I thought I'd post this here as a general 997 question. I just visited the dealer to get a sense of the car. They only had 991's. My apologies if this steps on any toes, but I didn't care for the perforated leather. I was certain the 997 I looked at last year did not have perforated seats. I found a picture of a 997 without any holes, see below.

So when did Porsche introduce perforated leather? Or is non-perforated an option?

Thanks!

 

Perforated leather comes with the ventilated seats option, which was available late in 2009 model and in all 2010s and later. A lot of people like the seats, very nice to avoid sweaty back in the summer!

 

Yep, I can confirm that finding a car with ventilated seats is a big plus, at least if you live in a place with heat like I do in central Texas. Interestingly, the Porsche ventilated seats actually pull air IN through the seat surface and out the vent at the back of the seat although most of us perceive that the seats are blowing air out through the holes. It is really hard to tell... but it is quite effect at cooling you down and preventing sweat on the backsides on a hot day. If you look at that car's console you should see buttons for seat ventilation on both the driver and passenger side.

As to OP's original question, perforated leather seats has been around in cars for a very long time just to provide some breathing space against the leather. I'm certain my 80's Corvettes had them. I don't know how long they've been in Porsches though.

 

I have perforated seats in my 2010 C2S but I didn't see the ventilated seat option on my build sheet.

Is it a button or is it just automatic when you use the AC?

 

There's a button for it right next to the seat heater button. Looks like a seat with a fan over it.

 

huhh...I have the seats but not the button.

My build sheet only says: P15 Pwr Comfort Seats w/ Driver Mem

 

My seats in my 2006 C2S are perforated but not vented/air cooled.

 

Weird, send a pic.

Porsche has had dimpled/perforated seats in the past for style I guess. I didn't know a 997 had them. I've only heard of them with the Ventilated seat option in the 997.2

 

I'm pretty sure there's no direct correlation between perforated and vented. You can definitely have perforated without vented. But I'm shocked your 2006 is perforated. I thought that was a 997.2 thing. I'll have to keep an eye out

 

Perforated in my 05 C2S.

 

Even 1996 and 1997 993's had perforated leather. Just not ventilated.

 

It has to be some kind of full leather option to get non-perforated... Interesting!

 

Okay. I looked around a little and see that perforated seats does not necessarily mean you have ventilated seats. If you have ventilated seats, then the side bolsters are also perforated. In seats without ventilation, only the main panels in the center are perforated (if what I read is correct). In any case, perforated seats even without ventilation are there to help reduce heat and sweating.

OP, I don't think the photo in you first picture has enough resolution to see the perforations, but I'd guess they are there.

 

I have the full leather option and my seats came with the perforated option. The only seats you cannot get that on is the Sport Comfort's I believe.

 

Not only does it pull, if I'm not mistaken the air being pulled is only as cool as the car's A/C system cools - no special cooling system for the seats...but any movement of air is great in central Texas.