Ordering 2019 max - question about ceramic interior on platinum trim?

[frontman94]

I'm trying to make up my mind on what I plan to order (2019 max) and will probably sign the paperwork soon (this week). I've narrowed it down to either the Platinum with Ceramic Interior or The Limited Stealth Edition (Ebony Interior). I currently have a 2010 Ford Fusion with Ebony interior. I've loved the interior of this car but i'm growing tired of it after so long. Plus, without any official pictures of the Stealth Edition I'm afraid I might not like it when it comes in... so the safe play is to go with the Platinum Trim. If I do that i'd really like to get the ceramic interior to change things up and get away from the ebony for a while. But, I'm a little concerned about staining. What are other owners seeing concerning the Ceramic Interior - is it holding up well, cleaning up well, or staining badly and hard to clean? Do you recommend some kind of stain treatment or is it a waste of money? I have Three Girls spread from 4 years old to 14 years old in case that is helpful information for your reply. Thanks for any help you can provide in making this decision!

 

[Blackscreen67]

I'm trying to make up my mind on what I plan to order (2019 max) and will probably sign the paperwork soon (this week). I've narrowed it down to either the Platinum with Ceramic Interior or The Limited Stealth Edition (Ebony Interior). I currently have a 2010 Ford Fusion with Ebony interior. I've loved the interior of this car but i'm growing tired of it after so long. Plus, without any official pictures of the Stealth Edition I'm afraid I might not like it when it comes in... so the safe play is to go with the Platinum Trim. If I do that i'd really like to get the ceramic interior to change things up and get away from the ebony for a while. But, I'm a little concerned about staining. What are other owners seeing concerning the Ceramic Interior - is it holding up well, cleaning up well, or staining badly and hard to clean? Do you recommend some kind of stain treatment or is it a waste of money? I have Three Girls spread from 4 years old to 14 years old in case that is helpful information for your reply. Thanks for any help you can provide in making this decision!

The better question is do you police what happens in your vehicle?

 

[Randy Schmidt]

My interior is still “perfect” after 11k miles with using this conditioner every couple of weeks...

 

[Artie]

I got the cappuccino interior which is basically the same light color interior. I have had some really slight staining issues on my wife’s seat when she wears red skirts or dresses or black yoga pants. The drivers side has had zero issues, I wear lots of khaki shorts and brown or blue T-shirt’s that I never tuck in. I’ve heard of issues with belts staining some of the light colored interior but I’ve yet to encounter this. I did have mybinterior treated and I have 7500 miles. I also have kids but the oldest is 2 so they are not in the dangerous destructive phase yet. I can’t agree more with the use of that Meguiars product. I got that and the wipes and it’s awesome, I use it when I see an issue and it’s not a problem.

 

[frontman94]

Thanks Guys! Artie, what did you do to treat the interior and how much did it cost? Did a local detailer do it for you or did you do it yourself?

 

[Blackscreen67]

I got the cappuccino interior which is basically the same light color interior. I have had some really slight staining issues on my wife’s seat when she wears red skirts or dresses or black yoga pants. The drivers side has had zero issues, I wear lots of khaki shorts and brown or blue T-shirt’s that I never tuck in. I’ve heard of issues with belts staining some of the light colored interior but I’ve yet to encounter this. I did have mybinterior treated and I have 7500 miles. I also have kids but the oldest is 2 so they are not in the dangerous destructive phase yet. I can’t agree more with the use of that Meguiars product. I got that and the wipes and it’s awesome, I use it when I see an issue and it’s not a problem.

Would you be willing to take pics of your wife's seat color transfers?

My X6m have what's called Silverstone and it' basically whitish gray and has been great even when my 3yr old found an awesome blue pen. Baby wipes are great at removing discoloration. Don't even ask me about the time I drove over my wife's tan coach purse with her jeep at the time..... Baby wipes removed the embedde tire marks lol.

 

[Blackscreen67]

We just went and looked at the platinum interior with ceramic before I finalized a new deal for her and she hates the ceramic compared to the stone the limited had returned to the dealer due to issues immediately after owning.

I like it, it seemed easily cleanable. Yet very plush leather which can sometimes be iffy with kids. We have our 5th on the way, so my odds of issues are greatly increaed lol.

 

[Artie]

Would you be willing to take pics of your wife's seat color transfers?

My X6m have what's called Silverstone and it' basically whitish gray and has been great even when my 3yr old found an awesome blue pen. Baby wipes are great at removing discoloration. Don't even ask me about the time I drove over my wife's tan coach purse with her jeep at the time..... Baby wipes removed the embedde tire marks lol.

It’s hard to even notice but this is as bad as it’s ever been, I think I’ve gone 2 months in between cleanings. It’s worse on the right side of the seat and it’s focused right next to the stitching. I may need to take a picture of this outside with better lighting. You can see the difference between the inside of the stitching vs the outside.

