Seat Covers , Leather vs Leatherite vs Suede

Shankyz · 5th August 2007, 23:22

Hi friends,

need your advice, looking for some good seat covers, whats the difference between Leatherite & Genuine Leather, do both heat in summer equally? feel the same ?
I think Leatherite is same as PU ? but some dealers show different stuff ?

PU is available for approx 3k whereas leatherite from Dolphin is around 6k for seat covers only, pls advise

Thanks in advance

BMWlover · 6th August 2007, 01:55

need the same advice...plus does leatherette last as long as genuine leather?

desigNation · 6th August 2007, 10:11

genuine leather doesnt heat up like art leather,even if it does heat up a bit, it cools down very fast, so i would recommend to go for genuine leather, if budget is an issue go for fabric, pls avoid art leather.

radek · 6th August 2007, 12:39

Is cotton seat cover totally out of fashion? I want to get cotton seat cover done, but most of the accessories shops in Pune do not stock them. I thnik I will have to go to curtain shop to get some fabric and then find a tailor who can stich that.

sabret00the · 6th August 2007, 12:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by radek

Is cotton seat cover totally out of fashion? I want to get cotton seat cover done, but most of the accessories shops in Pune do not stock them. I thnik I will have to go to curtain shop to get some fabric and then find a tailor who can stich that.

Sounds like a good idea..even I was thinking of doing the same..as a matter of in Calcutta it gets so much hot that I will swear by fabric seat covers anyday...

dadu · 6th August 2007, 13:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by radek

Is cotton seat cover totally out of fashion? I want to get cotton seat cover done, but most of the accessories shops in Pune do not stock them. I thnik I will have to go to curtain shop to get some fabric and then find a tailor who can stich that.

Due to the varied climate, Cotton seat covers are the best, since they allow the seat covers to breath, unlike the leather ones.

Zappo · 6th August 2007, 14:24

I for one am always in for fabric covers. Nothing to beat these. In hot summer days a leather, pseudo-leather, art-leather whatever be it causes you to sweat profusely in a few minutes. Thats a pathetic feeling. I particularly hate it when I have to go out for a short hop and get in wearing my shorts and the next thing I know is that my thighs are all sweaty and sticky. yuckks! I am better off any day with fabric covers. They can be washed as well.

But then the style and panache that a leather/art-leather cover brings is something which fabrics find difficult to match.

vasudeva · 6th August 2007, 14:55

Yes cotton covers are the best for comfort Indian conditions. However, I do not know for certain if leather is equally good. From my own personal experience, I have been using Corolla H4 which has leather seat covers as original spec. They are comfortable, not hot at all, and do not require extra effort to keep clean (pouring muck will dirty all covers, and may require the same effort to clean up). I do not know much about leatherite/suede, but my apprehensions about leather ( OK Toyota original covers) have been allayed fully.

kutlee · 6th August 2007, 15:37

Yeah...fabric is good for our conditions. I too was pondering over this question. Nothing can beat the looks of leather though. For budget option (which i am going to do) is fabric covers, save money and put in a v-cool = performance.
enough money -> leather + v-cool = ultra "cool" performance.

6th August 2007, 16:05

can the fabric seat covers be taken off, washed in a washing machine, pressed and then put back on? All this at home?? Can it be done? Because, i dont think it is that big a deal to put these covers back on...any advise would be appreciated..

Shankyz · 6th August 2007, 16:29

Well, the finish of Leatherite is really good, also there is something called Safina (The dealer said its valvet touch) which looks good, my concern is that whatever I fit in should be comfortable too in hot weather.

simply_sunny001 · 6th August 2007, 16:38

Well,can someone suggest a few places in delhi to get the Seat Covers

i wud preferably get them stiched

art leather is fine cos its VFM

namit · 6th August 2007, 17:03

I am also in a similar dilema for seat covers for my Aveo and with experience i personally find suede / velvet seat covers very graceful.

Any idea on what exactly is the difference between Suede and velvet and which material would be better for cars in terms of :-

fading, heat absorbtion etc.

pjbiju · 6th August 2007, 17:35

It also depends on where you live. If you live in a hot and humid place, it would be better to use the fabric ones. If you use leather/art leather, then you will have to use the A/C full time. Another option is to have one set for Summer (fabric) and another set (leather/art leather) for other seasons. The leather/art leather ones look cool and can easily be cleaned with a wet cloth.

csentil · 6th August 2007, 19:21

Depends on climate primarily. I would not choose art leather, rexin probably even leather if I lived in Chennai or any other humid/sticky place. For Bangalore leather would be really good as the climate is mild.

If you live in places where there's excess of rainfall, fabric does not make sense as it can get wet and soggy (if u get wet and get into the car) and it will not dry fast enough.

So its horses for courses.

