Ok, so I did a search and got conflicting answers.

Does anyone definitively know which parts of the "leather" interior is real leather vs pleather? And does it matter?

I ask because I don't want to use leather conditioner on parts of the interior that aren't actually leather. This is for an '08 TL-S, if it matters.

Thanks!

 

i know the center console armrest, and i think the center armrest in the backseat are fake. i dont think the leather product will hurt the pleather, i think its usually the other way around.

 

^ Thanks!

Any other answers?

 

maaaaaaaaan- let me tell you what I do, and anyone please advise if I should be doing it otherwise (I am not happy with the results I am getting on my dash). I use Maguires products, the Leather cleaner/conditioner on both front, back seats, front arm rest, and all parts of the doors (which works great). I then use Maguires Rubber/Vinyl cleaner for the dash (got that from a post long ago, dont like it.) I am not sure about you guys, but I can CONSTANTLEY see the airbag lining, subtle as it may be, on the passenger side. Any other brand of cleaner that works best with the dash. Not to thread jack, all in support

 

Just use 303 Aerospace on everything, including the leather surfaces (which have a synthetic coating on top).

 

what about Leatherique system

 

I use lexol and it has worked so far.

 

Ditto

 

It really depends on Year and production batch.

However the center seat in the rear is vinyl, the back of the front seats and as well the stuff on the doors is vinyl. The dash is also made of a vinyl type material. Use 303 on these surfaces.

The rest of the surfaces are leather in my car, and I use leatherique. However some folks have gotten half Vinyl half leather seats in their cars and as well as a vinyl center arm-rest. Using a leather product won't harm the vinyl, it'll just sit on top and probably end up being sticky/tacky.

 

i thought some of the door material was real leather, no?...like the perforated stuff?

either way, good info

 

nope, its vinyl; real leather wouldn't have such a uniform look to it...

 

Thanks for the info. How would I be able to tell the difference?

 

Before we can really discuss this, we must come to an agreement of what "leather" means.

Wikipedia: Artificial leather (click here)


To me, "leather" means the hide of a cow. Smooth on one side, and rough and furry on the backside. When I use the term "leather", I mean real leather like leather suede shoes, my moccasin shoes, a leather purse, a leather wallet, etc.

I have seen nearly every part of our TL, up-close and personal, while stripping my car (2006). And nowhere (0 %) have I seen any real leather as I have defined "leather".

 

^

 

Ok, so your point is that the "leather" in our cars (and by extension most production vehicles) has about as much in common with real leather (as you define it) as Chicken McNuggets has in common with real chicken. Got it.

My point is that vinyl is another material altogether than the "processed leather product" (advertised as "leather"), and as such requires a different regimen for cleaning and preservation.

Maybe I'm just being anal retentive...

 

^
You're ok

I just meant my reply as an academic discussion on the overall topic of "leather" in our car.

 

I use Zaino leather clear, and leather in a bottle for my seats, and what ever looks like "leather." Everything else I used Turtle Wax Platinum interior, although not sure if its still selling now that they have the "ice" products. I will aslo have to give the 303 a try.

 

come to think of it i would probably prefer vinyl over leather, but that's off topic