Leather seats comments

[Mazda3GT_Chick]

THey you all... you could tell I\'m a newbie on this board... Awesome information ... I just couldn\'t find the poll about leather seats option... the pros and cons of having leather seats...

Thanks and have a great day you all.. :)

[Cardinal Fang]

Welcome to the board HotMazda3GT. Without doing a search I don\'t think I can recall a poll about \"Leather Seat Options.\"

I\'ve always been used to leather seats so it was only natural when I purchased my Mazda3 that it came with leather. I do find the \"leather\" a little harder than what I\'m normally used to feeling. Which always brings up the question if it’s real leather at all? Off the top of my head these are what I think the most common pros and cons are.

Pros:

1. Some like the feel.
2. Looks very nice and stealthy. IMHO.
3. Adds to resale value (debatable).

Cons:

1. The Black Leather retains heat very quickly and takes more time to cool off. Not nice in the summer.
2. Some believe it\'s too slippery.
3. More maintenance involved to maintain it properly.
4. The way the leather is shaped does not appeal to some.

[Mazda3GT_Chick]

Thankyou Cardinal Fang, the reason I think to take the leather cause as I don\'t like the other cloth seat like red and black.... Maybe if I get tinted windows it\'ll help to cool down the not so hot for summer. Oh boy, I\'m really wracking my brain now to what options I want for my car. I was told that the cloth seats on the black do show alot of dirt.. So I\'m just going back and forth.. yes or no for leather seats... thanks so much for the great info.... you all are great!!! making it easier for some newbies like me.. :)

[wingnut12]

From one newbie to another.

My old Pro had cloth seats, and my 3 has leather. It\'s a world of difference.
Personally, I find the seats really comfortable, and much easier to clean.

In the end though, it\'s all about which you\'ll like more for the next 5 years.

[majic]

they all summed it up pretty well :)

a test drive was what deterred me from getting leathers.. i just found them too slippery for more spirited driving and when i bought the heaters were not an option.. as sabio said, go and test drive both types and let your ass decide :D

[Broli]

u can always keep in mind a custom leather job at a later date as well!

so lots of options!

[bluntman]

My take:

Pros:
1. I wanted all of the options in my car.
2. I liked the look, feel and smell of the leather.
3. Adds to the reasale value (debatable).
4. Leather centre armrest ;) matches the rest of the interior.

Cons:
1. I didn\'t like the colour combination of orange exterio and red interior.
2. The \"pimpled\" texture on the cloth seats made the cloth seat seem more slippery to me.
3. Leather is exremely hot in the summer and cold in the winter.
4. A little extra maintenance is involved with the leather seats.

I chose to get the leather interior.

[SW20 MR2]

I can\'t stand leather seats, especially on a car that I\'ll throw around corners. My small Asian butt slides around too much on it. I also hate them in the extreme cold/heat.

Ofcourse, if/when I buy a higher-end car, then I probably won\'t mind so much. Also, factory leather on lower-end cars tends to be really crappy. I haven\'t had the opportunity to check out the OEM MZ3 leather seats before, but if it\'s anything like OEM Honda, then it\'s pretty damned crappy.

[majic]

Originally posted by SW20 MR2
but if it\'s anything like OEM Honda, then it\'s pretty damned crappy.

*awaiting sabio\'s rebuttal*

[MAZDA Kitten]

I dont know why you need a poll to know the pros and cons of LEATHER IN A CAR http://www.vwvortex.com/zeroforum_graphics/screwy.gif

Ever sit on leather in a car after its been in the sun all day? Ever sit on leather in a car when its -30C? Nuff said.
I always thought this stuff is common knowledge I dunno

[TheProfessor]

I don\'t mind leather, but when it\'s as cheap as the stuff Mazda is using in the 3\'s then I really dislike it. It looks and feels cheap IMO.

[MAZDA Kitten]

^^^
Agreed; I have Jetta GLX leathers swapped into my GOLF and the leather is soooooooooooo nice - the Mazda3 leather seemed not the best of quality.

[Caz]

The heated leather in the winter is awesome. On hot days it isn\'t to bad, I try to park in the shade as much as possible.

I like the leather as it is very easy to clean.

[Cardinal Fang]

Originally posted by Caz


The heated leather in the winter is awesome.

Agreed. I\'ve found that with the heated seats I can keep the fan speed down on the heater. The only time I need to crank it is for the windshield defrost.

[Broli]

Originally posted by bluntman

1. I didn\'t like the colour combination of orange exterio and red interior.


so true!

thats why i trades for blue cloth interior!

lol

[justin]

My 2 cents with some pocket lint thrown in free o\' charge:

Pros:

1. Much more comfortable than cloth IMO.
2. Looks good.
3. Adds to resale if taken care of.

Cons:

1. Black leather retains heat very quickly and takes more time to cool off. Not nice in the summer. Tinting helps keep the cabin temperature down, but not a significant change. In other words, crank up the AC! :D
2. Too slippery if driving the car in a \"violent\" fashion. My fat ass has no problems with staying parked. YMMV.
3. More maintenance involved to keep the showroom look.