[wallstreet123456]

I am trying to decide between EX and EXL. What are the positives and negatives to leather. I have one child who is 2 1/2 and a baby due Sept 5. Is it worth the 1500 more or should I just stickj with cloth.

I have never had leather seats before so anyone with experience please offer some advice.

Thanks
Steven

 

[Wahorn]

I'm trying to decide between EX and EXL also.

I currently have a black Acura Integra with black leather. Things I like about leather: shows virtually no wear over time, easy to wipe clean (especially kids' spills, etc.), looks good, provides better resale value (opposed to dirty worn-out cloth seats).

Things I don't like about leather: very hot to sit on in summer (although winter is nice because its so warm already) - this may be more of a problem since I have black leather and black exterior (light colors may help this), sticks to your skin in summer if you're sweaty.

My conclusion: probably get leather because we have kids and will be easier to clean. Also will be helpful for when we go to the beach.

 

[Wahorn]

Also, for $1500 price difference Leather is a good bargain for the amount of seat coverage (3 rows). I believe there is a similar price difference ($1500) for leather in SUV's like the Pathfinder, which only covers 2 rows of seating.

Does anyone know if the third row will be vinyl or leather?

 

[cmmeyers]

Well, it all depends. There are alot of factors to consider, and it all comes down to your personal taste and preference.

Where do you live? If you live where it gets very hot in the summer (like the southwest) leather can be searing when getting into a hot car. Also, leather can be very cold in the winter (but at least you would have a heated seat!

)

I think that the $1500 dollars is a reasonable price. But personally, we are going to stick with cloth vs. leather. Kids are tough on cars. Even though leather is more durable than the cloth, it would be more expensive to repair if damaged. Also, the nature of the van (at least for how we are going to use it) is a kid/people mover with all the accompanying equipment/junk/toys/strollers, etc...

When I was a kid, my Dad's car always had leather seats. When I sat in the back seat I always felt like I was sliding all over the place (even seat-belted in). Would I like to have leather in my car when my kids are grown? Absolutely! But I don't think that we are going to do it now.

Just my preference.

 

[tlutz]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Wahorn:
Also, for $1500 price difference Leather is a good bargain for the amount of seat coverage (3 rows). I believe there is a similar price difference ($1500) for leather in SUV's like the Pathfinder, which only covers 2 rows of seating.

Does anyone know if the third row will be vinyl or leather?</font>

From the brochure picture, it looks like the 3rd row is leather.

 

[rainmanx]

I beg to differ on leather showing no wear over time. I feel its the other way around.

My 91 SE accord leather is starting to crack (front Passanger) and rip (Driver side). Initially I took care of it (leather) but over time, I stopped. Maybe that had something to do with it, but I think its a function of how much you sit on it.

Leather is nice but I prefer cloth since I'm planning to keep the van 10+ years.

 

[bjk2001]

Cloth, my daughters hate leather in our Avalon. They claimed it burned their legs when their wear shorts in summer. My wife wanted to order leather but she put sheepskin seatcover on drive seat. Go figure.

Besides cloth is easy to maintain, leather you have to pamper it every so often (leather cleaner, protector...).


------------------
'01 GG EX
Mud Guard, Wheel Lock, Cargo Tray, Weathertech Mats
leather steerling wheel cover, Pioneer 1655 speakers, 1086 on its way
Lojack

 

[mikester]

I'm sorry, but I disagree - $1500 for leather is not a bargain. We traded in a '99 Windstar for our Odyssey, and when we bought the Ford, the leather was an $800-900 option. And it has just as much area to cover as the Odyssey.

 

[bluesramsrock]

Here's my .02 worth. My 1991 Toyota Previa (19X,XXX) has cloth and is still in great condition and we don't baby our cars. (3 kids and lots of meals eaten on the go.) I do get it detailed every 4-5 years and that seems to help.

Even with all of the glass and us living in the midwest this car is not oppressive to enter on the hottest of days and if you leave the door open for a few minutes it cools quickly.

We also have an SUV (Isuzu Trooper-95) 120,XXX with leather. Very nice looking interior and comfortable in most weather situations. This interior does however show much more wear than the Previa. Is colder longer in the dead of winter and is hotter longer in the dog days of summer.

We never really considered leather for our Ody, primarily because of our satisfaction with the Previa's cloth.

My only reservation is if the Honda's cloth will hold up as well as the Previa. As they say, only time will tell.

