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    May 30, 2006 3:54:49 AM

    atomic80
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    atomic80
    Loc: Bellevue, WA USA , United States
    Posts: 2596, Gallery
    Registered on: Feb 9, 2006

    Standard vs Natural Leather

    I've got a 997 TT on order from my dealership set for an August build with a delivery date in late September/early October. I just put in the order today for quite a few options but what I'm really curious about is opinions regarding the differences between standard leather vs natural leather. I was originally set to get black standard leather but then I saw a sample of Natural Grey which looks black to me (not sure why Porsche calls it grey) and feels richer. Not only that, it also looks richer in appearance than the standard leather. I guess that my question to those of you would be which would you guys pick? From sitting in a car with both types, the natural seems to be grippier and feels a bit more supple. Not only that, the grain looks to be a much tighter texture than the standard type. Another issue I wonder about is the durability of either one.

    I chose GT silver. I considered getting Natural Brown which would be a much more exotic combination. Natural Grey would be the safe choice.

    What do you guys think?

    May 30, 2006 4:57:10 AM

    WBH
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    WBH
    Loc: CA
    Posts: 1963, Gallery
    Registered on: Jan 2, 2004
    Reply to: atomic80

    Re: Standard vs Natural Leather

    Agree NGL is better finish than blk leather. Problem is nat grey carpets are fairly medium grey....and very visible along bottom of doors and on rear shelf....and in context of NGL, may accentuate the charcoal-like color that NGL actually is....

    P has an option code for deviating carpets in blk....but haven't yet heard from PCNA whether that code is yet active for Jul build cars....also, I wonder if NGL in context of deviating blk carpets still appears more charcoal-like than blk

    Have thought through these nuances, as I appreciate fine-quality leathers, but hate light and lighter-than-blk colors in my cars....re: durability, doubt anyone would want to keep any new P/F/MB beyond 2-3 yrs, b/c of rapid tech obsolescence, mtce costs/hassles and out-of-warranty issues....besides, new cars and lease terms are incredibly cheap vs cars of 10-15 yrs ago anyway....

    May 30, 2006 5:09:19 AM

    bh
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    bh
    Loc: california
    Posts: 23, Gallery
    Registered on: Feb 21, 2006
    Reply to: atomic80

    Re: Standard vs Natural Leather

    I have a a 997tt on order with natural brown (black exterior). I had a 996tt black/black and a 997S seal/black. It was time for a change. Both the natural leathers IMO look to be a step up in quality. The feel and look of the natural leathers seems a little richer and the color looks less like a surface dye and more integrated into the hide. That said, you have to like the color to order either one. The natural gray is not quite as dark as black, but the difference is hard to detect in the showroom. You can tell if you see it in direct sunlight. The difference between natural brown and biege is significant, with the natural brown being darker and warmer. I recently saw it in a GT Silver GT3. It looked great. Very personal choice, but I think you can't go wrong either way. Painted seatbacks would look great with either interior. I could not get that option on my June build but maybe you can.
    BH
    997tt (june build) black/natural brown
    6spd
    sport shift
    lsd
    pccb
    sport chrono
    sport seats
    heated seats
    phone module
    leather switch panel
    leather door finishers
    leather rear center console
    mats
    cd changer
    thicker leather steering wheel

    May 30, 2006 8:03:31 AM

    Alan(NJ)
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    Alan(NJ)
    Loc: Paramus NJ USA
    Posts: 403, Gallery
    Registered on: Mar 29, 2002
    Reply to: atomic80

    Re: Standard vs Natural Leather

    I have a 987S that is Silver GT/Natural Brown leather. It's a fabulous combination and certainly you won't see it everyday. The natural leathers look, feel and smell great. Personally, I wouldn't hesitate to go GT silver/NBL again.

    May 30, 2006 8:11:06 AM

    Alan(NJ)
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    Alan(NJ)
    Loc: Paramus NJ USA
    Posts: 403, Gallery
    Registered on: Mar 29, 2002
    Reply to: Alan(NJ)

    and here it is

    987S GT Silver/NBL

    May 30, 2006 8:13:30 AM

    Alan(NJ)
    Pilot
    Alan(NJ)
    Loc: Paramus NJ USA
    Posts: 403, Gallery
    Registered on: Mar 29, 2002
    Reply to: Alan(NJ)

    Re: and here it is

    http://i3.tinypic.com/116nha8.jpg

    May 30, 2006 8:18:51 AM

    hkbeejay
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    hkbeejay
    Loc: Hong Kong
    Posts: 28, Gallery
    Registered on: Jan 8, 2006
    Reply to: Alan(NJ)

    Re: Standard vs Natural Leather

    I had a 996TT, black with natural brown leather, black stitching and black carpeting. Looks great and the leather feels much nicer. I also think for lighter colour, the natural leather wears better. I sold the car 2 years ago and I am now driving a Cayenne TT, also black with Havanna Beige leather. The leather is standard leather here and I do think the natural leather is well worth the extra.

