If you bought a car to save the planet does it help to put in leather seats?

Sure. It takes 2-3 years to grow a cow -- and its a renewable resource with a recyclable byproduct. (Although the animal rights types might have a "cow". )

Now, real woodgrain interior trim... thats another matter -- twenty to thirty years, minimum. (Treehuggers of the world, unite, this is real conservation.)

[Note on the above before someone jumps on my back...I believe that ALL resources are a tradeoff, and that intelligent consideration should be undertaken with regard to their use, return, cost and impact on both the society at large and the planet before making any decision to employ them. Likewise, when a resource is used, it should be handled with efficiency in a manner consistent with existing social norms and ones own conscience. Just having a little fun with the above.]

It is the ignorant among us that will eventually destroy us all.

Sorry, the earth will probably catch a speeding meteor and all cars, including hybrids, will probably not survive.
Live it up...turn on the AC...enjoy life before the big one hits!

Other great tools:

• Toyota Online's iGuide
• 2007 Online Owner's Manual
• 2008 Owner's Manual PDF (download link)

Since cows produce methane gas, both directly (Gas! Lots of gas and at both ends! ) and indirectly (Decaying manure), and that methane gas increases global warming leather seats in a hybrid should be bonus points!

Note: No cows were harmed in the typing of this e-mail. I am just moooving this thread along.... and ditto FastMover's Note...

Wayne

2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid, Magnetic Grey, XM Radio, Body Side Moldings, Splash Guards, Formula 1 Pinnacle 35 Ceramic Window Tint, PadsPlus Neoprene Rubber Insert Set, Putco Chrome Door Handles and Trunk Trim, Michelin Primacy P215/60R16 95H Tires, SE Rear Spoiler

Hey, the sun is the leading cause of global warming.
Not to mention it is the leading cause of skin cancer, sun-stroke, sun poisoning and sun burns.
How come no one has ever brought this up?
I think Congress should look into (a few committees and sub-panels should do the trick) the trenemdous negative effect that the sun has on our planet!

Other great tools:

• Toyota Online's iGuide
• 2007 Online Owner's Manual
• 2008 Owner's Manual PDF (download link)

Nice! Had you not posted that I was going to. That was the first thing I thought of.

It's a tough call, the leather is tanned using Chromium (a heavy metal) and as others have pointed out the methane output of the supplier (the cow) are not good for the environment. Full disclosure, I have leather in my Prius. However, there is the off gassing of the plastics used in the interior - so it could be said that the synthetic seat material is not any better, plus it petroleum based product. So regardless, that new car smell is the fumes from all that newly created materials.

I guess I don't "get it" with this thread.

a) My Camry Hybrid does not have leather seats
b) If it did, it would make it no different than every other car that has leather seats, except it is way more fuel efficient than most.

it's all sarcasm...

attempting to be "green" with a hybrid doesn't exactly jive with leather interior.

although if one really wanted to be "green", they would ride a bike, car pool or take mass transit

again, it's all sarcasm (even my crack about the meteor)

Other great tools:

• Toyota Online's iGuide
• 2007 Online Owner's Manual
• 2008 Owner's Manual PDF (download link)

Absolutely. Except that I would argue (as was pointed out above) that leather is the more environmentally friendly material - compared to the synthetics used in the cloth fibre. Heavy metal poisoning not-withstanding (and I'm not talking about my listening preferences).

--My hybrid came home!--
Ottawa owners check in here

Randy