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I wanted the GT2 seats, so the cost was really only an extra 3k from the 2lt.
I can't stand the 2LT steering wheel cover too, looks like cheap plastic. Plus the 3LT opens up some interesting color combinations, including tension blue, so it was a no brainer for me.
We have Mercedes S class and SLK class and find the 2LT interior not noticeably different. For us the 3LT opened more interior options but our other cars are black interior and we are happy with that so went 2LT
Obviously if the other cars in your garage have cheap bonded leather then you might be happy with the 2LT.
in my garage the Corvette is by far the least expensive car and I wanted the interior to feel up to standard. The leather in the 3LT is a huge upgrade both because it is a significantly higher quality and closer to higher end European cars, and also because you get the alcantara headliner and full leather (e.g. the lower sections of the dash and doors are also leather). And then you get the leather airbag. The steering wheel is the primary interface with the car and upgrading that is very noticeable too.
I rented a 2LT for a weeekend and while the car was great, I always felt the interior seemed cheap and betrayed that this is a 60k car Even though it cost more.
The only Napa is the seating surfaces of the seats. If you get GT2 seats on a 2LT you have just as much "napa" as a 3LT. The rest of the leather even dash and doors, while "nicer" than what is on 2LT, is not napa. I own a 3LT but just clarifying.
It's been years since I've discussed this topic but it's starting to come back to me with that. Tougher Mulan for the seats especially makes sense because that's where serious weight of a human body frequently gets loaded/unloaded for high traffic wear. The other panels see nowhere near as much traffic/load so ruggedizing those wouldn't be of as much consequence.
But the next high traffic area could be the center console. Online images seem to show the 2LT console having a rougher grain texture like football pigskin (and thus, more durable). Could be the lighting but I found multiple 2LT and 3LT examples and the difference seems consistent with 3LT looking more supple. Can you confirm?
I love my 3LT interior. I also needed it for the color, but after having driven my car and a 2LT, I would get the 3LT again. To me, it makes the C8 a real GT car. Best bang for your buck is 2LT w/GT2 seats. If I was just getting a track monster, I'd go 1LT and GT3 seats.
But make no mistake, everyone loves my 3LT interior. I often get asked if I can give folks a ride around and they (as I do) are really impressed by the suede.
I have a car that I can road trip, take to a fancy restaurant, or to the track, and it's ready for any of those scenarios.
I guess 2LT owners will just have t settle for quick trips to Mickey Dee's.
It's been years since I've discussed this topic but it's starting to come back to me with that. Tougher Mulan for the seats especially makes sense because that's where serious weight of a human body frequently gets loaded/unloaded for high traffic wear. The other panels see nowhere near as much traffic/load so ruggedizing those wouldn't be of as much consequence.
But the next high traffic area could be the center console. Online images seem to show the 2LT console having a rougher grain texture like football pigskin (and thus, more durable). Could be the lighting but I found multiple 2LT and 3LT examples and the difference seems consistent with 3LT looking more supple. Can you confirm?
3LT:
2LT:
First Mulan and Vinyl can have any texture built into the embossing rolls or in some cases the bottom backing which the resin is deposited!! Only the real Napa leather is tanned animal hide and has the cows grain!!.
I got a 2017 2LT Grand Sport because GM got cheap and made the 3LT (which I had on my C6 Z51 and 2017 C7 Z51 look like a Patchwork Quilt. BUT thought it might look good with what was on the 3LT that year and upper dash pad. in seat color. So bought a 3LT upper dash pad and added.
Pic below that is a closeup of the 2LT dash and 3LT upper dash pad I purchased. The 3LT Mulan faux leather grain is similar to Vinyl! Again both man made and can be made with whatever grain the seat manufacture specified.
It's been years since I've discussed this topic but it's starting to come back to me with that. Tougher Mulan for the seats especially makes sense because that's where serious weight of a human body frequently gets loaded/unloaded for high traffic wear. The other panels see nowhere near as much traffic/load so ruggedizing those wouldn't be of as much consequence.
But the next high traffic area could be the center console. Online images seem to show the 2LT console having a rougher grain texture like football pigskin (and thus, more durable). Could be the lighting but I found multiple 2LT and 3LT examples and the difference seems consistent with 3LT looking more supple. Can you confirm?
3LT:
2LT:
It's possible that that the Mode **** cover is Napa leather but GM doesn't claim it is. The center console texture on a 3LT "leather" has a finer grain that the soft touch material used in the 1LT/2LTs.
I'm pretty sure the "leather" used in the 3LT is bonded "Mulan" leather (other than the GT2 seating surfaces which are real leather). Bonded leather is often made using polyurethane but vinyl is also used.
The soft touch material in the 1LT/2LT and non-leather soft touch materials in the 3LT is Alura Elite - a TPO polymer made by Haartz corp.
The graphic below shows that Bader is the supplier of the C8 leather. They do not make a completely synthetic leather. However, they do make a bonded leather called Kollamat which can be made in a variety of surface textures. That is likely what us used as "leather" in the 3LT.
Anecdotal: I've watched a number of C6 Z06's with better equipment groups than mine, but without such things as the valve guide fix, new tires, up-to-date maintenance, goodies like car cover and service manuals (all practical stuff) sell for better numbers. I think the additional list of features makes the car a bit more special in the buyer's minds. They are getting the best Chevy had to offer for that model in that year, thinking it over that would be on my mind as well.
