Leather vs Cloth - which lasts longer? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

sen10l · 03-14-2010, 03:48 PM

I'm going to keep my Camaro for a long time, so I wonder which is more durable in the long-term: leather or cloth? I saw a 1SS/RS and I thought: it's actually not too bad. I'm thinking that I will go for cloth if it lasts longer.

At first I thought of the Camaro as my "fun car", but I'm more thinking of it now as my "fun to drive" car - in other words, a pure driving experience. I don't need the silly non-performance stuff like the ambient door lights or the 4 gauges or the moonroof any more. It's all about the car and its performance (I have seen the light).

So which lasts longer: leather and cloth, and why? Thanks!

bluch · 03-14-2010, 03:51 PM

i'd say cloth would last longer. after awhile the leather gets worn at certain spots and even gets some wrinkles and stuff. Leather can last long as well, but you need to keep up on using leather products to clean and preserve it.

I'd say cloth lasts longer, and with less effort as well.

Just my .02

seeknay2000 · 03-14-2010, 03:55 PM

I don't have any technical/expertise experience, but just from personal experience leather lasts longer...

Leather - can start to rip when gets older and would more likely to need to be replaced, but it does repel stains, spills, and normal wear and tear/dirt better than cloth.

cloth - only real plus is even after a lot of use it can usually be deepcleaned to almost new condition. Only time you really need to replace cloth is if you get a hole in it from like a cigarette, or just don't take care of it.

By far leather, especially black leather. A drink/food/ink spill on a cloth seat - good luck! Plus, even if it doesn't concern you, leather repels smells, especially smoke better than cloth!

sen10l · 03-14-2010, 03:55 PM

I've been reading this same question on the Cadillac forum, and the vote so far goes to cloth with one caveat: as long as the cloth is "stiff". Is the cloth "stiff" in the Camaro? Thanks.

thread:
http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums...-longer-2.html

djm96z28 · 03-14-2010, 04:04 PM

I've sat in both the leather and cloth seats and I like the cloth better. I have "leather" seats in my '96. I've followed all the instructions, clean, conditioned, etc. since new and my driver's seat still cracked. I'd go for cloth.

mikel441 · 03-14-2010, 04:05 PM

I'm gonna say leather. If you take care of it. My Bonneville had 230k miles on it before I sold it last Summer, and the leather was near perfect condition. My wife's Jimmy has just over 100k and its leather looks and feels almost new. I have also seen newer vehicles with leather that the leather looked aweful. They didn't take care of it. Also think of this. Over time the cloth seats will absorb body oils and sweat. After a few years the car will smell like you. The leather does not seem to do this. After a few years when the new car smell is gone you will still smell leather. Not sweaty person.

ROD1 · 03-14-2010, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djm96z28

I've sat in both the leather and cloth seats and I like the cloth better. I have "leather" seats in my '96. I've followed all the instructions, clean, conditioned, etc. since new and my driver's seat still cracked. I'd go for cloth.

Leather face does look better but knowing the rest of it is vinyl just bothers me.

sen10l · 03-14-2010, 04:32 PM

Does the 1SS have the ability for OnStar to stop the car if it's stolen? I'm a little confused with the options. It seems to say that OnStar is only available on the 2SS?

chuckstacamaro · 03-14-2010, 04:36 PM

I plan on keeping my Camaro for long time also.. I went and purchased some nice seat covers that match the interior and to protect the original cloth seats that came with the car.......

spoone123 · 03-14-2010, 04:36 PM

i would go for cloth, beside if you have leather and park your car out in the sun. Boy that leather would heat up and when you sit on it Wooohooo.

BlackSS831 · 03-14-2010, 04:49 PM

Get cloth! Leather shows wear after a while.

I plan on getting neoprene black seat covers (the material made for wet suits)

Had them on my 3 series and loved them!

Nutbutt · 03-14-2010, 05:18 PM

I love the leather but cloth will outlast it everytime. These new leather seats have so much pleather in them that will be the weak link. This is actually my first car in over 15yrs that has cloth and I really like the feel.

ron10 · 03-14-2010, 05:24 PM

longest i ever had a car with leather seats,was 5 years.leather was perfect when i sold it.

StangKiller-SS · 03-14-2010, 05:35 PM

Cloth lasts longer but you can't beat the comfortably and look of leather.