Mike

 

[vangirl]

My previous van was also a Previa and after 6 years and 3 kids worth of wear, the upholstery still looked great - only the drivers armrest was slightly worn. The leather I had in a Mazda 626 started to crack after only about 4 years of wear and I hated the hot seats in the summer. I was not very diligent about putting leather dressing on it regularly, however, and that may be why it cracked. In the Previa, I did clean the upholstery and carpets once or twice per year with my Hoover steam cleaner/vacuum, and I think this helped to maintain their appearance.

Good luck in your decision.

------------------
vangirl

'01 SS EX with i-VES, Kelton Subwoofer, trailer hitch, cross bars, LX radio/cassette, in-dash CD changer, fog lights, cargo tray

'00 New Formula Red S2000
'00 Flamenco Black Pearl Civic EX

 

[wantanody]

I'm am in the same leather/cloth quandry. Since my kids and hubby prefer cloth, I guess that's how we'll go.

I can provide some possible insight on longevity for the cloth interior:

I actually own an "original" odyssey-- 1995 six passenger with 92000 miles. The seats look quite good, especially when you consider the car hauls numerous soccer players with muddy cleats, takes long drives from Maryland to Florida, serves as a dining room, and is constantly a mess. Wear and tear is not an issue.

I prefer the look of leather, but that won't wash as a good reason to spend $1500 (which I agree is reasonable).

Good luck...

 

[1ODY2NV]

Steven,
I think leather is worth it.
I live in NYC - 2 kids and they are constantly messing up the car.

My seats in our 2001 GG ODY EX have fruit juice stains that I was told will never come out.I am trading my ODY for a 2002 ODY with leather. I am the one who cleans the car every 3 days and washs it (twice a month).
This will spare me some time cleaning. I think the new Honda cloth is not as durable. My friend's 99 EX has a lot of wear (46K).

MY .02 "isn't that why us EX owners have climate control???? So leather should not be a problem. And $1,500 increase?? Remember Classic Soft Trim was about $1,600 w/ vinly 3rd row and $1,700 w/ leather 3rd row.

Also front seats are heated. That is a $300 option.

 

[lifer]

I'll put in my $0.02, too.

I prefer leather. It's easier to clean and IMO feels better. On long trips, I don't find myself getting as hot on my back and seat with leather.

Leather will definitely dry up and crack if not conditioned regularly. If you live where it gets very hot in the summer, especially with darker colors, conditioning is a must.

Window tinting, where possible, really helps to cut down on the heating and drying of the leather, too.

One last thought, before we learned that the 02's were coming with factory leather, we were going to get cloth and then after a few years shell out the extra $1,000-1,500 to have the upholstry redone in leather.

 

[1ODY2NV]

Got off the phone with Honda Customer Relations

The 3rd Row will be leather on the bottom and back.

Vinyl where it rubs against the car when you flip it down.

They said it closes much better now

 

[Lurkerdave]

4 month old and 2 year old. Leather is the only way we will go anymore. Much easier to clean up spills, etc. Care is minor.

 

[MichaelJW]

I hope the leather is of the quality that Acura uses on their TL line of cars. I love how comfortable and soft the leather seats are in my 3.2 TL. After three years of use they are just as soft and new looking as the day I bought the car which was new to begin with. With a family of five the seats aren't pampered. Window tinting helps a great deal in prolonging the life of the leather seats. I do have the seats conditioned once a year.

 

[Jerry O1]

My vote goes to "mouse fur". I do not have any kids at home these days, but when we did, we still had a cloth interior and got along very well. Getting into the car on hot days, such as in Sacramento in the summer when the interior would get to something well over 120 degrees, was not so bad, except for the steering wheel, which I later wrapped with a light colored leather.

As far as spills go, maybe now would be a good time to teach a little responsibility to those younguns. Just thinkin'......

Jerry O.
2001 GG LX

 

[1ODY2NV]

Did you know that the MDX is vinyl in the back???

Specs say Leather-Trimmed on all 5 seats.

Mdx has 7....Hmmmm

Score
02 ODY - 1
MDX - 0

 

[jvennitti]

I believe that leather is a worthy option, however, $1500 seems like the same price that you can get for aftermarket. It would seem like it would be less expensive to put the leather in during the original build than afterwards.

We have a 3 kids--5 yrs, 3 yrs, and 4 mos--and we have been glad for the leather. I can't imagine trying to get apple juice out of the cushion material after it has started soaking in.

Anyway, that's my $.02.

Jeff

------------------
Jeff

'01 SS EX
Cassette, Rosen Video System, Fog Lights, Splash Guards
Full Nose Mask

See photos at:
http://www.fototime.com/inv/B5EC5C7BC6CFA07

 

[1ODY2NV]

jvennitti