_rocket

I was at a prestige car dealer today and in the showroom there was a Ferrari California convertible (black on black w/red stitching) and a 997 (black on black) side by side. What struck me was how much better was Ferrari's leather than Porsche's. The Ferrari leather just looked and felt so much better. Is it because the Porsche full leather is just a regular grade? Would the natural leather option be as good as Ferrari's?

mooty

well....
one's italian leather, the other is german leather.
part of our family is in leather apparel business for a long time, if you want leather, you buy italian period. look at leather shoes too, italian vs german.

they have ways to work with leather, tanning, softening..... our suppliers wont divulge family secrets but we have never found any german leather supplier comparable to italian.

CoRS

My experience has been that the Porsche leather nolds up much better than Ferrari's. I thing that Ferrari surface dyes theirs the color quickly is abraded off.

Bob Rouleau

I wish Porsche could make the interior of their cars smell as good as a Ferarri - there is no comparison sadly.

Nugget

If I ever buy a Panamera maybe I'll start caring about leather.

roberga

the ferrari cost is what vs $112 for a GT3? They use better quality in many areas. CF interior, SS down by the throttle.

malmasri

No surprise...Italians are best known for leather fabrication and dressing people/cars etc.
IMO:One is a workhorse..the other is a weekender princess...

Mark FM

I agree with CoRS on this one. Look at a used Ferrari and a used Porsche of the same year. Ferrari leather does not hold up very well! But come to think of it, the whole car does not hold up as well!!!

Mark

mooty

yes, you are right.
there is no free lunch, so to speak.

and i use this analogy with my wife.
go try on some shoes. if it hurts, it's usually high heel and pretty.
if it doesn't hurt, it's usually flats and frumpy.
you can choose either pain or beauty...

sort of like wheels.
you can pick two of three, price, wt, strength, but never all three.

yes, i am exaggerating a bit, but you get the pix.

Edgy01

I own mostly Italian leather jackets and shoes--for a reason. But the interior of my 997 with the natural brown can give Ferrari a run for its money. I have also found it to be rather durable--more than I thought. When I first picked up that car the smell was incredible. In time, much of that has faded, but the memories are still there!

tcsracing1

italians also refrain from using barbed wire fences.... the cows are happy

Md11skipper

I have been told Ferrari uses the best leather shop in Italy: Poltrona Frau, this company uses a 20 step process to treat their leather. I have a sofa and living room set from them and it is superb to say the least, use a damp rag to clean it and give it a treatment with the Poltrona Frau conditioner once a year to keep it supple and protected.
If you ask any Italian about Poltrona Frau they all drop their jaw in admiration of this company.

4-large

LOL

C.J. Ichiban

200k cars vs 100k cars!

ferrari uses more sophisticated technology in the transmission, why would it surprise you that their leather is better too?

like everyone says- you buy german for durability, you buy italian for style...

almeena58

If you smell BMW leather you'll change your mind about german leather,
they are using special treatment to let it smell very well and for long time.

Just open any 740 2001 and see what i mean.