About to buy a 1.8T but am wondering which interior seats to go for. I like the leatherette look but am wondering if I'll slide all over the place.

The cloth is the logical choice for a sporty car like this but doesn't look that good.

Any experiences with the leatherette? Thanks

I just put down my deposit for my 1.8T Q and had the same problem. Since this is my first car and I'm a little paranoid about spending so much "University $" I took a good 2 weeks to decide and most of the time I was either looking at pictures or sitting in showroom cars. The fake leather feels nice and smells OK, it's not slippery but the cloth seats just look ugly IMO

I don't have any problem sliding around on the leatherette. IMO, I've always thought that the look of cloth was cheaper. The leatherette actually feel like leather in this car.

The cloth is terrible, I have a friend who has it who has spilled substances on it and it is very hard to clean, i have the leatherette and do not have that problem at all. Plus the leatherette is a lot prettier and comfortable.

I have the black leatherette seats, and I don't slide around at all. The look is almost the same as leather. I have to tell people all the time when they ride in my car that the seats are not real leather!!!

Bottom line, go with the leatherette, you won't be sorry.

Chris
98.5 1.8T

I never had that difficult of a time in hard turns with the leatherette... I definately slid in real tight turns, but usually braced myself against one of the bolsters and was fine. If you find yourself sliding too much, you can always pick yourself up a nice set of Schroth 4-points. Before I got my racing seat, I used 5-points to keep me in place.

I have to admit... cloth seats are easier to drive hard in, but for many people, a car isn't strictly to be driven hard.

Justin
BMW 850
Mitsubishi Eclipse
Suzuki Katana GSX 600

The leatherette is very nice on the A4... My friends don't know it's not leather unless I tell them..

It is certainly nicer than the "real" leather on my old Mitsubishi Eclipse..

--mike

...you'll have to get cloth on the 1.8T. The cloth, IMO, is the "sportier" of the tow (cloth versus leatherette). My black Jacquard Satin cloth is very elegant and not at all like the "mouse fur" cloth seats found in lesser cars. It's also proved to be very durable over the past 40,000 miles and still looks like new.

<A HREF="Mailto:andy_hedin@hotmail.com">Andy Hedin</A>
'97 A4 1.8Tqms, Wett 1.0 Bar, ABT Filter, Euro Headlights, APR/Borla Exhaust (sitting in basement)...

few things:
first, I ordered a 1.8T with every option except Tip, Bose, and Phone.
Age: 23
color: Onyx

Here were my pros and cons:

Pros for Leatherette (cons for cloth):
They look nice in this "luxury" car

Pros for Cloth (cons for Leatherette):
leatherette is hot in the summer
leatherette is cold in the winter
leatherette will show scratches (Onyx)
sport seats available in cloth

One other note: I've looked at and DON'T like the onyx cloth that was offered in 99, but I do like the cloth for the 99.5-00. I think I have the years correct, but regardless, check out the sample piece at your Audi dealer to see what you'll get. I would probably not have ordered the cloth if it still had the long skinny texture (sorta woodgrain look) that it did in 99.

So, I went with the Onyx Cloth Sport Seats. No, I do not have them yet, but I am confident in my decision (I too, deliberated for some time on this issue.

Oh, and one other thing. When I first test drove the 1.8T vs 2.8, the 1.8T had cloth sport seats. The 2.8 had either leather or leatherette, but it had the protective covers on the seats (like a pillowcase on an airplane). It was no contest which one held me in the seats better. So depending on what fabric your pants are, they may tend to slide more on leatherette (you know, if you wear airline pillowcases for shorts)

And I will always refer back to someones analogy of the sport seats which described them as:
"It's like sitting in a catcher's mitt"

Mark P

I can't speak to the life of the new leatherette but I hated the way the leather seats cracked on my 87 5000, these seats were also flat (much like the standard A4 seats), and I tended to slide around on them. I had cloth on an 83 Audi and it still looked good after 10 years. So for my money I got the cloth with the sport seats. It's your money, and your situation may be different (it gets hot here in the summer, and can get very cold in the winter), so do what you think is best.

I am 100% happy with my choice, its SO comfy, looks GREAT! I am 21, weigh 148lbs, and I drive
VERY VERY HARD(ask Mark P) and I have no problems
sliding, regardless of wearing, khaki shorts, mesh shorts, jeans or pants. IMHO it makes the car. I have had a loaner 2.8 with the real leather and honestly I prefer leatherette and the leatherette does not "wear/break" in like leather does(all wrinkly and stuff). But you have to pick what you like best! TEST DRIVE!

-Jenner
'99.5 1.8T QMS Spoiler/Wett on the way

You had an Eclipse? AWD? I never had leather in my Eclipse (now I have aluminum racing seats). Did you do anything with your Eclipse? Have any parts leftover? Here is a brief list of my project car... any suggestions? I lost both my sponsors due to moving, but hopefully will be able to get back into the swing of things soon! Pardon the briefness, but if you are really curious, e-mail for a comprehensive list...

Iceman Cold Air Intake, Sachs Stage III clutch, Stillen Lightweight-Forged Flywheel, HKS Cat Back, Headers, 50-Shot NOS (w/purge), 8.8mm Ignition Wires, Stage II Lightweight (~275lbs), Velocity Stack, Progress Springs, KYB Shocks/Struts, Custom Lifted Rear, Moda (BBS) 17" Wheels, FSTB, RSTB, Brake Cooling System, Short Throw Shifter, Aluminum Pro Seat, 300mm Wheel, Razo Shifter, OBX Pedals, RCI 5pt. Latch-type Harnesses, Redline Trans. Fluid, Mobil Engine Fluid, Boston Acoustic Pro 6.4 fronts, Eclipse 6x9 rears, (2) Rockford 10"RF, Orion Cobalt 2105, Kenwood Excelon KDC-8007 (coming soon: Port & Polished Head, HKS Cams, Oversized Valves, AEM Sprockets)

Justin
BMW 850 [eurospec]
Mitsubishi Eclipse [r]
Suzuki Katana GSX600 [stock, except throttle]

.

Drive, or at least sit in cars with each interior. See which one you like the best. You can tell by the nature of most of the responses that this is a highly personal thing.

As long as you're not interested in getting the sports seats there is one bright note here - at least the cloth and leatherette base seats cost the same.

All the best,
...BillG