Genuine Automotive Alcantara - the good and the ugly
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- Опубліковано 24 лип 2024
- With the GTS models being so popular, I thought I would give my thoughts on Alcantara the default choice for GTS owners.
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Trying to set fire to something in your Porsche 911. Another classic moment
Alan Booth G shit lmao
it doesn't burn and it was for only a few seconds also people smoke in thier 911s so...
The title should have been: "Alcantara doesn't burn...but it does when I pee"
😂
This has been a public service announcement from Nick Murray.
Next week... save water by recycling your pee.
Always with the pee, Nick.
Oh, wait. It's the pee we should be recycling? I've been recycling the other.
...and so the truth about Alcantara is revealed
Aldi More Don't buy premium brands because they gouge the shit out of you? Porsche is famous for this, gt3 being a prime example, you are paying more for less. Shitting on Alcantara because Porsche is a bunch greedy fucks isn't a public service announcement, its just fucktarded fanboy slashing out in a fit of supressed rage.
I've got a Alcantara steering wheel and Gear stick in my 16 year old Audi B5 RS4 ! Just clean it once a month and it looks fine !
So true
Hi Nick, love most of your videos, however I couldn't disagree more on this topic. First off, you've missed a massive advantage of alcantara - it's inert. Doesn't heat up in the summer and doesn't get too cold in the winter - something leather does terribly. So if you're in a continental climate, leather is a horrible choice (sure, you have seat heaters and some cars even come with coolers but I know which material I'd rather have in the heat of 40degrees C). And secondly, it isn't necessarily worn. It needs a good scrub and will come back right up. Lots of treatments out there. I have a 1999 volvo estate with alcantara inserts and they look as new. Car has 138k miles on the clock. Yes, alcantara is more prone to damage and necessitates more care, but that's with anything in your car.
Nick - I am liking your channel more and more for these little tidbits and for the knowledge that is usually displayed in the comments. As an aspiring Porsche owner these quick informational videos are much appreciated so thanks for doing them and keep up the good work!
From what I heard and read, when it gets flat, smooth even sticky, that's because of pressure, oil and sweat from your hands. And one of the perks of Alcantera is that with the right cleaning process and tools, you can restore it almost like new. I've seen some videos that people cleaned 5 years old flat, sticky Alcantera steering wheel with some product and brush, and it became "fluffy" again. Your thoughts Nick?
I had questions and came looking for answers. This video answered all of my questions and more, Thank you for taking the time to make this.
Hiya, I have alcantara inserts on the seats of my Audi TT, now five years old. The material is warm in winter and cool in summer, unlike leather that can get burning hot in sunshine. My car seats still look brand new and the alcantara on the door cards still looks classy. I bet it's much easier to clean than reals suede. I just give it a light vacuum. So not all bad. Also no sign of stretch marks that you sometimes get with leather.
Another great video Nick ! My wife and I watch your vids all the time. Your a natural.
you should buy another animal companion for Albert : but made in full alcantara this time.
Hi Nick, I have alcantara on my 996 GT3's steering wheels, gear knob and hand brake. It looked like the pics you showed of the gts however it was merely dirty, I gave it a thorough clean with some warm water and a terry towel and it's all as good as new. It actually wears really well as I have as 85k km's on the clock. Cheers Mark
Agreed Mark, clean the stuff gently and it comes back like new. It actually wears very well.
Terry McGrouther
Sonax alcantara cleaner works well too.
you are right that that could be cleaned, but it's a giant hassle to clean and it still pills and taters long before a normal car gets to middle age, let alone end of life.
indeed, but ignorance is bliss, isnt it?
@antihero3zx Try real suede leather and see how that holds up. Upside, plastic is always an option...
fetB or maybe... You know... Just regular leather that will be good as new with a 3 minute wipe down twice a year for 150k plus miles
Once again Nick, an awesome video that taught me something! I've always been curious about alcantara! And also loved when you made the halogen vs LED lights video!
Hi Nick I replaced all Alcantara in my 991.2 GTS with Sport-Tex and Leather. Great Vid.
I think the alcantara on the GTS isn't worn. It's the oil and dirt that make the fiber stick together and won't stand up.
i agree. i have "restored" some used alcantara parts in the past, using the same technique for cleaning suede - gentile cleaner with a soft bristle brush. blot & wipe w clean microfiber rags. looked almost new again.
