Absolutely HAVING to have all leather is Poseur City. Silly.

It's really neat.

I just love Pelicans. I guy posts his excitement about his new seats and you guys have to tear him down. What a great support network! :rolleyes:

Hey, it's a tough crowd here. You can't ask for the time of day without a poke in the eye with a blunt stick.

I'll join the 'I wouldn't do it, but I think it looks good' crowd. Kudos for giving it a whirl. Stretch that vinyl...

ianc

Mark,

I totally agree, I think its hard for the internet to show what I mean sometimes. I really like your seats I was just wondering based on your above statements if you were experimenting with vinyl and moving to leather. Not a big deal, just making conversation. Vinyl is nice as well, and people are right no need to move to leather nor is it fair to bring you down because of your choice. It is a nice choice by the way. I hope to turn this thread around; you're seats look good and I'm glad you like it!

Does this houndstooth make my butt look big :( ?
:D

Actually, my butt makes my butt look big.

Guys,
No worries on the pokes. I have extremely good taste on my car modifications and am quite certain of my choices :D.

love the houndstooth in any color, and I'm on board with the cloth inserts.

Mark, can you get that 993 any closer to the ground?

(the original) Bill K

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1203515200.jpg

My dad had houndstooth/tan in his 66/67 911, green body. To this day, I've always felt it was the way 911s should be - adds that slight touch of German soul to the car. Funny though, I'd put it in my AS/MB Boxster S if and when needed, but I'm not so sure about my Viper Green/Cork '73 911.

Plaid cloth anyone?
 

Yes, that's true but I think it's purely a cost issue - a way for the manufacturer to save money. I don't think it has anything to do with vinyl "standing up better to wear" or anything like that.

Incidentally, I have always wanted to do seat with plaid cloth centers and black leather bolsters and backs. I love the cloth that Mercedes-Benz used way back in the 1950's - like in the 300SL Gullwings shown below.

Anyone have any idea where I could find suitable fabric?

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1203527734.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1203527754.jpg

Yeah, "partial leather" is done by car companies purely for cost savings. Usually on their lower end models. Your $120,000 Mercedes S Class is not going to come with vinyl sides on the seats. Your C Class will (of course, full leather is extra-cost optional on all Mercedes, BMW, Porsche, etc.)

Oh, I think you'd be surprised. I thought my ex-wife's Range Rover had full leather, but then one of the seatbacks was damaged and the upholstery shop showed me that it was actually high-grade vinyl. According to them it is VERY rare that even very expensive cars have leather over the entire seat cover. It's usually only the parts that your body touches in normal use.

According to this upholstery place (a very high-end shop) you really need to get up into the Bentley Arnage and cars of that price point before you find FULL leather seats. Also cars that have small production numbers, where the cost savings doesn't make sense. But on high-volume models? Even expensive ones? He says there is usually quite a bit of synthetic material in the seat covers.

Then again I'm no expert - I'm just parroting what I was told.

Those Benz's are hot.

I’m not posting this to be argumentative, just find it interesting.

I just paid a visit to my friends top/upholstery shop; they service car dealers in this area and have a total of 60 years or so in the business. Here’s what I learned:

“Leather” seats in all currently produced cars use leather only on the center panels and fronts of the bolsters. All the seat backs and the outboard sides of the bolsters are vinyl. Whereas leather shrinks, vinyl stretches. Using it on the bolster sides prevents splitting seams when the adjoining leather shrinks. I was handed a Mercedes E class seat cover that had to be replaced because of a seat heater burn in the middle of the seat (genuine Mercedes item) and shown this. Visually, I could not see the difference between the sides and tops of the bolsters (the surface texture was an exact match!) and could only tell the difference tactilely when my friend showed me what to feel for.

Until a few years back, Lexus was one of the few cars whose seats were all leather. Now they use vinyl as described above. They’ve had two current model Maseratis in the shop recently – leather and vinyl. I stopped by one day last year and they had the west coast armor plated Maybach owned by the since deceased founder of Grey Goose Vodka; the guy had beaucoup bucks and kept two Maybachs at east coast and west airports. He’d fly back and forth on his private jet – his pilot was also his chauffer (must be nice). It’s seats were leather and vinyl.

They haven't had any Ferraris or Lambos in their shop but quess that they might use all leather.

They also said that good quality vinyl is more durable than leather.

I can guarantee you that my MB has full leather seats, including on the sides. It's an '01, though, and I paid extra for it. You can clearly see the difference between my full leather seats, and the "partial" leather seats that came standard on the car.

My neighbor just bought a ML something or another, and it has full leather seats, including on the sides. It was part of a common "premium package."

Called my friend's shop - all true. He didn't think to mention the "premium packages".

To add to the fun:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1203543332.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1203543341.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1203543354.jpg

Beeyoutiful!

Very nice. Works great with the silver paint. and the silver touch points in the car. whowouldathunkit? ;)

Try finding early 80's sportseats in decent condition. Leather seats have either been re-done or are highly distorted. Vinyl (otoh) holds it's shape for years. I agree that leather smells better (or whatever the chems used for tanning smell) and leather often has better abrasion resistance. BUT leather distorts with humidity changes and age. Also, on balance, I'll bet that cloth centers with vinyl side bolsters will be more breathable and comfortable than full leather.

not a "dis", just an observation. ;)

What, no leather headliner? What about the (plastic) dash? ...The cheap bastards.

Actually, No Leather anywhere is one of the latest option trends for MBz. http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2005-02-09-carleather-usat_x.htm

I think they did this because clean-up on vinyl is a lot easier when chowing down lunch in your Benz . ..and your steak burrito that has a blow-out. :D --Right? "PETA" is People Eating Tasty Animals? http://forums.pelicanparts.com/suppo.../cheeburga.gif

I feel like I have been lied to for years!