Kyle T
Premium Member
Registered: 11th Sep 04
Location: Selby, North Yorkshire
User status: Offline
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What's everybody's opinion on a leather interior in a car, perhaps specifically in a performance car?
I never liked the Impreza interior, it always looked like horrible seat covers from Halfords in the pictures... but after buying one and sitting in one, it's actually not that bad! The suede on the front seats feels/looks quality, and the blue isn't quite as pale as I'd seen it in some washed out photographs.
Saying that, I'd always had it in my mind to consider a leather retrim at somepoint (big $$) or find another spec Scooby with leather seats/doorcards.
Today I noticed a for sale ad in another forum for leather seats and doorcards from a Spec D STi as below:
The breaker who's selling it want's £450 for the lot... and I've seen the regular STi interior sell for £250 before, so not a bad purchase really.
I'm not fussed for the short term, got more important things to throw my car money at - but once I've got performance and exterior aesthetics arranged, I may keep an eye out for a Spec D interior like the one pictured above and make the change.
Thing is... I've never actually had a leather interior in a car before. I was speaking to a fellow Impreza owner at a meet quite recently and he had a WRX wagon with leather, and he hated it - said he was sliding around all over the place on track days and during sprited drives. My suggestion to buy leather overalls didn't go down too well 
Is Leather that bad when you're going for a hoot?
Lotus Elise 111R
Impreza WRX STi
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big eck
Member
Registered: 20th Apr 03
Location: Tullibody. Drives - Audi B8 S4 & Fiesta Zetec-S
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I love it and it looks classy. My R32 golf was full heated leather and it was sooooo comfy but reeked class imo.
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Ben G
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Registered: 12th Jan 07
Location: Essex
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imo leather is fantastic as it's easy to keep clean and always looks more expensive than a cloth seat. downsides are when it gets ripped/worn/saggy, it starts to look a bit shite.
that impreza leather interior looks really good, although the seats you have now are also nice.
the leather can be slidey if you don't have decent bolsters holding you in. mine are pretty pants, although the seatbelt/centre console/doorcard holds me in well enough 
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Kyle T
Premium Member
Registered: 11th Sep 04
Location: Selby, North Yorkshire
User status: Offline
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I know the WRX wagon ones were heated, but not sure about these Spec D ones. Would be nice if so, can't imagine it's hard to bodge in as an install.
What I'm cautious of is trying to make the car feel more classy and luxurious than it actually is. It's a practical 5-door first and foremost  , then it's a performance car, then it's comfort/luxury.
Leather or no leather, it'll still have a dash which looks like it belongs in a Kia and it'll still rattle and bang over bumps BMW this is not.
Leather looks ace when all cleaned up though, and I like the smell of it...
Lotus Elise 111R
Impreza WRX STi
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Jambo
Member
Registered: 8th Sep 01
Location: Maidenhead, Drives: VXR Arctic
User status: Offline
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leather is far nicer than cloth is most cases.
The downside is it shows its age more than cloth. Upside is you can spil stuff on it and it wipes up clean.
Leather is great
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BarnshaW
Member
Registered: 25th Oct 06
User status: Offline
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no, its not a comfy cruiser, the standard sti seats are decent, they are lighter and they are traditional with the sti with the blue material and logos. Spend the money on something to make it even faster!
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3CorsaMeal
Member
Registered: 11th Apr 02
User status: Offline
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Leather is the best.
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taylorboosh
Member
Registered: 3rd Apr 07
User status: Offline
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+1 on leather
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Corsa_Sport21
Member
Registered: 13th Apr 08
Location: Leven, Fife. Drives : 205 GTi
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Leather in a Subaru is a no no for me. Dosn't fit in with the style and purpose of the car. The thought of sliding about while attacking corners at full pelt would put me off.
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Ben J
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Registered: 31st Jan 05
Location: Cheshire
User status: Offline
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As above.