Yes I still prefer leather tho. Alcantara just need more attention, if you spend time to clean and detail regularly it will always look brand new. A good fabric cleaner, microfiber tower/brush and vacuum machine would do the trick.
John Wick I would agree to whatever you say, don't kill me.
was this video sponsored by the leather industry? seems Nick needs to do a little more "research" before spouting out nonsense.
not sure about the price of Alcantara, but the BS about the durability of Alcantara is incorrect (talk about misinformation). Alcantara responds poorly to oils and lotions (shocking! it's fibrous), and most people are dirty slobs. just a little bit of common sense and personal hygiene goes a long way. and matted Alcantara can easily be restored with some gentle cleaning.
If you knew the channel you'd know Nick isn't sponsoered by anybody. And I'm sure you know human skin contains oil with perfectly normal body hygene. The picture of the worn Alcantara shift lever and steering wheel was pretty clear. How is cleaning going to help with hardened Alcantara? I personally like the look of Alcantara as well but if you want to contribute share some actual information, don't just rant.
you just saved me $1800. I was about to buy the M Performance Steering wheel.
Jan-Michael B I just find that thing OTT to begin with.
nice!
My M performance wheel is my favorite part of the car. It was more like $650 though, the one with the yellow center mark.
Yeah the one I was looking at was the electronic one version 2 for my F80 M3 and they are retailing at $1800 roughly plus tax and shipping.
I have it in my 135i, been on the car for like 2 years and 20,000 miles now, and it was in an M3 for 3 years before. When it gets hard and shiny it's not worn, but just really dirty from skin oils. Mild dish soap and hot water and it goes back to when it was when new :P
I have never understood why some people, many car-related youtubers, piss rainbows over this sheit.
So true, I looked at a few other videos before making this and was kind of shocked at misinformation out there.
...because most people will not ask questions when a marketing weasel says "and now we have new Alcantara interiors! See how soft it feels!" and so they ooo and ah because car reviewers do not actually buy the damn cars.
It usually comes as a part of an expensive "sports package", so people associate it with sportiness.
Alcantara comes from European mills. Ecsaine is the Asian version of the same product. My 2007 Subaru had seats covered in Alcantara, which is warm in cold weather and cool in warm weather. It's better than the skins of dead animals.
Didn't know it wasn't leather! Thank you for the update, Nick!
I love the alcantara inserts on my seats; the bolsters are leather. Very grippy and if you take care of it, it still looks good after a while. But putting it on areas where the oil from your hands gets on it (like a steering wheel) is not the best idea as stated in this video.
I personally like the look of it, and have a shift boot, handbrake boot, and other trim in alcantara, but would never put it on the steering wheel of a daily driver
What about the dashboard with alcantara?
My Recaros are Alcantara with Leather bolsters and the seats show no signs of wear after 2 years and 7,400 miles. To me that seems like a good sign.
@@Maisonier It should last very well on the dash.
One of my favourite channels on UA-cam
hey Nick! great video. I used to work in a automotive supplier company in europe back in 2008 and I was in charge for testing the colors of interiors. One day I got a alcantara sample and took it home to use it as a mouse pad for my computer. i used it for about a month or so and had to throw it away and buy a real mouspad. It really wears off so fast. I was rather suprised that top car manufacturers sell this in their cars. Just wanted to share my expirience! have a nice day
You were a shitty tester than. You didnt even know enough about the piece you were "testing" to know how its maintained/cleaned.
Love your videos Nick! I'm a massive Porsche fan boy. Keep it up. Legend.
😂that shirt though....
First thing I noticed. LOL
PorschePilot He must prefer a hairy leg over split tail.
My sentiments exactly.
I have a personal note regarding the wear of Alcantara on steering wheels. I had a C63 with a full Alcantara wrapped steering wheel, and yes, it looked very worn very quick. HOWEVER, I do believe this is due to the oils and dirt working its way into the material from your hands. I did the following several times with that car, and my following car, a CLS63 that had the same steering wheel, and found the results to be great. I used a orange de-greasing cleaning cloth, and thoroughly scrubbed the wheel, the used a damp towel afterwards, again scrubbing the wheel. It was amazing how much grease was removed, and afterwards once dry, the wheel honestly felt as if it were new again
This was certainly very informative Nick! Thank you for these genuine thoughts :). Unfortunately, I can't opt out of Alcantara in the new 991.2 GT3 since I'm getting the bucket seats but I did just ask my dealer to change the steering and gear lever back to leather!
