Leather or fabric seats?

[r08shaw]

I went for half leather/alcantara and they are the best compromise I think.

Even though they are heated for winter, the thought of sitting on then when the car has been baking in the sun wasn't appealing.

 

IMO they look better too.

[Enobar]

Could I disturb the thread somewhat with another question: leather seats or ventilated leather seats?

A part from the actual ventilation, what do you think of the leather material itself? I must say I prefer the solid leather, to me the perforated leather in the ventilated seats looks just somewhat cheaper. Agree or not?

I'm going for beige leather either way, so I don't think heat will be much of an issue here in Norway during summer - so ventilation is just "nice to have" to me, apart from the fact that I think solid leather seats look better...

Personally I far prefer the look of the perforated to solid. I think the exact opposite - perforated looks like a more expensive material to me than solid.

[VRS_Dan]

This is the first car I have with the full leather seats and personally, I hate them! even driving the car any distance, my back seems to get all hot and clammy!

 

I understand keeping them clean is easier etc but they are hot in the summer and freezing in the winter to start. My granddad has the Octavia with alcantara and I much prefer the feel of his seats; they hold you in place better too!

 

I would change them if I could but they came with the car and my company pay for it so I cant really complain too loudly!

[Nick_H]

All down to personal choice I think like Dan says. I think you just need to make sure you test before you buy. I posted earlier in the thread that I've been though winter and summer and been fine. Don't get sweaty in summer and heated seats lovely and warm in Winter within seconds...

 

Only regret is not having heated seats in the back for the little 'un. 

[Shhhkoda]

I had heated leather in my last car and yes they can be cold in Winter until warmed then lovely. There is a sweet spot at certain times of the day when they are just the right temperature and nice and supple but that's few and far between in the UK, if you drive in just a shirt more often than not they will be cold initially. On my SIII I have part leather and Alcantara and this by far is the best option, smart, hard wearing, easy to clean, not cold in Winter and don't require heating, I would go for this combination every time from now on.

[Sagalout]

But then again, I find alcantara very clammy. I had one on hire for a couple of months (not a Skoda admittedly) and I couldn't wait to get back to leather. I don't slide around on leather but with alcantara it was like being glued into the seat. Trousers get more creases etc. I also think that once alcantara ages then it looks awful. I am not sure that it is easier to (keep) clean either.

 

The cold in winter is not a problem; the seats in the S3 warm up very quickly. The occasional 'ooh' is better than all that discomfort on every journey; for me at least.

[VRS_Dan]

 if you drive in just a shirt more often than not they will be cold initially.

Trousers or shorts could help with this matey  

[Coops]

The half leather/alcantara seats in my S2 were great and also heated - best of both worlds IMO. But needless to say the leather seats are great.

 

 

Only regret is not having heated seats in the back for the little 'un. 

 

Definitely Nick - they are great and not just for the kids!!!

[RickTT]

Last few cars have been full leather, premium leather at that.

 

This time i opted for the half n half with alcantara.

 

I feel i made the right choice.

 

[Dogluvr]

Trousers or shorts could help with this matey  

LOL I thought the same! Notice you're in Chinnor! If you see me around give me a wave and beep! (Live in Risborough!) 

[TabletSurfer]

Dark leather all the way here (no comments please  )

 

Dogs and Kids mean any type of exposed fabric will get marmalised.

 

Saying that my current Megane (getting Superb in 2 days- yippee) has leather sports seats and even those have a small tear in them and aren't exactly clean.

 

Covering my Superb boot with a hatchbag too.

 

Come to think of it might just not let anyone or anything else into the car .

[VRS_Dan]

LOL I thought the same! Notice you're in Chinnor! If you see me around give me a wave and beep! (Live in Risborough!) 

Maybe its just the area we come from! Likewise on the beeping, hard to miss me!

[Dogluvr]

Maybe its just the area we come from! Likewise on the beeping, hard to miss me!

So if I loiter around the Risboro' Straight... am I likely to see you!  

 

You're quite a bit younger than me so probably never sat in Budgens car park in a MkII Escort!

 

I must admit I struggle to get people showing the same pride and enthusiasm for my cars... they're of the 'It's just a car' mindset.

 

At least now if some mad woman is frantically waving at you, you won't feel the need to take cover or escape!

 

Mmm - not sure whether there are enough Skoda's in the area to justify a beer call? I certainly have only seen 1 Superb! 

[Rainmaker]

Dark leather all the way here (no comments please  )

 

Dogs and Kids mean any type of exposed fabric will get marmalised.

 

Saying that my current Megane (getting Superb in 2 days- yippee) has leather sports seats and even those have a small tear in them and aren't exactly clean.

 

Covering my Superb boot with a hatchbag too.

 

Come to think of it might just not let anyone or anything else into the car .

 

We have no issues with the alcantara, and we have a family of five (plus dog). Our car looks cleaner now than the day we took delivery six months ago, but then I do take a lot of pride in it. The exterior is machine polished and has three coats of wax, and there's definitely no eating, drinking or smoking in the cabin. Occasionally my wife and I will grab a snack, but then we're not 2 years old and prone to getting it everywhere (and/or then vomiting)...  No food, no drinks and a strict 'stick to your seat and don't touch everything in sight' policy works for us. The kids just know to stay in their seats and not let their hands wander along the interior or coachwork. Now I sound like a bit of a Hitler lol, but in practice they got told a couple of times and now it's just 'normal' - the car is a place to sit quietly and enjoy the drive, not a diner or play centre. Simples.

Edited 29 September, 2016 by Rainmaker

[RickTT]

I have 2 of these under each kid seat...  had them for a few years now.

 

Really good at keeping the edge of the seat protected

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=prince+lionheart+car+seat+protector&tag=mh0a9-21&index=aps&hvadid=454465983&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_20kjanrevn_e

[RickTT]

[Rainmaker]

What car seats are those Rich? Our two babies (18 months and 8 weeks) are on the outer seats, but our 10 year old is stuck in the middle, and it's a fair squeeze. Your baby chairs seem to barely cover the centre of their respective seats, whereas ours flare out a fair bit on their bolsters and impinge right over to cover the leather surround/seat bolster... if that makes sense. I did try to find the narrowest I could, but clearly you found better ones as you even have a baby seat in the middle by the looks of it!

[RickTT]

What car seats are those Rich? Our two babies (18 months and 8 weeks) are on the outer seats, but our 10 year old is stuck in the middle, and it's a fair squeeze. Your baby chairs seem to barely cover the centre of their respective seats, whereas ours flare out a fair bit on their bolsters and impinge right over to cover the leather surround/seat bolster... if that makes sense. I did try to find the narrowest I could, but clearly you found better ones as you even have a baby seat in the middle by the looks of it!

 

i have started a new thread so we dont go off topic  -- http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/412818-rainmaker-car-seats-cont/

[Csory]

Ordered ventillated keather - have to see yet. The saleswoman mentioned that they had a customer with a small child on board. The kid threw up something special - three cleaning efforts later the seats were replaced...

[Csory]

...and this was the ventillated one, with perforated leather. Also, I sincerely hope that the demo leather scraps with foam backing are just a thin piece to show the surface and not the real stuff. Seemed toooooo thin and flimsy to my eyes.