Is leather hot?

[Mrs347stroker]

Just wondering if leather seats get hot in summer if the car is out in the sun and if they do, what seat covers would you recommend?? Are sheepskin seat covers really that good and do they keep you cool in the summer as they say?

[BJ]

It depends if you chaffe oh sorry you mean seats. : No i dont think it is, i know that the sun is not that good for it.

[Hardtopxb]

Originally Posted by Mrs347stroker

Just wondering if leather seats get hot in summer if the car is out in the sun and if they do, what seat covers would you recommend?? Are sheepskin seat covers really that good and do they keep you cool in the summer as they say?

Yep they get hot allright.Sheepskin does work as good as anything else...

[XplosiveR6]

yep sure do get hot, just make sure you dont sit on em with bare skin touching the seats .

[Shonky]

its called a solar shade. $10 bucks at K-Mart and you don't have to cover up your nice leather seats.

[gozza]

yeah my olds used to have a volvo 850 with black leather...plus the car was black anyway so it was horrid in summer
skin sticks alot

[Gammaboy]

Depends on who's wearing it :P
Oh, Leather seats... yeah, they get icky in summer... and sweat kills the leather, so if you want to keep the seats in good shape, i'd recommend a decent set of sheepskin seat covers...

[THE MADNESS]

Sun + Leather = hot hot hot.

Windscreen shade cover and some dark tints is the go......

[Mike Gayner]

My old Esky had leather seats, worst mistake I ever made was jumping straight in after going for a swim at the beach. Shirtless, and the car had been sitting directly in the sunlight for hours. Very painful.

[smoo]

Sheeps skin seat covers defeats the whole purpose of having leather imo.

Just maintain them well - clean and shampoo regularly.

I used to have a car that I fitted a black leather Momo stearing wheel on. Even in the middle of summer here in Perth it wasn't too hot to touch so I would have thought leather seats would be the same.

[Iphido]

Leather seats are not too bad if:

-You have the darkest legal tint avalible (or darker) placed on the car. This makes a huge diffrence. Theres are reason why nearly every car in Australia has tinted windows. Makes your car look better, makes your interior look mint for much longer, makes your car cooler and more comfortable on long trips, stops skin cancer, also a protection element as they can't see in to steal stuff.
-You use a windscreen sunshade. Blocks out heaps, keeps the steering wheel cool and the gearshift (ask anyone with a manual with a metal gearknob about sun and metal).

These two should be enough. If you also want to keep the inside of the cabin cool, wind down the rears ~5mm or less.

-Your leather isn't black
-Do avoid parking in direct sunlight for 10 hrs.
-Turn on your aircon full cold before getting in
-Have a towl handy to sit on if you must get in and out in summer and park in full sun.

I know sheepskin works a treat but I personally don't like the look, feel or the concept.

While leather gets hot, you can seriously burn yourself on a belt buckle thats been in the sun all day. So I would rather take a whole car approach instead.

[bscampbell]

Originally Posted by smoo

Sheeps skin seat covers defeats the whole purpose of having leather imo.

That's what I was thinking...why even bother with leather then if it is more trouble than it's (literally) worth?

[clontarf_x]

the leather in the AU doesnt get too hot, just yeah, try and park in at least a semi-shaded area. and the dropping of rear windows 1cm works awesome too

[Sylox]

Leather in my ute doesnt get that hot and its parked in the sun for 10hrs every day. I have dark tint though and it makes a massive difference. Personally I wouldnt pay for leather than cover it with crappy sheepskin covers.

[Jamie XR6]

I have a black car but the dark tint keeps the heat down. I love my leather seats and wouldn't even contemplate putting seat covers over them let alone sheep skin. Why would you bother having leather if you are only going to cover it?

Use a decent leather conditioner like Pinnacle or Zanio, not Meguairs, it's rubbish and any sweat won't worry it.

[superpursuit83]

mmm, after reading all the above I am glad I did not go for leather.

And I had better get a sunshade before I get a shift pattern burned into my palm eh.

Thanks for the post

[Bucknaked]

My 2nd love handle on by right side received 2nd degree burns last summer.

Occassionally the seats get hot. But no hotter than the steering wheel

[LUXO_8]

i must say ive noticed leather isnt as bad as vinyl seats, but yes, left in the sun they can get damn hot.

ive got tinted windows so its not that bad in my car, and a silver shade for the windscreen when its parked

[Jamie XR6]

I use one of these in Summer, it keeps the car cool. For $30 from Kmart, you cant go wrong.

[MRJUCY]

Not really leather isn't like vinyl. leather is a skin sure your skin gets hot but it's not like it's scorching like plastic or metal can get. I find on a hot day my back gets sweatier with cloth because it breathes better i guess honestly

[GTP 320]

Originally Posted by Jamie XR6

I have a black car but the dark tint keeps the heat down. I love my leather seats and wouldn't even contemplate putting seat covers over them let alone sheep skin. Why would you bother having leather if you are only going to cover it?

Use a decent leather conditioner like Pinnacle or Zanio, not Meguairs, it's rubbish and any sweat won't worry it.

Fully agree with you.
Cheers John

[Bossxr8]

I had leather seats in a BA XR8 and a Territory Ghia, both with tinted windows, and I didn't think they got any hotter than the cloth seats in other cars did. Vinyl seats must be different, I can still remember trying to sit in my Dads Cortina with black vinyl seats when I was a kid after it had been sitting in the sun and nearly ending up with 3rd degree burns.

[DRU842]

I swear by the leather in the Probe, it breathes & is easy to clean. Never had a problem with butt scorch, even on the hottest days!

[AUIII XR8 MAN]

I have leather in the XR8 & i findthat it doesn't get hot. It mitght get warn but not hot. But i do have tinted window on the car so this helps.

[chevypower]

If i never had leather seats previously, I would be turned off them by reading some of these posts, but I have never found them to be too hot (even in the convertible), cars with tint are obviously better, but I dont think you need to go overboard, mind you, I live in Melbourne, not WA, or NT or far north QLD lol. Leather is much easier to clean too.

[Blue Oval Mopar Man]

OHHHHHHH , I thought you were asking if "HEATHER" , as in lockear, is hot !

My mistake ! :

[XR-ENVI]

i think it depends on if you are talking about old dtyle leather or the newer leather seats, cos although my seats are hlaf suede they dont get hot at all and my sister had a BA with full leather and she now has a Terri with full leather and it doesnt get hot either, not sure about old school leather tho

[Mrs347stroker]

Thanks for all of your advice. I think I will stay clear of the seat covers, I'd rather smell the leather than sheeps wool.

When I come to think of it, I think covering up the leather seats in the FBT would be silly (so does the hubby). The car does have good tinting so I hope I will be right. Nothing worse than getting into your car and you can't sit down.

I am a stay at home mum so I was a bit worried leaving it in the sun at the shops. I will just find car parks with shading.

[Racecraft]

Originally Posted by Mrs347stroker

I am a stay at home mum so I was a bit worried leaving it in the sun at the shops. I will just find car parks with shading.

Take the CORoLLA then