Full or Half Leather

[peter m]

The S was available in full or half leather options. On the half leather, the rest of the interior was finished in matching "ambla". How can I tell which interior is in my car ?
I could prod it and see if it goes "moo"

[S3 Kieran]

Pretty easy really - 'half leather' actually means..... wait for it..... the seats!

Doors and dash sort of convincing (dash is even stitched - for real) but any close inspection and you will know plastic when you see it! (if you still can't tell - compare to the seats)

I think nearly all are half leather anyway - I certainly didn't find any full interiors when shopping.

[typevii]

...and, at least on mine, only parts of the seats. The sides and the headrest appear to be 'vinyl'.

I also could not find a full leather when looking for my S.

[RichardR]

peter m said:

How can I tell which interior is in my car ?

Although the Ambla is reasonably convincing at a glance (the stitching helps), if you have a proper look you'll be able to see that the grain is artificial, especially if you compare it to the leather on the seats.

[peter m]

I do believe you are right

The seats do look a different texture to the rest of the interior. The doors, transmission tunnel, and dash all have a uniform texture, so are synthetic.

I have never heard of "Ambla" before. Is it just a posh name for Vinyl dreamt up by TVR ?

[RichardR]

peter m said:

I have never heard of "Ambla" before. Is it just a posh name for Vinyl dreamt up by TVR ?

Apparently not...

"AmblaTM is a Supported Expanded Vinyl (SEV) utilising a range of cotton, cotton/polyester, polyester or polyamide knitted textiles. It is suitable for processing by techniques such as cut and sew, stick down, woodstock, KPM and certain vacuum forming processes.

Applications range from automotive and industrial seating to door panel covering materials."

More details here. Live and learn (as my old english teacher used to say).

[S3 Kieran]

Oi... pay attention at the back (as my old teacher used to say)

[WildfireS3]

What can I clean it with then?

[Podie]

WildfireS3 said:

What can I clean it with then?

Pretty much anything. I use the Autoglym leather cleaner myself...

[markbigears]

full leather on mine......2k extra as per bill of sale.

[peter m]

Yikes... 2 grand just for leather interior ! The buyer must have wanted it badly.

[lordb]

at the risk of repeating my self; SADDLE SOAP it is the best stuff all round IMHO