Topic: 2018 Toyota Century (Japan only)

[rrocket]

Japanese don't really like leather. You're more likely to see cloth in a jdm car.

And there's a large group of luxury buyers that don't like something too ostentatious...which is why the Crown has always been a thing there.

[Jaeger]

So a JDM LS has cloth seats? 

[johngenx]

Would not surprise me if a cloth option was available.  Or some sort of very fancy non-leather like that Crown.

[rrocket]

So a JDM LS has cloth seats? 

LS430? Definitely. It's not cloth...same type of wool.

Wool is a traditional luxury touch in Japan and not leather.

JDM LS460 though? Not sure.

FWIW, you can get a full wool interior in North America on the new Range Rover.

[johngenx]

That looks REALLY comfy.

[Jaeger]

So a JDM LS has cloth seats? 

LS430? Definitely. It's not cloth...same type of wool.

Wool is a traditional luxury touch in Japan and not leather.

JDM LS460 though? Not sure.

Well, they haven't made the LS430 for 10 years - I'm talking about the current and even previous gen LS.  If wool is the preferred luxury choice over leather then certainly it would be available across the line of Japan's marquee luxury brand - at least domestically, no?

Wool and cloth are not mutually exclusive terms - wool is what cloth can be made of.  Now if you're talking about shearling - which is wool that hasn't been woven into cloth - then there's a distinction.  I would guess that if you want that material to take the wear and tear that the vehicle's longevity would mandate, then the wool would have to be woven for strength.

In any event - I'm not disputing the cultural preference for wool - first time I am hearing it and I don't claim to know anything about it.  I think I do recall reading something about an aversion to leather because they think tanned hides in general are gross, or something - though that hasn't stopped their love of leather shoes at all.

Nor am I saying that those who want wool should be denied the option if there is a business case for it to be offered.  I'm saying that the claim that wool seats are going to make the interior of an otherwise quiet luxury vehicle noticeably quieter sounds totally bogus to me.  I've recently driven the LS400, 430 and 460 - not once did I think "OMG the racket these leather seats are making!"  And as you know well, when you're driving a car that is super quiet in terms of blocking out exterior noise - this makes any small, annoying interior noise that much more noticeable.  The supposed squeaking of the leather seats escaped my notice.  Maybe because quality luxury vehicles tend to use quality leather.

Beyond that - people like what they like.  Those who like these puffy-looking wool seats aren't wrong, and neither am I for not liking them.  Do they look comfy?  Yes.  But they also look like my grandma's overstuffed sofa.  Which was certainly comfy, but did not present a luxury aesthetic.

[rrocket]

Wool has long been the traditional luxury touch in higher end cars. In Japan, the LS (until 2007) was under the Toyota banner (Celsior). In 2007, Lexus became available in Japan for the first time....so I don't know if wool seating no longer became available at that point...though it could still be optional. I'm not totally up to date on the option card for the LS460 there. MB and other luxury brands are sold there (imported) and you often see customers gut the leather interior and replaced with wool. I don't know if this was the taste of older money owners...And if tastes have changed.

Cloth seating is still preferred in "normal" cars there.

The wool in the luxury cars was a merino type. Super, super soft, breathable, temperature neutral, etc

[HeliDriver]

Apparently, the interior of the Queen’s Bentley State Limousine also has a wool interior:

From Wikipedia: “British textile manufacturer Hield Brothers produced the lambswool sateen cloth used for the upholstery of the rear seats.”



And Jalopnik says you’re a moron and an imbecile if you don’t like it. 

[Jaeger]

Apparently, the interior of the Queen’s Bentley State Limousine also has a wool interior:

From Wikipedia: “British textile manufacturer Hield Brothers produced the lambswool sateen cloth used for the upholstery of the rear seats.”

Doesn't that rather prove my "grandmother's sofa" point? 

[Jaeger]

I was just thinking it would be cool as hell if we had this in our market - new top of the line Toyota.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

It would be really nice if manufacturers at least offered an alternative to leather/synth-leather. Most manufacturers default to leather as soon as you pick any up-level trim package.

A girl I dated in university wanted a Volvo 740GLE, which was only offered with leather at the time. But Volvo had a customization program, so she factory ordered one with cloth seating. They even had swatches for her to choose from. It turned out very very well.

I miss that car.   

[rrocket]

Here's the wool interior from the RR.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

^ Very nice.