    I will be saying goodbye to my Cayenne TT soon as a new toy is coming (hence I am here on this section of the board). My 997TT will also be black, but with natural grey leather, and yellow seat belts (just like RC's, I believe). I am very much looking forward to this.

    May 30, 2006 10:26:38 PM

    Dan L
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    Dan L
    Loc: Santa Barbara, CA , United States
    Posts: 1957, Gallery
    Registered on: Jan 2, 2006
    Reply to: hkbeejay

    Re: Standard vs Natural Leather

    Here's the situation with the natural leathers. (I did a lot of research on this as I have it ordered on my 997S cab which I'll be picking up on the 13th.) The "top 5%" of the supplied hides are used for the natural leather interiors. The rest get an entirely different process. The natural brown (my choice for my custom blue turquoise exterior cab) and nat. grey are vat dyed and are a true aniline process. The other hides are natural in the sense that scraps with barbed wire, bug bites, etc. are all left on the leathers and they do a lot of processing to attempt to camouflage those flaws. Many of the other colors appear to have their finishes painted on. The natural hides will be softer, smell incredibly, and will wear in an entirely different manner than the normal leathers,--that's the other 95% of the stuff. If you're going with a turbo and you can handle the color definitely go with the naturals. They are quite rare and not that much more money when you sit down and do the math.

    Will post pictures sometime when I get a chance,--once I take delivery at Zuffenhausen in LESS THAN 2 WEEKS!!!

    This topic has been discussed on the 997 forum.

    Dan

    Jun 1, 2006 1:53:25 PM

    SL Boy
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    SL Boy
    Loc: London England
    Posts: 20, Gallery
    Registered on: May 22, 2006
    Reply to: Dan L

    Re: Standard vs Natural Leather

    Quote:
    Dan L said:
    The other hides are natural in the sense that scraps with barbed wire, bug bites, etc. are all left on the leathers and they do a lot of processing to attempt to camouflage those flaws.

    Dan



    Dan - are you sure about this? I have just been round the factory including the upholstery shop and saw them microscopically examining complete hides of normal leather and circling with marker pen, cutting out and rejecting any sections that had marks, bug bites etc

    Jun 1, 2006 9:11:22 PM

    Dan L
    Expert
    Dan L
    Loc: Santa Barbara, CA , United States
    Posts: 1957, Gallery
    Registered on: Jan 2, 2006
    Reply to: SL Boy

    Re: Standard vs Natural Leather

    I'll try to find you a couple of sites. Most of it has to do with the WAY they finish the natural leathers. I located the company (they're in Austria) who provide the leather to Porsche. The point is, very little (I think they said 5%) of the total hide production is reserved and processed as the naturals. All the rest get a different treatment.

    Do a google search, too, on aniline finished leather.

    The P factory today does SOME of that as they literally SCAN in the hide and label it, highlighting into the computer all the positional information about that particular hide. They then program their hihg pressure water cutting guides to cut out the bad stuff to the max extent possible. I suspect with the premium stuff they are even more discriminating.

    There IS a reason for the added expense for the natural and for the term "natural" leather. If you get a chance try to sit in a car that has either of the natural lether interiors. I believe the terminology is "Protected" vice Aniline" leathers. Most of the "protected" leathers have been surface sanded while the full aniline leathers have not are are the premium hides.

    Dan

    Jun 3, 2006 4:38:08 PM

    Jim_in_Iowa
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    Jim_in_Iowa
    Loc: US
    Posts: 336, Gallery
    Registered on: May 18, 2005
    Reply to: Dan L

    Re: Standard vs Natural Leather, some links

    I think these links will help explain. I believe the "natural" designation equals analine in the trade:

    http://www.spinneybeck.com/images/PrintedMat/Factsheets/Large/lookatleather.pdf

    http://www.spinneybeck.com/Main.cfm?vPage=Encyclo

    http://www.spinneybeck.com/main.cfm?vPage=About
     
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