Japanese Leather Sucks

Post by **Jesda** » Sat Apr 03, 2004 8:34 pm

Woohoo! Stirring some controversy...

Actually, I believe that the leather in American cars is more pliable and has more room to "breathe" partly because of the leather, and partly because of how its placed over the seat in a typically looser fashion.

Coating the seats in the Q was a bad idea. Sure, you can get away with 8 years of no maintenance, but after that its dried, cracked, and ripped (like in my 92).

Leather has to breathe. Otherwise, you cant condition it and it deteriorates. My front seat bottoms are going vinyl this summer.

-Jesda

Post by **rsiwicki** » Sat Apr 03, 2004 8:34 pm

thanks for the info on the jap leather as I always thought the difference was that US cows are grass & corn fed while Asian cows were ginseng root & tofu fed...:pface

Post by **AZhitman** » Sat Apr 03, 2004 8:34 pm

What were yours "coated" with?

Find me a 95 American car with 110K and perfect leather and I'll gnaw on the armrest... Non-existant. My leather is literally PERFECT at present, with zero visible wear.

Most of what GM used throughout the 90's was a substandard grade of leather that was quite thin (thus the pliable sensation) and was coated and dyed to hide it's poor grain and consistency.

Check the leather in a 1970's-90's Bentley or a Rolls and you'll see where Infiniti got its inspiration for the G50 leather interior.

Post by **Mr1der** » Sat Apr 03, 2004 8:34 pm

check mine in it's busted and ripped glory...

mine may not be a good example due to apparent retards as previous (and current) owners though.

Post by **AZ94Q** » Sat Apr 03, 2004 8:34 pm

I really loved the leather of the first gen 90-93... I love how it didnt have any extra cushioning, just nice firm seats, with leather nailed against it.

The 94 doesn't quite seem as good... The door panel leather is so nice, though.. Go touch other leather door panels, it won't be nearly as soft...

Post by **AZhitman** » Sat Apr 03, 2004 8:34 pm

Check THIS out - If you're talking about the upper half of the panel, did you know it's not really leather? Little-known fact.

Only leather on a 94-96 door panel is the handle and the armrest.

A guy who does leather repair here in Phx for all the top-end dealerships told me about the 93-97 J30's and the 94-96 Q45's having a problem of the top of the door panel (where you'd rest your arm) getting all "pruney", and he'd replace 20-30 a DAY! It's a synthetic coating on a fiber backing, and it's nearly indistinguishable from leather.

I saw several that were torn open when i worked at the dealership...

Post by **AZ94Q** » Sat Apr 03, 2004 8:34 pm

THAT IS SO SCANDELOUS

How can that not be leather.. It feels exactly the same as the headrest... and the stitching...

Well, if that's true, I guess it's the case for all g50s... Damn, that's kind of disappointing.. That was always one of my favorite things... It feels and looks so nice..

It feels exactly the same as the armrest... Wow... I always thought it was leather.. I never thought the J was leather, though... It feels the same as the armrest, has that massive stitching.. They got me on that one.

Post by **AZ94Q** » Sat Apr 03, 2004 8:34 pm

The J30s didn't seem as nice as the Qs... I wonder if they were the same.

Post by **AZhitman** » Sat Apr 03, 2004 8:34 pm

Yep - same deal in the J. If yours is in good shape, it's rare. When it starts to tear, it's not a pretty sight.

Impressive facsimile huh?

Fortunately, I've seen this guy's repair work and he's an ARTIST. Hope i don't need his services any time soon.

Post by **Jesda** » Sat Apr 03, 2004 8:34 pm

Every 90-93 has a coating of some sort on the seats and headrest to prevent wear, but unfortunately rendering leather conditioners useless.

Post by **maxnix** » Sat Apr 03, 2004 8:34 pm

AZhitman wrote:Yep - same deal in the J. If yours is in good shape, it's rare. When it starts to tear, it's not a pretty sight.

Impressive facsimile huh?

Fortunately, I've seen this guy's repair work and he's an ARTIST. Hope i don't need his services any time soon.

