Vinyl vs Leather Interior

I am ready to order the interior package from Vintage. Is leather worth twice the price of vinyl? Pros/cons.

When I ordered mine Kirk told me it wasn't worth it to get leather. He said they use a marine grade vinyl and, to me, it looks just fine. He also said with the top down all the time the UV rays are tough on the leather. I guess this doesn't explain how cows stand out in the sun all the time but that's what he told me. I guess it all boils down to do you want the leather or not. I'm glad I didn't get it but that's just me.

I am REALLY not a vinyl fan. Cleanup is easy on both materials, contrary to popular belief both materials need maintenance (but leather does need more). The new vinyls are really good in that they almost look like leather and almost feel like leather. Almost.

Leather will have greater resale value. Personally, yes, it would be worth twice the price because I REALLY don't like vinyl. I cannot stand it to touch my skin. I cannot even sit in a vinyl booth at a restaurant while wearing shorts - it completely grosses me out. Have to put a towel down....

Take my comments with a grain of salt however as I am also completely sideways about eating or drinking out of styrofoam containers.

angela

Wait !.....Kirk at Vintage can have the interior made for you in the "Alante" brand of vinyl brand, this material is as close to the look and feel of a soft leather as you can get.
Anyone that has seen AL Shapiro's car that I built in '06, will agree to the quality....this is all I use and will again use it in my current speedster project.
Bob, I have a sample card if you are ever out this way near Chambersburg... ~Alan

Probably just my bad luck, but the leather seats in my new Beck (2002) started pitting and splitting (not the seams) about 6 months after it was delivered....June/July 2003......

Reupholstered in vinyl in the fall of 2006....Looks better than the originals and now the color matches the carpet and trim....

i'm going throughthis right now. I ideally wanted leather and german square weave.

except...

square weave is wool and wool and leather do not do well when wet. We don't have tons of super hot days where i live, but rain is definately a consideration. i do plan on driving the car in the rain, but you never know.

I took a look at samples of synthetic carpet and vinyl. incredible how "real" they look.

i will not be getting leather or wool carpet. jhas nothing to do with the price. has everything to do with pracicality and lasting.

Alan, I had Vintage send me some samples. I agree, the Allante look very nice. I spent some time today really examining the seats and dash. All is in very good condition and I decided they are not in need of replacing. The problem is I will need carpet (or vinyl) for the back of the seats that will match the rest of the interior. The seat color is currently a med/dark brown (almost shag). I ordered the tan carpet but they will not sell me the same carpet for the back of the seats. Not sure what my options are to getting the back of the seats to match the rest of the interior.

I finally got the paperwork completed for registering the car and sent off to Harrisburg. Once I can get plates on it, I'd like to take a drive up to you for your clinical assessment of the car.

Hi Bob,

I got my vintage speedster in July and have driven it just about every day in all kinds of weather, usually with the top down. Even though I keep it covered at work it still is exposed to the elements. I picked the "Buck" vinyl and love it.. so far. It feels and smells like leather and needs but little care. I don't know how it affects the resale, as I have only owned this one speedster, but I think if it holds up well it would not be a problem. The "Buck" vinyl I got is not smooth, but cleans well and so far is quite durable. I'll try and get some photo's up soon. Good luck.

Bob,

I also have a new Vintage (circa 2007) and the Vinyl is great. I have a Saab 9-5 and the Swedes do a great job with leather. The classic smell of the leather is just hard to beat. But, for an open Speedy that is always in need of a wipe down, I think the Vinyl is a good choice.

The smell is kinda funky, but like a wart or a Land Rover Discovery, it kinda grows on ya. No disrespect to Jimbo.


Marty G.

There is no doubt that Land Rovers grow on you. My daughter loves hers, if only for the 4-wheel-drive in New England snow, but she doesn't have to work on it.....I DO! @#$%&*!

My opinion of leather versus vinyl is....I dislike both. Either is too hot in the Summer and too cold in the Winter (no matter WHERE you Winter!)

That's why I covered my vinyl seats with sheepskins. Cool in the Summer, warm in the Winter, especially welcome when wearing shorts!!

Let me throw in my 2 cents worth . . . I know a little bit about leather having been a saddlemaker for 50 years and I avoid leather upholstery. Leather feels good to set upon but is not durable. Even Cadillac only puts leather on the front of their seats - the rest is matching vinyl! My Jag and the Ferrari has leather and they are always in need of attention and they are closed cars! I have vinyl in my speedster and other cars and have no (NONE, ZIP, NADA) upkeep. If you check even Porsche put vinyl in the original 356 cars. "Nuff said, eh?

