I have leatherette in my VW and yes, I can tell the difference between it and real leather. My parents had cars with real leather and there is a difference. Leather is smoother and adapts to temps fairly quick. Leatherette is cold as ice in the winter and hotter than hell in the summer. Leather will adapt to temp changes faster, ie when you turn on the air or the heat. Leatherette (i have heated seats in front and back) take a little while to warm up in the winter. This my 3rd VW with this material. All were perforated which helps in the summer.
I have had both, I had the real leather trim on a 2021 RDX. When we traded it in, my wife wanted a Mercedes, and a white interior. So, we loved the GLB (2023), but the macchiato interior (closest to white) only came in MB Tex. So we had to settle for that. I do miss the leather smell, but I have to admit, that the RDX after 30k miles and 2 years of use, the real leather parts were getting harder to clean. On that Note, Lexus’ Nuluxe on our 2011 IS, has not weared particularly well. It is pretty wrinkled.
Leratherette is just PVC, basically plastioc. It works out costwise about 20% of the cost of leather. It wears well but does not have the touch or appearance of the real McCoy.
Question was told the VW seats were leather. 2021 Jetta SE not SEL The seats are soft stitched and feel like leather. Has a grain similar to a football.
Back in the day the mercedes E class had a great faux leather that barely aged even with 150k miles especially on areas like the piping and the seat bolsters where they wear the most
Looking to purchase a new 20 Sentra and comes with leatherette seats, can I use a good quality leather conditioner to maintain the durability and to keep soft?
Hi sorry for the delay in getting back to you. Yes you can! Most of the leather conditioners made now work well for both leather and vinyl! I really like this: amzn.to/2QCSFYd
Thank you for the good info. Wouldn't it make more sense to get cloth seats and then later upgrade to some quality after-market leather (say from Katzkin), or just pay extra and get that Toyota Softex (leatherette) material from the get-go?
A Saeed glad you enjoyed the info in the video! To be honest I have never looked at the cost associated with katzkin or others like that. I have seen their product though and I am a fan! Toyota’s softex is not a bad (leatherette). There are many that are worse and I come across many other brands that need repair more often than the Toyota’s. So if I were you I would just look at it as a cost vs cost situation. Depending on vehicle you are looking at, the trim level that comes with softex might have more options that the cloth trim packages. With all that said, softex is a good (leatherette) especially compared to some others so just weigh the options knowing that!!
Is there a cleaner safe for both vinyl/fake leather and real leather? I have a 2014 Camry and the dashboard, steering wheel, and parts of the door and seats LOOK leather, but I'm sure its not. The dealer called it leather, but I don't think it is. The dash is somewhat squishy. If I use leather cleaner & conditioner on fake leather, will it ruin it? Thanks for the video!
You should be fine using a leather cleaner but i recommend 3D Products LVP CLEANER. L(leather) V(Vinyl) P(platsic) so it cover all of your bases! amzn.to/3aHFU6y If its not too dirty, you can go straight to their LVP CONDITIONER. Still has some cleaning agents in it but will also leave a layer of protection. amzn.to/2wDOLr3 If its really dirty, id start with the cleaner and finish out with the conditioner! Hope that helps
@@vrindagupta4726 Wrong. Cattle are killed for their meat, the skin, bones, interstines are all left over products sold off. No beef, no hide In Europe, an abbatoir gets about €2000 for the beef off each animal, and about €60 for the hide. Economics show they are reared and killed for beef not hide!
Very helpful! Even though my Impala owners manual calls it leather, they also recommend just cleaning it with mild soap and water and no mention of conditioning. Is there any point in conditioning it since it is "coated leather"? Can conditioner go through any coating down to the leather?
Yeah i would still recommend conditioning as it wont hurt anything. Pay close attention to the seamed areas where the conditioner can penetrate deeper into the panel! This is a good product that many companies recommend: amzn.to/3m5xIme
It really depends on the brand. Hard to see as it can change between manufacturers. But even if it is all leather, there are different grades of leather... Even some really low grade leathers that come with alot of damage in the hide can be stamped to give it a more uniform look
@@imjoshv Thanks. I had an 2006 Accord which felt like thick leather seats, and just rode in an new CRV, and the leather was very soft, and felt thin. Guess Honda sources and uses different leather now. I liked my old seat better.
