POLO MY12.5 GTi - Leatherette Seat Option

[GTI14L]

Just wondering if anyone has the GTi with the leatherette seat option here...
are the seats the standard polo ones in leatherette OR are they the actual GTi Bucket seats in leatherette? (Front ones in particular)

[readerr0r]

Yes they are the same shape/design as the GTI seats. You don't get the GTI embossing on the front seats though.

Comfortline Polos (77tsi and 66tdi) get the same seats if they have the alcantara ticked too

[LunchboxVRS]

They discribe it "leatherette" cause its fake might as well be vinyl. the centre is a suede and not alcantara. the bolsters are the same shape but they flex more then the stock seats for some unknown reason. and in my opinion they look rather bland for the money you spend.
my last subaru had those suede inserst where you sit and it only takes about 6 months and they look like **** (looks worn down and lifeless)

[ATYPIC]

They discribe it "leatherette" cause its fake might as well be vinyl. the centre is a suede and not alcantara. the bolsters are the same shape but they flex more then the stock seats for some unknown reason. and in my opinion they look rather bland for the money you spend.

The centre or inner part of the seat is NOT suede, but in fact artificial suede which IS exactly what alcantara is...and VW do actually describe it as alcantara and NOT leatherette. The leatherette is the outer part of the seat. The extra cost associated to these seats has very little to do with the alcantara...but in fact the heating option inside. I have these seats in my 2011 GTI and I'm quite happy that I can heat up the seats on a freezing cold morning.

For what it's worth...I've had my car now for over a year and the seats still look brand new.

[LunchboxVRS]

Real Alcantrara is not fake suede. Its the under side of very good leather. If you looked at the under side of real leather (the stuff you just cant buy of the shelf) you would see its the same texture. Those seats are not real Alcantrara or they would cost thousends more. You only need the heaters cause the fake leather is cold of a morning when cloth is not. I live in Tassie and have not once wished i had seat heaters unlike on my subaru with leather/suede. Although i was raised here and im a custom to the cold.


Have a look at this link

http://cc.porsche.com/icc_euro/ccCall.do?userID=AE&lang=ae&PARAM=parameter_internet_ae&hookURL=http%3A//www.porsche.com/australia/modelstart/all/default.ashx%3Fmodelrange%3D911&ORDERTYPE=997451&screen=1920x1080&vLevel=2

click on 3. options then click on Alcantara on the right hand list you will sea just how much Real alcantara is. Note just to cover a steering whee $2190 aus

[PPK]

Real Alcantrara is not fake suede. Its the under side of very good leather.

Alcantara

The Alcantara website describes it as a 'unique and innovative covering material, the result of a unique and proprietary technology.'

Also a quick Google search presents multiple websites which describe Alcantara as being a material made of 68% polyester and 32% polyurethane. Cows are more amazing than I thought if they are producing Alcantara on their backs.

[LunchboxVRS]

Thats the synthetic type. it originates from turning leather hide inside out. Iv toured the ferrari, maserati and lamborgini factorys and im just going of what the told me, but believe what you want. im not going to start a argument that runs into next week. Out.

[ATYPIC]

Real Alcantrara is not fake suede. Its the under side of very good leather

Whether you choose to believe if some Alcantara is 'REAL' or 'FAKE' is subject to whether you believe its either organic or artificial.

Alcantara is what it is – 68% polyester and 32% polyurethane. It's artificial and a substitute for suede leather and is textured the same on both sides. It's more or less a micro-suede or similarly, an ultra-suede but not categorically the same.

Despite your claim, suede leather – which these seats are NOT – is organic and made from the under side of cow skin. It is no longer economically viable to use suede leather in the car industry these days.

[GTI mk6]

.........You only need the heaters cause the fake leather is cold of a morning when cloth is not......

I have heated leather seats in my Golf GTI and heated leatherette/alcantara in my Polo GTI. I find the Golfs seats initially much colder than the Polos until seats are warm....in fact the Polos seats aren't cold at all IMO due to the centre panel being alcantara.
I love heated seats because of lower back pain and find the Polos seats heat up faster too

[William_Foster]

I too have them in my Polo, the car is around 1.5 years old and has 25,000km on it; the seats still look brand new and I agree they are very comfortable (And especially good on cold mornings with the heating).

Is it worth the money? IMO YES!

Sure they are probably not as good as the seats in a Rolls Royce, but the car was a little cheaper than one of them also.

[mr_bzr]

I agree with Atypic. Recently watched Discovery Channel's Superfactories where they talked about Lamborghini, they specifically said Alcantara is a man made material to mimick leather but is super light that is why they use it as a "performance weight reduction material"

[Karly101]

I'm also happy with mine - I find they are always a comfortable temperature and has been easy to keep clean, my only criteria for the gti was that it had them as I take the dog in the car regularly and it vaccs nice and easy and dog hair doesn't stick to it.

[fastlane]

Just wondering if anyone has the GTi with the leatherette seat option here...
are the seats the standard polo ones in leatherette OR are they the actual GTi Bucket seats in leatherette? (Front ones in particular)

I've got them. LOVE the heated feature! As for the seats themselves, the front seats are shaped differently to the GTI seats. The base of the seat is one flat cushion, unlike on the GTI. Hard to explain, maybe a picture would help LOL

[readerr0r]

As for the seats themselves, the front seats are shaped differently to the GTI seats. The base of the seat is one flat cushion, unlike on the GTI.

Ah I didn't notice that, happy I chose cloth then (I love side bolstering, it props my dangly leg up). There is less upper bolstering too...

[fastlane]

Ah I didn't notice that, happy I chose cloth then (I love side bolstering, it props my dangly leg up). There is less upper bolstering too...

Yeah agreed, cloth seats have received the best side bolstering. Just wish cloth seats had heating, would've won me over, and saved a few thousand LOL