Happy Trails,
Dusty and the Lovely Miss Sharon
PS
2 degrees in Colorado right now. Leather. Vinyl. Cloth? None of it will bend !!!

Marty - no offense taken! I've got >250K miles on my beater Land Rover ('91 Range Rover). Amazingly enough, it's leather interior is holding up pretty well with regular use of a quality leather care product. I use the same leather care on my '04 Range Rover HSE.

Our Speedy has vinyl interior and, as Dusty mentioned, other than normal cleaning, needs zero maintenance. BTW -our VS Speedy is 12 years old with 90K miles and looks as good as the day it was built.

"I picked the "Buck" vinyl and love it.. so far. It feels and smells like leather and needs but little care."
Jack,
What's "Buck" vinyl? Is that a secong option that Kirk now offers besides the "Alante"?
Thank you.
Rick

I'm with Angela on this one...nothing is nicer than leather, whether be in your selection of car seats, home furnishings, shoes, purses etc...
Our speedster came with that crappy imitation stuff and I hate it!!. It looked like crap and felt like crap, I have never have had anything but leather in my cars and in my home I have many types of leather furnishings ranging from cow leather to alligator custom made chairs.
ALL materials have their pros and cons. To me nothing is as comfortable as leather nor looks as good, both new and ten years down the line. And it really doesn't require that much care at all.
~Esther

I found online source for the ALLANTE "Pleather" - it comes in some pretty boring colors though. No fire engine red (matbe Carmine?) or tan really. Just $13.95 per yard (list $19.99) - width 54" at www.fabricsNfoam.com.

Hi Rick, My reference to " Buck" vinyl refers to the color only. It looks like a natural leather( a mediun tone tan). I guess a male deer comes naturally in various shades of color and tones so " Buck" does seem pretty general. Anyway it goes well w/ black.

Be careful of "Pleather". I bought a few yards of it a while back, like 6 months ago. What I got was not suitable for seats, not nearly tough enough.

Not to fear I wanted to use it to cover panels. Guess what? The solvents in the contact type glue causes the Pleather to separate from its backing upon application or 2 weeks later or a month later.....makes for nice little bubbles and other things.....

I guess they may make a stronger version for things like seats....but not what I got....

Guess I shouldn't have capitalize "pleather" - I was using it generically for "plasic leather". The Allante is marine grade so should stand up to rigor of a lot of butt traffic.

Marty... The Discovery is a wart??!! maybe thats why i cant sell mine, even if it does have a leather interior. I was all for a leather interior until I flew out to Thunder Ranch and looked through Tom's Vinyl. It is great looking material with a great feel. As for resale, I would imagine a great looking vinyl interior is going to sell better than a worn and cracked leather interior. A big part of the problems with leather, especially those specified for automotive interiors is the actual leather is painted, not died through. They use the same technique for cheaper leather furniture. Look at an older piece that has been well used, the leather looks white and cracked. The white is the primer showing through. I would love a leather interior, but would only specify a Full Grain leather that has been dyed.
I am an architect, we have leather reps come in and talk about the differences over types of leather during lunch. I was amazed, but will spare all y'all from my banter.
A quick aside, drove my brothers '59 coupe this weekend, interior was in great shape and original... it is vinyl from the factory.

paul

FWIW: I split the difference (I hope no pun is intended) and got leather seats and high grade vinyl everywhere else. The color match is spot on and the vinyl is supposed to hold up better in the sunny parts (dash, etc.) and offer easier maintenance. Obviously, only time will tell.

I can't believe you guys let Wolfgang's "Marine-grade pleather ... won't wear with butt traffic," go so easily.
Vince, Jimbo? Where ARE you guys tonight?

I like the leather of my Vintage Spyder seats. I keep it garaged, and always put the tonneau over the interior when parked for a while. I have no top, the tonneau keeps the seats from burning you in the summer.

Good comments above and I especially agree with Dusty; it's better not to put anything organic in the interior of these cars; they do get wet and if they do you'll regret it with organic materials.

Cory - I don't qualify for 'Marine-grade' pleather - just Air Force grade crapola!

...as far as 'butt traffic', where's that round-about when you need it? WHAT!!?

I caused the slaughter of Heaven Knows how many "Naugas" in the making of my "Naugahyde" interior.

Wonder what they do with all that Nauga fur??

Gordon..I have it from an inside source that all bad toupees are made from Nauga fur and the high grade Nauga fur is used as a substitute for Mink coats in China. Known to cause a severe rash if worn for more than two hours at a time ( toupee or mink).Wish I had a picture.

WCBS-FM in NY issues a toupe' warning when winds exceed 25 mph.

NICE!!!