless I'm missing something, why do people like them? They seemed no comfier than the fabric Mazda seats either, so as far as I can tell you're paying for a lot of negatives and not much else!

Popped a poll in just to see if I'm alone in this or not!

I've got fabric seats but if I could of had the same car with leather I probably would have! Personally I think they make a car look more upperclass. But I do agree that when they sag and not looked after properly they do look awful :(

They look nicer and firm up the seats, especially sport seats.

It's an odd one. In the old days, carriages had leather seats for the driver as they were outside. The interiors, where royalty sat, were trimmed with velvet.

I love my leather seats, don't find them too hot or cold, they look great. The smell is lovely too!

I'd only swap for leather with Alcantara inserts. Don't like cloth over much.

Plus, leather wipes down easier after car sex. My last two cars got massive stains on the passenger seat, Vanish my arse.

Leather seats are a must with kids. Wipe clean of all sorts of stuff.

Generally don't wear as badly as fabric seats, especially the side bolsters.

Recaros. Nuff said

Na seriously, like others have said, very comfortable, look fantastic, more absorbing.

Plus, leather wipes down easier after car sex. My last two cars got massive stains on the passenger seat, Vanish my arse.

Way too much info m8!

Hmmm, must just be me then! After owning them, I don't think I'd have them again in a hurry!

Never eat in the car, only 20 so no wish for kids/child friendly/wipe clean-ness.

Can't take dogs in them either though as they get scratched (and a dog into the boot of an RX-8 is a bit too far!). Smell I'll concede - still sniff my wallet sometimes for the smell!

Still interesting to see the views of others though.

Had heated leather seats in my last Land Rover and loved them as they were so comfy

I think they are more car oriented, would you buy a Jag without them?

So it depends on the car really, they would seem out of place in a Roomster.

Way too much info m8!

Not at all Raf- major selling point for us. Nothing wrong with anytime, any place.

I like them, easier to keep clean (in general) and give a car's interior more character, I think, even when they start to get scuffed etc.

Tough one. I'd have leather, if I could get it at a good price. I don't like it enough that I'm going to pay nearly a grand in order to freeze in winter/sweat in summer, as you say. As for "upperclass", I think with the right colouring any car can look upperclass with fabric, Fabia vRSes just look a bit naff with the nice black headlining and then grey seats (which inevitably turn dull when they get mucky). Ideally I'd like mine retrimmed in plain black cloth with the vRS logo kept and then I'd be well chuffed with them, but it's finding somewhere that does them reasonably :(

Well the fabric seats (even the driver's seat) in my Elegance still look "as new" after 9.5 years, 104k miles. The leather ones in my Dad's Sickbrick were slippery, and if you think leathre looks good I'm going to guess you've never actually seen an Octy 1 L&K?

Well the fabric seats (even the driver's seat) in my Elegance still look "as new" after 9.5 years, 104k miles. The leather ones in my Dad's Sickbrick were slippery, and if you think leathre looks good I'm going to guess you've never actually seen an Octy 1 L&K?

I own one, and the black leather I have looks more than fine.

Simple reason for leather seats, im a messy person my seats are pitted, fag ash, food almost split coffee on them a dozen times

Leather Seats make the car more classy. :clap:

I feel the same about leather sofa's as well as car seats.

1. too cold in the winter 'til the heaters have kicked in (most re-trims aren't even heated!)
2. too hot in the summer. I only weigh 11 stone at 6'3" (so not like I'm on the larger side), but they made me sweat on long drives, and were generally unpleasant

The two points alone are enough for me not to consider buying a car with leather interior.

How about Vinyl like MB-Tex? Now those are good - no wear, no sag, looks new over very long period of time (mine looks new after 36 years - 1972 Merc - sold in 2008), and they are not that more expensive than cloth.

I love my leather retrim. I know it's not to everyones taste (black with blue inserts) but it makes the car feel so much more luxurious. I spend 2 and a half hours in it a time when I go to my girlfriends, so that's why I went for it. The smell of new leather is amazing. I didn't suffer summer sweat at all really and so far i've not had a problem at all in the winter. I have been told I have a hot ass tho lol

my main problem with cloth trim is that most of them have a daft pattern. I liked the idea of the fabia vrs with the 2 tone, it added character but the off white was a daft choice of colour!

I think the quality of the leather plays a big part.

The "leather" in my Octavia vRS was rubbish, always felt cheap, never really liked it.

Yet the leather in my A6 is a completely different beast. Especially when combined with heated seats.