G-ReX

Like Nubo, I started with cloth seats and got CST leather after 3 weeks. I had never had leather seats before.

I love my leather seats! :D

kesslti

I was pretty bummed that I got a steal of a deal on an 04 touring package - I was sure that I had to have leather - The last 3 cars I owned had leather - so I was pretty set on getting leather on this as well.

After about 10K miles and 9 months - love the cloth - and do not think I would even want leather - it is sooo nice to sit in a seat that does not burn you in the summer and freeze you in the winter.

looks great - feels great - and surprisingly for me - highly recommend.

Leadfoot27

Ditto

MazdaRich

I have the tan Leather on my 2001 Miata and I really really like it. The seats are great cloth or leather, but I prefer the leather because in my opinion it's a little cooler than cloth under most conditions and you can slide in and out of the car easily and get comfortable.

I'm going to get the cloth interior in the 8. The new-car smell is plastic instead of leather!

momo

Actually you are correct. MOST car manufacturers only place leather where they think that you come into direct contact; the rest is usually synthetic leather.

My car salesman confirmed that Mazda does this . He offered superior aftermarket leather installed for $1K. I say try the cloth you can always go aftermarket for leather.

Emsdad

My first 8 was leather. I only had it for 2 months...about 2600 miles. The leather was already starting to get those "worn" creases in it. After 2 months it was pretty obvious that the leather was not very high quality. As a comparison, my wife bought a brand new 325i. We've had it for a year, and the leather still looks brand new, none of the creases that were in the 8 after 2 months.

My current 8 has the cloth interior. I intentionally avoided the GT package, because I was not impressed with the leather, though I do miss the heated seats and outside mirrors. I've had this 8 for 10 months...14k miles, seats show zero wear. Much happier with the cloth in the 8 than the leather.

Chodapopp

I have a GS - cloth seats. I think they're great. Very plush, very comfortable and my thighs don't stick to them in hot weather.

G-ReX

The stock leather seats are leather centers, vinyl side bolsters and plastic back & sides. The plastic is part of the seat structure, so should be fine unless you really whack it hard.

The CST aftermarket covers are leather centers and side bolsters with vinyl over the plastic sides and back. Per my installer, the part vinyl thing has to do with shrinkage (and probably cost).

Genom

I have cloth and have put 38K miles on mine since Aug 03. There is minimal wear on the seat cushion on the drivers seat, but I am a bit of a heavy guy. No wear anywhere else. Had a few soda's spilled on the passenger seat by some people that dont get to ride in my car anymore with food, and there is a little stain I couldnt get out.

But if yer planning on racing the car at all, you'll need the headroom so avoid the leather/sunroof packages.

Sponge Bob

I have cloth. Originally, I wanted leather, but couldn't find the color/package I wanted w/leather. I'm happy with the cloth for all the reasons others have posted.

Remeber, you can always get leather later fom 3rd prty/aftermarket interior restylers for about $1500 or so. I plan to stick with the cloth for a while and see how it goes, then change to leather if the cloth doesn't meet my expectations.

Bob

hotpot

It's a bit easier to pass gas with cloth seats.

spaldo

I've got cloth, they're very comfortable and look great. Seem to be easy to clean too, my kids managed to get grease from takeaway on one as they got into the car and it came off really easily with just a damp cloth. Only problem I have is that I have the seat quite far forward (I'm short) and there is a bit of wear on the side where I rub when getting in.

Gomez

If you still don't know which way to go, take this into consideration.....cloth is much more durable. Modern cloth fabric is machine tested for durability and will look great and last for ten years...easy.

Leather might look good for two.

SilverEIGHT

Man, you guys are making me feel like my leather sucks!

Sigma

For one, not all cloth seat covers are made equal. Perhaps the RX-8 has good ones, but other Mazdas have absolutely horrible ones. You should see people with Mazda6s after a year or two -- the seats are practically worn through. The cloth 'pills' up noticeably in a matter of weeks of ownership.

And leather, if well-maintained (including periodic cleaning and conditioning), lasts for decades. Look at someone with an older car that is meticulous about upkeep; cleaning their car inside and out. They can have 250,000 miles on it and the interior leather will look brand-spanking new.

Gomez

Maybe I should have qualified my post. A car interior is a crap environment for leather. Temperatures over 60degC plus (with the windows up) take their toll on a natural product like cow skin. I have never seen a car with 60,000 miles have a as-new leather interior, let alone one with 250K.

The Leather Pack RX-8's I've seen with 20,000 miles are showing signs of wear/cracking. I don't know what kind of care routine would be required to make a leather interior last for 250K in an as-new condition, but I'm betting it'd be onerous.

I like the smell of new leather, if only it stayed new....and breathed as good as cloth, and stayed comfortable in all weather/temps, and gripped like cloth during spirited cornering, and was as easy to maintain.......

Cheers,
Gomez.

mkaresh

I have leather in my Protege5, but have always preferred the cloth in the RX-8. As others have mentioned, the leather doesn't look all that nice (too shiny for my taste and the vinyl ribbed panel are just awful) and the cloth is nicely grippy.

My father just bought a Sport Package car that I'll take off his hands when he's tired of it. (It now seems I might just have to get my own--track down my post in the "how did you find" sticky thread for details.) He initially wanted leather, but I talked him out of it.

If you really want leather, I'd go aftermarket. Something like the matte finish red/black in the Honda S2000 (much better looking seats than those in the RX-8) would look sharp.