Car leather immediately gives the car a more presentable appearance. Many people misperceive that the word “leather interior” means “complete mincemeat”. This is not quite true – the presence of this type of seats already gives reason to say that the interior of the car is already in the “leather”. As with all upholstery materials, leather has its own features that can already appear during use.
Having planned a “hauling”, consider that there is a so-called auto leather. Such leather is not particularly stretchable because it is distinguished by its rigidity, and the coloring on it holds better. The overall resistance to wear is underlined by the fact that the material does not lose its qualities in the presence of various solvents such as gasoline.
It’s all about technology. Having passed all the stages of production, the product can be treated with a protective layer of polymers. Then there is a pressing and “passage” on rollers (here the drawing is put).
The selection of color and texture must be taken seriously – it’s enough to limit it to two shades. Pay attention to the thickness of the seam and the color of the thread. Thick and slightly sloppy stitch is more suitable for sports cars, while the fine stitch is characterized by its neatness.
“Changing” the salon, don’t forget the airbags. Improper work can lead to a critical moment – the “squeezed” airbag will work late or not working at all. Therefore, the seam in this place should be one that will not “hold” the device.
Suede” alcantara can be a worthy replacement for auto leather. It is easy to clean, less prone to contamination. The material is not slippery to the touch. Often there are cars with combined cladding, where the leather looks harmoniously with the alcantara inserts. An important point is that when you buy a car, you need a car option, as there is also a furniture option.
Reasons against leather interior in cars
Over the years, car dealers have convinced us that there is nothing better than having a leather interior in your car. Leather was often seen as the determining factor in buying a good new car. But is it? Is leather the best material to use on car seats?
Here are a few reasons against auto leather:
1. It’s hot as hell in summer with a leather interior.
Getting into a car with leather seats after standing in the sun for an hour or more can be absolutely killer. Inside a car left in the hot sun can easily reach 70ºC, and unlike the fabric, leather (especially black leather) absorbs heat perfectly. If you wear shorts, you run the risk of getting the worst burns when you sit in such a salon.
Manufacturers are trying to deal with this problem by offering cooling options that pump air from the cabin through the seat to cool it, but isn’t that the solution? In addition, the seat cooling system will not work properly until the air inside the cabin cools down first. So get ready for the roasted ass and sweaty streams flowing down the back of your shirt.
2. Skin can be cold as ice in winter.
Just like leather seats hot in the hot summer, they are as cold as ice in winter – and there is nothing luxurious about it. But at least you still have autumn and spring to enjoy the leather interior, right?
Just like the seat cooling options in summer, manufacturers also offer seat heating to improve your comfort during the winter months – but then again, why not switch to rag seats and kill two birds because fabric is much cheaper than leather?
3. Skin doesn’t “breathe” like fabric.
Have you ever sat on a leather sofa in the summer just to make sure your body starts to sweat in 5 or 10 minutes, making you either move or get up so you don’t get all sweaty? That’s because when you put your skin on the leather, there’s just no way for your sweat to evaporate, the air just doesn’t get through the skin.
To get around this, some car manufacturers prefer to use “perforated leather”, which basically means that the parts of the seats you come into contact with will have thousands of tiny holes. These holes help provide ventilation and a natural cooling effect, but it also means that dirt and small particles of food can also get in there. Perforated auto leather also requires stricter maintenance to keep it in proper condition.
4. This recognizable expensive leather smell is actually just a chemistry.
Most people love the smell of a new leather interior, but did you know that what you smell is not really 100% leather? In fact, animal skins smell quite unpleasant, so leather products are soaked in perfumes and chemicals to achieve a much more pleasant odour.
5. Skin requires careful care.
High quality car leather, also requires more careful maintenance. For it to look great and have no stains on it, you’ll need to clean it and treat it with specialist skin care products about once a month, or even twice. If you don’t clean and treat your skin regularly, it will eventually show signs of wear and tear from sweat, dust and dirt that will eventually seep into it. After longer periods of time, the skin may begin to harden and possibly crack.
Of course, fabric seats still require maintenance as well – including vacuum cleaning, steam cleaning, etc. But overall, most leather interior owners will tell you that their leather interior needs a little more attention.
6. You don’t always get real 100% skin.
In an endless effort to cut costs, car manufacturers are increasingly using synthetic leather, which is actually made from polyurethane. And we’re not just talking about budget cars.
For example, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi are increasingly relying on synthetic leather in their budget models, and many leading manufacturers are selling cars with interior upholstered in both genuine leather and synthetic vinyl seats – and most of them deliberately do not specify what materials the interior is actually made of.
7. You pay more for prestige.
Skin will always cost you more than fabric, but it’s just a matter of what’s more important. The extra cost will largely depend on the quality of the skin. So when you decide to choose leather seats the next time you buy a new car, you’ll want to know what you’re paying for.
This extra money that you have paid for your leather interior should mean that the resale value of your car will be slightly higher. But there are other factors at play, such as the fact that many used car buyers just want a reliable vehicle at a low price and may not want to pay for a car with a leather interior.