My car is an '02 UK supplied car with the optional black leather seats.
My drivers seat is now showing signs of becoming a little less taught than it used to be. When new, both seats were nice and tight, like a drum, and the passenger seat remains so.
I am not over particularly overweight and the car has only done a modest mileage.
Is this a normal situation with leather upholstery,giving with use, or is there a problem for Mr T to resolve?
The seat squab just looks rather tatty compared with the passenger side, the leather appearing lose and stretched.
Anybody any comments?
Thanks.
Andrew
Hmmm. Mine isn't too bad, I've done 22000 miles and I'm a bit.. er.. overweight.
Any chance of you taking a pic, and I'll do the same to compare?
Mines more noticeable because the passenger seat hardly gets any use at all. I'm happy enough that's it's just what I'd expect as normal wear and tear.
Quote from: "phil4"Mines more noticeable because the passenger seat hardly gets any use at all. I'm happy enough that's it's just what I'd expect as normal wear and tear.
Same here, I'm not worried about it.
All leather stretches with use, it's what you'd expect from skin. I've only done about 1000 miles in my 2 and seats have gone the same. I have a pair of leather sofas and leather on them has stretched too.
I think you'll find that once the leather has stretched under normal use it shouldn't stretch anymore.
I'm feeling a little happier with these comments.....it is only slight stretching but I wasn't too sure how much was to be expected....
Thanks for the offer, Slacey, I'll show you mine, if you show me yours!!
I take a couple of pics at the weekend, in daylight, and PM them to you, if that is okay?
Andrew
Quote from: "amr2"I'm feeling a little happier with these comments.....it is only slight stretching but I wasn't too sure how much was to be expected....
Thanks for the offer, Slacey, I'll show you mine, if you show me yours!!
I take a couple of pics at the weekend, in daylight, and PM them to you, if that is okay?
Andrew
Please post them here, so that we can all see, compare and save future questions perhaps. Please s:) :) s:)
Cor, it's like one big show & tell session in here... s:lol: :lol: s:lol:
FWIW mine don't look too bad at all to my eye, with nearly 30k on the clock (since 2002).
Do you both (Sean & Phil) treat your leather with feed?
Yeah, every 6 months like the gunk says too.
I clean and treat them when they are looking grubby, but as I don't eat / drink / smoke etc. in the car, that's not very often!
Quote from: "amr2"I take a couple of pics at the weekend, in daylight, and PM them to you, if that is okay?
As Phil has said, it will be more beneficial if you post then on this thread, if you can't for whatever reason then I will sort them for you if you like. I'll take some pics Saturday too.
My drivers seat is the same and its only nine months old. Be interested to see the pictures to compare the level of but section stretch s:lol: :lol: s:lol:
I will somehow arrange to get photos up on this forum over the weekend so all can consider how much damage our respective butts are causing to our much loved cars.
I may call upon your help, Sean.
Andrew
I'm definately interested in seeing the pics too - had my 2 since sept 03 and have clocked up just short of 5k in it. My seat is definately a bit saggy, passenger seat seems to be ok.
sorry - can't take pics as Im a bit slow in catching up with technology and don't have a digi-cam (but since joining the group I can see that it's essential that I get one for my first mod so I can track my baby's metamorphosis!)
no bum jokes eh fellas?! s:cry: :cry: s:cry:
Quote from: "amr2"I will somehow arrange to get photos up on this forum over the weekend so all can consider how much damage our respective butts are causing to our much loved cars.
I may call upon your help, Sean.
Andrew
If you have the photos already email them to e
mr2roc@mr2-roadster.co.uk e and i will be happy to host them for you.
Quote from: "swp"My seat is definately a bit saggy, passenger seat seems to be ok.
<innocent look>
I'm sure there are some exercises you can do to cure that though s;) ;) s;)
</innocent look>
Try stiffening them up by pouring viagra tablets into the oil tank... s:wink: :wink: s:wink:
Sundance s8) 8) s8)
Pics as promised...
Passenger side:
(http://www.spydermagazine.com/files/Slaceyseatp.jpg)
Drivers side:
(http://www.spydermagazine.com/files/Slaceyseatd.jpg)
Not too bad for 22k and an 'XL' sized butt!
Quote from: "phil4"Yeah, every 6 months like the gunk says too.
Phil,
What stuff do you use? Is it the AutoGlymn one? I picked up a load of the turtle wax leather wipes, and while they are great for a quick clean, they don't really nourish the leather as much as I'd like... s:? :? s:?
Sundance s8) 8) s8)
I have some great stuff for leather - makes it all nice and soft and protects it. Cant remember the name off the top of my head, but anyone with leather at the next meet i attend is welcome to a free trial! s:D :D s:D
Mine's been used daily for 1 year and 4 months with 13100 on the clock and the seats are perfectly fine.
