Mk4 Roadster Leather seats vs vinyl - is there a major difference?

[Jester]

Question:

With my kit I ordered leather seats however I believe I was shipped the vinyl seats. The material covering is a textured black surface with a white backing. The textured black material is shiny in cross section with tiny air holes (vinyl?). Are the leather seats an upgraded vinyl or are they real leather and is there a clear difference between the vinyl vs "Classis Leather" seats.

The FFR box has a label "Classic Roadster Seats - Leather" - however I believe I was shipped vinyl seats by mistake.

Can someone help with this.

Thx

[Mustang Man]

All leather seats are a myth. A leather seat needs some vinyl in it (for example side or back panels) to allow the seat to breathe and expand/contract for heat and cold. Perhaps you are looking at a vinyl section of the seat? Usually it is leather "seating surfaces", meaning just where your back and butt touch are leather.

I have vinyl in mine and my pal has leather (both Mk III cars) and they look nearly identical. On close inspection his material is a little thicker to the feel, and a little less "shiney". It also had that new leather smell when we first opened the box. It sounds like potential mis-packaging, but again, I'd inspect the seat further to ensure you're not just seeing a portion of the vinyl normally used in leather seat construction.

HTH...
Mark

[CDXXVII]

Can you post a picture of the material?

Mine are the anniversary leather seats and I was wondering about what Mark had to say. Every panel on my seat looks exactly the same. I finally found some leather that matches my seats but I was wondering why the sides and back were not vinyl. It's hard to beleive that they would be able to match the leather to the vinyl that closely.

[Jester]

Thx

I just opened the bag with 2nd seat and it smells like leather - so I guess these are the correct "leather" seats (same material as my other seat).

Thx for the help.