Hey vegans, questions about cars.?

Question

Hello I am a vegan but have never faced myself with this dilemma before. I am looking at getting a used car. If the car I choose has leather seats am I not supposed to get it? I thought it might be okay since it was used, kind of like buying something at a second hand store. Either way though is perfectly fine with me. I just didn't know if leather in vehicles was really true "leather." Please tell me your thoughts on this. I would really appreciate it.

Answer 1

leather isnt good anyway. you need to maintain it more often, clean it and put some cream on it to protect the leather from the sun.

skin belongs to animals and ice age is over, so we dont have to wear fur anymore. I lived on a farm and I know this industry.

Answer 2

I guess as an alternative logic to J.R.'s response I think it could also be said that if you buy a used car with leather interior, you have to not pay a premium for that car (over the same care with cloth interior).  The reason being that resale is a factor for some people in buying a new car.  If a leather interior results in higher resale value (pretty much a given) it does indeed cause some degree of demand for leather interiors in new cars.

The bottom line I think, is that if you really want to be vegan, you better go with cloth.  The other stuff is just an exercise in logic.

Answer 3

every vegan has their own rules. plus there are two types. dietary vegan and those living the vegan lifestyle. its up to you if you want to buy the car.

Answer 4

Yes, it is real leather. But the choice is really up to you. The animal didn't die for you specifically to have the vehicle, but it did still die. I use leather when I don't want it to go to waste(my mum gives me her old leather jackets or shoes sometimes), and i don't think the car would go to waste. But if you really like the car and don't think it would bother you, i'd go for it. It's really all about what you're comfortable with, in a situation like that.

Another thing to consider is what others think. I know that sounds superficial, but we as vegans have a reputation to uphold, and everyone who claims to be vegan and violates what it is to truly be vegan makes the lot of us look like liars and cheaters. Everyone's looking for a reason to feel superior to us, because we've made a difficult lifestyle choice and most people would like to see that fail. It gives them justification for their own lifestyle. So if you think anyone would condemn you for it, i would pass on the car.

Hope that helps you in your decision!

Answer 5

Some companies claim their car seats are leather, but it's really vinyl. Usually the higher end brand car companies like Mercedes, BMW, Jaguar, Infiniti, etc, use real leather. If so, don't buy it. PETA will be all up on you.

Answer 6

If you are buying something used, then you are not creating the demand for any new goods to be made, and thus you will not cause the same negative impact as buying a new car with leather seats.

Its up to you, but you won't be directly harming any animals by purchasing used leather.  Some may argue that wearing/using leather promotes the image and may sway people to seek out leather, but that is a much smaller issue than buying new leather.

Personally, I would buy the car.

Answer 7

J.R. and Nicole D. have raised good points.

You will not be raising demand for leather products, so on that perspective there wouldn't be a problem.

The fact that many people is seeking for anything to try to "discredit" your views, and thus try to (somehow) "justify" their own, is something to bear in mind.

I think that being Vegan is not only about not taking part in other animals' exploitation, but also about sending a message, and that is, that other animals' slavery is morally unjustifiable. Not using animal products is central to that, as the message you send.

By using leather we portray, or make people think(even if unintendedly), that using other animals' skin is acceptable.

The analogy of using a lamp that was made of human skin during the holocaust might be useful to make this point clearer.

My thoughts... if there is another option, go for it.