Leather seats, yes or no? Advice welcomed.

[Stiv]

Hi peeps,

I'm close to ordering a ovtavia rs but can't decide on leather seats or not. I love leather seats, and with kids in the picture I'm sure they will be easier to clean. Been reading that the leather isn't good quality and doesn't look good after a short period of time of use, on the briskoda sight. Comments such as 'sagging', 'look old' have been said. Any advice or comments are welcome whether this is true, or your preference in seat material?

Cheers

[GTR27]

If its on an ambition or ambition plus, then it's only partial leather. If its the option on the rs then that is full leather like the elegance. It's not real leather, it's pleather. Still is better than cloth IMO, especially from a cleaning perspective

[Stiv]

It's the rs $990 option, does the pleather look good after time? I know it looks good when new.

[spud75]

It's the rs $990 option, does the pleather look good after time? I know it looks good when new.

I have factory leather in MkII RS wagon. It was $1250 at the time. You get the vRS int he seat backs still. Unfortunately, at the time, you couldnt get red stitching with leather, only the stock upholstery. As it was the last of the model, the red stitching was no cost option, so it was a hard decision.

Opinions: I have always had cloth seats. A4 and A3 had cloth. Leather is colder in winter, but seat heaters negate that. Leather is way hotter in summer if you are parked in full sun. I find you sweat more in summer with leather.

Cleaning, yes way easier, just wipe and done, but it still needs to be maintained with leather repair/maintenance compound. I use Mother at the moment.

I didnt really want the leather at the time I ordered, but wife did, so we went with factory leather. Dealer said they could have done aftermarket with red stitching but I preferred to keep everything factory.

After 11000km I have the bolster closest the door on the drivers side, wearing away the black coating, wear it rubs on your back/bum as you get in and out. I dont expect this will be covered under warranty as it is wear and tear, but I am not overly impressed, on the other hand, what do you do? I might see what an aftermarket upholsterer can do with the bolsters if it gets much worse.

PM me if you want to see what 15months and 11000 km leather looks like with kids in the back. Am in south east Melbourne.

[KWICKS]

No harm in asking the dealer about leather wear. I've had carpet replaced under warranty when a hole developed under my clutch pedal.

[Benmac]

As a counterpoint the RS cloth doesn't look that great but feedback is it wears very well. So I went cloth. Will just throw some type of nano sealant on it.

[Stiv]

Thanks for the comments guys, please keep them coming, even pictures if possible. Thanks spud75, I'll pm shortly. So the cloth wears well then?
And can anyone comment on cleaning the cloth seats, do stains remove relatively easy?( basic food and drink stains) or kids throwing up on the back seats etc, and all sorts of things they get up too.

[vdubmotorworx]

Leather...cold in winter...hot in summer ....best in winter with heated seats

[woofy]

Have 60ks on our 2008 RS. No issues with leather or young kids. Just use towels under car seats and respect with kids. No wearing or anything on ours.

[Stiv]

Leather...cold in winter...hot in summer ....best in winter with heated seats

Love heated seats, have them on my mini gp, I don't believe the octavia has the option for heated seats in australia so leaning towards the cloth so far. Hope the cloth seats don't stain easy.

[donweather]

My MkII has heated seats!!! Never thought I'd use them in QLD but I must admit I'm pretty partial to em now.

[bobski]

After 4 years and nearly 80000ks on our VRS Octy and the leather mostly still looks new. It looks a little daggy on the right hand driver side at the bottom, but that is because of the plastic around the bottom of the seat causes the bolster to get scrunched up (don't think that exists on the NE). However, when it has been cleaned and left over a couple of days, without my big @rse sitting on it, it comes up pretty good. Much to the amusement of friends and family, I use Mr sheen every 6 months or so. I've used expensive treatments and I don't think the bang for buck is there.

My XR6T *did* have wear on the pleather on the bolsters. Perhaps its luck of the draw, entry exit method or position of bum on seat? Dunno... However, that material is definitely going to have wear problems on edges if you slide over it with abrasive material, its just doesn't seem as tough as a good leather.

I also have a good tint and to be honest, I have more problems with the chrome on the gear knob getting hot than the seats... Cold in the winter in Bathurst means you are usually wearing long pants so...

On yes/no to leather.... My wife likes and prefers the cars have it. So big tick for that side of the equation. I think it looks nice, but not sure if its worth the money. Carseat covers are how much?

[spud75]

Love heated seats, have them on my mini gp, I don't believe the octavia has the option for heated seats in australia so leaning towards the cloth so far. Hope the cloth seats don't stain easy.

I can guarantee the leather has heated seats as standard. Toasty......

[woofy]

The RS used to have seat heaters by default but thought they aren't included now in our Oz spec. OUr driver ones stopped working a year back after moving the seat up and down. The dealers can't figure out what's wrong with it as it comes and goes.

[Stiv]

So confirmed the latest octavia rs doesn't come with heated seats as yet unfortunately. They do offer this option overseas. I think in the near future it will be offered. Also thanks to spud75 on your info today and contact. The leather still looks great even though it's not top quality I reckon it looks better than the cloth, but again, the cloth still looks good too...so it's really up to wether or not I want to add 1k to the price. Or the mrs tells me to add it to the price lol.