It's possible that that the Mode **** cover is Napa leather but GM doesn't claim it is. The center console texture on a 3LT "leather" has a finer grain that the soft touch material used in the 1LT/2LTs.
I'm pretty sure the "leather" used in the 3LT is bonded "Mulan" leather (other than the GT2 seating surfaces which are real leather). Bonded leather is often made using polyurethane but vinyl is also used.
The soft touch material in the 1LT/2LT and non-leather soft touch materials in the 3LT is Alura Elite - a TPO polymer made by Haartz corp.
The graphic below shows that Bader is the supplier of the C8 leather. They do not make a completely synthetic leather. However, they do make a bonded leather called Kollamat which can be made in a variety of surface textures. That is likely what us used as "leather" in the 3LT.
So we can speculate on what leather is on 2LT vs 3LT based on that list of suppliers. I speculate the 3LT's softer touch with shallower grain won't hold up to wear as well as the 2LT's rougher, deeper grain finish. If fabrics can be custom tailored to varying degrees of durability, then supplier name becomes more of trivial importance vs knowing the durability rating which, judging by appearance, are likely not identical between 2LT vs 3LT even on panels beyond the seats. I guess that's the point I'm ultimately trying to make.
Not saying one is better than the other. It entirely depends on what you want. Premium luxury and finish vs longevity and durability (mind the difference seems to only apply where it matters--on high traffic/high load areas). I'm in the camp for the latter.
Last edited by switchlanez; Oct 31, 2022 at 06:53 PM.
The 2LT rental car looking plastic steering wheel, as you say, looks and feels pretty good to me. At least good enough not to pay an additional $5000 for the 3LT. Seems you have the tenancy to exaggerate a little.
Please post a photo of your 3LT steering wheel for comparison. Thanks
Originally Posted by StanNH
Absolutely the best looking rental car steering wheel I've ever seen.
Goes to rental counter. Says to rental clerk, "I'm not taking that car! Did you see the steering wheel??"
I don't think so.
2LT, 3LT, purely a personal preference. But to suggest that 2LT gets you a rental car (or, the other favorite, "fleet car") interior, that's just silly.
So we can speculate on what leather is on 2LT vs 3LT based on that list of suppliers. I speculate the 3LT's softer touch with shallower grain won't hold up to wear as well as the 2LT's rougher, deeper grain finish. If fabrics can be custom tailored to varying degrees of durability, then supplier name becomes more of trivial importance vs knowing the durability rating which, judging by appearance, are likely not identical between 2LT vs 3LT even on panels beyond the seats. I guess that's the point I'm ultimately trying to make.
Not saying one is better than the other. It entirely depends on what you want. Premium luxury and finish vs longevity and durability (mind the difference seems to only apply where it matters--on high traffic/high load areas). I'm in the camp for the latter.
All the interior soft touch materials have to pas the same GM durability test. Real leather is more tear resistant than bonded leather, perhaps that is one of the reasons they use it in the perforated GT2 seating surfaces. GM uses Mulan leather on the GT1/GT2 seats likely because it is more wear resistant than the Alura soft touch material, and Haartz doesn't list seats as an approved application for Alura. What I'm getting at is there isn't evidence that the Alura is more durable than Mulan leather when used on the instrument panel, door panels, console, etc.
Go look at both. For me, I originally spec'd a 2LT, but once I saw the 3LT it was worth it to me to upgrade. The Alcantera everywhere is nice, it was a perfect compliment to my competition seats which also were "cheaper" because I was upgrading those from the GT2 seats that are included in the 2LT. My roof in red stitched Alcantera is gorgeous.
Again, I was going 2LT until I sat in a 3LT. Try to See both before you finalize your order
It's been years since I've discussed this topic but it's starting to come back to me with that. Tougher Mulan for the seats especially makes sense because that's where serious weight of a human body frequently gets loaded/unloaded for high traffic wear. The other panels see nowhere near as much traffic/load so ruggedizing those wouldn't be of as much consequence.
But the next high traffic area could be the center console. Online images seem to show the 2LT console having a rougher grain texture like football pigskin (and thus, more durable). Could be the lighting but I found multiple 2LT and 3LT examples and the difference seems consistent with 3LT looking more supple. Can you confirm?
3LT:
2LT:
No, it's not the same. You'll also notice with the door pick the leather isn't bonded, it's a single piece. The parts that aren't are microfiber.
The 2LT rental car looking plastic steering wheel, as you say, looks and feels pretty good to me. At least good enough not to pay an additional $5000 for the 3LT. Seems you have the tenancy to exaggerate a little.
Please post a photo of your 3LT steering wheel for comparison. Thanks
I do tend to exaggerate but your steering wheel cover looks crap. No offense. If you need to save a paltry $5k then go with the ghetto steering wheel cover option.
Seriously though, the 3LT and mag ride would be the first to go if I was in a budget pinch. I say that tongue in cheek because a 2 seater 500 hp sports car just “cause I want it” isn’t a logical investment either.
We have Mercedes S class and SLK class and find the 2LT interior not noticeably different. For us the 3LT opened more interior options but our other cars are black interior and we are happy with that so went 2LT
To be fair SLK and S Class kinda bad examples though. Mercedes interior quality hasn’t been the best lately:
