Need quick advice, Leather or Cloth

[Sootchucker]

Guys,

My Rocco is due to be built in just under 2 weeks and I was speaking to the dealer today, and we got talking about the leather interior option (the black leather). Now I originally didn't spec it as I thought it was a tad too expensive, but it seems there is a deal to be done, but I only have a couple of days to change my order without it affecting my build date.

So the question is to all you Rocco owners, leather or cloth?

I have leather in my current MK5, and do think it gives an upmarket feel, but the problem is I've never seen a car in the flesh with the Merlin cloth interior so don't know how good/bad it might be.

I've sort of compiled a for against list below, but would really appreciate peoples views on this matter, especially from 2-3 year old Rocco's to see how the interior is holding up,

My for/against list is below

Leather for
Looks great
Comes with electric lumbar adjustment
Easy to keep clean
Doesn't mind getting wet and dries off easily with a towel.
Smells good.

Leather against
Cost
Hot in summer
Cold in winter (although the car is speced with winter pack)
Can look old before it's time
Subject to creases /sagging after a relatively short time.

As you can see, not really decisive so would really appreciate views from owners, especially cloth owners.

Cheers
Andrew

[Chungster]

Doesn't mind getting wet and dries easily with a towel

Well a fellow member on here has been doing research for the last few years in their leather clad Golf and Roc on this very fact, and for this reason alone it is a must in her eyes in all cars

Personally I went for Cloth to save money and spend it on mods instead.

[wigit]

Sorry but if your build week is confirmed you can't change the spec at that late stage

[Chungster]

You do have to wonder about some dealers and the stuff they come out with

[boardlord]

INHO the leather is an absolute rip off, but we hated the cloth seats and as such the only option was leather. I wanted the truffle but my partner hated it so we specced black.
We had originaly specced winter pack (only for the heated seats) so after removing this, and including our negotiated discount we paid £1200 for it.
Never had it on 40+ previous cars and have heard nothing but bad stories as you mention. (hot in summer, cold in winter) but luckily you are coming from it so know whats it's like to live with.
I will feed it and keep it cleansed so hopefully it will retain it's new look, only time will tell.

Ben

[pimp my roc]

I had truffle leather on my new car 2.5 years ago, and it still looks like new.........only problem is the crap seat heaters, in that your bum will be cold for the first five miles or so!!!

[chrisyboyc]

Get a leatherv retrim its cheaper and you have more choice I did and saved "a lot of monies"

[skyblues11]

leather tends to 'shape' around your bum and bum crack, so you will leave a kind of imprint.

but on the other hand, its easier to clean if you eat in the car and a piece of kebab meat drops between your legs.

[maisbitt]

Isn't cured kebab meat what VAG uses for it's leather seats?

[Chungster]

Yup leather is handy for in car "kebab" eating!!!

[skindemon]

I wanted leather, but found the right car without it - having had leather in my last 4 cars, I was disappointed, but don't regret not holding out for leather.

The cloth looks good, comfy, isn't hot/cold and saves a fair amount of £'s too.

[Jane]

Yup leather is handy for in car "kebab" eating!!!

Well depends how messy your kebab is and how you deal with it !

[juniorbanks]

Im going to check my passenger seat to see if Chungster dropped any kebab meat the other day ... Seriously though, the leather smell will fade over time but cleaning couldnt be easier with the Auto Glym leather cleaner, brings it nicely back up to colour and after a year seems to be hardwearing (more than the MK5 R32's anyway)

[rickj]

I wanted leather, but found the right car without it - having had leather in my last 4 cars, I was disappointed, but don't regret not holding out for leather.

The cloth looks good, comfy, isn't hot/cold and saves a fair amount of £'s too.

until you come to sell the car.the money saved on purchase is soon lost on selling ,leather much more desirable on pretty much ALL prestige sports models,
leather everytime for me

[maisbitt]

RickJ: Leather on PRESTIGE cars is expected, and in most cases will be standard spec on a £40K+ car, but the Scirocco isn't prestige, lets not kid ourselves here, a car that starts under £20K is not a prestige car and VW is not held in the same regard as Mercedes/Jaguar etc. To most of the posters here, £20k-£30k is a lot of money to spend on a car, still doesn't make it prestige. VW leather is incredibly overpriced - BMW is usually giving free leather on one of it's long term offers for the 3 series, in that situation, i'd expect to get a 3 series 2nd hand with leather.

Adding leather to a Scirocco adds about £300 to your part ex value 3 years down the line according to my local dealer, he told me not to bother unless you think it is so much of a must have, you're prepared to lose almost 80% of it's value, in the 2nd hand market, people aren't prepared to pay a lot for leather on a VW, and they don't expect it to be standard on a Scirocco - it's not a dealbreaker not to have it.

[The Don]

If it's not got leather, its not a ROc!

[maisbitt]

I'll have to call mine something else then.

[dougroc]

personally i prefer not to eat food inside my roc lol

[sicourt]

The 'big 3' options are all way overpriced IMO (RNS510, Xenons and especially Leather) and if you are worried about residuals - don't bother with any of them (however much anyone says about their 'desirability' on the second hand market,) at best you will be talking a couple of hundred retained over 3 years. That said, one of the main reasons a lot of us are buying a Roc is for the looks, otherwise we would have ordered / be driving the more 'practical' Golf. In my opinion, the looks / feel of the car inside are as important as the outside and IMO the cloth looks good, but the leather takes it to a different level. Depends what is important to you, but I usually spec leather on my cars and the initial feeling of being ripped-off soon fades when you go for your first drive. With a bit of looking after (not difficult,) it will still look great after a few years use.

[The Don]

For me the car is not complete without Leather. Not forgetting you get standard heated seats too with it which is a big bonus in thw inter as Ive found this year (no waiting heaters to warm you)


The finish of the leather goes right round the car too, Black roof lining and side panels finished in black leather. It makes a massive difference IMO, and worth every penny.

I would only consider no leather if I decide to go the whole hog next time round for the R model. I'm already planning this, and started saving and Ive only had my GT TDI a few months.