Does anyone have experience with car leather seats and diving? I'm considering getting a car with leather seats. I'm lazy and from time to time get into the car wet, sometimes with wetsuit pants straight out from the water. How do leather seats fair under this kind of use/abuse? Do they get discolored from contact with saltwater? Dryout/crack?
Other than that what do you think is the best option for a car seat cover and diving?
Get the leather seats, you can allways get sheepskins or throw a towl on them.
Is it a Merc?
Cheers, Don
Ive had both leather and cloth, currently have cloth on my daily and hate it. REAL leather with hold up fine and you wont get the damp humid smell when that water that got through the cloth heats up. I have a XL T shirt on the top portion of my seat and keep a towel or two for :bed: and getting in the car wet 
Also what do you plan on getting? the WORSE "leather" comes on Ford's.
Heres my new beach/ outdoor vehicle. Its great, get home and pressure clean the inside and its GTG
Nice CJ.:thumbsup2:
Cheers, Don
I'd like to get a SUV. Tow the boat and such.
You looking to buy new or used Dan? Nothing beats a soccer mom van I dont care how mush testosterone you have pumping those things get the job done.
I always buy used, 1-3 years old. It's true about the minvans, nothing beats the inside space. My caravan stinks, literally, from the wet seats. The stupid thing is it's a 2003 and runs without any problems, and all I've done is change the oil regularly. Still I'm ready for something better. They messed up with the new Caravan IMO it sucks. Anyways even the nicest most luxurious minivan is still just a minivan. I'm thinking about a GMC Acadia. It has 3rd row seats and everything folds down.
That's nice looking in Florida White.:D
Cheers, Don
Acadias are nice being AWD, they do lack some power though. Have you looked into Jeep? my commander has been great to me, also the grand cherokees have proven themselves through out the years.
Get the leather. Just put down a towel if you are really wet. Cloth seats start to smell if they get wet and its pretty nasty after it sits in Florida heat. If you really want the leather to last just use a good leather conditioner when you clean the car.
Toyota
My 30 year old vinyl seats are holding up well.
What do you drive Sockeye?
Well I exaggerated a bit, my 1985 Volvo 240 is only 27 years but I plan on driving it until 2015. Mercs from the same era also used vinyl. For a modern car I would think leather would be better than cloth. My wife's car, a Honda Element, has water proof plastic seats but they still stain.
Do you need three rows of seats? How much weight are you towing?
good luck on your search
Yup grab the leather Dan. My truck has cloth seats but I have leather covers on them. It prevents water/dirst/sand to get into the actual seats. I just clean/dry with a wet towel and thats it. I hate cloth seats, leather is much nicer.
Go to Home Depot, get a box of big garbage bags and cover your seats when you plan to go spearfishing. Throw a towel over it as welll.
PS: I have a Toyota 4 Runner and love it.
hey Dan,
I have had the same toyota camryfor 8 years now and it has leather seats and they are as nice as they were when I got it new....I agree with steven whole heartedly
that said, not all leather seats are created evenly...mine are "sport" leather, which i assume means that they have some treatment on them, I dont know what.
I routinely get into my car wet but with my suit removed and some shorts on...my gear goes into the huge mesh bag (i got from you, thanks) and onto the back seat.
when i get home there is always a puddle at least 1/4" inch deep under the bag. I usually soak that up when I get out of the car...I have forgotten a few times. the water evaporates and never penetrates the seat.
my point is, some leather seats are bomb proof.
I have leather seats ..and my driver seat has slight bubbles/ cracks from sitting raw wetsuit... I recommend putting a towel down on either choice
You need to be a member to leave a comment.