35k miles on my Panamera GTS - I have the GTS interior package, but leather steering wheel and PDK lever. I like the feel on the seats - the way it hugs me, keeps me in place, and doesn't get hot in the summer - I live in Phoenix..
They have been wearing just fine. Still look and feel brand new to me.
Agreed on the steering wheel and gear lever. Glad I didn't get it on those items.
Great video nick thanks!
I think if you have it put on places that you don't touch it looks good.. such as roof, door panels etc.. but I agree with you that on the steering wheel, seats an gear lever is a definite no!
No wonder they promote it as a premium material in a car. It's all about marketing... Thanks for disclose the details.
Awesome job Nick. I feel like I want to post this video in the comments of other videos where they lovingly talk about there being alcantara in a super car.
Alcantara is good for ceiling liners, door liners, and other areas that aren't routinely touched. One fabric, rarely used these days, that's great for wear-and-tear, is pillow-tufted velour. As a kid growing up, we had two cars with velour seat upholstery. 6 years and over 100,000 miles later on both cars, the velour was in as good of shape as it was when factory new. And that was with my sister and I wreaking as much havoc on the velour upholstery as we could!
So glad I watched this, I was about to spec it steering wheel. Thanks for the tip.
Very informative video Nick keep them coming cheers!!!!
Great vid & absolutely spot on. Question: How well does 2015 alcantara soak up pee compared to new? It also burns when I pee. Look forward to your reply Nick.
Was excited to see this video mentioned on Daring Fireball. You're getting out there, Nick!
Me too, pretty cool
Damn...I've been contemplating swapping out my wheel for the GT3RS in alcantara...after watching this, you may have saved me some serious money...thx!
Thanks mate, that was insightful and informative 💪
Hi Nick thanks for the video .. how durable are the alcantara material? I have the alcantara seat in my car .. I was having a credit card in my back pocket one day after filling gas and I was sitting on it whole driving pretty much the whole day .. by doing that.. will I do any damage to it? Or the material are quite durable..thanks
Interesting to see that most premium manufacturers charge serious money for Alcantara, but my Lexus CT200h which is the base model from Lexus and also base trim level, some times called a vegan model, is covered in Alcantara and Nulux faux Leather, but after five years, the materials still hold well, despite it's 87.000 miles on the clock, and minor cleaning.
It's great to hear that someone else think the same way I do about Alcantara. I've always said it's fake suede, and will eventually look and feel terrible when worn. But I still see many opting this on their cars like Porsches or McLarens even though none of them will see the track - which is where the extra grip of alcantara will be handy, before worn that is.
Alcantara is more likely to collect the oils from your hands...that's why it has that matted down appearance. It cleans up and looks brand new with the correct products and techniques. There are plenty of videos on here showing before and afters.
Hssumal@hotmail.co.uk
Nick. Love the show. Would you recommend the Olea Club Leather? Or is the "normal" leather okay
great vid, very useful as was contemplating getting a custom alcantara trim on the dash for my M4
Nick, love your stuff but the material doesn't wear as you describe. Yes it collects dirt and oils from our skin which make it look and feel crap after 10-20k miles but It comes back really well when cleaned with a mild detergent and soft brush. Whilst it may be a rip off I personally love the tactile feel on the wheel and the seat and I don't mind cleaning it every year or two. I'll keep choosing it whenever I can.
No sweaty bum in summer either
That was insightful.
Thank you, Nick.
A light has been shone, Thanks again Nick.
Great to see this Nick. Was thinking about an alcantara steering wheel but will stay away now!
Hi Nick , thanks for advice, I will stay away from Alcatra , Inam looking to get targa GTS, I love blue interior but I am thinking black leather 18!sports plus seats . Or should I spend money on blue stitching ? What's your thoughts
Thanks! I didn't know. Great to know. What are some better alternatives?
