Why do car makers push fake leather?
Discussion
I'm looking at a new car from various "premium" brands". Why do car makers insist on pushing fake, synthetic "leather"? First of all, if it's synthetic, it's not leather, it should probably more accurately be described as vinyl or plastic.
I'd accept "leather like", but not some made up name that feels like it's there to fool people.. They're all at it. Sensatic leather, Artico leather, Nuluxe or Tahara leather. Lexus describe Tahara leather as an added extra, even though it's standard on base models. And it's NOT leather !!!
First of all, where is the Trades Descriptions Act? How do they get away with it?
Secondly, what's wrong with cloth seats now? My Q5 seats are mainly a microfibre cloth and they are much nicer than plastic seats, especially in winter. Or summer.
It seems that the makers think we all associate leather with quality. Most of us want comfort and longevity from our seats. It's time they woke up and also were more honest.
I'd accept "leather like", but not some made up name that feels like it's there to fool people.. They're all at it. Sensatic leather, Artico leather, Nuluxe or Tahara leather. Lexus describe Tahara leather as an added extra, even though it's standard on base models. And it's NOT leather !!!
First of all, where is the Trades Descriptions Act? How do they get away with it?
Secondly, what's wrong with cloth seats now? My Q5 seats are mainly a microfibre cloth and they are much nicer than plastic seats, especially in winter. Or summer.
It seems that the makers think we all associate leather with quality. Most of us want comfort and longevity from our seats. It's time they woke up and also were more honest.
Cos The Man In The Street doesn't believe he's arrived unlesss his arse is either dripping or freezing on his new leather seats.
I would've gotten my latest acquisition retrimmed in Alcantara, but it changing it makes in untradeable inable according to the garage.
And I don't find the real stuff much more pleasant.
It does make sense if you've got young kids or old people who vomit and urinate everywhere. Other than that, I'd pay a lot extra for not leather.
I would've gotten my latest acquisition retrimmed in Alcantara, but it changing it makes in untradeable inable according to the garage.
And I don't find the real stuff much more pleasant.
It does make sense if you've got young kids or old people who vomit and urinate everywhere. Other than that, I'd pay a lot extra for not leather.
_Rodders_ said:
Doesitdrive said:
Its ethical innit. Plain and simple lol.
And no doubt cheap. It's just plastic. Probably worse for the environment overall.
Irc velour in a Mercedes back in the day was a cost option.
Been looking for cloth seats for the shed c220cdi, the crap in it , though very light grey might as well be black in the sun.
bloomen said:
It does make sense if you've got young kids or old people who vomit and urinate everywhere. Other than that, I'd pay a lot extra for not leather.
I always prefer leather seats in my cars and id not buy a car with cloth seats if I could avoid it.
Not fussed on the synthetic options though.
Looking at Subaru Outbacks currently, there are 3 trim levels Limited with cloth, Field with fake leather and Touring with nappa leather seats. Therefore the Touring is the only model im considering.
Not fussed on the synthetic options though.
Looking at Subaru Outbacks currently, there are 3 trim levels Limited with cloth, Field with fake leather and Touring with nappa leather seats. Therefore the Touring is the only model im considering.
Cost and image most likely.
Ironically velour was considered as luxurious if not more so back in the day, my grandad certainly thought so until his later cars came with leather of some kind.
People consider leather to be luxurious but let's be honest, most "leather" isn't as such and even genuine leather is treated to the point it's almost artificial with colours and lacquers on the surface. To be fair, I had a 2003 E-Class which had Artico and it was hard wearing and wore it's mileage extremely well.
Ironically velour was considered as luxurious if not more so back in the day, my grandad certainly thought so until his later cars came with leather of some kind.
People consider leather to be luxurious but let's be honest, most "leather" isn't as such and even genuine leather is treated to the point it's almost artificial with colours and lacquers on the surface. To be fair, I had a 2003 E-Class which had Artico and it was hard wearing and wore it's mileage extremely well.
Alex_225 said:
Ironically velour was considered as luxurious if not more so back in the day, my grandad certainly thought so until his later cars came with leather of some kind.
Those of us old enough to have grown up in the 70s and 80s can attest to scorching vinyl seats in the summer time when modern velour was fantastic. Still prefer leather though.LeoSayer said:
Personally I prefer the fake leather on BMWs (Sensatec) to the base leather (Dakota). It feels softer and looks better.
On 3 series there are currently no more premium leathers available.
I had Dakota leather in my 330D, it felt quite thick, not soft at all, but was hard wearingOn 3 series there are currently no more premium leathers available.
LightweightLouisDanvers said:
Alex_225 said:
Ironically velour was considered as luxurious if not more so back in the day, my grandad certainly thought so until his later cars came with leather of some kind.
Those of us old enough to have grown up in the 70s and 80s can attest to scorching vinyl seats in the summer time when modern velour was fantastic. Still prefer leather though.Haha I remember it well. I was born in '82, my mum had a mustard coloured Austin Mini with vinyl seats. In the 80s the shorts were short and the seats were burning hot!! haha
Huzzah said:
Worn leather develops a patina, other materials tend to look tatty (especially alcantara)
The plastic type stuff just cracks and splits, proper aniline or semi aniline leather can look lovely as it ages but you only get that in really quite nice cars and often two or three levels deep on the interior options list if it's available at all. Even in an S Class if you're not ticking some options what you're getting looks and feels like recycled woolworths shower bags."Nappa" leather isn't a defined or controlled term, it's basically marketing and is just used by manufacturers as the label that means "the nicest thing we fit", it doesn't tell you anything about if it's full-grain or corrected, aniline, semi-aniline, or pigmented, or the actual quality of the hides.
Having had cars with full aniline leather it's close to impossible to keep in any sort of decent condition in a car you actually use, but semi aniline leather can be fantastic if you put in a bit of effort to not ruin it.
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