Why are vinyl seats no longer an option?

[2002 Maxima SE]

Back in the day lots of cars came with vinyl seats as the base option. I personally would rather have that then cloth, but the reason I often end up going to a higher trim level is just to get the leather or leatherette seats.

I noticed that if you get an Lightning Pro model, it comes with vinyl seats. My XLT Lighting has cloth seats. I would prefer vinyl. Found that this paradigm is also true for some HD trucks, if you get the fleet stripper model, it comes with vinyl seats.

When did we decide that cloth is better? I want vinyl back, it's easy to clean and long lasting. And cheap.

But anyway....

My first car was a 1991 Ford Explorer Sport. It came with grey vinyl seats. They were interwoven strips of vinyl instead of a flat sheet. They were great and lasted the 15 years we had the truck.

The optional seats were a velour type cloth material. I've got similar velour cloth in my 2000 Ford Taurus. That material is comfortable and durable (at 26 years).

The cloth used by Ford and other manufacturers is like burlap.

 

[zzyzzx]

They do they just don't label it as such because they can't charge you more for that vinyl if they don't call some fancy sounding fake leather.

Leatherette

 

[zzyzzx]

Why are vinyl seats no longer an option?​

Because people got tired of burning their butt when they got into their car on a hot day when the sun was out.

 

[PF52]

Those 70s-era vinyl seats weren't just hot, they were sweaty. A long drive in the summer with no AC always left me with a sweaty shirt in back.

 

[y_p_w]

Modern vinyl interiors are absolutely a thing. They just give it a fancy name.

 

[zzyzzx]

Modern vinyl interiors are absolutely a thing. They just give it a fancy name.

Luxury Vinyl, but I thought that was only used on fake hardwood floors made of plastic.

 

[y_p_w]

Luxury Vinyl, but I thought that was only used on fake hardwood floors made of plastic.

I was thinking "Alcantra leather". Then I looked up what it is, and it's a faux suede that's mostly polyester.

Modern leather substitutes are probably a lot better than old 60s/70s era stuff. It's not going to be just PVC and plasticizers. Probably a combination of different plastics (like PVC and polyurethane) plus plant materials.

 

[svtrit]

I immediately felt the deep burn on my legs from the black vinyl seats of my dad’s 78 D100 when I read this title.

OUCH. I’d rather have a cup of McDonalds coffee spilled in my lap.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Back in the day lots of cars came with vinyl seats as the base option. I personally would rather have that then cloth, but the reason I often end up going to a higher trim level is just to get the leather or leatherette seats.

I noticed that if you get an Lightning Pro model, it comes with vinyl seats. My XLT Lighting has cloth seats. I would prefer vinyl. Found that this paradigm is also true for some HD trucks, if you get the fleet stripper model, it comes with vinyl seats.

When did we decide that cloth is better? I want vinyl back, it's easy to clean and long lasting. And cheap.

But anyway....

BMW and Mercedes use vinyl seats. Cloth is significantly cooler but not a durable and obviously not as stain resistant.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

I immediately felt the deep burn on my legs from the black vinyl seats of my dad’s 78 D100 when I read this title.

OUCH. I’d rather have a cup of McDonalds coffee spilled in my lap.

My Dad has a Bonneville of that vintage and they were unbearably hot in the summer. My Grandmother drove a GTO with black vinyl. The burn! Lol

 

[Trav]

Maybe, but the Mercedes and BMW offerings are vastly superior to natural leather, especially after two or three years.

Look up BMW buffalo hide seats.. No plastic seat coverings even come close, not even cheap and cheesy "vegan leather" LOL
My Saab Viggen has top grain aniline dyed leather that is incredible, the difference between split, bonded and coated leather is night and day, unfortunately this kind of leather is only found in car for the rich and shameless today.

 

[eljefino]

The "leather" in my 09 Camry is durable but has no other qualities. The whole interior on the car is a disappointment, TBH, but of course this includes the seats. It's slippery and the bolstering is in all the wrong places.

Agree with the rest-- MB Tex is great. But Mercedes put "real" springs in their seats with lots of give, like a semi truck seat. This adds to the experience and I don't get why others don't even try to copy this.

 

[spk2000]

I used to drive a 1985 chevy truck with vinyl seats that had perforations and no AC. Very uncomfortable dark blue was hot in summer and cold in winter. Very stiff and not at all like my 2011 prius they call it softex with 200,000 miles and still looks like new. Doesn't get too hot and not as cold in winter. Heated seats help just wish it had the air cooled seats too.

 

[Kestas]

My 2020 BMW X2 and 2015 BMW 320i have vinyl seats.

If you have kids, vinyl is great.