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Help needed. Currently have a 2006 model NC with leather seats which seem to be getting harder not softer (60,000 on clock) and causing back pain for both driver and passenger which has only started recently to the point now that any travel is uncomfortable. Was wondering whether cloth seats are any better, knowing that there are probably not too many out there, or is there a quick fix to softening the seats to save our backs. Also if we wanted to purchase cloth seats where to buy them. Have looked on various sites without success. Any help would be appreciated

an example of a recent thread is viewtopic.php?f=28&t=42250&hilit=leather+seats&start=15

I think there is an alternative seat available Recaro?? - would be worth investigating. Also reupholstery can be a prob if there are air bags in the seats- this has also been talked about recently. I sit in a friends 2006 NC recently confirms the seats seem much harder than an NB with cloth.

Hurricane wrote:...is there a quick fix to softening the seats to save our backs.

Have you tried an automotive leather softening product? I can't recommend a particular one, but there seems to be some out there:
http://www.google.com.au/search?q=autom ... =&aql=&oq=

My understanding is it's recommended household leather chairs are done annually & I would imagine automotive leather seats similarly, particularly if parked outside.

Have tried leather softening products but to no avail. I have cloth seats in my NA & NB which are far more comfortable. The leather just doesn't seem to give. Thanks anyway. Any further suggestions welcome.

You're getting old Kimmie!!! I know not as old as me.

I work the leather treatment into mine on a monthly basis but still they have hardened a bit. I think that a motor trimmer can fix that though.

Drop into Blackmans at Taren Point and chat about them doing some material covers in a colour you want.
You just unclip the leather, slide it off and slide on the new covers.

Cheers

Thanks Phil. I will drop into Taren Point but I suspect they are going to tell me it is not actually the covers but the seat itself. I must say it wasn't a problem until our last trip to Queensland in July when I came back I couldn't move for 2 weeks and then after yesterdays short run same problem again this morning. I knew I loved my NB for a reason. May be time to offload the NC.

the seats should not be hard after only 5 years or so- the material they use is very far from high quality and softening leather is not quite as easy as spraying a little wonder softener on it- ask Benny. Selling the car may well be an option - the owners call- advertise it with leather seats but do not mention they are uncomfortable.

What is your driving position like? Would be worth having a look at that and try adjusting it before ditching the car.

Heat and UV will harden the leather, hence why you see old cars with cracked and ripped leather upholstery, and there is little you can do about it other than condition the leather on a regular basis.
If you do want to condition the leather, don't waste your money on expensive leather re-conditioners or creams as one of the best things to use is plain old Mr Sheen in a spray can.
Just spray a very light mist on the leather and rub in.
Don't spray too much, and rub it in well with a soft cloth, and the seats will not only get cleaned, but remain soft and supple too.
If you spray on too much, or don't rub it in well, it can leave a shiny, slippery surface however.

You'll probbly find it is the foam under the upholstery that has also gone hard, and this can be replaced with a softer foam for not a lot of $$$.

I must admit that in the NC's I've dríven, I have always found the seats to be very hard in comparison to Na's and NB's.

Thanks for all the advice, we have finely fixed the problem. Took the car to an upholsterer who said the leather was fine but the foam in the lower part of the back support was a bit too hard. They removed some of the foam and padded more at the top and after a long drive no more back pain and the seats are far more comfortable and it was a very cheap alternative. Thanks again

Great to get if fixed- being comfortable is a must - and Benny nailed it very nicely. Some other NC owner or future owner might benefit from this fix.