I have a base model S70 with the cloth interior. The seats are okay, comfortable and all that, but not as supportive as I might like, and the cloth is starting to separate...I have seen GLT models of the same year with leather seats that look that they might be a bit better bolstered, a la a Recaro..is this so, or are they just leather covered versions of the clothed ones? Can you have the heated seat option in the leather version? Local junkyard says they can get them for me...How hard to swap? Thanks all

Try to see the seats before they are removed if you can.

I looked at a LOT of 850 seats before I chose a nice set of gray cloth ones for my 544.

Many wrecks are pried open or have glass windows broken. Often cars sit with the doors open.

Leather seats do not weather well - all the ones that I found were stiff and faded.

The cloth seats that I chose were in a car with an undamaged interior that was weather tight. They are beautiful.

I like leather seats, but they are not all equal, we have a '95 850 that has soft supple leather, the rest of the other 4 bricks with leather seats that we have owned were a bit stiff.

See if you can find some 850R seats, they are delicious!

Good luck.
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'96 855R,'64 PV544 driver, '67 P1800 basket case, '95 855, '95 854, the first three are mine, heh, heh, 435,000 miles put on 9 bricks

Usually, cloth seats last longer than leather. They are warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer and much less slippery. The padding is the same for leather or cloth.
Heated seats are an option for all Volvo seats, and most northern cars have them.
Trading seats is very simple to do. Just unbolt them from the floor, unhook the electrics, and slide them forward 1/2 inch and lift. Be careful about the SIPS, don't let the seats fall to the ground :)

Leather seats tend to wear on the upper bolsters, from the seat belt, and the driver's left leg. They do need to be treated with Lexoil at least in the spring and late summer, to keep them from drying out and getting hard. Never use a vinyl protectant in leather.

Klaus
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The 164 has a new home, all I am left with are a 95 854T and a 98 V70R :)

You raised a good point that leather seats need to be treated with Lexol or a similar product regularly. We should do a poll or some random sampling: what percentage of Americans who opted to buy leather seats in their new car - truck- SUV do any maintenance at all on their seats - ever?

as always Klaus C,thankyou for your input