Alcantara

My headliner and a few other pieces are covered with this. I haven't had to clean them yet. The car is 5 years old. Seems to hold up well?

 

How comfy is it compared to leather?? I would imagine just as much. It certainly looks the part.

 

If it's on the seat, it looks 'blotchy', because the little fibers get rubbed every which way (kind of like pile carpeting, but on a very small scale). Audi offers it as the base seat fabric in the TT. I ended up getting the full leather, because the demo car interior looked tired.

I don't know how well it would hold up over time.

It is very comfortable and holds you in place better than leather.

 

I have it in the Slutmobile, seems its best in places that dont get a lot of wear

The colors are great too

 

As I said the headliner is. I don't have it on any seating surfaces. I would imagine it would look well used if you were to sit/slide on it.
It does look nicer than the cloth headliner in my other car.

 

http://www.alcantara.com/
I've had to Ferrari's with Alcantara and felt that it performed great. Like leather or most any fabric, sun and friction are not their friends however, there are steps you can take to slow the deterioration process down.

 

My seats have alcantara on them and I have not seen any wear just yet. The car is only about 6 months though. The best way to keep it looking new seems to be to simply "brush" the seats with your hand so all the fibers are laying one direction. The fibers in the fabric tend to to lay differing direction from use but once I lightly brush over the seat it looks like new again. If you do not brush the seats from time to time, they do look old and heavily used.

Mark

 

Alcantara is a trade name for the same product as Ultrasuede. Same Asian mill.

Jeff Kennedy

 

Really can't clean the fibers/farbic with your hands. Actually as a result of the oils in your hands, probably not a good idea. For general cleaning and stain removal I would follow the directions here...http://world.alcantara.com/newsite/americas/index.html

 

Isn't it on the Endangered Species List?

 

No but producing it does add to global warming and so do farting cows so that's why I go for the leather.

 

The Alcant is a rodent presently being bread in captivity for the purpose of slaughter for human use of its hyde and meat. While the hyde seems to be a present favorite of the automotive industry, they say the meat "Tastes just like chicken". Why not just eat chicken you say....ever see a car seat outfitted in feathers?


(you just watch...someone here will find me a picture)