Vinyl or leather...or both?
 

I just got my 8 Saturday. I noticed that the black area on the seats with the ridges feels like vinyl and not leather. Now the other black parts without the ridges in it feels like leather. Who here feels that it's vinyl. Go give it a feel again. Oh, does that sound bad...sorry. I have red and black leather. Just curious, thanks.

When i checked out the RX-8, the area you are talking about felt like vinyl, not leather.
It's not bad though (IMO).

I think the ridged part is vinyl, and the leather-looking part is leather. I wasn't sure at first till it sucked up some oil soap I sprayed on it to test.

From what I remember reading in the brochure, some parts are synthetics, while major areas are leather.

The ribbed area is listed as embossed/extruded leather (or something like that) and appears to be leather. There is a simple test to determine leather from vinyl: press a fingernail into the material, if it springs back out immediately without leaving a mark, it is definitely NOT leather. I just tested the ribbed area and the nail 'print' did not immediately spring back, so it passes the 'simple' leather test. Try it on the door panel insert, which is vinyl and you will see the difference.

I don't have an RX-8 (yet!), but on both my Miatas, only the parts of the seat you actually sit in were leather. The sides of the seat cushion- and the back of the backrest - were vinyl. I believe the RX-8 is the same way.

Thanks for your replies......hmmm....weird feeling leather....not complaining but was curious!