What is the difference between Leather & leatherette?

[Tidybuoy]

I've seen seats advertised as leather, leatherette, and vinyl. I am wondering what the difference is between leather and leatherette.

My '74 originally had vinyl seats and you could definitely tell they were vinyl as the material stretched very easily.

Any comments would be appreciated.

[dixbu]

Good-quality leather feels softer and is more pliant, and it should have a pleasant aroma. Leatherette, or synthetic leather, is made of vinyl and is generally easier to keep clean than leather, which will absorb dirt and spills.

Because leatherette is plastic-based, it isn’t porous, so liquids or food sit on the surface and can be cleaned up with a wet cloth. But since leatherette doesn’t “breathe” like the real stuff, it gets hotter during warm weather and is “stickier,” especially when you perspire. Leather is easier to scratch, so it’s not a good choice if you carry a dog or cat in your car.

[slodave]

Leather is real, leatherette is fake.

[tazzieman]

Leather is "prestigious" but like a catwalk model proves to be high maintenance and despite lots of moisturiser ends up wrinkly and cracked. Unless you live in Sweden.
Leatherette is practical and easy to live with. Cloth inserts make it fashionable and comfortable .

Leather hurts cows , and causes greenhouse gases whilst leatherette is made of Nasty Chemicals.

[74-911]

Originally Posted by dixbu

Good-quality leather feels softer and is more pliant, and it should have a pleasant aroma. Leatherette, or synthetic leather, is made of vinyl and is generally easier to keep clean than leather, which will absorb dirt and spills.

Because leatherette is plastic-based, it isn’t porous, so liquids or food sit on the surface and can be cleaned up with a wet cloth. But since leatherette doesn’t “breathe” like the real stuff, it gets hotter during warm weather and is “stickier,” especially when you perspire. Leather is easier to scratch, so it’s not a good choice if you carry a dog or cat in your car.

This has been my experience between the two. There is nothing like the feel and smell of new leather but for the long haul, leatherette is more practical. Also, wife's Jetta has leatherette that has very small perforations in the inserts so it breathes and is really quite comfortable even here in the high heat/humidity part of the world and still looks like new after 8 years (no kids or dogs however).

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by slodave

Leather is real, leatherette is fake.

Just like the 1975 Cordoba seats which Ricardo Montalban described "the thickly-cushioned luxury of seats available even in soft Corinthian leather."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corinthian_leather

[CCM911]

I thought it was "RICH Corinthian Leather"? That Cordoba is the ugliest car I have ever seen.

[TheSt|G]

Leather smells and feels nice when in good condition.

Vinyl/Leatherette just lasts forever.

[theiceman]

Porsche Genuine Leatherette .. is everyone elses Vinyl..

[Tidybuoy]

Originally Posted by CCM911

I thought it was "RICH Corinthian Leather"? That Cordoba is the ugliest car I have ever seen.

It's hard for me to believe but when my brother-in-law got a brand new gold Cordoba (in about 1975), I thought it was one of the nicest cars. Keep I mind, I was 10.

[TheSt|G]

For the record, when I ordered my Recaros I specifically got Vinyl. I hate leather maintenance.

[Tidybuoy]

I purchased a set of leather seats that will be coming this week. I'm anxious to weigh them and compare to my current vinyl. I was surprised to see that my '74 vinyl seats weighed 34 lbs each, which was lighter than I expected.

I needed new seats as my driver seat is ripped and the old '74 seats are bouncy. I'm always noticing how much more comfortable my '88 944 seats are compared to the 911. If the weight of the new seats is a lot more, I may have to go on a diet to compensate.

The new seats were advertised as leather. We'll see when they get here as I have previously purchased "leather" door panels that were actually leatherette. In the case of the seats, the price was very good & condition excellent so I will be happy no matter what.