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Car Forum / Ford / Ford Mustang / September 2004NEED ADVICE: leather vs. vinyl for new seats
Apparently the leather seats on my car, stock, are made up of two parts: frame and covers. I say this because I had assumed it was more like one whole part per seat. Knowing the leather part is merely a "cover" that can be replaced is a relief. So I talked to one of the local Ford dealerships and they tell me over $600 for each piece! And when I say piece I mean over $600 for the leather cover to the part you sit on and another over $600 for the leather cover to the part you lean back against! Well http://www.50resto.com sells the leather covers for all seating on entire car for $700 or vinyl for $370 So now I'm trying to decide between vinyl or leather. They say the vinyl and leather look almost identical and the vinyl is easier to maintain and will last longer. I wonder which gets hotter under the sun? I'm also wondering what the perceived "cheapness" level will be? I'm concerned the vinyl will seem much "cheaper" than the leather. What do you all say?  SignatureScotter 96 GT Convertible white w/saddle top & tan leather 3.73 gears & Filtercharger Vinyl get's hotter against your bare legs "sizzle". Check around locally for a shop that can re-do your leather. Or be a redneck & thro a plaid polyester seat cover over 'em. Kelly MHO > Apparently the leather seats on my car, stock, are made up of two parts: > frame and covers. [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > white w/saddle top & tan leather > 3.73 gears & Filtercharger I suppose this would be the wring time to tell you that the upper portion of the seats are part vinyl and part leather. The backs and headrests are vinyl. The actual seating area is leather. I agree with Kelly, see about having them redone. Ford's leather is junk. Stiff and dry from the get go. Another thing to keep in mind is that the bolsters on the sides of your seats (the parts on the outside that kind of hold you in) are litterally formed into Ford's seat covers. So when you take the cover off, it's not just the cover, it is part of the seat. ftermarket seat covers will not duplicate what you have now unless they have somehow managed to find a way to duplicate this process. Kate | Vinyl get's hotter against your bare legs "sizzle". Check around locally for | a shop that can re-do your leather. [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] | > white w/saddle top & tan leather | > 3.73 gears & Filtercharger Either is going to "wear" over time. Vinyl "seems" to be more pliable, but not as tough. If you go with leather, I suggest staying away from the perferated "breathable" kind. When it starts to crack, those little perforations are just like on a bill.... "tear along dotted line". Personally, I think leather takes more effort to take care of, and I know I will never go leather again because of the expense of redoing leather. I'd just as soon go with cloth (cooler and your skin doesn't stick to it as easily - jump onto leather or vinyl on a hot summer day in shorts!) or vinyl. >Apparently the leather seats on my car, stock, are made up of two parts: >frame and covers. [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] >concerned the vinyl will seem much "cheaper" than the leather. >What do you all say? Entering into the unknown, V'ger seeks information used to maintain his Vintage Burgundy 1965 Ford Mustang 2+2 w/289 ci 4v oem A Code V8, C4 Trans, 16x8" Vintage 40 wheels, with BF Goodrich gForce T/A 225/50ZR16 tires, American Racing "Mustang" Centercaps, and a whole lot of other stuff; ) > They say the vinyl and leather look almost identical and the vinyl is > easier to maintain and will last longer. > I wonder which gets hotter under the sun? The leather will cool down and heat up more quickly than the vinyl, making it more comfortable, it is however more TLC. Gotta keep it clean and conditioned or you can throw it away outside of a year. The vinyl on the seats of my '69 still looks mint and they've not been treated well at all, so that's a plus for the vinyl. SignatureScott W. '66 Mustang HCS 289 '68 Ranchero 500 302 '69 Mustang Sportsroof 351W '97 Cougar 30th Anniv SE 4.6L ThunderSnake #57 http://home.comcast.net/~scott.williams.613/ Well, gotta chime in here! My pony has cloth seats (which I prefer in a ragtop anyway) BUT I have 2 '96 Explorers that are all leather... I treat them like CRAP... they have never even tasted any "conditioner"... BUT they look fantastic! The driver's seat left bolster (the one you drag your aZZ across when you get in and out ) is a bit cracked and worn BUT everything else looks great. I dunno if they use a crappier leather in the Mustangs, but the stuff in the Explorer gets a thumbs up from me! > > They say the vinyl and leather look almost identical and the vinyl is > > easier to maintain and will last longer. [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > ThunderSnake #57 > http://home.comcast.net/~scott.williams.613/ I say get cloth. Leather sucks! Patrick '93 Cobra '83 LTD > Apparently the leather seats on my car, stock, are made up of two parts: > frame and covers. [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > concerned the vinyl will seem much "cheaper" than the leather. > What do you all say? >I say get cloth. Leather sucks! In general, I agree. Leather looks really nice....when it's NEW. It's all about quality though. My 25K mile 97 Cobra's seats were already looking worn. Now, in the BMW I have now, the leather has almost 200K and look damn near new. There is no comparison. The only appreciable wear is on the driver's arm rest. Heated feature will be nice in the winter. But of course it cost 44K new :-) Overall though nice cloth seats are better IMHO. ///Mike TS #63 1993 BMW 525i http://community.webshots.com/user/mpompe2 Pics of all the old cars - Newly updated If you decide to go with leather, also check Katzkin (katzkin.com). They have replacement leather for your year (but not mine; their 87-93 kit is for convertible only). I don't have experience with 50resto's kit specifically, but I do know that modern vinyl is much improved over the "old stuff." It is probably difficult for most people to tell today's vinyl from leather. John > Apparently the leather seats on my car, stock, are made up of two parts: > frame and covers. [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > concerned the vinyl will seem much "cheaper" than the leather. > What do you all say? Go with vinyl. In my opinion leather in a car is for posers... Vinyl is tougher, cleans easy, and lasts longer. That and leather just doesn't look very good. Vinyl looks, feels, and smells better. The bench in my '68 is only now starting to tear a little on the drivers side. Slowly getting bigger, but 38 years aint bad before a seat starts showing wear. The back seat still looks mint, as do the door panels. They could use a good cleaning at the moment, but when I go voer it real well it looks almost new. Not bad for 38 years of use as a daily driver! Cory > Apparently the leather seats on my car, stock, are made up of two parts: > frame and covers. [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > concerned the vinyl will seem much "cheaper" than the leather. > What do you all say? |
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