Quote:
|
I have Fiat OEM (Italian Leather) seats on my Petra and I have heavy towel covers on my Lancer...
|
I have done extensive research on leathers before I decided to go for one in my car. Including visiting some of the factories where these are stiched.
Most of the OEM leathers are of lowest quality leather available and you can get them very cheap directly yourself too. I would not name the company as that would revel the factory, but this was one car in 20+ lakh segment and I saw the leather being used for it. The manager told me that - that kind of OEM leather costs only around 15k.
Advantages of Leather
In hot weather good genuine leather is anytime more comfortable than the fabric. Though fabric is better absorbant, it gives a very warm feeling, whereas with leather is very comfortable.
Easier to Clean - very very imp if there are small kids and family who love to eat drink and play
(also once my car cleaner managed to stain my leather and plastics with a loosely coloured cloth, while with some effort I was able to remove the stain from leather the stain on plastic was hopeless)
Looks much better than fabric (though Art leather copies this, it is actually worst option in comfort area).
It is also easier in adjusting your position
Try driving in Chennai/Bombay with Stanley Nappa leather and you would know what I am saying
Disadvantages
Expensive
Good leather is soft & delicate - I do not know about the cracking part, but it is quiet easily tearable - so some caution is required if you are loading pointed metallic things on your seat.
Putting a good sunfilm is always advisable - as it will save your car interiors, plastics, etc etc from getting spoilt over a period of time.
I have recently got sunfilm installed on my front screen & other windows and you can't even make out that there is a film there...