@@mrallan8063 dude you shouldn't care if your car has real.leather. You have any idea the leather seat you sit on was of an animal killed somewhere cruelly and left in agonising pain? Reject leather and animal skin products! 🙏🏼
I was looking at a Toyota ES 350 and when I sat in the backseat I could immediately tell it was not real leather it felt more plasticky why are they using leatherette versus regular leather I would prefer a regular leather
If you keep the car long enough for the leather seats to wear out your either living in your car or spend too much time behind the wheel. It's a car not a recliner in the house.
I have leatherette in my VW and yes, I can tell the difference between it and real leather. My parents had cars with real leather and there is a difference. Leather is smoother and adapts to temps fairly quick. Leatherette is cold as ice in the winter and hotter than hell in the summer. Leather will adapt to temp changes faster, ie when you turn on the air or the heat. Leatherette (i have heated seats in front and back) take a little while to warm up in the winter. This my 3rd VW with this material. All were perforated which helps in the summer.
Can you tell me what leatherette looks like in a VW and real leather
I have heated seats and I'm told leather.
Starts at 1:43
First off, great repair work !!! Sounds crazy, but I prefer leather for the actual smell over leatherette. Yes, thats why I buy leather. Great video !
I have had both, I had the real leather trim on a 2021 RDX. When we traded it in, my wife wanted a Mercedes, and a white interior. So, we loved the GLB (2023), but the macchiato interior (closest to white) only came in MB Tex. So we had to settle for that.
I do miss the leather smell, but I have to admit, that the RDX after 30k miles and 2 years of use, the real leather parts were getting harder to clean.
On that Note, Lexus’ Nuluxe on our 2011 IS, has not weared particularly well. It is pretty wrinkled.
Higher volume please!
Great video
William Purnomo sorry I’m new to the video making. I’ll keep that in mind for future videso
Sometimes it's a mixture. Leather on the seats leatherette on doors, etc
What are your thoughts on Volkswagen leatherette? I have it in my car now and it seems to do well after a year and I prefer it.
Leratherette is just PVC, basically plastioc. It works out costwise about 20% of the cost of leather. It wears well but does not have the touch or appearance of the real McCoy.
Question was told the VW seats were leather. 2021 Jetta SE not SEL
The seats are soft stitched and feel like leather.
Has a grain similar to a football.
I am still left wondering if there is a specific way to extend the life of faux leather to match the lifetime of real leather?
We've always called leatherette "pleather" for plastic leather.
Back in the day the mercedes E class had a great faux leather that barely aged even with 150k miles especially on areas like the piping and the seat bolsters where they wear the most
I had a 92 190e and I think that had what you’re talking about! It was in perfect shape
i am guessing you mean the old MB-Tex? Yea, i think that's basically the only fake leather i'd take over real leather
Looking to purchase a new 20 Sentra and comes with leatherette seats, can I use a good quality leather conditioner to maintain the durability and to keep soft?
Hi sorry for the delay in getting back to you. Yes you can! Most of the leather conditioners made now work well for both leather and vinyl! I really like this: amzn.to/2QCSFYd
Thank you for the good info. Wouldn't it make more sense to get cloth seats and then later upgrade to some quality after-market leather (say from Katzkin), or just pay extra and get that Toyota Softex (leatherette) material from the get-go?
A Saeed glad you enjoyed the info in the video! To be honest I have never looked at the cost associated with katzkin or others like that. I have seen their product though and I am a fan! Toyota’s softex is not a bad (leatherette). There are many that are worse and I come across many other brands that need repair more often than the Toyota’s. So if I were you I would just look at it as a cost vs cost situation. Depending on vehicle you are looking at, the trim level that comes with softex might have more options that the cloth trim packages. With all that said, softex is a good (leatherette) especially compared to some others so just weigh the options knowing that!!
@@imjoshv ok, will do; thank you
Nice job. Very useful info.
Glad you think so!
when leather gets old it gets shiny...is there a way to prevent that? or it just part of the life of leather?