 

[Randy Schmidt]

It’s hard to even notice but this is as bad as it’s ever been, I think I’ve gone 2 months in between cleanings. It’s worse on the right side of the seat and it’s focused right next to the stitching. I may need to take a picture of this outside with better lighting. You can see the difference between the inside of the stitching vs the outside.
View attachment 26416 View attachment 26417

Nothing that a little Maguiar's wont cure...

 

[Artie]

Nothing that a little Maguiar's wont cure...

100% correct. I usually take care of it when I wash the exterior but it’s been to hot the last month and a half. I would get the light colored interior again no doubt.

 

[frontman94]

Great feedback guys thanks. We had a Honda Odyssey and the leather in that thing started staining from day 1 so ever since I’ve really been reluctant to get anything but dark interior. Sounds like Ford had done a good job sourcing a high quality leather that will hold up over time.

 

[MonkeyBrains]

I kept trying to find an Expy with my desired configuration and the ceramic interior... Finally ended up with a Limited with ebony interior.. Oh, well. The ceramic is my favorite of the options and will indeed show more dirt than the ebony, or even the medium stone leather. But it should be easy to clean and maintain if you don’t let it go too long or ignore it. Toughest stain to get out of it is blue jeans dye, but start with a good leather conditioner and clean/maintain it from there and it shouldn’t be a problem. We had the stone leather interior in a Ford Edge and really liked it. Easy to keep clean if we didn’t ignore it.

Also have to take care of the black/ebony leather too. It won’t show the dirt at first, but over time it will dull the leather and eventually it will wear and crack just the same. So it needs to be cleaned and maintained the same.

I’ve been really happy with Ford’s leather choices the past few years. I know it’s not the same on the Expy, but the King Ranch leather in my F350 is fantastic. The leather in the Platinum Expy seems quite nice too. In my Limited it’s not bad, but I think the nicer plusher seats of the Platinum would be my primary reason for going to that trim level...

 

[NASCAR Mike]

I would choose the darker interior. My 05 Excursion Eddie Bauer (white over beige exterior) had a light beige (Arizona) color interior. I was constantly cleaning the carpets of little nuisance stains from the kids, coffee, soda, etc.

My wife's 08 Expy and my 17 Expy have the ebony interior and the only thing I see on the black carpet is cat hair.

 

[rumline]

^ the carpets and most of the lower trim items are black in the Ceramic interior on the Platinum.

 

[gtnator]

I think the lighter colors look better, but the darker ones wear better with lower maintenance...in all vehicles.

 

[Blackscreen67]

I would choose the darker interior. My 05 Excursion Eddie Bauer (white over beige exterior) had a light beige (Arizona) color interior. I was constantly cleaning the carpets of little nuisance stains from the kids, coffee, soda, etc.

My wife's 08 Expy and my 17 Expy have the ebony interior and the only thing I see on the black carpet is cat hair.

All I just read was cat hair in your car! I love taking ******* for a ride!

Get your mind outta the gutter!

 

[Garrett]

I have ceramic in my platinum. No issues after 9k miles. Clean it once a month. I drive it daily with jeans.

 

[star-art]

We have not one but *two* white Expeditions -- one with Ebony and one with Ceramic. Ebony is easier to keep clean, but it's a lot hotter in Summer as it contributes to solar heat gain inside the truck.

We love our Ceramic interior. But, watch out when wearing jeans as there can be some color transfer. Also, the most important thing is not to slide off the seat when exiting the truck. I know, this can be a bad habit to break, but it causes most of the wear to the outboard seat bottom. Instead, turn yourself sideways and then step on the running board and stand up before stepping down onto the street.

These trucks have leather, but it's "finished" leather that can't really be conditioned. According to pro detailers I know, the best way to care for it is to keep it hydrated by wiping with a damp cloth once a week. In the past, I used Leatherique until I found out modern finished leather hides are sealed with a urethane plastic coating. Now, I use their Prestine Clean instead. It cleans and also hydrates and seems to do a good job with both finished leather and also all the plastic/vinyl parts of the interior. This way, I can use one product on almost everything.

 

[rumline]

These trucks have leather, but it's "finished" leather that can't really be conditioned. According to pro detailers I know, the best way to care for it is to keep it hydrated by wiping with a damp cloth once a week. In the past, I used Leatherique until I found out modern finished leather hides are sealed with a urethane plastic coating. Now, I use their Prestine Clean instead. It cleans and also hydrates and seems to do a good job with both finished leather and also all the plastic/vinyl parts of the interior.

This is true. Unless you have semi-aniline leather like in the King Ranch (at least they used to be) or upper-level Porsche, Rover, etc, the leather is sealed in polyurethane. Now this can break down over time, but for the most part, no conditioner is going to make it in to the actual leather. I also use Prestine Clean, good stuff.