Go 3LT and Natural Dip with TR for the exotic look

 

I love the natural 3lt dipped, but keeping the rockers, doors, and carpet looking good long term would be a challenge, not to mention the glare in the windshield. I wish the 3lt non dipped had more tan. It only adds it to the glove box and the panel at the knees. It's also dissappointing that package doesn't give you the tan seatbelts, so add another $395 on top of that. If that package added the tan to the roof and pillars like it does with the cool gray I would be all in.

 

If I were planning to keep this car long term, absolutely would go 3lt. But, hoping to land a Z06 inside of 2 years is my goal.

 

3LT is just appearance upgrade, IMHO. Personally, I would check every single performance adder option (2LT, Z51, PTM, MSRC, FEL, NPP, Dual Roof, etc etc.) and go that route first. If that is already getting close to your ceiling for what you are willing to spend, skip the 3LT. If you want the extra bling and can afford it, go for it. But I would do the substantive upgrades before the trim/accents.

 

Very easy decision for me to choose 3LT.

My interior option materials/colors (HU0) only available with 3LT.

That said, would have chosen 3LT just for the nicer materials. 🙂

Cheers!

 

Help you decide? It’s so simple. If ya have the money get the 3LT. If you don’t then get the 2LT or if things are real tight get the 1LT. Problem solved.
It’s all about the money

 

^^^
Not quite so simple! First have understand IF, as he OP is doing, ordering the GT2 seats even if getting a 2LT, he's spending $3000 for mostly color if he goes up to a 3LT!

I had a 3LT C7 Z51 with Kalahari interior. GM got cheap and made the 3LT starting in 2016 look like a Patch Work Quilt for all but some special additions that were extra cost (see pic.) I didn't like the 3LT so bought a 2LT Grand Sport. Frankly I could not tell the difference in materials!

For the C8 GM finally admits in writing the ONLY REAL leather is the 2LT seating surface. (Well maybe the small wrist rest if you read an interview by a GM interior person. BUT his words, as they have been for years, are deceptive as what is what!) For the C8 they finally admit even the GT2 seats use their coined name Mulan faux leather for Bolsters (see pic.) So all other "leather" than the 2LT seating surface is their man made Mulan (perhaps the small wrist rest is Napa!)

Now what is Mulan? It's the GM registered name for what is referred to in the furniture industry (where it widely used under many different trade names) as "Bonded leather. It manmade, sold in wide rolls making automatic nesting and cutting of parts cheap. It contains from 5% to 10% finely ground real leather scraps mixed in as a filler. Smells somewhat like leather!

In the C7, Mulan appeared to be Vinyl (polyvinylchloride) with finely ground real leather scraps. That is a cheap material made from salt and put on a cloth back. GM, in an early book on the C7, said they use three "soft touch materials", Napa (or Nappa) real tanned animal hide, Mulan (their trade name) and Vinyl. Typically Vinyl cloth uses a cheap filler like lime (calcium carbonate.)

For the C8 there is some confusion. A poster bought a 3LT dash part and it said it was made from polyurethane, a more expensive material than Vinyl. In fact had my Street Rod interior made from polyurethane having the tradename Ultraleather. It is on a Rayon back (made from wood pulp.) It contains zero animal hide. It fact the company advertises it contains no animal products. Mine is as soft as a fine ladies glove leather. It's 21 years old and looks new! In fact the specialty interior company (who mostly did interiors for for Show Cars) quoted the extract same fixed price for real leather or Ultraleather. As he said my Sreet Rod would taken ~6 skins and he would have to split most and only use the top layer for the effect he was looking for. He was an artist!

So what "leather" does the C8 contain? The GT2 seats are tanned animal hide. What is Mulan and what is it is a guess. Is there a big difference in appearance between Mulan and whatever the other is. IMO Not much!
Yep you get fake suede on the roof that is nicely stitched as well as on the A pillars. Mostly the special colors they make available like Dipped. Mine is Natural Dipped and love it! Worth the price to me.

ALL PICS 3LT

Only the seating surface is real tanned animal hide (well possible the wrist rest but that's not confirmed)

Love my Natural Dipped. Worth the price to me.

My 21 year old Street Rod Interior is made with Ultraleather, polyurethane

 

There are a lot of little things I would like to change, but this is the package you get for the price.

 

The post asks a simple question, yet you basically condescend and dismiss him.

For F’s sake! Maybe I should break out my crayons and explain it a little better for you.

I have the very same question.

With concerns about delamination in some 3LTs, I have to make the same decision before my allotment comes through.

I’ve scoured the internet and YouTube, but all descriptions are still (visually) pretty vague about the specific differences between 2LT/3LT. GM is least helpful of all.

In any case, I wish people on here would refrain from condescending, dismissing or attacking others for a simple question. Kinda like I just did with this post.

Whoopsie! Please accept my apology.

 

Thank you for taking the time to provide such a useful, comprehensive response!

 

As has been stated on here before: "I bought a 3LT because they don't offer a 4LT"

 

I bought the 3LT for my 2023.

