When it was new it was stiff.

The leather around the perimeter of the seat is a stiff-tough leather for good wear, the perforated-ribbed stuff should be much softer. That is the way the leather was in my '91 when new, the door panel leather and seatbacks/pockets were somewhere in-between.

Later model Mercedes have more supple leather over the whole seating surface, utility gave way to market pressure.

True that the 'Tex is in many ways more attractive and comfortable when 20-years old, but the leather can be reconditioned and softened.

Mercedes probably shouldn't have done such a good job on their vinyl/MB-Tex.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff