Cloth vs. Leather

[PryncessChrysty]

Hello All! DH2B and I are purchasing a 2007 Camry and we're having a hard time deciding whether to go with cloth or leather. Aside from cost and aesthetics, what are your thoughts? How hard is leather to maintain? Will we regret having it in the summer time? Is it comfortable (we spend a LOT of time in our car)?

From those with experience, do you have any advice to offer?

TIA!!!

 

[Crankyshank]

I have both and I find that leather is much easier to maintain (especially driving with 2 dogs). It does get pretty uncomfortable in the summer but I just put a sheet down on the seat to avoid the backs of my legs getting burneed.

 

[Bob Slydell]

Leather. For years, I thought cloth would be easier to maintain. Then I had kids. Leather cleans up much easier than cloth.

 

[Laurajean1014]

Leather is easier to clean and maintain. It also has a better smell to it than cloth.

 

[caitycaity]

leather for sure - i'll never go back to cloth. i have light gray leather in my car and it doesn't get too hot. otoh, we rented a car a few weeks ago that had a black leather interior and that was horribly hot, so i guess don't get black.

 

[lindakmonty]

well...I spend a minimum of 3 hours a day in my car and I want to be comfortable!!! I have a Volvo S80 T6...w/plush leather heated seats. I wipe them down w/wipes for leather every once in awhile...but nothing big keeping them up... I can't imagine buying a car again w/o them!! I love them They are black...but my car's fan kicks on in the summer and keeps the inside of the car comfortable where the seats don't get hot. The heated seats are so nice as well. My lower back kills me sometimes and the heat on my lower back...yes even in July... feels great!! I use them ALL the time. Really nice in the winter...I would go for it! They are very comfortable!!!! I use to want a new car every 2 years... I've now had this car since 99..and it has 215k miles on it. Still looks and drives like it were new. I don't want to give it up. It is the best car in the world!!!

 

[Crankyshank]

oh and if your DH2B is prone to leaving the windows open (like my DH) it's much gentler on the leather. I have a mildew issue in my cloth seat truck now

 

[cardaway]

Leather. Both of our cars have it and I'll never have cloth again if I can help it. It wears better, is easier to maintain, and I find it more comfortable. The only downside is it is more expensive, but boy is it worth it.

 

[minniecarousel]

Leather - my elderly mother finds it much easier to slip into the seat than the cloth! I'll never go back to cloth either!

 

[minniecarousel]

sorry - double post

 

[golfgal]

When the kids were little I preferred the leather for the clean-up factor, now that they are older we have gone back to cloth and I MUCH prefer cloth for the comfort factor. Cloth is cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

 

[lovmy2girls]

Go with the leather. I know what you mean about it being hot in the summer. But if you have kids, the clean up is so much easier.

I traded in my beautiful Eddie Bauer Explorer with leather seats for a gas saver with cloth seats. Its only a few months old, and the seats already need steam cleaning.

 

[mamajoan]

Spills wipe up ez- leather
Ez to clean-Leather
ez movement, transfers in/out of vehicle-leather
bad smells permeate-cloth
fried legs if you wear shorts on a hot day?- leather... but just put a cloth on the seat
I don't have that problem.. but kids do. I think the leather warms up quickly in the winter and cools down quickly with a/c in the summer.


Leather the winner by far

 

[pozey]

Leather.

I can't remember the last vehicle I owned that did not have leather interior.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Our Odyssey that we got in December has leather seats and I like them a lot. They are a little hot in the summer, but once we get the a/c turned on it's not a big issue. The heated leather is nice in the winter. They are a lot easier to clean than the cloth seats.

For those of you with dogs--the dog's claws don't puncture the leather seats? I'm worried about letting our dogs into the new van and only bring them in the old van.

 

[monarchsfan16]

Going to go against the grain here. I prefer cloth. Leather is easier to clean, but it gets wicked cold in the winter and "fry your derierre" hot in the summer. Cloth is comfortable year round. Course you can get the heated seats if you have leather, but you can survive without those

 

[PryncessChrysty]

Thank you, everyone!! Your responses have helped me a lot. I think we're going to go with the leather afterall. We're getting it for a great price, too!! Gotta love that Costco pricing!!!!

p.s. Crankyshank - good luck with that mildew

 

[powellrj]

I bought an 07 camry last month and love it! I went with the cloth because I am always hot and cloth is cooler, but you will be happy with your car no matter which you get!!!

 

[NewJersey]

Hello All! DH2B and I are purchasing a 2007 Camry and we're having a hard time deciding whether to go with cloth or leather. Aside from cost and aesthetics, what are your thoughts? How hard is leather to maintain? Will we regret having it in the summer time? Is it comfortable (we spend a LOT of time in our car)?

From those with experience, do you have any advice to offer?

TIA!!!

I'm looking at the hybrid 2007 camry! I really like it but don't plan on buying until December.

What's the costco pricing? How do I inquire about that?

 

[PryncessChrysty]

I bought an 07 camry last month and love it! I went with the cloth because I am always hot and cloth is cooler, but you will be happy with your car no matter which you get!!!

Oooh, how exciting! Do you mind if I ask which one you got?
We fell in LOVE with the 2007 Camry when we saw it advertised during the Super Bowl, but we didn't think we'd be getting one any time soon. DH2B and I have a 2003 Matrix XRS that we were very happy with, but a lady hit us in May and eventhough we got it fixed, it just isn't the same. So we decided to bite the bullet and get an LE 4 cylinder. But when we started researching it, we moved toward the SE, and NOW we're getting an SE V6!! I'm SO excited! It will be here mid-August!!!
We're getting the Magnetic Gray Metallic (I call it gunmetal) and the dark charcoal interior!! What color did you go with?