Ok, I started all this leather talk, and now I have one more concern to throw into the mix. I've been reading over on the MDX board about those owners' ongoing problems with "stringy fuzzies" popping up thru the holes of their leather. Seems it's a "known problem" and one Acura dealer even offered to take off the leather and "shave" the fibers off. Still occurring with 2002 MDXes, by the way.

Now I realize that is exactly the fibery "doghair" stuff I saw in the 2001 MDX last week. It's not attractive, tho they say it goes away over time (and the consistent use of tweezers).

Anybody know (like somebody on the line?) whether Honda corrected this problem with the Pilot? It looks really shabby, but the talk of airbag safety has scared me off after-market leather.

My main goal in getting leather was easy maintenance -- easy to wipe off spilled drinks, melted candy, etc. I also transport a whole car filled with sweaty high school lacrosse players, and I had thought the leather would be less "absorbent" of smells than cloth. Hate to have a new car smell like a locker room....

But...maybe cloth with scotchguard would be OK... and lots of car deodorizers!

Why didn't Honda just put in the smooth leather like the Ody? What were they thinking? (And if anyone from Honda is monitoring this board, please change for 2004...tho it will be far too late for me...)

Tempted to go to the Ody -- but 14-year-old son won't let me...

Diane

Diane,

I totally understand what you are saying. My EX-L I ordered will here late June. But, after reading all this leather stuff, I seriously reconsidering. I called several dealers today and the earliest I would Be able to get a Silver EX cloth would be late July or early August. I recently sold my car and cannot wait that long. Any suggestions???

Well, I went down and looked at that MDX again, closely examining that perforated leather. I must have pulled out most of the fibers last week -- or they worked on it at the dealership -- because it ddn't seem to look as bad. A good work-over with some tweezers would probably take care of it.

I also looked at another 2001 that was parked there for service, and it had the same problem --only this time on the front seats. It wasn't nearly as bad, tho, and no one but me -- and the rest of you reading this -- would probably ever notice.

I examined the little holes closely , and have decided that I'll still go with the leather. I think it will have a better resale value, and I don't want to mess around with possible safety and airbag problems on an after-market job. Does anyone know how that airbag sensor on the front-passsenger seat works?

If there's major spillage (unlikely when someone is sitting on the seat), we'll just have to carry handy wipes (in one of the cubbies of the center console, I suppose). The holes look too small to let much into the cushion unless you let it stand. And the sides aren't perforated, and that's where sticky fingers, etc., would most likely land.

And I think the leather/vinyl would still be more forgiving of odors and stains than cloth.

Plus, a Silver EX withOUT leather won't be built until June 6 with delivery who knows when? -- and that puts me another month into a rental car.

so...that's my thinking. For what it's worth

Diane