Nick thank you so much! I was thinking about upgrading my c63 interior using alcantara but now I see I will not be going with that. Maybe just adding leather to areas without and some white stitching.
wow good to know. Thanks Nick!
Very very interesting Nick, as I've always been vexed by this product and Porsche pricing!
Thanks for the warning. I'm wondering if I don't want any animal products in the car when I order, does Porsche offer any other options other than leather?
Thanks for the education on Alcantara. However, can you tell me about your camera mount used in this video?
Thanks Nick. Saved me a couple of quids.
I agree, spot on. Even if you try to keep your hands meticulously clean when touching Alcantara surfaces the oils/sweat from your skin will discolor the fabric over time. Good luck trying to get those out.
I read about cleaning it with warm soapy water and scrub really hard with a towel. I tried it and it does bring back the fuzzy feel. What I used to think was wear was in fact dead skins and dirt embedded in the "fuzz". At least that is the case with my steering wheel.
hello Nick, i heard you saying you would do a indepth video on difference between ceramic and regular brakes in an older video, if you have already and i missed it i do apologize, if not could you find a way to fit it in your schedule, would love to hear your take on it, thanks ..
Just curious but what type of siding you have on the house ?
Hi Nick! Thx for a lovely video. Did not know the 'true story about Alcantara', so you actually gave me a teaching. lol. By the highway: did you see Porsche's vid about 911 number 1.000.000? Color: Irish Green. I think it's one of the most beautiful colors you can have on your 911. I saw it once on a Targa 4S and it actually made me emotional. So gorgeous! What do you think Nick, Irish Green? ATB, Irwin
Edy B it also had a wood interior. A bit strange in a Porsche but it does work for that car.
Totally on point! Well done Nick.
Thanks Nick on my way to the Goodwood Festival of Speed on behalf of Alcantara, this was useful research.
I would like to know where to get genuine Alcantara for $15/yard. Last time I looked it was $100/yard + . There are many knock-offs that are pseudo suede.
$65 retail for factory genuine automotive Alcantara or $16/meter for wholesale if you buy in bulk.
@@NickMurray If it is $16 even if you buy one million metres it will be fake
Great information, thanks Nick.😎
My current 15 year old car is half leather half alcantara - still looks good. A black 1990 Lancia I had years ago had interior and panels that were covered in a beautiful green alcantara that also wore well. However I would not put it on a steering wheel or gear knob - sweat ruins it very quickly.
I have the Recaro seats with Alcantara in my 2021 MX-5 RF. It has around 7,400 miles and is two years old and still looks new. Whereas my 2018 RF with Leather seats was showing wear on the seat bolsters at 8,300 miles. Time will tell, won't it?
i know its late but what did you take to rid yourself of the super chlamydia ?
this was actually very informative. i was always under the impression this was a quality trim item but i guess not.
Hi Nick. Did you find the leather seats hold up well? I have a Boxster GTS with red natural leather and even getting in and out carefully, I notice a bit of wear on the side bolster. My car is only two years old with 3700 miles.
Jeff Poirier I have a boxster spyder 2016 4500 miles and the stitching on side bolster is starting to fall apart
Mr K K
That's insane! I figure warranty should cover that? I might have to look at my leather again as it could be something that came off my jacket. I might try a little leather cleaner.
As always, great video and great info.
Questions: At the end of your video I didn't notice the dimple in the hood of the frunk. Did you get it repaired? If so, did I miss the video of the repair job? Or, am I not looking close enough at the Porsche to see the dimple?
It has been repaired but I did not do a video, it was a bit of a drama getting it sorted in the end.
Thanks for the informative video. I used to think that Alcantara was fancy leather.
How easy is it to clean? Always wondered about that.
i have replaced my leather steering wheel with alcantara on my 986 porsche. I thought the quality used by the guy who installed it was inferior. apparently I was wrong .... thank you for the very informative video
I remember old Ferrari's from the early 1970's had "suede" covering on their dashboards.. But I think it was actual suede. Tended to peel along the edges in the hot sun, but most cars back then had problems with interiors degrading in heat..
great video Nick
On low to no wear interior items (dash, headliner, door inserts, interior panels), I personally think it looks extremely good and is worth its faults.