Get this guy's name and have him advertiese here. I concur it is not leather, which is probably a good idea since it would be short lived in sunny climates and no tint.

Post by **AZ94Q** » Sat Apr 03, 2004 8:34 pm

Interesting. I've never had a problem with the Qs... however just about every J30 I see, how that issue... I like the layout of the Q, with the big panel, as opposed to the Js smaller panel, and then whatever is below it... I guess the Qs was more expensive, because the whole thing was synthetic was opposed to the top part of the J.

Isn't there anything you can do with treated leather?

I've seen some very well maintained perfect Q seats.. there must be something..

Post by **Jesda** » Sat Apr 03, 2004 8:34 pm

I heard the tan is prone to damage more than the other colors.

But... why?

Post by **carlos_knology** » Sat Apr 03, 2004 8:34 pm

AZhitman wrote:Check THIS out - If you're talking about the upper half of the panel, did you know it's not really leather? Little-known fact.

Only leather on a 94-96 door panel is the handle and the armrest.

A guy who does leather repair here in Phx for all the top-end dealerships told me about the 93-97 J30's and the 94-96 Q45's having a problem of the top of the door panel (where you'd rest your arm) getting all "pruney"...

I can definitely agree on this being true on the J30. Somehow, both my back doors were affected by this "pruning".

See this old thread with pictures...

http://www.nissaninfiniticlub....39191

Carlos

Post by **Jesda** » Sat Apr 03, 2004 8:34 pm

Thats so odd. I've only seen such pruning on 97-01 Q45 door arm rests. They crack and begin looking hideous after 100,000 miles.

Post by **elwesso** » Sat Apr 03, 2004 8:34 pm

I agree with Jesda... The leather may get more of those little lines, but it sure as hell doesnt crack and start tearing as soon..... I cant find any on ebay right now, but Ill find it.....

I dont mind those little lines as much as a I do holes, cracking, and stuff of that nature... I mean look at my seats, and how can you say thats good quality leather. i have yet to see a car with 120k that has leather as bad as mine, where the owner didnt have a really fat arse.....

Jesda... Q45tech has said that the reason that tan cracks the worst, and grey, black, etc are more durable is becuase of the dyes used, the tan dye apparently makes it crack more!

Post by **EWT** » Sat Apr 03, 2004 8:34 pm

The leather in my 93 was outstanding. It was very supple and still looked brand new at 100K miles. It barely had any wrinkles much less wear or tears. I'm not as impressed by the leather in my 95. It is a harder, stiffer leather that doesn't wear as well, but it was older when I bought it so I'm not sure what kind of care it received prior to my ownership. However, put that together with the superior seat design of the 90-93s, and those seats are far superior IMO. I really miss the seats from my 93 - they were outstanding while the seats in my 95 are just ok.

Post by **nuQ** » Sat Apr 03, 2004 8:34 pm

i agree w/ greg,,,,,,mid 90's gm leather is nothing to write home about. before buying my Q (and thankfully finding NICO first), i was looking at 93-96 cadillac sts's. my thought was, most were probably driven by elderly drivers, how bad could they be. i had a hard time finding ONE, that had a decent looking interior. the leather seemed to be cracking, and dirty in most. the other thing that stuck with me was the strip that always was scraped and striped that ran down the auto shifter (not describing it well, when it's in drive you see more of the strip). IMO, the interior materials were just not that great. on the other hand, the leather in my 90Q looks almost like brand new. i've conditioned it twice in the year i've owned it and people are amazed. took, i think, fred's recommendation of armour all leather conditioner, apply a thick, wet coat overnight, then wipe off in the morning. i know there are better leather products, but this works incredible for me, and it's cheap! i've even had mechanics guess it's a 99 or 2000, always fun to check the looks on their face when they hear it's a 90!!!!!!

Post by **VimyJ** » Sat Apr 03, 2004 8:34 pm

The leather on my J still looks pretty good but it has probably always been garaged.

