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| 08-24-2020, 08:08 PM | #1 |
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I don't understand the popularity of Alcantara
Bit of a rant here. For the record I am not a fan of alcantara. To me it's akin to cheap polyester clothing from the '70's. Or material you'd see in a shaggin' wagon from the '70s. In other words, tacky and cheap-looking unbefitting any vehicle priced more than $35,000. Having to go aftermarket to get proper leather shifter and e-brake boots is disappointing. I understand alcantara on steering wheels of real track/race cars. But standard commuter cars?
 OK, rant off. I feel better now. Although, the old-fashioned might have helped  |
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| 08-24-2020, 08:29 PM | #2 |
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I think it's nice in certain applications, mainly surfaces where you want no reflections and that you don't touch (eg headliner).
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arashir164.00 VisualEcho6633.50 |
| 08-24-2020, 08:39 PM | #3 |
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Drive naked on a full Alcantara seat; it's heaven.
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| 08-24-2020, 09:06 PM | #4 | |
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tigermack474.50 |
| 08-24-2020, 09:10 PM | #5 |
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Agree with you OP, I hate alcantara, just doesn't feel premium like leather to me. Aston Martin has one of the ugliest interior options at the moment, with a full curtain matches the drapes situation with an all alcantara everywhere interior option on the new Vantage.
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Retired: '95 E36 325i 5MT / '04 E46 330i 6MT / '05 E83 X3 3.0i / '11 E90 335xi / '17 G30 540i / '19 F87 M2C 6MT / '19 MB CLS 53 / '20 MB GLC 300 |
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| 08-24-2020, 09:18 PM | #6 |
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It's not hard to maintain on something like a steering wheel, you just have to be diligent and attend to it every few months and you can maintain its feel and appearance. Although it is not as grippy as a leather wheel
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| 08-24-2020, 09:21 PM | #7 | |
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| 08-24-2020, 09:34 PM | #9 |
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Not a fan at all. I like authentic materials like leather, wood, metals. Alcantara is fake and seems like a pain to clean. I'm sure it catches dirt and sweat like a magnet.
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stein_325i25083.00 Onizukachan1086.00 |
| 08-24-2020, 09:57 PM | #10 |
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sportscars only
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It's basically fake suede, right? Ya, I don't get it either, esp w interiors completely DRENCHED in alcantara. Man...
If it's selectively used to prevent slipping like in parts of the seats, that's great. However, it could get nasty if they go overboard w it. |
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stein_325i25083.00 Onizukachan1086.00 |
| 08-24-2020, 10:30 PM | #11 |
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I don't like it, either. I'll also go on a limb and say I don't like carbon fiber when used as an accent. Structure, sure. Decor, no. Things like trunk lips, diffusers, mirror caps, interior trim...
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| 08-24-2020, 10:37 PM | #12 | |
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| 08-24-2020, 11:41 PM | #13 |
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i'm just saying
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because race car..
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stein_325i25083.00 |
| 08-25-2020, 08:19 AM | #17 |
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Have to disagree. Carbon fiber in the interior has become tacky. It was cool 20 years ago when you had to go aftermarket to get it. My silver carbon fiber ac schnitzer interior (e46 M3) comes to mind. Other than that yea alcantara looks cheesy. Hate my current interior 🙄
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| 08-25-2020, 08:33 AM | #18 | |
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| 08-25-2020, 08:39 AM | #19 |
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I like it on door cards, headliners, and small portions of the seat. That's about it.
Nothing worse than a nasty Alcantara steering wheel. Just too much upkeep there. |
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| 08-25-2020, 08:50 AM | #20 |
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Agree with everyone else on the alcantara. Also not a fan of CF. 20 years ago it was cool and different. Now every time I see CF, it's a shitty wrap job.....or even a good wrap job, but still wrap. CF vinyl wrap is to cars what wood paneling was to homes in the 70's.
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| 08-25-2020, 09:05 AM | #21 |
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Man, I LOVE the look and feel of alcantara, and the first time you have a dash covered in it and see how there are absolutely no reflections, you'll fall in love with at least that part.
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| 08-25-2020, 09:09 AM | #22 |
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I agree. Pseudo-suede (or real suede for that matter) doesn't belong in a car.
That said, I wouldn't mind having cloth seats instead of pleather.
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