Thanks Nick good feedback here. Was planning to order Alcantara steering wheel but after checking the fabric in hand is as you said "garbage"
Haha great video Nick! I agree. Did you have any other options for your headliner?
No the headliner is standard but that is fine it works well as a headliner
Nick would you consider the wood interior option in a 911? I can't make up my mind.. I hate carbon trim, and don't like aluminum... extended leather works but it's a bit boring..
Fun and educational video! Thumbs up.
when used in seats does it get hot and sticky like leather seats?
Nick, where do you get your shirts?
In my case the alcantara seats and doorcards on the B8/8.5 S4 were a no cost option as opposed to the leather and they seem to retain the same properties as cloth. They breathe well, aren't so easily altered by high or low temperatures, and grip well.
Personally speaking, I have no regrets. I also think it will be easier to treat dingy alcantara than cracked or faded leather after 100K miles.
Point being A.) Buy what you like B.) Don't get ripped off by Porsche spending as much for fabric interior surfaces as leather. GEN-YOU-WINE leather at that!
Wow! I had no idea! Thanks Nick!
Nick do your mirrors heat up? Mine don't seem to be heated at all but rear defroster is heated. Is it related to temperature? Maybe heated mirrors function only works when cold.
I have not noticed, they seem to in the cold
Yeah might be that way so the function is only intended to get rid of snow and not rain I guess, thanks German logic.
Thanks for the Alcantara tip. Just about to order a Macan GTS. Will do leather instead.
can't see anything about Alcantara on the configurator. where can I find it?
nick! what kind of watch are you wearing?
You can get Alcantara brushes which keep the stuff looking new. I didn't know it was so cheap though, good video!
I agree about the furniture. I've had a sofa for 10 years (used daily) with Alcantara and it looks brand new. However, to me that shifter and wheel look like the alcantara isn't worn, but rather just has flattened from the natural oils on your hands. I bet regular cleaning would solve this. Alcantara cleans so easily. Just a damp microfiber towel is all you need. Maybe a tad bit of soap if there is anything caked on. Try to clean the shifter and wheel and see what it looks like. ;)
I always wondered about that stuff...good video.
What about putting it on the roof lining? Never gets touched there and seems like it would make that look better than the standard lining, no? Speccing a 911 soon and curious to know.
Alcantara is the material that Rolls Royce, Bentley, Mclaren, ASton Martin, Ferrari, Llambo etc etc use to trim headliners. Do the pillar trims as well.
It is the only micro fibre material specified by Auto manufacturers for use on dashboards, door tops and steering wheels because it has high protection against the high heat and UV loadings that you get in those areas.
There are cheaper copies out there, that is why they are cheaper, they will fade and degrade under the sun.
i far prefer alcantara seats to leather. absolutely loved my subaru STI seats.
Wow! i had no idea that it wears so poorly. Thanks, Nick! It's on the door panels of my M2, but I think it's safe there.
For those who like the alcantara steering wheel, can try out one of those cheap "alcantara" or "suede" steering covers online where you sew them on. After a few months it will probably wear out and you can easily change it for a new wrap.
Serious question, does Tui's (spelling?) nails scratch your leather? My Boston Terrier's nails have scratched my old Mercedes's leather so I had to buy a rear seat cover. But maybe Porsche leather is better.
No problems so far, and that is the correct spelling :)
Thanks for the reply! Maybe Mercedes' fake MB-Tex just doesn't hold up! Love the videos by the way. Still want an update on the small dent.
Very informative! I want to put Alcantara on my Accord's headliner. :)
Hey Nick, what happened to the dent on your hood? Did you get that fixed?
yes all fixed
Great video Nick. I have this stuff in my Boxster Spyder. Do you know how much Porsche charges to recover the steering wheel when it wears?
It costs Porsche very little but they charge crazy amounts to do it, I would have a third party quote first as the results can be outstanding for a fraction of the price.
Nick Murray Thanks. My future 911 will have the seat material you have in your car, they look fantastic.
The wheel and gear shifter in that GTS aren't really worn, just loaded up with grime from the drver's hands. It can be cleaned pretty easily. I do agree it does wear out in some applications, like the steering wheel on the BMW 330 with the ZHP package.