5th August 2007, 23:22	#1
Shankyz BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Delhi Posts: 200 Thanked: 2 Times	Seat Covers , Leather vs Leatherite vs Suede Hi friends, need your advice, looking for some good seat covers, whats the difference between Leatherite & Genuine Leather, do both heat in summer equally? feel the same ? I think Leatherite is same as PU ? but some dealers show different stuff ? PU is available for approx 3k whereas leatherite from Dolphin is around 6k for seat covers only, pls advise Thanks in advance
	() Thanks

6th August 2007, 01:55	#2
BMWlover BHPian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Delhi Posts: 34 Thanked: 0 Times	need the same advice...plus does leatherette last as long as genuine leather?
	() Thanks

6th August 2007, 10:11	#3
desigNation BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: calicut Posts: 661 Thanked: 52 Times View My Garage	genuine leather doesnt heat up like art leather,even if it does heat up a bit, it cools down very fast, so i would recommend to go for genuine leather, if budget is an issue go for fabric, pls avoid art leather.
	() Thanks

6th August 2007, 12:39	#4
radek BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Pune Posts: 287 Thanked: 82 Times	Is cotton seat cover totally out of fashion? I want to get cotton seat cover done, but most of the accessories shops in Pune do not stock them. I thnik I will have to go to curtain shop to get some fabric and then find a tailor who can stich that.
	() Thanks

6th August 2007, 14:24	#7
Zappo Team-BHP Support Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 5,915 Thanked: 2,746 Times	I for one am always in for fabric covers. Nothing to beat these. In hot summer days a leather, pseudo-leather, art-leather whatever be it causes you to sweat profusely in a few minutes. Thats a pathetic feeling. I particularly hate it when I have to go out for a short hop and get in wearing my shorts and the next thing I know is that my thighs are all sweaty and sticky. yuckks! I am better off any day with fabric covers. They can be washed as well. But then the style and panache that a leather/art-leather cover brings is something which fabrics find difficult to match.
	(1) Thanks

6th August 2007, 14:55	#8
vasudeva Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Delhi Posts: 2,221 Thanked: 212 Times	Yes cotton covers are the best for comfort Indian conditions. However, I do not know for certain if leather is equally good. From my own personal experience, I have been using Corolla H4 which has leather seat covers as original spec. They are comfortable, not hot at all, and do not require extra effort to keep clean (pouring muck will dirty all covers, and may require the same effort to clean up). I do not know much about leatherite/suede, but my apprehensions about leather ( OK Toyota original covers) have been allayed fully.
	() Thanks

6th August 2007, 15:37	#9
kutlee Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 1,141 Thanked: 233 Times View My Garage	Yeah...fabric is good for our conditions. I too was pondering over this question. Nothing can beat the looks of leather though. For budget option (which i am going to do) is fabric covers, save money and put in a v-cool = performance. enough money -> leather + v-cool = ultra "cool" performance.
	() Thanks

6th August 2007, 16:05	#10
vidvai Posts: n/a	can the fabric seat covers be taken off, washed in a washing machine, pressed and then put back on? All this at home?? Can it be done? Because, i dont think it is that big a deal to put these covers back on...any advise would be appreciated..
	() Thanks

6th August 2007, 16:29	#11
Shankyz BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Delhi Posts: 200 Thanked: 2 Times	Well, the finish of Leatherite is really good, also there is something called Safina (The dealer said its valvet touch) which looks good, my concern is that whatever I fit in should be comfortable too in hot weather.
	() Thanks

6th August 2007, 16:38	#12
simply_sunny001 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: London & Rohtak Posts: 1,338 Thanked: 19 Times View My Garage	Well,can someone suggest a few places in delhi to get the Seat Covers i wud preferably get them stiched art leather is fine cos its VFM
	() Thanks

6th August 2007, 17:03	#13
namit BHPian Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Delhi Posts: 405 Thanked: 55 Times	I am also in a similar dilema for seat covers for my Aveo and with experience i personally find suede / velvet seat covers very graceful. Any idea on what exactly is the difference between Suede and velvet and which material would be better for cars in terms of :- fading, heat absorbtion etc.
	() Thanks

6th August 2007, 17:35	#14
pjbiju Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Pune Posts: 1,380 Thanked: 1,133 Times	It also depends on where you live. If you live in a hot and humid place, it would be better to use the fabric ones. If you use leather/art leather, then you will have to use the A/C full time. Another option is to have one set for Summer (fabric) and another set (leather/art leather) for other seasons. The leather/art leather ones look cool and can easily be cleaned with a wet cloth.
	() Thanks

6th August 2007, 19:21	#15
csentil Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,349 Thanked: 39 Times View My Garage	Depends on climate primarily. I would not choose art leather, rexin probably even leather if I lived in Chennai or any other humid/sticky place. For Bangalore leather would be really good as the climate is mild. If you live in places where there's excess of rainfall, fabric does not make sense as it can get wet and soggy (if u get wet and get into the car) and it will not dry fast enough. So its horses for courses.
	() Thanks