Is there a cleaner safe for both vinyl/fake leather and real leather? I have a 2014 Camry and the dashboard, steering wheel, and parts of the door and seats LOOK leather, but I'm sure its not. The dealer called it leather, but I don't think it is. The dash is somewhat squishy. If I use leather cleaner & conditioner on fake leather, will it ruin it? Thanks for the video!
You should be fine using a leather cleaner but i recommend 3D Products LVP CLEANER. L(leather) V(Vinyl) P(platsic) so it cover all of your bases! amzn.to/3aHFU6y
If its not too dirty, you can go straight to their LVP CONDITIONER. Still has some cleaning agents in it but will also leave a layer of protection.
amzn.to/2wDOLr3
If its really dirty, id start with the cleaner and finish out with the conditioner! Hope that helps
@@imjoshv great! thank you so much!
Reject leather! Don't buy cars with real leather! Animals are killed cruelly and left in agonising pain for it! Stop buying leather!
@@vrindagupta4726 Wrong.
Cattle are killed for their meat, the skin, bones, interstines are all left over products sold off.
No beef, no hide
In Europe, an abbatoir gets about €2000 for the beef off each animal, and about €60 for the hide. Economics show they are reared and killed for beef not hide!
Good info , thanks
I'm thinking about replacing my wrinkled leather dash with vinyl. Will the vinyl hold up better to the sun rays it will face being on the dash?
depends on the grade of vinyl... but it shpuld hold up to the elements. Thats why they use it so much in boats!
it would be funny if subaru used subutex.
Haha
I feel like most subaru outback owners are on subutex, goddamn hippies. Lol
Cool video
can you lover the sound a little bit lower? it is toooo high.
Very helpful! Even though my Impala owners manual calls it leather, they also recommend just cleaning it with mild soap and water and no mention of conditioning. Is there any point in conditioning it since it is "coated leather"? Can conditioner go through any coating down to the leather?
Yeah i would still recommend conditioning as it wont hurt anything. Pay close attention to the seamed areas where the conditioner can penetrate deeper into the panel! This is a good product that many companies recommend: amzn.to/3m5xIme
@@imjoshv Thank you!!
How much is a car seat real leather vs leatherette? I know the back is likely leatherette... but what about the front?
It really depends on the brand. Hard to see as it can change between manufacturers. But even if it is all leather, there are different grades of leather... Even some really low grade leathers that come with alot of damage in the hide can be stamped to give it a more uniform look
@@imjoshv Thanks. I had an 2006 Accord which felt like thick leather seats, and just rode in an new CRV, and the leather was very soft, and felt thin. Guess Honda sources and uses different leather now. I liked my old seat better.
@@mrallan8063 dude you shouldn't care if your car has real.leather. You have any idea the leather seat you sit on was of an animal killed somewhere cruelly and left in agonising pain? Reject leather and animal skin products! 🙏🏼
@@imjoshv
VW 2021 Jetta SE can't see the difference cause I don't know what the leather is supposed to looks like in comparison to the leatherette
I was looking at a Toyota ES 350 and when I sat in the backseat I could immediately tell it was not real leather it felt more plasticky why are they using leatherette versus regular leather I would prefer a regular leather
thats pretty common. Same goes for Teslas
Sound quality very low volume..
You.are not talking loud enough even with phone all way up
At Least my Infiniti 2013 G 37 and 2015 BMW M3 Competition Series and my Driving Gloves are Leather!
I heard Leatherette dont get wrinkles/cracks when they get old like real leather.
It typically won’t wrinkle but it will crack. And when it does it cracks all the way through
If you keep the car long enough for the leather seats to wear out your either living in your car or spend too much time behind the wheel.
It's a car not a recliner in the house.
You should show side by side leather vs leatherette plastic isnt as pliable as leather
Real leather please..!!
I think some of these car manufacturers are just cheap ...most cars today are so cheaply made and highly priced..!!
I thought both were the same😂
Honestly not that much difference when I’ve tested them lol
Fucking animal leather seats....I prefer fake leather seat
Love animal
~
Can not hear it......Goodbye
Get a new pair of ears