But if you absolutely want leather for looks/stain resistance, there historically hasn’t been much of a choice. Plastic fake leather alternatives degrade pretty badly under UV light, causing cracking/flaking after just a few years. As anyone who has owned a fake leather chair or jacket would have noticed. But the expected lifetime of a car interior is measured in decades.
The article mentions some startup innovating on new synthetic hemp-based fake leather, it’ll be interesting to see if they can match the long-term durability of genuine leather. Otherwise it’ll be a shame if those interiors fall apart in 5-10 years, reupholstering an entire car is not a small job.
I mean, it’s a matter of opinion, but leather sucks in hot and in cold weather. It doesn’t breathe so I get super sweaty, and it gets super cold in winter. So luxury cars compensate with heated seats and in-seat ventilation…
I’ve never considered the friction of my car seat to even be a factor, I don’t tend to move much once I’m sat down.
I can’t even stand clothes that rub against my skin the wrong way, let alone car seats lol. Maybe some sort of sensory overload issue for me.
Where I live, it gets so cold you can’t drive away right after starting the engine anyway, you won’t see through your windows. You start the engine and heated seats and heated rear window (and front if you have a Ford) and then start clearing the ice off your windows.
In the summer, hot car is hot regardless of seats. Start the car and AC, have a cigarette or finish your chat, then get in the car.
In the summer, hot car is hot regardless of seats. Start the car and AC, have a cigarette or finish your chat, then get in the car.
If you dont have ass melting leather, you can just roll the windows down and drive off instantly as the motion creates a breeze to push out the hot air. Even with AC, leather becomes sticky with sweat, there simply no win for it.
Or just don’t get in the car before it’s cold lol, wouldn’t do that with cloth seats either plus I wouldn’t want to sweat into those anyway, they absorb the sweat
Cotton has a very prominent ecology impacts like the insane amount of water required, and the associated agrochemical runoff that includes nitrates, poisons (especially pesticides) making its way back into the water system.
I did not know cars still had animal leather in them
Most cars can be bought with leather seats, that is a standard option on basically all cars.
The steering wheel is another component that often is wrapped in leather.
I mean I thought they were synthetic leather not real animal leather
I just did a quick check
†Leather appointed seats are a combination of genuine and artificial leather and are not wholly leather.
https://www.mitsubishi-motors.com.au/content/dam/mmal/pdfs/vehicle-brochures/25MY Outlander Brochure.pdf
Yeah far out :|
Most manufacturers have the option to select either.
I suppose that would be the case in India.
Fabric is superior in comfort and cost.
But if you absolutely want leather for looks/stain resistance, there historically hasn’t been much of a choice. Plastic fake leather alternatives degrade pretty badly under UV light, causing cracking/flaking after just a few years. As anyone who has owned a fake leather chair or jacket would have noticed. But the expected lifetime of a car interior is measured in decades.
The article mentions some startup innovating on new synthetic hemp-based fake leather, it’ll be interesting to see if they can match the long-term durability of genuine leather. Otherwise it’ll be a shame if those interiors fall apart in 5-10 years, reupholstering an entire car is not a small job.
Fabric isn’t superior in comfort, it has way too much friction. Definitely the cheaper and greener option though.
You must be wearing leather underwear then?
Lmao
It’s a very different fabric from seats, which need to last way longer and use tougher fabrics.
I mean, it’s a matter of opinion, but leather sucks in hot and in cold weather. It doesn’t breathe so I get super sweaty, and it gets super cold in winter. So luxury cars compensate with heated seats and in-seat ventilation…
I’ve never considered the friction of my car seat to even be a factor, I don’t tend to move much once I’m sat down.
I can’t even stand clothes that rub against my skin the wrong way, let alone car seats lol. Maybe some sort of sensory overload issue for me.
Where I live, it gets so cold you can’t drive away right after starting the engine anyway, you won’t see through your windows. You start the engine and heated seats and heated rear window (and front if you have a Ford) and then start clearing the ice off your windows.
In the summer, hot car is hot regardless of seats. Start the car and AC, have a cigarette or finish your chat, then get in the car.
If you dont have ass melting leather, you can just roll the windows down and drive off instantly as the motion creates a breeze to push out the hot air. Even with AC, leather becomes sticky with sweat, there simply no win for it.
Never seen windows cool a car down enough in the summer. I also cool my car to about 15C in the summer. What sweat?
The sweat produced between your body and the seat because leather is waterproof and doesnt breath.
Also you dont need windows to cool it all the way down… just enough to remove the excess heat as the AC takes its time to get cool…
Or just don’t get in the car before it’s cold lol, wouldn’t do that with cloth seats either plus I wouldn’t want to sweat into those anyway, they absorb the sweat
Wait until you find out the only alternative is copious amounts oil products
It’s not, cotton seats are also a thing. And even the polycarbons are usually recycled anyway
Cotton has a very prominent ecology impacts like the insane amount of water required, and the associated agrochemical runoff that includes nitrates, poisons (especially pesticides) making its way back into the water system.
https://www.worldwildlife.org/industries/cotton