I had a 2LT on my C6 and never cared for the plastic-y look and feel of that interior. The interior is where I spend almost all the time with the car, so I wanted the nicest interior I could afford. Well, that my husband could afford. Thanks, honey.

I am very happy with the 3LT interior. Plush and luxurious. If you can afford the 3LT, I say it is worth the money.

 

I am ordering the 3LT because I want black interior with yellow stitching for my Accelerate Yellow HTC.

 

Assume you are being cynical with my statement the 3LT over 2LT -if you opt for the better GT2 seat -you're paying $3000 for color selection ONLY available in a 3LT! May not provide all you would like BUT better than what someone said, "GM is the least helpful!"

Understand some are looking for significant reasons for paying the extra $3000. There are none! IF you can get seat colors in a 2LT that you like- buy it!

GM does not want to tell you it's for Marketing and increased margin reasons, You're playing for colors you can't get in a 2LT! Now as far as materials GM ONLY tells you about the seats (see pic below) Heck didn't tell you that much for the C7. The GT2 seat get the ONLY real tanned animal hide Leather and that ONLY for the seating surface. The bolsters are their faux leather they coined the name Mulan (just like Chryslers Ad Agency coined the name Corinthian Leather.) It's faux leather as well.

Now just what Mulan is and where it's used versus Vinyl - GM does not say. It was leaked (kind-of) that the C7 Mulan was bonded leather. That is Vinyl with 10 to 20% finely ground real leather scraps added as a filler. Smells like leather (well leather and synthetic materials.) We knew the dash was Mulan faux leather because some had shrinkage issues were no reports of dash issues with 1 and 2LT so by deduction they were Vinyl. GM had said for the C7 they use 3 soft touch materials, Napa leather (real tanned animal hide) Mulan and Vinyl.

Now for the C8 we don't know what material Mulan is made from! Someone bought a 3LT dash part and it said it was Polyurethane. That is a higher cost manmade material made from petrochemicals where vinyl (polyvinyl chloride) is made from sodium chloride- yep salt! Polyurethane may or may not have any finely ground real leather mixed in. Both are embossed to look like real leather.

A few C8 owners have said they had some lamination or the dash glue letting lose on 3LTs. I had a 3LT C6, C7 and my C8 and NO dash issues, It's not a high percentage and appears to be more an issue if exposed to a lot of sunlight.

Now there are a few other differences. Like the headliner in my 3LT has some neat stitching. BUT I never tilt my head back far enough to see it The steering wheel is somewhat different but it's a steering wheel. Oh yea my "A" pillars are covered in microfiber.

 

I buy 1LT or 1LZ interiors as I daily drive my corvettes and I find the interior trim options less important to me.

that said if you are looking for some insight I’d suggest if you are ordering the gt2 seats you might as well go for the 3 LT interior.

The 3 lt interior exudes a quality of craftsmanship that transcends the 1 and 2 lt interiors. That fact never bothers me as the technical advancements of either of the higher level interiors don’t interest me and I’m a frugal individual for my own needs. For my wife and child anything but for me….I’m just more focused. It’s a personality trait so to speak. That said.

if you want the best interior the 3 LT interior isn’t that much more than the 2 lt especially with the gt2 so my suggestion is splurge. Buy the 3LT.

I often debate back and forth 1LT or 1LZ and 3LT/z..as money really isn’t an object.

The 3LT/z is for those that are looking for that really top notch appearance with all the goodies. 2LT includes all the techno advancements and is quite nice.. The 3LT gives you all the technical advancements of luxury along with that superior atmosphere, it really does and even I can see the difference.

go 3LT would be my suggestion as I read your post.

good luck deciding.

the 2 and 3 lt are both great…I am here stating I can see the difference and it’s quite apparent.

no wrong choice as the 2 and 3 lt interiors are both very nice. By reading your first post I can tell the 3LT is the one for you the OP.

 

Is there still an issue with the 3LT dash bubbling up?

 

no buy the 3 lt interior with confidence

 

Was wondering the same thing. Test drove a 3LT C7 that had just started to delaminate on the dash. We’ve decided to go C8 now and I’m thinking 2LT as there are new reports of the C8 3LTs having the exact same issue.

 

Yes...It still has not been resolved....Still hearing from those having problems even with new C8s

 

Appears to be a different issue with the C8. Those few posted with issues looked like the glue didn't hold not that it delaminated. GM does not say what Mulan is and it can be anything as it's their made-up name. A poster found a C8 3LT Dash part stated it was polyurethane (referred to as PU leather)

Found this: Polyurethane or PU leather is durable compared to bonded leather that contains from 10 to 20% leather scrapes of finely ground as a filler.

My 23-year-old street rod is made from a high-end Polyurethane trademark name Ultraleather. It is as soft as the best woman's glove leather. They note it contains no real animal products. Feels the same after 23 years!

Note I was quoted the exact same "fixed price" for Ultraleather as real leather by the shop that does show cars. He said he preferred Ultraleather for what he had in mind - he did not say what that was.

Had no idea this "interior artist" planned to match the exterior flames in the inside!