Every time I look at Etypes seats at car shows I can't help but notice how shabby/creased the genuine leather seats look ! I am sometimes told by the owners that is the way the leather is supposed to be !
So I have just finished the interior of a TR6 in biscuit, I used high quality vinyl it has been to many car shows and receives rave reviews about the interior fit and finish ! I did a Cobra the same way, but with leather, it ended-up with the
shabby/creased look of natural leather. Sooooooo when I do this XKE I'm working on I intend to use high quality grained vinyl it will look tight and NEW
for years and if I wanted to "fool" people into thinking leather I can use a
leather-smell-spray-bomb !

 

Do as you wish, of course.

To some extent the normal/natural creasing of real leather is considered by many to be an attractive 'patina' but, of course, not everybody agrees. And, yes, it can reach the point (with age and neglect) of looking shabby

Cheers
DD

 

Vinyl isn't so nice to sit on when it's hot. I think a lot of the problem is that the cushion mouldings sack-out. So new cushions can improve matters.