leather or vinyl?

jester911 · jester911's Garage

I have a vinyl interior and since I got my car I have wanted to change it to leather. I just recently talked with a guy that is a professional car detailer and he said that I was better off going vinyl.

He said the newer material out there now feels and looks like leather but will hold up much better over time.

I have been considering recovering my seats so I wanted to see what you guys out there think.

Superman · 09-12-2003, 01:23 PM

The vinyl interior of my car can fool a lot of people. Looks very much like leather, and appears as good as new at 20 years old.

Allenk · 09-12-2003, 01:29 PM

Same as Superman, my vinyl interior has held up very well and only has a few blemishes after 32 yrs.

ZCAT3 · 09-12-2003, 01:41 PM

I have 2 911 varients with the full leather interior and one with the vinyl interior (except for the leather seats). Unless you want a show car, go with vinyl. All that leather in a 911 is a pain to maintain - and get at - I really despise crawling around in the back to Lexol all the leather. I am 6'2" and it is no fun back there.

CarreraS2 · 09-12-2003, 01:53 PM

I personally hate plastic seats. I don't think I'd ever buy another car with them. I'd not have plastic seats in my porsche any more than I'd have a naugahyde couch in my living room. But that's just me.

Leather can hold up quite well if give some care. And, when it does wear, it still looks and feels good. Gets a nice patina.

Here are my leather seats after 26 years and 116,000 miles:

JackT · 09-12-2003, 02:10 PM

Vinyl makes me sweat. Leather does not. Vinyl does not let you slide, like getting in and out. Not a big deal for guys, but is for girls with dresses. Vinyl smells like plastic, leather smells like leather. If you are just going to look at it and you want it to look new longer, go with vinyl, but if you want to slide in and out, look fashionably worn and smell good, go leather.

ZCAT3 · 09-12-2003, 02:23 PM

I guess I should qualify my statement - leather for sure for the seats for the reasons above. Vinyl for everything else.

RickM · RickM's Garage

I'd consider Vinyl for sure on a Cab or Targa.

jester911 · jester911's Garage

I know about the old vinyl. The question is the newer material good. My seats are actually the porsche text in the fabric.

They aren't ripped or torn but they just look tired. I dyed them a while back and they look a little better but not great.

I keep seeing these seat upholstery places that are using a vinyl that looks like leather.

Anyone out there with experience with those?
thanks

island911 · 03:05 PM

Porsche vinyl is not cheap quality vinyl (there is a difference) . . the Porsche vinyl is thick. And Rick is right; Vinyl is way better for a Cab or Targa (there are a whole lot of cabs with shrunken leather panels)

By the time you load-up Leather with conditioners, it performs a lot like Vinyl. (and the conditioners out-gass and put a haze on the inside of the windows --ick)

I currently have leather seats; though I'm changing over to a Porsche cloth.

.. ..And you can still get that porsche text fabric.

edit
(btw, I was at the local Porsche dealer yesterday. Their office chairs were upholstered with that porsche script fabric. It looked great.)

B D · 09-12-2003, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Vinyl does not let you slide, like getting in and out. Not a big deal for guys, but is for girls with dresses.

This is not a problem for me, I don't mind girls dresses sliding up.

Allenk · 09-12-2003, 02:45 PM

Girls dresses sliding up-case closed, vinyl wins in my book.

Eric Coffey · 09-12-2003, 11:40 PM

The only leather necessities for me (as opposed to vinyl) would be the seats, steering wheel rim, and the shift knob. For everything else, vinyl is hard to beat. I've owned a factory full-leather car, and it was a nightmare to maintain. Almost every leather 911 interior surface is prone to warping with even the slightest neglect. I've seen OEM leather dashes, door panels, door pocket lids, door top rails, center consoles, rear panels, rear decks, etc., etc., warped beyond belief.

That said, there is nothing quite like the smell of a well-maintained full-leather 911 interior! Sniff..Sniff..........Ahhhhhhh.

jester911 · jester911's Garage

Hey Island, you said you can still get the text fabric. I would love to get some if it doesn't cost an arm and a leg.

Do you get it thru porsche dealer?

island911 · 09-13-2003, 08:19 AM

A place in the UK called Southbound Motortrimmers (search for contact. . i've posted it a few times in the past)
The dealer *may* have it . . . will likely be a hassle to find out.

larry47us · 09-13-2003, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by island911
A place in the UK called Southbound Motortrimmers (search for contact. . i've posted it a few times in the past)
The dealer *may* have it . . . will likely be a hassle to find out.

Island, it really isn't a hassle to find out. I searched out their name though the web, and came up with this email address.

southbound@ukgateway.net

Jester: I did contact them for some tartan plaid in an original Porsche style. I got a response from a Dave Nunn. He had three original Porsche tartans, but in the wrong color. His response back to me was within 2 - 3 days, and the price of the tartan was 59.50 GBP (that's british pounds) per meter. At a current rate of about 1.60:1, you are at about US$95.20 per yard, not too expensive for upholstery fabric. How much do you need to do a seat? Your labor will cost a lot more than that!!!

larry