Alcantara, what's it like and how well does it keep?

[p1tse]

Seen an audi 2004 year with alcantara online
Actually half leather with middle insert and door card in alcantara

This one is actually a silver/ beige colour, so thinking dirt might show up more??

Anyway how well does alcantara hold up to wear?
I've seen some 10 year old full leathers still looking as new but not had any experience with alcantara
How easy is it to clean with say caught some mud on it?

[rigga]

Have a steering wheel with it that's gets grubby and flat looking, believe it or not baby wipes brings it back to as new again.

[Monty Python]

Alcantara is completely synthetic, and has very good wear and stain resistance. I've seen cars that are 15 years old and it was impossible to tell which seats had been used and which hadn't.

[kambites]

I think half leather, half Alcantara is about the best way to cover seats. The Alcantara centre provides good slip-resistance and doesn't get excessively hot or cold, while the leather bolsters provide excellent wear-resistance.

Lotus, in their infinite wisdom, fitted the two materials the other way around on my car.

[Tickle]

kambites said:

I think half leather, half Alcantara is about the best way to cover seats. The Alcantara centre provides good slip-resistance and doesn't get excessively hot or cold, while the leather bolsters provide excellent wear-resistance.

Yup,

Recaro trendline in Clio Trophys have leather outer and alcantara inner, good combo as the bolsters don't wear out.

[triggerh4ppy]

kambites said:

I think half leather, half Alcantara is about the best way to cover seats. The Alcantara centre provides good slip-resistance and doesn't get excessively hot or cold, while the leather bolsters provide excellent wear-resistance.

Lotus, in their infinite wisdom, fitted the two materials the other way around on my car.

I agree. alcantara innsers with leather bolsters is the best combination in my experience.

[magpie21]

I had my TVR completely re-trimmed in alcantara (including carpets)a year ago. It has had heavy use since and it always amazes me how easy it is to take care of and getting looking brand new again. A damp microfibre cloth is all that is needed to pick up dust and get the fabric looking like new again. Takes far less time to get looking good again than a leather interior which needs balm etc to stop it from cracking.

[sleep envy]

Had it in two cars. Very stain resistant but does wear like cloth as in the nap does give.

That said I prefer it to leather.

[sjt85]

Had half alcantara (white with black leather) recaro's in my S3 - used to get the occassional bobble but running a razor over the surface sorted that - worth it just for the funny looks from neighbours wondering why you're running a bic over your seats.

I always found it simple to clean - normally with a lightly damp cloth every month or so - when I sold the car the seats were immaculate, not bad given it was over 10 years old and the previous owners were definately not as bothered about condition!

[RizzoTheRat]

Some idiot at Skoda thought white Alcantara on the front of the seats of a family hatchback would be a good idea. 5 years and 90k miles later I'm amazed that it still looks fine. I'll give the baby wipes a try though, not heard that one before.

[hornetrider]

magpie21 said:

I had my TVR completely re-trimmed in alcantara (including carpets)a year ago. It has had heavy use since and it always amazes me how easy it is to take care of and getting looking brand new again. A damp microfibre cloth is all that is needed to pick up dust and get the fabric looking like new again. Takes far less time to get looking good again than a leather interior which needs balm etc to stop it from cracking.

Lovely car fella

[kambites]

RizzoTheRat said:

Some idiot at Skoda thought white Alcantara on the front of the seats of a family hatchback would be a good idea. 5 years and 90k miles later I'm amazed that it still looks fine. I'll give the baby wipes a try though, not heard that one before.

Presumably they weren't idiots then.

Ours still looks pretty much as-new, too. Which is more than can be said for the leather bits. One of them was quite badly stained (jeans dye I think) when we got the car but it came off extremely easily. The white in the Octavia has actually held up much better than the grey in the Elise, for some reason.

[marctwo]

I had Alcantara seats in my old S3 and loved them. As has been said, you don't slip around and they don't get too hot or cold. I now have full leather but will look for Alcantara on my next car as it's much nicer.

[RizzoTheRat]

kambites said:

Presumably they weren't idiots then.

Valid point Although we don't have kids, not sure how well it would cope with sticky fingered children

[Randy Winkman]

Lovely car fella

That looks fantastic ........ apart from the seat belts.

(Edited to to quoting cock-up which I cant work out how to edit!) I'll get me coat.

Edited by Randy Winkman on Monday 24th February 12:26

[Codswallop]

My previous car had cream half leather and alcantara. When I sold it at 12 years old with 106000 miles on the clock, the seats still looked good. As mentioned, you might need to shave your seats if they have bobbles forming, and I was able to clean stains off easily with just dabs of water when required. Full care instructions are available online from the manufacturer if you get a more stubborn strain, but I never encountered something difficult to shift.

[p1tse]

This in question which just looks like it needs some TLC

[otolith]

Any idea how well it wears in places like the sill pads on an Elise?

[underphil]

aren't a lot of the OEM seats trimmed with a cheap immitation of alcantara?

[kambites]

underphil said:

aren't a lot of the OEM seats trimmed with a cheap immitation of alcantara?

Well "Alcantara" is actually a trade name but it has become a generic term for "synthetic suede" type materials. I've no idea how much the quality varies, or even if "real" Alcantara is particularly good.