Leather vs vinyl

Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

> dizzy > wrote:
>>
>> Leather is a FAR from optimal material for car seating-surfaces.
>> People want it for the snob-appeal, not the performance.
>
>Gotta be better than vinyl, though.

Does it "gotta" be better? How about on a per-dollar basis? Like, if
they could spend as much on the "other material" as they do on the
leather?

I believe that, if it weren't for the snob appeal, leather would
lose-out badly, to a variety of alternate materials.

Most certainly true mate !!!

Let us not lump all cloth together in one pile.




in article , Dave Plowman (News) at
wrote on 8/13/08 9:33 AM:

> In article >,
> Alan B. Mac Farlane > wrote:
>> cloth sucks, it is dirty, hard to clean, and no where near as durable as
>> leather or vinyl
>
> Perhaps that is true of BMW 'cloth'. But certainly not true of all.
>
> --
> *How do you tell when you run out of invisible ink? *

In article >,
dizzy > wrote:
> Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

> > dizzy > wrote:
> >>
> >> Leather is a FAR from optimal material for car seating-surfaces.
> >> People want it for the snob-appeal, not the performance.
> >
> >Gotta be better than vinyl, though.

> Does it "gotta" be better? How about on a per-dollar basis?

That's a different question. But then if value for money was the only
criteria you'd probably not buy a BMW.

> Like, if they could spend as much on the "other material" as they do on
> the leather?

There are trim materials which were/are an alternative that cost as much.
West of England cloth is one.

> I believe that, if it weren't for the snob appeal, leather would
> lose-out badly, to a variety of alternate materials.

What's wrong with using a natural sustainable material? Use the oil that
vinyl comes from for what god intended. ;-)

--
*Do infants enjoy infancy as much as adults enjoy adultery?

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

In article >,
Alan B. Mac Farlane > wrote:
> Most certainly true mate !!!

> Let us not lump all cloth together in one pile.

>


> in article , Dave Plowman (News) at
> wrote on 8/13/08 9:33 AM:

> > In article >,
> > Alan B. Mac Farlane > wrote:
> >> cloth sucks, it is dirty, hard to clean, and no where near as durable
> >> as leather or vinyl
> >
> > Perhaps that is true of BMW 'cloth'. But certainly not true of all.

Ages ago I wanted a cheap small estate car for a particular job. It had to
carry three people plus a quantity of equipment. A BL Montego was exactly
the right size and cheap to buy. I bought one at auction for pennies. The
previous owners were dog lovers and the cloth interior showed it. But a
good valet brought it up like new. Don't think this would have been the
case with either leather or vinyl. Or certainly not the leather cloth I
remember from when it was common on UK cars.

--
*Who are these kids and why are they calling me Mom?

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

> wrote in message
...
On Aug 13, 6:14 pm, Dean Dark > wrote:
> On Wed, 13 Aug 2008 21:46:26 +0100, "David Skelton"
>
> > wrote:
>
> >I don't think that the 'Dakota' leather in recent BMW's is real leather.
> >My
> >doesn't feel like leather should. It's too soft and there is a strange
> >'skin' that is like a veneer.
>
> Most mass-market leather for the last 20 years or more is not what
> most people think of as leather - i.e. top grain cowhide. The Chinese
> in particular have been processing and selling leather using new
> processes that take the second and third layers of the hide, including
> pigskin, that result in a finish that look kind of like you'd expect
> "real" leather to look.
>
> Top grain cowhide leather is very costly. You'll only find it in
> *very* expensive cars. I suspect that "Dakota leather" is a sneaky
> marketing term for some kind of sub-top grain leather.
> --

Every other layer of the cowhide except the top layer (top grain) is
would look like suede. They then take suede and apply a thin layer of
polyurethane on it that simulates top grain leather. In asia it's
called "Action Leather". It's a synthetic surface applied to a
suede. Action leather does not breathe or wear like top grain unless
micro perforations are put in the polyurethane. You can't use regular
leather treatment on it either. Treat it more like vinyl.

Sam S.

Sam, I think you're right.
When it's hot here in summer - for a couple of days of the year - the seats
really make my back and legs sweat. The seats do not 'breathe' at all, just
like plastic. In one place, the surface is peeling like a bad paint job
would. I think it must have caught a sharp edge on a piece of luggage once
by the previous user.

David

On Aug 12, 8:18 pm, "Jack" > wrote:
> I know most 3-series have leatherette, aka vinyl. I'm in the marker for a
> 330 Coupe...but just the mention of vinyl cheapens it. What's the general
> opinion of leatherette/leather ??
>
> Thanks

While leather is preferable to leatherette, I think a well maintained
car with leatherette is preferable to a minimally maintained car with
leather.

BIG difference between tan leather car interiors and black leather car
interiors in summer.

On Fri, 15 Aug 2008 04:22:56 -0700 (PDT), ACAR >
wrote:

>On Aug 12, 8:18 pm, "Jack" > wrote:
>> I know most 3-series have leatherette, aka vinyl. I'm in the marker for a
>> 330 Coupe...but just the mention of vinyl cheapens it. What's the general
>> opinion of leatherette/leather ??
>>
>> Thanks
>
>While leather is preferable to leatherette, I think a well maintained
>car with leatherette is preferable to a minimally maintained car with
>leather.
>
>BIG difference between tan leather car interiors and black leather car
>interiors in summer.

Definitely - tan is much much cooler and also quicker to cool down when the AC
comes into play.

Also looks nicer
--

Sir Hugh of Bognor

The difference between men and boys is the price of their toys.

Intelligence is not knowing the answer but knowing where and how to find it!

Hugh Gundersen

Bognor Regis, W.Sussex, England, UK

On Fri, 15 Aug 2008 19:58:51 +0100, wrote:

>>BIG difference between tan leather car interiors and black leather car
>>interiors in summer.
>
>Definitely - tan is much much cooler and also quicker to cool down when the AC
>comes into play.
>
>Also looks nicer

A black car with tan upholstery looks gorgeous. It's a shame that
black is such a bitch to keep looking good. I've *sworn*,
*definitely* that this is the *last* black car I'll *ever* buy, at
least three times now.
--
Dan.

On Fri, 15 Aug 2008 19:58:51 +0100, wrote:

>>BIG difference between tan leather car interiors and black leather car
>>interiors in summer.
>
>Definitely - tan is much much cooler and also quicker to cool down when the AC
>comes into play.
>
>Also looks nicer

IMHO, grey leather is the best of both worlds ... 8

-- Larry

On Fri, 15 Aug 2008 17:39:41 -0400, pltrgyst > wrote:

>On Fri, 15 Aug 2008 19:58:51 +0100, wrote:
>
>>>BIG difference between tan leather car interiors and black leather car
>>>interiors in summer.
>>
>>Definitely - tan is much much cooler and also quicker to cool down when the AC
>>comes into play.
>>
>>Also looks nicer
>
>IMHO, grey leather is the best of both worlds ... 8
>
>-- Larry

Don't tell me you also have a grey car with grey seats and grey window tint and
wear a grey suit too!

Talk about men in black - grey fades into obscurity --------- Please drive with
headlight on so others can see you;>))
--

Sir Hugh of Bognor

The difference between men and boys is the price of their toys.

Intelligence is not knowing the answer but knowing where and how to find it!

Hugh Gundersen

Bognor Regis, W.Sussex, England, UK