So what is everyone getting to cradle their buttocks in the new RX-8? Keeping it simple here people, cloth or leather.

 

I do not have the money for a RX8, but if I were to purchase one it would have cloth because it is cheaper, lighter, and in my opinion more comfortable. This may be untrue with the RX8 leather, but in my experiences with leather I am not very fond of it.

 

If leather was available without all the extra gewgaws of the Grand Touring package, then I might consider it. But since I'm opting for the Sport package, cloth it is.

 

took cloth, mostly cause im not a big fan of leather, it gets bloody hot here in los angeles during the summer and the idea of peeling myself off leather seats is and was unappealing

 

BLOODY HOT compared to London????

 

london? no, but it can easily break 100F in los angeles during the summer unless you happen to live shoreside, but 10 miles inland and it'll make toast sweat.

-nate

 

Oh I fondly remember those days well (spent almost 20 years there, althought the last 5 was in Laguna Niguel :D commuting up to LA ...but now for the last 5 years I'm in Dallas, where it can easly reach 114 degrees (F) not including the humidity ... :p

So I'll take cloth please! I've alwasy liked the feel better than leather - but I'll admit that leather looks better.

(I do wish that there was colored inserts with the cloth too )

 

Leather does get really hot. During a hot day in Anahiem, the leather seats in a Q45 get very hot. Not only that leather starts to crack after a year if not taken care of.


Cloth... More grip, less weight... the only way to go.

 

Leather... because it rhymes with 'Heather'.

 

Agree with the cloth arguement BUT leather will look better and sell better later.

rael.

 

Amen to resell value, though I have no intention of ever selling mine -- unless the 2006 RX-8 is that much of an improvement.:D

 

selling aside, im not going to compromise on what i prefer for however many miles and years just so i can sell it for a lil bit more later on. seems kind of silly to me to get something you don't want just because you might get a better price on it later on.

 

I agree with you 100% lefuton. I failed to mention that I DO love leather. I love it and wanted it so much, that I was willing to accept the stuff I did NOT want long with it: moonroof, heated seats, etc. I wanted it so bad, I rationalized the extra fancities plus the leather would help the residual value (or at least the appeal), should I ever decide to sell it.

 

I've got leather in my Miata and not only does it look very worn, I also slip around like crazy in them at the track. I think I'm going to go cloth. Of course, I'll want to see the two in person, first.

 

That depends on alot of things. Check out midpriced cars that are over 5 years old, and see how well the leather has lasted. In some cases, it gets torn and worn, and looks worse than cloth.

---jps

 

I got leather simiply because I needed the power seat. I don't much care for leather seating. I hate getting out of a car and my back and leggs soaking wet from sweat. Nor do I like ripping the skin from my legs when I where shorts in the summer. My problem is that both my wife and I are short. I have never found a car with a manual that I could get positioned right with just a sliding seat. I always end up to close to the stearing wheel. I only wish I could have gotten the power drivers seat on one of the lower packages.

 

Leather smells better, importantly it cleans up better (remember, this is a 4 seater family car with little Johnny throwing up in the back), you won't slide as the seats are very grippy and cloth seats remind everyone of cheaper car ("leather would have finished it off nicely"). Additionally cloth can start to smell wierd as more and more dirt is embedded. Leather, if cleaned and protected periodically will last forever (although I will be selling again in 2 years time).

I fully understand the heat/ sweat arguement but in he UK that does not really stand.

rael

 

Texas heat + no garage at my house x grip and lightweight = cloth

 

On the plus side if you race you can get the leather and autocross naked. You'll stick to the seat like glue.
:D

 

What is the weight difference and what difference does it make to the cars performance? I cannot believe that difference is so big.

real.

 

I prefer the leather, but as many manufacturers do they have "bundled" it with a lot of useless **** so they can make a lot of money. If I remember correctly it effectively is a $3,500 option. What BS.

 

I would like the leather. As rael said it does not make much difference with the heat/sweat argument here in the UK

 

Of course this is just one person's experience with Mazda's leather but if it's any indication of Mazda's track record with leather then I'd pick cloth. Can anyone else comment on Mazda's leather seats?

Besides, cloth holds ya to the seat better.

 

You guys sure you had leather and not vinyl

I have had leather seats in my car for last 15 years and have never had a problem with sweat/heat, etc. -- yes it gets over 100 degrees here with 90+% humidity. On the other hand - my wife's car with cloth interior was terrible in the summer -- hot hot hot -- main reason we got rid of it and bought a car with good leather seats.

Looking forward to leather in my RX-8 -- just hope they use the quality of our Volvo brothers not our Ford corporate masters.