How much of an issue is heat w/ Black Interior?

[nUcLeArEnVoY]

Get a reflective sunshield cover to put over the windshield when you'll be out of the car for extended periods. Believe it or not, they really do help a good amount. It only takes a minute to fasten them and they'll also protect the interior from heat damage which is another issue down the road.

And needless to say back home, if you have a garage, use it.

[ucla1ove3]

it's not that bad, the AC cools it quickly lol. and it's a smaller car so the AC will cool it extra fast cause it's less area

[SS4EVER]

My current ride is black and my ride before was also black. As far as heat goes being an issue, I've found it to be liveable, but yeah with black exterior color, and leather... When the sun is blazing and when it's a nice summer day my interior is an oven! My ride before actually had tints and it certainly did help reflect some rays, and keep the interior cooler.

Seeing that you live in Houston this may be an issue, I know it would be for those that probably live in the south west. But I wouldn't let that be your determining factor in getting black or not...

[stovt001]

I'll also voice support for getting a sun shade. They keep temps down and protect the interior from damaging UV rays. It kills two birds with one stone. Also tint (keep it legal) helps. I live in Southern California and I plan on a black leather interior. Black leather just looks great, especially on this car, so I'll suck it up. Lighter colored leathers stain really easily. Edmunds had a long term test car with gray leather and jeans left permanent stains in the seat.

[themossman]

I have had several black leather interiors in FLA...the single most important thing to do is get your windows tinted as dark as possible (I go a few shades past the legal limit on the rear window and rear sides. Second, either use a windshield screen or park so that your windshield doesn't bear the the brunt on the passing sun.

On days your certain it won't rain, a millimeter crack in the windows will also keep the car cooler.

It gets hot...but not intolerable.

[screamingchicken88]

My jeep has black leather seats, and luckily for me, I have no working ac or a driver's seat heater. In the summer its not really a problem, only when I am driving slowly and no wind is coming into the car. In the winter its only bad for about 5 minutes, or until the heat comes on fully. But in a new car, you won't have any of these things to worry about. So go for the leather!

Oh, and the temperature of a car during the summer really depends on the size of the car. Bigger car, more time to heat up. But the leather only makes it a little more uncomfortable.

[Evotion]

I'm sure some of my Arizona friends would agree... black, white, tan... leather, cloth, etc. It's all hot. Personally, when it's in the 110+ range, and I get out of the car (A/C full blast) it looks like someone just poured Gatorade down my back. For that reason I prefer leather here. Mainly because it doesn't absorb sweat as much, there for the seat isn't soaked when I get back in

[Emher]

Personally I'm getting the leather interior since I'm fed up with the cloth in my Saab. I just can't get it clean after the soon to be ten year of abuse, and while it's not bad enough that I can't stand driving around in it (it's still a fantastic car for it's price and age) I sooo want leather next time. Plus somehow to me American V8 = leather or vinyl.

And as other people have said, it will have a good A/C so I'll probably just switch it on on full blast for a minute or so on hot summer days and it will be veeery comfortable. Did that with the rental I had when I went over to Atlanta in the summer a few years ago and it worked great.

[Joker57676]

I've had black leather in two different cars. One when I lived in Las Vegas and one when I lived in Tucson, AZ. Neither was really that bad. It's more other people telling you how hot it is. I wouldn't ever turn down a dark interior because it was too hot. It really isn't that bad. Besides, how often is your skin actually touching the seating surfaces? I know mine rarely ever did but occasionally female passengers with short skirts/shorts complained...but the car isn't for them is it? The only issue I ever had was with my aluminum shift knob; that bastard got too hot to touch. I had to grip the boot to shift.

Mark

[FenwickHockey65]

+1 for the sun shade. Our '03 Envoy's windows were apparently tinted from the factory, at least the rear windows. We use a sun shade for the windshield and it helps a lot.

I'd say the remote start + AC would cool the car down before you even got in.

[Hylton]

Get an automatic and then you can remote start the car (included in 2LT and 2SS) a few minutes before jumping in. Just set the A/C to blow cold before getting out of the car.

i have a 08escalade with 3 rows of seats yes it does get hot but wait till u get all the dust . it just comes out everywhere.im still getting black intertior. and alot of wipes . i also use very nice terry cloth towels over the seats

[07MonteSS]

I have a 07 Monte SS with black leather and yes it sucks in the hot weather...its a oven in fact. But I love it

[Evilkosh99]

I've lived in South and Central Florida where it is rediculously hot for at least 8 months of the year. I have a black car with dark grey leather interior. It is hot for a little while when you get in, but the air cools it down pretty quickly. I never used a sun shade but definitely will on the new camaro as the whole front dash of my '03 grand am gt is peeling up at the corners due to heat warping. It cracked my defroster vent and they had to replace it with a different vent cause the stock one would no longer fit. So...the heat isn't unbearable but if you don't properly protect the interior over time it will damage the car