03-14-2010, 03:48 PM	#1
sen10l Drives: In Transit Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: North Pole Posts: 334	Leather vs Cloth - which lasts longer? I'm going to keep my Camaro for a long time, so I wonder which is more durable in the long-term: leather or cloth? I saw a 1SS/RS and I thought: it's actually not too bad. I'm thinking that I will go for cloth if it lasts longer. At first I thought of the Camaro as my "fun car", but I'm more thinking of it now as my "fun to drive" car - in other words, a pure driving experience. I don't need the silly non-performance stuff like the ambient door lights or the 4 gauges or the moonroof any more. It's all about the car and its performance (I have seen the light). So which lasts longer: leather and cloth, and why? Thanks! __________________

03-14-2010, 03:51 PM	#2
bluch OH CANADA! Drives: 2011 RAM 1500 LARAMIE Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Edmonton, AB, CAN Posts: 3,930 View My Garage	i'd say cloth would last longer. after awhile the leather gets worn at certain spots and even gets some wrinkles and stuff. Leather can last long as well, but you need to keep up on using leather products to clean and preserve it. I'd say cloth lasts longer, and with less effort as well. Just my .02 __________________ Had to trade in the Camaro for a truck :(, but hopefully I can join the Camaro family again one day

03-14-2010, 03:55 PM	#3
seeknay2000 Drives: 1978 Z28, 1987 Suburb Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 143	I don't have any technical/expertise experience, but just from personal experience leather lasts longer... Leather - can start to rip when gets older and would more likely to need to be replaced, but it does repel stains, spills, and normal wear and tear/dirt better than cloth. cloth - only real plus is even after a lot of use it can usually be deepcleaned to almost new condition. Only time you really need to replace cloth is if you get a hole in it from like a cigarette, or just don't take care of it. By far leather, especially black leather. A drink/food/ink spill on a cloth seat - good luck! Plus, even if it doesn't concern you, leather repels smells, especially smoke better than cloth! __________________

03-14-2010, 03:55 PM	#4
sen10l Drives: In Transit Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: North Pole Posts: 334	I've been reading this same question on the Cadillac forum, and the vote so far goes to cloth with one caveat: as long as the cloth is "stiff". Is the cloth "stiff" in the Camaro? Thanks. thread: http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums...-longer-2.html __________________

03-14-2010, 04:05 PM	#6
mikel441 Drives: 2014 Sonic, 2010 Camaro SS Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Gig Harbor, WA Posts: 2,453 View My Garage	I'm gonna say leather. If you take care of it. My Bonneville had 230k miles on it before I sold it last Summer, and the leather was near perfect condition. My wife's Jimmy has just over 100k and its leather looks and feels almost new. I have also seen newer vehicles with leather that the leather looked aweful. They didn't take care of it. Also think of this. Over time the cloth seats will absorb body oils and sweat. After a few years the car will smell like you. The leather does not seem to do this. After a few years when the new car smell is gone you will still smell leather. Not sweaty person. __________________

03-14-2010, 04:04 PM	#5
djm96z28 Drives: 2012 Camaro 1SS LS3 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Jacksonville FL Posts: 1,114	I've sat in both the leather and cloth seats and I like the cloth better. I have "leather" seats in my '96. I've followed all the instructions, clean, conditioned, etc. since new and my driver's seat still cracked. I'd go for cloth.

03-14-2010, 04:32 PM	#8
sen10l Drives: In Transit Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: North Pole Posts: 334	Does the 1SS have the ability for OnStar to stop the car if it's stolen? I'm a little confused with the options. It seems to say that OnStar is only available on the 2SS? __________________

03-14-2010, 04:36 PM	#9
chuckstacamaro Drives: 2014 2SS/RS BRM Purchase 03/19/2014 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Melbourne, FL Posts: 538 View My Garage	I plan on keeping my Camaro for long time also.. I went and purchased some nice seat covers that match the interior and to protect the original cloth seats that came with the car.......

03-14-2010, 04:36 PM	#10
spoone123 Next is SS camaro..... Drives: 2010 Camaro LS, Rally yellow Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: NC, Goldsboro Posts: 620	i would go for cloth, beside if you have leather and park your car out in the sun. Boy that leather would heat up and when you sit on it Wooohooo.

03-14-2010, 04:49 PM	#11
BlackSS831 Drives: 2008 Lexus IS350 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: San Diego Posts: 264	Get cloth! Leather shows wear after a while. I plan on getting neoprene black seat covers (the material made for wet suits) Had them on my 3 series and loved them!

03-14-2010, 05:18 PM	#12
Nutbutt Drives: 2011 RJT 2LT/RS Convertible Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Western Massachusetts Posts: 3,381 View My Garage	I love the leather but cloth will outlast it everytime. These new leather seats have so much pleather in them that will be the weak link. This is actually my first car in over 15yrs that has cloth and I really like the feel. __________________ 1st IPF Supercharged 2011 2LT/RS RJT Convertible

03-14-2010, 05:24 PM	#13
ron10 Drives: 2010 2SS IOM L99 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: LOUISVILLE,KY.. Posts: 7,545	longest i ever had a car with leather seats,was 5 years.leather was perfect when i sold it.

03-14-2010, 05:35 PM	#14
StangKiller-SS Drives: GM products Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: USA Posts: 1,621	Cloth lasts longer but you can't beat the comfortably and look of leather.

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