I'm ready to push the button and order an S3 to replace my Octy2. Was looking at an SE Business with some added extras (18" alloys & colour maxidot). But thinking about the next level up, the SE L Exec. But I am unsure about the leather seats. I know they are heated but more concerned about those hot days in the sun (not often in the UK, I know!)! How are those owners who have these leather seats finding them? Should I downgrade to the Leather/Alcantara even though I pay the same price for the car?  :wonder:

It's my first car with full leather, I love them! They do crease pretty quickly though.

Personally I find leather can get too hot in the summer and you can sweat in them and generally feel a little uncomfortable, and in the coldest winter months they take a little too long to heat up, your body takes the brunt of the cold out of the leather until they begin to warm.

I haven't tried the heated Alcantara but probably for me it would be preferable.

I had a Passat a while ago that had heated cloth seats and I found them ideal, not too cold in the winter, they breath in the hotter months, and they heated up quicker.

get the ventilated seats

I think the seats are heated on the SE L Exec but not ventilated so winter should not be a problem. Maybe summer when the car has been under the sun a while could be a problem.  To be honest, I would be happy with cloth seats as long as I have the gadgets that SE L gives me - really fancy the xenon lights with LED daytime running lights!  Maybe downgrading to the part leather/alcantara may be the way forward.

I prefer full leather seats. Had them in all my cars over the last 15 years and never felt there was a problem in summer. They've only ever had heaters in them, not ventilation. Easy to look after and looks smart even when they crease. I find material or alcantara look tired after a while. But that might be me being a messy sod.

Edited 19 May, 201610 yr by nthurrzzz

This is my 1st car with ventilated seats (had 6 with heated leather) and I would never go back as they are nice and cool in the hot weather.

Edited 19 May, 201610 yr by Gizmo68

I've chose the alcantara option. And is not that bad too. First of all is not that slippery, and the alcantara also keep the back a little bit more ventilated than the pure leather.

Really satisfied that we chose ventilated leather seats. We had alcantara in our S2 because of not wanting that cold/hot feel of leather but now having the leather with ventilated seating in our S3 I don´t know why we didn´t chose this earlier - apart from cost. Added advantage with the ventilated seating even in winter. You feal that you are getting warmer quicker.

Think I may have to return back to the dealer I test drove at as they had a SE L Exec in the showroom. I remember sitting in it and it was pretty nice with the leather.  I test drove a SE Business and remember being less than impressed with the alcantara - couldn't see the big deal with it - think I prefer cloth!  £625 for the vented seats is too much money for me unfortunately!

The OP is asking for advice on non-vented leather. I have it on my S2 and it's great. I've ordered non-vent leather on the S3.

I haven't found them to be sticky at all and they heat up fine.

I have non-vented leather and find it blooming lovely. I really, really disliked the alcantara option - the leather looks so much better and just lifts the cabin ambience significantly.

I wouldn't worry about hot leather, the S3 has seemed like a nice place to be every day I've owned it so far, including some warmer days.

Sorry, one final question - for those who have had leather before - how have you found it for wear? My intention is to keep this car for about 10 years!!!!

After 4 years of leather (ventilated) in my Superb II the leather was showing signs of wear on the side bolster support where I kept rubbing against it when getting in and out. Other than that it was as good as new.

Whether the Superb III will suffer the same problem, only time will tell. The seats are a different design in the Superb III.

I had non-ventilated leather in a Renault Laguna which was a much tougher and harder leather than the nappa-like leather of the Superb. It quickly showed crease marks and could be stone-cold in winter and red-hot in summer. I never experienced that degree of discomfort with the Superb's much softer leather.

If ventilated seats are too pricey then as you originally posted it comes down to the choice between full leather or leather alcantara. Although personally if you were going to pay £650 for larger rims I'd prefer to have that money put into ventilated seats, but of course the SE L is a little more costly to start with... If you're going for PCP to purchase, do have a look at the costs in comparison, you may find it only adds a small amount extra each month. (They're a bit cheaper as an option on L&K but it only added £5 per month onto my payments).

After that it's just personal taste really. I quite liked the alcantara but I preferred and wanted leather. At home the wife has a fabric sofa and mine is leather trying sitting in both, or even better see if you can get a drive in both, even if it's a different model, so you can feel what it's like.

Personally I've never found leather to be particularly uncomfortable in high or low temperatures, but I know some people do. Going back to the sofa, my wife doesn't like sitting on our leather one because she says it always feels cold to her. She's going to love the new car then

I have non ventilated Leather and have no problem with it what so ever, Im sure that on occasions the Ventilated is better but not £650 better

Leather is fine without ventilation for me. Seats heat very quickly in my S3, much faster than Merc it replaced.

 

As to long term wear I would say in 10 years time your leather interior will still look good. An alcantara one will not. As long as you keep on top of care for the interior it will last. It may crease but keep it clean and loved and that will turn into character.  

 

Older leather=maybe a bit worn but still classy. Older alcantara= worn out carpet.

 

SWMBO has an ivory interior in her Jag that is now 9 years old and still looks good. Like her it has a few creases but still catches the eye 

To be fair, my previous car was a 9 year old RS Megane R26, and the half alcantara Recaros in it were still in great condition - indeed the only visible wear was actually on the protruding seam of the leather bolster...

 

...based on that, I personally wouldn't rule out alcantara for reasons of longevity.

 

For me I ruled alcantara out for reasons of toddler and Haribo potentially combining into the perfect storm, which also ruled perforated leather out. Having said that, I think that because its synthetic, alcantara actually cleans up quite well.

Having seen both Alcantara and leather S3 seats in the showroom, I'd go for leather purely based on looks. I think Alcantara looks fantastic in a sporty setup whereas the S3 seats are too squared and, for the lack of a better word, non-sporty.  

Thank you everyone for your kind advice. If I go with the SE L Exec spec, I will keep it leather.

My leather seats on my 60 plate 90k+ miles S2 are good and not showing much wear. Even my red leather Audi TT 51 plate is great too.

I looked under my S2 seats once for some reason I can't remember and there was an Audi sticker there.

Go leather and forget alcantara.

I have had leather for the last 10 years or so.

 

It was only a £166 upgrade to leather from alcantara, but i fancied a change, plus the alcantara are part leather effect anyway, with the sides and full back in leather effect.

 

Im not disappointed going for alcantara and its has made a nice change.