Your Questions Answered: Will I void my warranty if I skip the first service?

I’m looking at a few new small SUVs and can’t decide on what is going to be the best durable seat material option. I plan to keep my new car for a long time, so I want an interior that is going to last. Which upholstery is best for longevity and keeping clean – cloth or leather? Also, I like the white interior colour option because it makes the inside look nice and bright but am worried about keeping it clean compared to darker colour options. – Marion

Answer: Well Marion, you’ve posed a really good question, but one that is hard to answer definitively.

It starts with how much beancounters have influenced material choice when the car is made. Some cars get durable material that will last a long time and still look good, while others can wear and start to look shabby very quickly. There is a vinyl material that Mercedes-Benz uses called MB-Tex. That stuff – on older Mercs, at least — will outlast civilisation. Then again, I’ve seen some five-year old cars from non-premium brands that have vinyl seat bolsters that are cracking and flaking already. There’s also the environment you use the car in, as well as how you look after it. Things like clothes or bags that have sharp metal zippers attached can do damage to any material. Likewise, where you get in and out of a car multiple times a day, such as doing deliveries in a work vehicle can prematurely age materials (and the foam underneath). A car that is parked out uncovered in hot sunshine most days, also can wear an interior more quickly over time (albeit, usually a long period, say 10 years).

Cloth or fabric material seats tend to breathe better so you are less likely to feel sweaty sitting on them on a hot day or get burnt after the car has been sitting in hot sun for a while. They also are ‘warmer’ to sit on in cold weather than other options. But they also are more likely to absorb everything (spilt drinks, sweat, etc) and after several years can leave the interior with a sweaty pong only a deep clean will remove. As cloth is generally fitted to cheaper cars, the quality of the material isn’t always exactly premium. The material can stretch and look loose after a few years.

Leather seats (that is, made from cow hide) are generally very durable and are easy to clean — unless it’s perforated leather, which can be a headache to clean if you spill your coffee all over them. Alcantara, a synthetic microfibre material, also can be harder to clean and requires a more specialised approach to maintain the flocked appearance. At least Alcantara won’t scorch you sitting on them after the car has been out in the sun.

Most grained or smooth finish leather interior material tends to have a polyurethane coating on them and so ‘feeding’ the leather (as you would on uncoated older car leather or modern aniline, or semi-aniline leathers) is not a good idea. Modern leather just needs regular cleaning with a damp, clean cloth, or mild cleaning agents at the most. Some suggest a protective coating designed for polyurethane-coated leather is a good idea every 12 months or so – we recommend checking with the vehicle manufacturer (or in the owner’s manual) as for the best way to clean your car’s upholstery.

One option many choose to protect car seats is aftermarket slip-on seat covers – but be warned that cheap, universal seat covers without any backing can actually wear the original seat material more quickly.

As for interior colour, go with what you like – but know that any lighter colour material will always eventually show dirt and marks more readily than dark colours, and so will need more regular cleaning.

What tyre pressures should I use, and when should I check my car tyres? – Don 

Answer: Hey Don, like checking the engine oil and other fluids, regularly checking car tyre pressures seem to have gone the way of the landline telephone. Many newer cars have tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS), which you would think takes away the need for checking the tyres, but I would suggest should not be entirely relied on. These systems either use a pressure sensor fitted in each tyre valve or rely on ABS wheel sensors to gauge if a wheel or wheels is/are rotating faster than the others (suggesting a tyre going flat). While it’s a very useful safety feature, TPMS doesn’t entirely replace a visual check with a known, accurate tyre gauge. Many car manufacturers recommend a weekly tyre pressure check. A monthly pressure check of the spare tyre (if fitted) is a good idea too. Tyres can slowly lose pressure over time, and if you ‘manually’ check tyres you might catch a slow puncture leak that TPMS doesn’t know about yet.

As for tyre pressures, check your vehicle’s tyre placard (a small plate or sticker usually found inside the driver’s door or on the B-pillar) or your owner’s manual, which will give you the correct pressures for your tyres.

Will I void my new-car warranty if I don't get the first (free) 1000km/three-month service check-up? – Lily

Answer: Hi Lily, the first complimentary check-up some manufacturers offer is usually not strictly part of the maintenance schedule, but it is worth checking the terms and conditions of the warranty for the specific brand in question. It would require the manufacturer to show that by missing the free check-over that the vehicle suffered a failure as a result. Even though it can be a pain to have to go back to a dealer after such a short period after buying it, I would strongly recommend taking up this offer. It could catch a small manufacturing problem before it becomes a big one. If time is an issue, it’s a good idea to try to arrange with the dealer service centre that you wait while the check is being performed, and double check the day before the appointment, in case the service department has since become swamped with other jobs or technicians are off sick (it happens).

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