I just picked up a MY02 (Sebring Silver) yesterday, and my neighbor, who is an avid car collector, came over to chat about my new 'baby".

As I said, he is a BIG time collector, and can afford pretty much anything he wants (which is usually the best!). He just came back from the Corvette Museum (in Kentucky, of all places!), and he couldn't stop talking about this stuff called "LEATHERIQUE"--I have looked at their site (www.leatherique.com), and their products seem to have ALL the big endorsements (Corvette Museum and Owner's Club, MBZ Owner's of USA, Rolls Royce Owner's etc..my neighbor's friend has a 1966 hand-made Shelby Cobra worth about $350,000 and it was recommended to him, too)

Has anybody used this stuff before? I know that our cars are not exactly "collector's" cars, but if a product seems to clean and condition leather better than the "trusted" Lexol, then why not go for it? Our cars don't have that much leather in them to begin with, but it appears it can be used on vinyl also.

At the price (for both Cleaner and Conditioner) it's not cheap, but if it really helps to sustain the interior's good looks (especially the red that I have) when exposed to sun, and the elements--then I think it'd be worth it!

If I get this should I post a report (maybe compared to Lexol and Vinylex??). If it works as well as they report, maybe a Group Buy may be possible, and it's made in the USA! But if Lexol seems to work as well (or better?) then we can just stick with that, and leave the "high-end" products to those "snooty" collectors. Our cars were meant to be DRIVEN, after all!!

I'd appreciate ANY feedback on this product, since I'm totally new to this List!

Thanks in advance,
Harley

P.S. I got some waxing/ detailing tips from the guy with the Shelby---you wouldn't believe what he uses to apply AND buff out his 100% Carnauba Wax with! PM me for details...

 

aww come on spill the beans, tell us all what he uses

 

lexol is one of my fav for leather (you need the cleaner and the conditioner)...
i have been using townsends leather cleaner and conditioner more lately- really like the smell and sqeaky new feeling when you sit in the seat after using it.
have not used leatherique... and would be interested in a comparo-
am sure someone here has used it!

 

Well, hey, Harley. Try it, and give us some feedback.

I think there are plenty of good leather products out there. I've heard good things about Lexol too, but I don't have it. The last stuff I used was a little annoying because it filled in the perforations in the seat a bit. Not a problem, really, just sloppy.

Meguiars makes disposable wipes... I've used those, and they seem OK.

 

I'm really not fussy at all when it comes to the interior..
leather does make that much material on our seats or sidewalls of our doors, so I tend to not use anything special. zaino leather cleaner, w/ zaino's leather in a bottle. the rest I use 303 as it's vinyl

 

I've been using the Meguiar's Gold Class wipes, but I'm not crazy about them. When I run out, I'm going to try the Gold Class conditioner in the spray bottle.

Kris

 

I think this is just as subjective as the endless wax debate, however looks like they are indicating you need a $40 bottle of the stuff for ONE APPLICATION (unless I'm just reading it wrong) and I personally think you would be hard pressed to find a big difference between that and Lexol or Meguires used on a regular basis.

Just be case you CAN spend 10 times more on a product doesn't (always) mean it's 10 times better, IMHO.

Bowling Green, KY is where 'Vettes come from hence the musem btw

Travis

 

Anybody use zymol??

 

Actually yes, got some for Christmas and forgot to mention it above, I think it does a fine job also

 

Harley;

I've used Leatherique for years. They have a cleaner which is a lite weight liquid that either is absorbed or evaporates very quickly when applied, and they have the conditioner which is more like olive oil in it's consistency (and as greasy if you use too much).

A few observations: The conditioner will make the leather softer to the touch, it will also give it a yellowish (it's the color of maple syrup) tint to the leather-more of a problem with lighter colors. It needs to sit and soak in for a few hours for the mamimum effect. It made the old German leather (thick hydes) used in MB's in the 70's and 80's feel like butter. It smells very funky--like a bunch of old socks. If you use it too often, it makes the leather so pliable it feels like the leather has weakened-only my opinion, as I have never torn or ripped anything that has been treated with it.

The cleaner removes only surface grime, deep cleaning the 'grain' will require scrubbing with a saddle soap product and a brush.

I still use both but I have cut back the frequency of use after my light cream seats yellowed in a previous car.

Regards,
BD