[Windmania]

Hi all,

Does anyone have a convertible with a black leather interior in a southern state? We have always had a light color interior due to the sun and heat. We are really on the fence whether or not to give in and get one. All we can imagine is it being a sweat bath.

thanks

[leftoverture]

I think lighter colors are better. Hold out for what you really want.

[evilsaint]

I'm in Las Vegas. I have illegal ass tint and try to avoid parking in the sun. That being said, the HVAC is excellent so it's not that huge a deal beyond the first minutes.

[p912guy]

I'm in KY. My car has a black interior and it wasn't my first choice. I really would have preferred red but I purchased my car of the lot because it was perfect in my mind with the exception of black vs red interior. That said, I have grown to like the black and find the only time it's really too hot with the top down is when it's too hot to to have the top down with any color interior. That said, go with what you like.

[nazali]

it really really gets hot and burns, summer where I am the car interior is burning I put black seat covers as I couldnt get white and funny enough, the material is better than the original seats and doesnt burn as much, which sounds wierd but you need a lighter shard and or windscreen shades

Originally Posted by Windmania

Hi all,

Does anyone have a convertible with a black leather interior in a southern state? We have always had a light color interior due to the sun and heat. We are really on the fence whether or not to give in and get one. All we can imagine is it being a sweat bath.

thanks

[SGHCU95]

I have black interior in GA. In the summer I use a thin towel to cover the seats with the top down when parked, this helps a ton. While the summer months can be a little hot, I think the black interior helps on cooler days with the top down. I love the fall for a convertible.

[Mike F.]

Sacramento here, where we go over 100 degrees on numerous summer days. I had black Sensatec in my E90 and have black leather in the 240 and I haven't found either to be all that uncomfortable. Had an E36 with tan leather prior to the E90 and was surprised that there wasn't more of a difference.

[Sportstick]

Here is some science behind this from a colleague at an automotive seat supplier to the OEM industry. Light and dark colors will eventually reach the same hot temperature in the hot summer weather given sufficient time. Dark colors will reach that temperature faster, so if you park briefly and go shopping you will feel a hotter seat in a dark interior than a light interior because it heated up again more quickly. Differences in heat absorption are related to the tanning process for leather and how much chromium is used in the chemical solutions. I don't know how to find that out for any given car seat but that accounts for much of the variation, he said.

[High Desert]

No wonder new car designs are generally crap.

From physics.org:

"Generally, white materials reflect more light than dark ones, and this is also true for buildings and infrastructure. The outside and roof of a building soak up the heat from the sun, but if they are made of materials and finishes in lighter or white colors, this can minimize this solar absorption."