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djgritt
Premium Member
Registered: 1st Nov 07
Location: Dorset Drives: Focus ST / Hyundai i20N
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Full Leather Recaros in my Vectra, much much nicer than the Standard Half Leather offering, so I'm glad someone stumped up the cash for them when new!
They were pretty supportive when I used it on Track, but then they do have fairly large Bolsters all round which helps.
Also, heated and so, so comfy! 
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BluKoo
Member
Registered: 8th Apr 02
Location: Stonehaven (Scotland)
User status: Offline
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There's only 1 car in the family without leather seats.
Not a fan of cloth seats. Just make a car look cheap.
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Paul W
Premium Member
Registered: 26th Aug 09
Location: Northamptonshire
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Leather all the way for me. Couldn't give a fuck if it was a maserati/lambo/scooby/corsa/micra
Rio Verde Bagged More Door Project
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Corsa_Sport21
Member
Registered: 13th Apr 08
Location: Leven, Fife. Drives : 205 GTi
User status: Offline
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I don't mind leather, its a nice touch and adds a bit of class depending on the car its in.
But imo, it shouldn't be anywhere near Subaru's or Evo's.
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BeetleGav
Member
Registered: 27th Jun 10
Location: lancashire, nelson
User status: Offline
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My leather seats hold me in very well because they have decent bolsters.
Had perfectly flat vinyl seats in the beetle. Slid all over the place with them haha
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Rich H
Member
Registered: 26th Oct 05
Location: West Sussex Drives: E46 M3
User status: Offline
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Never been impressed with the leather in Impreza's tbh, so I personally wouldn't bother.
If you do though, make sure it comes out of a car that hasn't been smoked in!
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IvIarkgraham
Premium Member
Registered: 27th Mar 04
Location: Ellesmere Port, Cheshire
User status: Offline
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Im glad I upgraded mine from cloth to full leather!
so much easier to clean and looks far better
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AndyCorsaSport
Member
Registered: 12th Feb 06
Location: Horsforth, West Yorkshire
User status: Offline
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I say no for Impreza, yes on some cars, usually prefer half leathers instead of full.
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corsasportsam
Member
Registered: 29th May 10
Location: west mids
User status: Offline
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leather all the way...
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Kyle T
Premium Member
Registered: 11th Sep 04
Location: Selby, North Yorkshire
User status: Offline
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Seems CS has been split!
I agree with both sides to the argument, I think leather is much nicer than cloth but it doesn't seem at home in a Scooby.
As I said, it wasn't a short-term plan anyway just food for thought when I run out of other jobs to do.
If I can get a house with more drivespace I'll probably buy a diesel barge anyway so I can get my leather fix from that, and my Scooby can stay in the garage until we get a nice weekend
Lotus Elise 111R
Impreza WRX STi
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Kyle T
Premium Member
Registered: 11th Sep 04
Location: Selby, North Yorkshire
User status: Offline
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Hmmm possible opportunity for a straight swap of interiors with somebody with the Spec D leather
Lotus Elise 111R
Impreza WRX STi
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ChazSXi
Member
Registered: 26th Jan 03
Location: Waterlooville, Hampshire
User status: Offline
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Do it, had leather in my scoob wagon. Certainly made the interior feel not quite so cheap!
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CORSA NUT
Member
Registered: 3rd Aug 01
Location: Wirral
User status: Offline
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Heated Leather in a WRX SL wagon? Yes
In an STI? No way. Leather is far too slippy slidey (what wife calls it  ) for it. Although I like the RB320 interior.
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Kyle T
Premium Member
Registered: 11th Sep 04
Location: Selby, North Yorkshire
User status: Offline
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The Sti spec D letter isn't heated, but I know what you mean.
It does look nice though  if I went for it and didn't like it, I could potentially sell it on and rebuy a cloth interior at a profit I guess
[Edited on 08-03-2013 by Kyle T]
Lotus Elise 111R
Impreza WRX STi
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