Artico artificial leather

[P.Nott]

Any experience on the wear characteristics of this material please? It does look and feel surprisingly like leather and I'm wondering whether or not to spend the extra for the real thing.

[MarsellusWallace]

Its crap.

Ive seen numerous bolsters on newish cars where it has actually split,exposing the foam underneath.

Bring back MB Tex-the hardest wearing substance known to man.

[P.Nott]

Hmmm that's interesting. This new car will be a keeper, so I don't want to risk that in a few years time, crucially when it's out of warranty as well probably.
My first choice would normally be leather, but on the face of it, the Artico looked like a pretty good substitute. Ah well, it's only money after all!
Anybody else got any experiences with it, good or bad?

[tyrrell]

I have a 5 month old c250 amg sport coupe and it's still like new no cracks or tears or scuffs

[anonymous-user]

I thought the new C-Class had real leather if you go for the full leather interior upgrade, artico reserved now only for the half leather seats? Certainly appears that way from the spec sheets & online car configurator.

[P.Nott]

No, Artico is standard on the Elegance version of the C Class.

[va1o]

P.Nott said:

Anybody else got any experiences with it, good or bad?

We've got it, still looks clean and smart after 23k miles. No complaints really.

[P.Nott]

Having read about splitting Artico on another forum as well, I've decided to go with the leather option now.
Thanks for the replies guys.

[MarsellusWallace]

P.Nott said:

Having read about splitting Artico on another forum as well, I've decided to go with the leather option now.
Thanks for the replies guys.

When I examined the splits I have seen it seems that the Artico is very thin,especially the top layer.
If it is treated with care you probably won't have a problem but it doesn't look like it will withstand much hard wear or abuse.

[soxboy]

Regardless of the pros and cons of how well it wears, there's no way I could spend any amount (let alone £30k+) on a brand new car for it to have vinyl seats.

[P.Nott]

soxboy said:

Regardless of the pros and cons of how well it wears, there's no way I could spend any amount (let alone £30k+) on a brand new car for it to have vinyl seats.

Nor me normally but I have to say it looks and feels very convincing and had I been equally convinced about the wear characteristics, I probably would have gone for it. However, I placed the order for the car this morning and went with the leather.

[andy355]

wasnt MB tex basically for German taxis? ive not seen Artico but it doesnt sound nice... Alcantara i get the idea of but not vinyl

[P.Nott]

andy355 said:

wasnt MB tex basically for German taxis? ive not seen Artico but it doesnt sound nice... Alcantara i get the idea of but not vinyl

It doesn't look at all like the old vinyl, but actually looks and feels very convincing compared to leather.

[CDP]

But does it breath like leather or will you end up with a sticky back on a hot day like the old FSO 125P?

[P.Nott]

CDP said:

But does it breath like leather or will you end up with a sticky back on a hot day like the old FSO 125P?

Good question and the seat and backrest on the cars I tried were perforated, to aid ventilation I guess.

[Stegel]

I didn't even realise that the "leather interior" on my CLS was not real leather until I had it a few weeks. 5 years and 70k miles, with Autoglym cleaner used perhaps 3 times and their cream perhaps 4 times it is as good as new. On the other hand, my wife's E class, bought secondhand at 45k miles in 2 years, looked like the driver's seat had been used by a police officer with the full kit belt on - the seat and squab bolsters both worn through the leather's colour to expose the "leather" colour core. The seat cover was replaced under warranty, but the interior (it's a Sport) does not appear as robust as the CLS seats.

[anonymous-user]

CDP said:

But does it breath like leather or will you end up with a sticky back on a hot day like the old FSO 125P?

I've not driven any car with leather seats that kept me cool on a hot day. MB or otherwise!

[texasjohn]

CDP said:

But does it breath like leather or will you end up with a sticky back on a hot day like the old FSO 125P?

I had a 2011 Elegance demo for a few days in the summer. Sticky back I'm afraid, not at all nice!

Ventilated seats require upgrade to leather so no vented Artico combo possible. I went for a Sport as I prefer cloth, and no SE spec was available on my car (C250).

[Dunit]

My W204 shows all good with 4 years and 60K on , Must have looked in loads of C classes at the auctions with over 100k on them all look fine .
Did see one with the bolster worn but had done 186k. it would not cost a fortune to have a trimmer replace the panel.

[JWS999]

I've had a E class coupe for 2.5 years with artico. I absolutely hate it. Really hacks me off that they give leather on the SE and Artico on the AMG sport. It's just a way to get more money. If I had real leather I would keep the car when the contract rental ends. Because it has Artico I'm just giving the car back. Sorry to be harsh - but I wish I could have got the straight feedback when I was deciding.

For me I will never buy Artico again. Don't care if it lasts longer or looks better for longer. It's crap.