Leather or Not

[XboxEboy]

I can't decide if it is worth the extra $50 a month (roughly) to get leather.

I REALLY like the idea of having a car that is easier to keep clean. This car will be our primary family vehicle. We are having a baby in the winter. Our dog rides in the far back, and he never jumps the back seat, so that is not a worry.

Also, do you think American Honda Finance will offer better financing in the Fall/Late Summer? Currently, the best rate we can get is 7%. I was hoping for a 3.9% sale or something.

[2RedV's]

Be careful with rates provided by car companies. Sometimes (not always) the rate difference is made up by the dealer. It's called dealer participation and if the dealer is kicking in money to drop the rate, they don't give you as good of a price. Check with a local credit union as well.

[connermt]

I can't decide if it is worth the extra $50 a month (roughly) to get leather.

I REALLY like the idea of having a car that is easier to keep clean. This car will be our primary family vehicle. We are having a baby in the winter. Our dog rides in the far back, and he never jumps the back seat, so that is not a worry.

Also, do you think American Honda Finance will offer better financing in the Fall/Late Summer? Currently, the best rate we can get is 7%. I was hoping for a 3.9% sale or something.

Leather needs cleaned & conditioned to keep it soft (keep it from cracking), so it isn't as if leather is totally maint. free or anything. In my past experience tan leather is A ROYAL PAIN to keep clean - it shows everything. Also, japanese leather never seemed to last as long as european leather (in my experience).
As far as financing, I doubt HFS will offer any 3.9%-like rates on CR-V anytime soon (although 07s might go for a little less than 08s when they come out). Individual banks or credit unions are likely to better their rates.

[07CRVOWNR]

I agree with connermt and 2RedV's comments concerning financing. My family has purchased several Honda's and always received a better rate at credit union's or other financial institutions. It seems they don't have much room to try to match/compete with other rates.

I have the leather seats and found that they are very easy to keep clean of dog hair, my dog is like yours and only stays to the back. I would recommend purchasing the cargo tray (from the Internet not from the dealer) and all weather floor mats. All I have to do is take them out and wash all of the hair off. As for leather care, I use leather cleaner and conditioner wipes to take care of the leather. I prefer Maguiar's but any brand should do fine.

[OUZO Power]

Get the leather man. it improves the image of the car so much.

I couldn't stand driving my 1st gen until I found leathers for it. After that it was a new car again.

[joeeew]

Leather makes a big difference.

6.3% financing here back in late april.

[zevo]

I just bought and ex-l with navi and got 5.89% financing.

[Black Pearl]

I have rented vehicles with leather seats and they look great! But, I found that I kept sliding down in the seat and had to keep pushing myself up. I also found that driving the car for more than about a half hour resulted in my back, butt, and thighs getting sweaty even though I had the a/c on. I ended up putting an old blanket on the seat. Still slipped and slided around on the seat, and the blanket would end up balled behind me. The typical comments I heard was hot in summer, cold in the winter, like the vinyl seats of old. I don't like leather because of the sweat and sliding issue, and I am not willing to pay extra for it. It does look great though--until you throw an old blanket over it.

[2RedV's]

I have rented quite a few vehicles over the years with leather. The best are the ones with cooling fans under the seats! This is an amazing invention! I rented a Lincoln LS in Arizona last summer that had this. aaahhhhh. You could really feel it. I suppose it could be added really easy to any car by using a decent 12v computer fan.

I have also had a few Mercedes and Porsches over the years with leather. My favorite material is actually MB-Tex - Mercedes own fake leather. Doesn't crack or fade yet feels like leather and wears like an iron bar.