I wonder how much it would run to have seats reupholstered in decent quality wool, or even if the material would be available?

One of our senior guys had his truck redone in leather at a local shop. He liked the options it had and didn't want to spring for the leather package that had a bunch of crap he didn't want. 

[Jaeger]

Here's the wool interior from the RR.

That certainly looks waaaay better than the bland mousefuzz from the Century.  But not nearly as good as Rolls' fabulous leather - assuming you avoid the more ridiculous shades.

[johngenx]

I like the look of the high end leather interiors better, but thinking about how well a fine suit feels, I suspect I'd prefer owning the wool interior.  I wonder how they wear in comparison?

[rrocket]

I like the look of the high end leather interiors better, but thinking about how well a fine suit feels, I suspect I'd prefer owning the wool interior.  I wonder how they wear in comparison?

I'm guessing just fine.

I'm sure you own high quality merino garments.  They seem to last forever.

[johngenx]

I think the wool would outlast the leather.  I agree that my various high-end wool garments (merino outdoor gear, suits) are very, very durable.  High quality wool is one of the nicest materials there is.  It might look a little fuddy-duddy in a lux car interior, but if I were a buyer in that category, I'd probably forget what anyone else thinks and go for it.

[whaddaiknow]

I think the wool would outlast the leather.  I agree that my various high-end wool garments (merino outdoor gear, suits) are very, very durable.  High quality wool is one of the nicest materials there is.  It might look a little fuddy-duddy in a lux car interior, but if I were a buyer in that category, I'd probably forget what anyone else thinks and go for it.

Sign me up to a nice quality non-leather, non-plastic interior. It's a personal preference, and I would definitely appreciate the "leather delete" option in upper trims, especially in mainstream family vehicles.

[Jaeger]

I like the look of the high end leather interiors better, but thinking about how well a fine suit feels, I suspect I'd prefer owning the wool interior.  I wonder how they wear in comparison?

I'm guessing just fine.

I'm sure you own high quality merino garments.  They seem to last forever.

Dude - just.... no.

First, people don't wear the same woolen garment daily for 5 or 10 years.  If they did - how well do you think the garment would hold up?  Well short of forever?

Second, wool does NOT do well in two areas:  1) stretching (check the elbows of a well worn suit - it's why suede elbow patches are a thing) and abrasion (even the best quality wool trousers will wear at the crotch where the fabric gathers - it's why many higher end suits come with the option of a second pair of trousers).

Now how this translates to wear on woolen seats I can't say - but the material itself is not uniquely well suited (pardon the pun) to resist wear over time.  Show me a 10 year old LS340 with a leather interior and one of the same age in fuzzy wool and I know which one I would be betting on to show less wear.

[carcrazed]

I like the look of the high end leather interiors better, but thinking about how well a fine suit feels, I suspect I'd prefer owning the wool interior.  I wonder how they wear in comparison?

I'm guessing just fine.

I'm sure you own high quality merino garments.  They seem to last forever.

Dude - just.... no.

First, people don't wear the same woolen garment daily for 5 or 10 years.  If they did - how well do you think the garment would hold up?  Well short of forever?

Second, wool does NOT do well in two areas:  1) stretching (check the elbows of a well worn suit - it's why suede elbow patches are a thing) and abrasion (even the best quality wool trousers will wear at the crotch where the fabric gathers - it's why many higher end suits come with the option of a second pair of trousers).

Now how this translates to wear on woolen seats I can't say - but the material itself is not uniquely well suited (pardon the pun) to resist wear over time.  Show me a 10 year old LS340 with a leather interior and one of the same age in fuzzy wool and I know which one I would be betting on to show less wear.

 

I think the wool would outlast the leather.  I agree that my various high-end wool garments (merino outdoor gear, suits) are very, very durable.  High quality wool is one of the nicest materials there is.  It might look a little fuddy-duddy in a lux car interior, but if I were a buyer in that category, I'd probably forget what anyone else thinks and go for it.

Sign me up to a nice quality non-leather, non-plastic interior. It's a personal preference, and I would definitely appreciate the "leather delete" option in upper trims, especially in mainstream family vehicles.

Not with a young family though. It will get soiled with dirt & snow/salt real quick.
It's part of the reason why we wanted leather seats in our cars and leather sofa even though it's hotter in summer and colder in winter.  I'll probably get cloth seats and sofa as kids grow older.