Need a bit of cleaning, mind you... Kris, it'd be great if you could post the name of the stuff...
Quote from: "Emmanuel"Kris, it'd be great if you could post the name of the stuff...
Its called Auto-Gloss 707 Plastic Care
Quote from: "krisclarkuk"Its called Auto-Gloss 707 Plastic Care
(http://www.emakris.com/forum/images/smiles/thumbup.gif)
mines a little worse than slacey ! but i do weigth a bit more than him LOL and i've done around the same millage s:lol: :lol: s:lol:
Quote from: "Sundance"What stuff do you use? Is it the AutoGlymn one?
Yep.
Having started this debate, I feel that I should complete it with a picture....thanks to Kris for hosting them.
Sorry it has taken me a while to get around to posting them.
One shot shows the sagging drivers seat, after 9000 miles of suffering my 12 1/2 stone back-side; the other shot shows my perfect passengers seat.
Any further comments from others?
(http://www.mr2-roadster.co.uk/rocstuff/sag1.jpg)
(http://www.mr2-roadster.co.uk/rocstuff/sag2.jpg)
Thanks again to Kris!
Andrew
The wear on mine is exactly as yours Andrew with 7K.
Quote from: "amr2"Any further comments from others?
I'd open the seats and restretch the leather. No idea if that would fix the case, but I can't see why it wouldn't.
I just changed the fabric on my seats and after the first round they looked a bit loose, pretty much like that leather. Then I stretched them a bit more and now they look like new.
They seem to be all pretty much the same Amr2, so I wouldn't worry too much to be honest. If they get really bad (which I don't think they will), you can always chase it under warranty.
Tem
I was thinking that a simple stretch might do the trick, but wonder why I should do it, on what is, to all intents and purposes, a new car!
Surely such a disparity in tension shouldn't occur?
Is it likely to continue to stretch over the years.....
Andrew
I'm no expert on leather, but I believe it does live a bit by time. It stretches when you sit on it and so it will gave some slack when you get up. I don't think there's really anything to prevent that, it's just a feature of leather.
i am no expert on leather either but i think there are quite a few "noshers" on this board
s:D :D s:D s:D :D s:D s:D :D s:D s:D :D s:D s:twisted: :twisted: s:twisted: s:D :D s:D s:D :D s:D s:D :D s:D s:D :D s:D s:evil: :evil: s:evil:
Noddy
Quote from: "noddynurdle"i am no expert on leather either but i think there are quite a few "noshers" on this board
s:D :D s:D s:D :D s:D s:D :D s:D s:D :D s:D s:twisted: :twisted: s:twisted: s:D :D s:D s:D :D s:D s:D :D s:D s:D :D s:D s:evil: :evil: s:evil:
Noddy
I'm only light s:? :? s:?
Leather doesn't stretch very much (certainly not elastically), so if it were too tight, the stitching would have to take the strain hence it is probably best to have a small amount of 'baginess' to the most stressed part of the seat.
The seats from my original roadster (now in markiii's car!) looked exactly the same as yours when I bought it with 9K on the clock (ex-demo car), and didn't get any worse over the next 50K miles / 2 years, and Mark has now had them for 9 months and they are still fine.
To summarise, I wouldn't be too concerned about it - you just need someone to 'even-up' the passenger seat s:lol: :lol: s:lol:
Quote from: "heathstimpson"Quote from: "noddynurdle"i am no expert on leather either but i think there are quite a few "noshers" on this board
s:D :D s:D s:D :D s:D s:D :D s:D s:D :D s:D s:twisted: :twisted: s:twisted: s:D :D s:D s:D :D s:D s:D :D s:D s:D :D s:D s:evil: :evil: s:evil:
Noddy
I'm only light s:? :? s:?
i was joking honest
Quote from: "SteveJ"Leather doesn't stretch very much
It doesn't stretch much, but just enough to get some wrinkles to otherwise even surface.
Say you bought a leather shoes/trousers/jacket that's just a bit too small. Over time it will get just perfect for you. I think same goes to seats, you're constantly putting some stress on them when you sit and it will show after some time. Once you get the needed slack in there, it won't get any worse...just like a big enough leather jacket stays just the same after years of use.
Quote from: "Tem"Quote from: "SteveJ"Leather doesn't stretch very much
It doesn't stretch much, but just enough to get some wrinkles to otherwise even surface.
Tem,
You quoted me out of context - you should have included the '(certainly not elastically)' part as well, as this covers exactly what you just posted. Once leather has been stretched, it doesn't return to its original size ie. It is NOT elastic - hence the seats stay baggy after they have been sat on for any length of time.
I just wanted to comment on the "not very much"-part s8) 8) s8)