I've been reading the posts about changing fabric covered seats to leather and wonder why anyone would want leather.

The differences:

1) Leather seats show wear more than fabric (not necessarily suface wear). Notice that the driver's seat is always more "wrinkled" than the passenger seat in a sport-car when the seats are both covered in leather.

2) Seats covered with leather are more slippery than fabric, and leather surfaces do not hold the driver as well as fabric covered seats that often are designed for maximum "grip."

--Spike

 

They hold up fine when cared for correctly, not like i do it but.... they look nicer, specially with the different color pores, and theyre more luxurious. If im spending 30+ k on a car i better get leather and i want it heated because its cold as hell in the winter.

EDIT: And the Z's seat's bolsters hold you in amazing, so theyre not slippery at all.

 

but yet...i think they are WAY more comfortable...and im not sure if theres a heating option in the fabric seats...but i love having a seat heater when its a little cooler out.

 

^^ You are correct. There isn't a seat heater option for cloth seats in the Z. But that doesn't mean that is not possible. My Jeep Commander has fabric covered seats and seat heaters which work just great.

--Spike

 

Do you really need to ask this question on why somebody would choose what options?

It's like asking why people would choose Touring over Track. It's because people buy the trim/model that suites them.

I for one don't plan on tracking this car. I don't plan on taking corners at 100km/h or drifting, so I don't really need the stickiest seats out there.

I choose the 350Z Touring because I wanted a sexy looking, two-seater sports car with all the luxury options I could get.

I'm sure people who buy the Track models have their own reasons as well.

I thought this type of question was a no-brainer.

 

Leather is much easier to clean.

 

I'm asking about the advantages (leather vs. fabric) not personal preferences. Your answer describes a preference (sort of like saying, "I like charcoal colored seats better than black.").

The response following yours...
...describes an advantage.

--Spike

 

LOL...I'm actually replacing my stock leather seats with some OMP racing seats. The leathers are nice, but when its 107 degrees outside, I hate burning my *** every time I get into the car. Sure during the winter I have the heated seat feature. But get this, if leather didn't retain the current temp. properties of its surronding elements it would not need a heating option. Fabric seats don't need this because they don't get scorching hot in the summer, nor freazing cold in the winter....unlike leather seats do.

Not to mention leather makes your skin sweat and stick to it if you are wearing shorts or something.

 

yep i like leather for its looks,but i get sick of seeing all the wear and stress cracks in leather. plus the nissan cloth seats are excelent. best cloth seats i have ever sat in. cloth FTMFW.

 

dont try and justify being cheap.. lol

Kiwi (puts on fame retardent suit)

 

Actually, I think my response was correct to your first question:

"I''ve been reading the posts about changing fabric covered seats to leather and wonder why anyone would want leather."

So I really don't understand where my response didn't correspond with your question above. I mentioned I wanted a sexy and a luxurious sports car, and leather is traditionally sexy and luxurious.

Again, I believe my response answered your question.

 

Great points. Since leather is more dense than fabric, leather absorbs and retains cold or heat more than fabric. As you point out in your message, leather seats benefit greatly from heaters while it is hardly necessary with fabric.

You also mention how uncomfortably hot leather seats become in high temperatures. Notice that some of the high-end vehicles come with seats covered in perforated leather and equipped with seat coolers! The manufacturer actually routes some of the air-conditioning to the seat back and bottom to overcome this problem with leather seats.

--Spike

 

Yeah. Only if I can cool the leather seats in my Touring Ed.

 

1) wrong.
2) wrong.


I have perforated leather seats in my roadster & I love them.
My ZR has sat in the sun all day with the top down at various car shows & when I get in to drive home...seats are not that hot in fact they are very comfortable. I've also heard from other Z owners that the fabic seats wears out faster than you can imagine!

 

I hate the look of wear on leather... but they are easier to clean. I had stock cloth seats, then swapped to OEM leather seats and the side bolsters are much more firm and stable and more narrow so they hold you in much better than the cloth seats do. However your butt cheeks do slide around the seat a little more.

 

Who are you saying is wrong? I hope you were not referring to me. Oh, maybe I just made all of that up. Maybe I'm only imagining owning a Touring Ed. Z with leather seats that are freaking hot to touch when the car is sitting in 107 degree weather all day. Yeah, definitely all in my head...

 

I bought my Base Z with cloth seats cause I knew eventually I would change the seats for racing seats. I was going to go with cloth for the new seats for some of the reasons the OP listed as a negative about leather seats. But then decided to go with Sparco Milanos Tan leather. I will never sit on cloth seats again. The Italian leather is amazingly soft. They dont hold hairs and small debree on the surface of the seat like cloths do (I like to drive with windows down alot). I live in South Florida so I can attest for heat problems. I can leave my car out in the over 95 degree hot sun for an entire work day and jump right into the car and feel very little heat what so ever from the seat. In fact I never even thought about heat from the leather seat until OP mentioned it being a possible factor for leather seats.

As for keeping me the seat no problems. Now these are racing seats and have much better support then the stockers leather or cloth. I always buy my cars with the least options available basically cause I know I will end up changing most stock options including seats. The first mod I will purchase from now on will be leather seats. Just my .02 cents on the subject.

 

I was referring to Spike100 that I did not agree with his 2 points.
That's all!!!

350ZV3...I agree 100% about Italian leather, it is by far the best.
BTW I would also like to say that there is all kinds of leather out on the market. I own a Lexus RX300 with leather seats & the leather is very, very soft along with the padding & with no comparison with the leather in my ZR.

 

Oh ok..

Italian Leather...FTW!