I'm hoping to order a new 500 in the next week or so and the one thing I can't decide on, is which seat coverings to go for. I'm going for a 1.2 petrol, and so could spec up a popular, or go for a lounge or sport. I'll definately be choosing the black dash and wheel.

Therefore, there are three basic seat options for me and I can't decide?!! I know I could also choose leather, but I'm concerned that could crack and age prematurely. It also adds to the cost of the car. I don't carry children or dogs, it's just me and my borderline OCD!!!

However, in all seriousness, now some of you have owned your 500's for over a year, what are your thoughts on the durability of your seat coverings? I'm leaning towards the lounge in black check or the popular in black or red.

Any advice would be appreciated!

Thanks

The pop seats have been mentioned in another thread for bobbling easily, I went for the check but I've only had my car for 10ish days so can't say how durable they are. I think they'd be the best if you can't afford the leather (you can treat the leather to keep it soft etc...)

I think you'll find that leather is far and away the easiest to clean. We sit on leather in the house, and the upholstery in the motorhome is leather. One thing; I absolutely religiously clean and feed it every six months to keep it supple and stop fading. The motorhome is ten years old and still looks darned good inside. One other thing (isn't that two things?); we don't let the mutt get on the seats even though we love him dearly!

eribiste said:

I think you'll find that leather is far and away the easiest to clean. We sit on leather in the house, and the upholstery in the motorhome is leather. One thing; I absolutely religiously clean and feed it every six months to keep it supple and stop fading. The motorhome is ten years old and still looks darned good inside. One other thing (isn't that two things?); we don't let the mutt get on the seats even though we love him dearly!

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Yeah, I back that 100%. My old Vauxhall Senator had leather, and was 10 years old when I got rid of it. However, I'd treated the seats often over the previous 6 years with hide food, as had the previous owner (I used a tub of Connolly hide food, which lasted for years), and they were still very supple and crease-free.
You sometimes see leather going a bit flakey - that's generally because people haven't treated the leather. Make sure you do and you'll have no problems.

Leather can be a little cold first thing on a winter's morning though. My Senator had heated seats, which helped a lot. I'm not sure whether the 500 comes with heated seats if you order the leather - it certainly doesn't with the standard cloth.

Leather definitely Just clean it and feed it and it'll last forever.

Thanks for the replies - much appreciated. Interesting to hear that popular seats may have been prone to bobbling, that could look really bad if you were unlucky. I'm steadily going through every page of the 500 threads, so hopefully I'll find it.

I also understand the plus points for leather, but I think it's a bit too expensive for me. The faux leather and cloth on the sport look nice too, any thoughts on this choice?

leather is much easier to keep clean, when had it in our previous car. however i hated that leather gets sooo hot in summer
i know i'm going to drive myself crazy trying to keep the cloth seats clean. i'm paranoid about denim dye from jeans rubbing off on the fabric (it will happen and it'll be seriously annoying).

I've never had that happen in the past... (it better not happen now... worry, worry, lol)

MissR said:

I've never had that happen in the past... (it better not happen now... worry, worry, lol)

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you mean about the denim... it happens. we brought light coloured ikea dinning chair covers and the edges are starting to turn blue i also spent hours painting a sideboard white in the living room and realised that everytime i rested my knee against it and a blue smudge appeared

i can picture myself becoming obsessive about it now, lol.

I just posted yesterday about the cloth seats on the Sport I have getting stains from rainwater. Got them out easy enough but still simple rainwater shouldnt leave marks.

Ken

elsie said:

you mean about the denim... it happens. we brought light coloured ikea dinning chair covers and the edges are starting to turn blue i also spent hours painting a sideboard white in the living room and realised that everytime i rested my knee against it and a blue smudge appeared

i can picture myself becoming obsessive about it now, lol.

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We had this discussion a while ago and worked out it was cheaper jeans that did it My Levi's don't do it

How about mid priced ones?

MissR said:

How about mid priced ones?

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Well I'd say Levi's are mid priced. They're certainly not Armani jeans or anything and quite frankly that's a good thing

My M&S jeans leave the dye on the leather seats but easily wiped off with leather wipes.

306maxi said:

We had this discussion a while ago and worked out it was cheaper jeans that did it My Levi's don't do it

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mid price jeans are best. even designer jeans leave blue marks though.
all denim would, unless it's been washed tones and then it'd be pale denim :yuck:
that's why the labels say 'colour may transfer onto lighter fabrics'

i'd consider topshop jeans as not being cheap

elsie said:

mid price jeans are best. even designer jeans leave blue marks though.
all denim would, unless it's been washed tones and then it'd be pale denim :yuck:
that's why the labels say 'colour may transfer onto lighter fabrics'

i'd consider topshop jeans as not being cheap

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Well to be fair my Levi's 506's are (or were at least) black denim

306maxi said:

Well I'd say Levi's are mid priced. They're certainly not Armani jeans or anything and quite frankly that's a good thing

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Whats the beef with Armani? Or are you just glad Levis arent that expensive?

I have an Armani button tee shirt I bought in 1987, cost me £80 and it still looks like new after at least one wear and wash a week since then. Now thats value for money.

Ken131269 said:

Whats the beef with Armani? Or are you just glad Levis arent that expensive?

I have an Armani button tee shirt I bought in 1987, cost me £80 and it still looks like new after at least one wear and wash a week since then. Now thats value for money.

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Armani, it's just money for a brand like paying extra money for a Mini over a 500 for no actual benefit.

i'm pretty sure my dad has brought every pair of jeans he owns, from charity shops, all new, all levi's, diesel, armani, etc...

thinking about it, i'm pretty sure the dye comes out of those ones aswell.
so i guess there's no real answer to denim, so... here's the solution, everyone in the 500 with fabric seats, wearing jeans, has to sit deadly still, no shuffling, no nothing... solved

Good job it has air con!