We'll start with leather. There is a lot to love about this material. Before you even touch it, you can admire its luxurious quality. Buying a car with a leather interior can even boost your 'status'? among friends and family. A vain reason to buy but a reason many do, nonetheless.

And oh, that smell. That delicious smell that wafts from the car the moment you open the door: the looks and aroma alone of a leather interior might have you reaching for your wallet!

Once you take a seat, most top notch leathers will be soft and supple. You will also note that it appears low maintenance and is very easy to clean. Combine all of these factors and you get one deluxe interior that adds to a whopping resale value.

Ah, it may sound great, but can you afford it? That is the big question. Leather is significantly more expensive than its cloth counterpart. You can bet on paying at least $300 more for a used vehicle and up to $2,500 more for a new vehicle with leather, depending on the quality of the leather.

Leather is also not a huge fan of the green trend that is currently sweeping the car industry. When you break it down, it is, in basic terms, the skin of a cow. Not very humane or environmentally friendly.

We have also all heard the 'butt burn'? horror stories from those who have had leather vehicles before us. Accounts of how, in the dead of summer, the seats, wheel and shifters are so hot, that they seem to melt the skin right off of your fingertips. And in the colder months, it seems as though your buns could practically freeze to the seats. Carrying a towel or cushion around helps but they also add clutter to your car. This doesn't even begin to cover the way hot, sweaty skin sticks to leather seats.

By far, the biggest complaint about leather interiors has to be the maintenance. Although one of the pluses to leather is that it is extremely easy to clean, it needs to be maintained - often. Your sweat, coupled with other liquids, spores, dust, and gunk leak into the tiny pores over time. If the leather isn't properly maintained, it will show wear quickly. Don't keep it up and you can watch your lovely leather harden, crackle, and wear out faster than you can pull out your saddle soap for a last ditch repair effort. If you do keep up with it faithfully, you'll need to rub it all over with saddle soap and then condition it habitually.

Sounds like a lot of work and concern, right? Well it all depends on what you're looking for. If you don't mind the upkeep and like a luxury look, leather could be for you.

Auto Depot Sudbury

933 Kingsway Sudbury, ON P3B 2E4 Canada

705-673-6079

http://www.autodepotsudbury.ca/