Post by **elwesso** » Sat Apr 03, 2004 8:34 pm

I think that may be the difference... I dont think my Q was garaged all its life (maybe some) and I dont know if Jesda's was, but doesnt appear to be...

Post by **nuQ** » Sat Apr 03, 2004 8:34 pm

along with my grey leather, i think mine HAD to be garaged for the first 3/4 of it's life. still damn nice leather!!!

Post by **AZhitman** » Sat Apr 03, 2004 8:34 pm

I'm still awaiting the first wrinkle in mine.

The driver's seat, upon close inspection, is no more worn than the rear seats.

Granted, it's always been garaged, but for leather to look AS NEW after 9 years is a testament to its quality and durability.

Most people don't know how to PROPERLY care for their leather.... Check out a product called "Leatherique", their website has the end-all beat-all of dyed leather care instructions.

p.s. Zaino's leather conditioner is IMO the best thing on the market (aside from Leatherique).

Post by **AZ94Q** » Sat Apr 03, 2004 8:34 pm

Greg,

You were saying the only part of the door panel that is leather, is the armrest, correct? I was looking very closely at the panel, if the armrest is leather, and the panel is not, that's amazing. Maybe the armest isn't leather either. I see NO visual differences, and NO feel differences, between the two. I must say if none of the panel is leather, that is the most amazing feeling and looking fake leather, I've ever seen. It looks just as good as the seats, and feel soft to the touch. Very nice.

Post by **AZ94Q** » Sat Apr 03, 2004 8:34 pm

What about meguiars?

The detail shop in the scottsdale airpark, uses only meguiars.. They specialize in highline automobiles, from the dealers nearby..

Post by **redmanfx** » Sat Apr 03, 2004 8:34 pm

The only way you can tell I have an older model Q, by just looking at it, is the Cracked, dry and towel covered tan leather driver's seat and the dry crack repaired passenger seat. All the leather front and back have some signs of aging and wear. Tan leather dye, used by Nissan, ages the leather due to some chemical, which of course I have forgotten. Learned that from a Motor Trend mag some years ago.

Redmanfx92 Q45a

Post by **elwesso** » Sat Apr 03, 2004 8:34 pm

Thats why Ill be switching to all american leather here sometime.....

Post by **Need4Speed** » Sat Apr 03, 2004 8:34 pm

I have to disagree.... the leather drivers seat in my 97 suburban with 130k on it is in worse shape than the 93 Q's drivers seat with 180k. The Q leather also seems thicker.

Andy

Post by **elwesso** » Sat Apr 03, 2004 8:34 pm

I think the 90-93 leather is much superior to the 94-96..

Its almost like it came thick and brittle from the factory, but interestingly enough it looks ultra plush new (see the 10,000 mile Q Q45tech posted a while back, INCREDIBLE)... its gotta be that coating they put on it so conditioners cant soak in...

Post by **AZ94Q** » Sat Apr 03, 2004 8:34 pm

The 90-93 seats, were the most comfortable leather seats I have ever been in..

I used to cruise for hours, sometimes the whole night, looking for races, in my old 91.. Never got uncomfortable.. The 94 isn't nearly as good.. It's funny, if you read the old ownership surveys, the ciritcs hated the seats, but they were one of the main likes of the actual owners.. Same can be true for all the Q negatives.. Styling/Seating etc all hated by critics and loved by the owners..

Post by **rsiwicki** » Sat Apr 03, 2004 8:34 pm

damn...I really have got to go test drive a 90-93 Q to find out what I am missing. It is driving me crazy to constantly hear about the differences between these two cars. This weekend I will go hunt down a poor used car salesman and see what I am missing. Heck...my car will soon be a hybrid of the 90-93 Q's as I will have the steering rack and transmission from the 90-93 years. I guess all that is left are the seats and engine. Well I hope that with the new transmission that this is the major difference speed wise between these cars...we shall see.

Japanese Leather Sucks

Japanese Leather Sucks

Nissan Forums

Infiniti Forums

Datsun Forums

Technical Forums

Classifieds / Marketplace

Nissan Motorsports

General Forums