Scud leather vs alcantera

Doubt anyone can answer the question of the weight savings, but the Alcantara is definitely much more desirable in the Scud for sure.

 

More about racing heritage.

Flame retardant and gripper than leather when sweating.

 

I have never driven my scud on a track. The car has a leather interior, which is visually stunning. The shape of the seat with the side bolsters hold me without drama. I have never experienced slipping around and have always felt planted. I had the car loose yesterday and it did not occur to me that I was sliding around in my seat. The leather also greets you with a great smell when you open the door. I really like the leather interior and would only buy one with it. I appreciate why others like the other fabrics, but for me its leather.

 

Sorry, not going to buy a car with an interior made from bath robes....

Maybe you save 20 lbs

For the moving around, add 5-point belts.....WAY better than the other.

But the side bolsters were so firm, I didn't move around at all in the all leather car.

 

Doc, if you're thinking about the black Scud I drove....the thing is freaking beautiful inside. It looks like it is brand new. The contrasting stitching is everywhere. I just don't want another black car.

 

I'm a leather fan. I'd prefer a Scud with it. I think the Alcantara is interesting, but its not my thing.

On the weight saving issue: let's say it does save ~20 lbs (i think that's high).

I weigh 170 lbs. Assume an alcantara Scud owner weighs 210 lbs. My car would be lighter even with leather

 

The fire extinguisher is like an iron anchor....I keep it in storage and have replaced it with a lighter model. Removing it, in and of itself would would account for any weight difference; nothing like Italian leather....

 

+1 ; Leather

Experienced but never understood Alcantara. Its usually 70% polyester and 30% polyurethane, so its a polyester blend that was originally suppose to look like suede leather. Only time will tell if it lasts like leather.

For those that love Alcantara, thats great as well. I like and own many polyester blend shirts, they have their advantages and like ones seat covering is a personal decision.

 

Leather.

That's it.

Just leather.

 

I just love the SCUD ! I don't discriminate.....

But if the price is the same - leather for me.

Scott

 

Is the price formula that discounts leather valid and accurate in the scud?

 

Based on statistics 2/3 of US Scud owners will be overweight. Drop the pounds and get leather!

Either fabric won't make a difference on the Starbucks run.

 

A small amout of alcantara as trim is acceptable to me but covering the entire dash is just hideous IMO. When I was shopping for a 430 I discounted all the Scuds as 1) I did not like the alcantara and did not even realize that leather was an option and 2) the ones I sat in had uncomfortable racing seats which I did not like. In retrospect I probably would have been happier with the performance of the Scud compared to the lame F430 but in reality I simply could not live with those interiors.

 

Alcantara vs. leather...No right or wrong answer. Its all about preferences...

I can appreciate the opinion that since the Scuderia is essentially a track car, it should be without leather, especially on the dash to reduce glare. And I suppose the alcantara may help keep you more planted in the seats (but with harness *and* the correct seat size, would it really matter). And the waffle mesh -- regardless of alcantara or leather on the bolsters -- breathes nicely. For those who track their Scuderias often, the prefered configuration is probably alcantara, radio delete, exposed wheel wells, and as much CF to lighten the car as much as possible.

On the other hand, for many (maybe even the majority), the Scuderia will spend most of its life on public roads taking on the persona of both hyper sports car *and* luxury vehicle (night on the town, cruising, etc.). For this group, leather is a welcome touch. Leather just exhudes luxury, both in feel and in smell. Ordered with the BATP option (leather covered wheel wells) and a nice set of mats, and the interior of a Scuderia is almost as luxurious as a 430 (not quite though).

And even when spec'd with leather, there are different quantities -- from full (e.g., full seats, firewall, pillars, dash, headliner) to minimal (e.g., seat bolsters and only) -- Scuderias just like any modern-day Ferrari can be customized.

For the record, I fall into the "I like leather" camp.

Cheers,

DL

ps. re: Pricing model that discounts for leather even though its an up-charge from the factory...this is the *only* area where I disagree with F430GTs analysis. I'm one of those guys that would be willing to pay more for a leather Scuderia.

 

Alcantara for me...

Here in Europe I haven't seen any 430 Scuderia with leather yet. My feeling is that the majority of EU Scuderias was delivered with Alcantara, I have never seen the standard tech fabric either...

 

I had a 430 spider with Daytona leather seats that I just loved, then I got my 16M with the alcantara and it just wasn't the same. The seats were hard and hurt my back after a half hour of driving and i sat too low in the car. I purchased a new set of Daytona seats and they bolted right in. I think they look better, smell better and I can drive for hours without my passenger and me complaining about being uncomfortable. When and if I sell the car, the new owner will be amazed at how nice the original seats have held up.

 

Alcantara for sure!
Thought I would miss the leather smell and interior feel of my 430 coupe but no way, the Alcantara is perfect, and does give the cabin a wonderful smell and race look. If I want a leather interior I drive something less track orientated. When looking for a CS I was searching for a leather interior and soon discovered that for sure there is a price difference with leather being cheaper and less favoured. But hey, there is no wrong answer here, it's a Scud so who really cares - just drive it!
Been said by others, the Scud/16M seats are MUCH more comfortable than the standard 430 seats, even for my wife!

 

The weight of alcantara is less than 1/2 of leather, is there is some saving but I like alcantara not because of the weight, it is breathable - leather isn't. Audi / VW introduced the new alcantara materials in motoring about 1995, this material had much better quality than every alcantara material before. Afterwards other brands used similar materials. I think alcantara lasts quite long and is more hard-wearing than the leather Ferrari uses.

Had a look at a Challenge Stradale 2 years ago, car had such a beautiful all black alcantara interior, but a bad repaired front crash:-(

 

Also, never seen a leather version either.

And Alcantara for me. Leather doesnt feel right for me in the Scuderia. I want to jump in and feel its made like this for a reason.

 

It could be that Alcanetra is a better material to handle that little bit of "bodily fluid" that escapes when driving the scud hard whereas the leather absorbs it.

Just sayin....

 

Any pics of leather???

 

I have an '09 Scud with the alcantera interior. What I like about it is you can pretty much shoot a bullet at it and it will come back smiling and begging for more.

On the other hand, I love leather, especially Italian leather. I have an '08 f430 with every leather option under the sun...but in my Scud, with the racing style seats, if I had leather, I would be worried about the scuffing on the seat edges over time.

For me its not a big deal and certainly would not have been a deal breaker. I think one could argue that alcantera is more in keeping with the image Ferrari wanted to promote for the Scud. What I am surprised about is there seems to be a negative pricing factor for leather (?? ) according to what I have read on other discussion threads.