Re: Sebring leather seats wearing out?

The leather seats in my 94 LHS looked like new the day I sold it after almost 7 years of ownership. My 99 300M seats changed more during the first year but have been stable for the following 3 years of ownership and kind of became more comfortable with time.

It is not the thickness, it is the type. In luxury cars they use the full skin from a young calf. In lesser cars the use hide from a full grown cow. That hide is very think in itself but it is 'split' into thiner layers. The split hide is then refinished. That finish does not hold up like the natural finish on the more expensive calfskin hide

mike hunt

Joseph Oberlander wrote:

thanks, I appreciate the responses to my question. Sounds like, based on Mike's great explanation of the different grades of quality in leather (full calf vs split cowhides) that if this is the stuff they use, I can get a replacement cover BUT in a year will probably be right back where I am. Will ask a dealer I trust....Also I guess it never hurts to parking-lot-check other Sebrings to see if their seats are wearing similarly.

--Michelle

Like everything else when it comes to automobiles, you must do the maintenance if you expect to keep them for years. I own a bunch of current and older cars, four of which have leather seats, a 41, 83, 02 and 03. I learned from another collector, many years ago, that the best thing for leather was shoe cream. I have been applying show cream to the seats for years. I have always used the basic white, but it is available in colors as well. The leather on all of my old vehicles is in great shape.

mike hunt

"Michelle S." wrote:

There are two options.

I have #1 in my car and it's great. Seats underneath are in good shape as a result.