spend the extra money.
leather vs vinyl
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: east haven ct
leather vs vinyl
Anyone have the vinyl seat covers?
i have a driver 1980 and need to do my seats but dont want to spend alot for leather..
Do they crack?split at the seams etc???
thanks all
i have a driver 1980 and need to do my seats but dont want to spend alot for leather..
Do they crack?split at the seams etc???
thanks all
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,352
Likes: 1
From: Westminster Maryland
Ihave the leather-like covers also, they are very heavy material, and it lays well on the seats. In my case, I did not want leather on a convertible- sun and heat are not so good on leather.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3,558
Likes: 4
From: Oakland California
I've been considering leather like seat covers as well. There's a C3 in my friend's shop that has the leather like covers and they look pretty good
. I don't have the budget to pay $600 for leather, so I'm considering leather like.
. I don't have the budget to pay $600 for leather, so I'm considering leather like.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,874
Likes: 7
From: l In
For a long time there was a guy on the popular auction site that sold C-3 leather like seat covers for $99.00. Well I bought a set of these 3 years ago, put them in my car, and they are still, just like new. Leather-like is not much different than factory, which was leather/vynal
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,664
Likes: 162
From: columbia city in
i did a search this comes up alot .my vote vinal.http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-g...-or-vinal.html
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Pro
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 522
Likes: 0
From: Porter TX
I got the 100% leather from Willcox. They have a driver leather which is supposed to be lesser quality leather (some scars from when it was still a cow) but you will be hard pressed to find any defects. I like it better than the vinyl which was more miserable in the sun.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
Vinyl seat covers will crack over time, but will last a very long time (decades) with proper care and especially if kept out of sunlight as much as possible.
The "leather like" seat covers are just a fancier grade of vinyl, of which there are hundreds and hundreds. The better grades are very hard to tell from leather and often the only way to tell is to smell it or look at the back side.
Generally, unless it's a high end Mercedes or BMW etc, the leather in cars is 2nd grade, top grain, and used only in the seating and back pad. All the seat cover trim is vinyl but when new matches 100%. With age, the vinyl and leather discolors differently as was the case in C3's. You can get 100% leather covers aftermarket.
Both are great depending on your budget.
The "leather like" seat covers are just a fancier grade of vinyl, of which there are hundreds and hundreds. The better grades are very hard to tell from leather and often the only way to tell is to smell it or look at the back side.
Generally, unless it's a high end Mercedes or BMW etc, the leather in cars is 2nd grade, top grain, and used only in the seating and back pad. All the seat cover trim is vinyl but when new matches 100%. With age, the vinyl and leather discolors differently as was the case in C3's. You can get 100% leather covers aftermarket.
Both are great depending on your budget.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
we are 5-6 years into the leather like and they still look great no rips tears scratches etc.....we chose the leather like strictly for cost purposes
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 5,768
Likes: 3
From: San Diego CA
The original leather didnt show that kind of wear with considerably more years of use.
When/if I get around to recovering it will be in leather.
