[Guaji]

When I ordered my GTS, I didnt put much thought in deleting alcantara from the interior. I have never owned a car with it. I like the idea for seat inserts and headliner, though I hope I will like it on the steering wheel. Another issue is wear and durability......does anyone have experience with alcantara in cars? Hopefully I will be happy with it, I like leather but am open to trying something new.

 

[lajoiedp]

I've never been a fan of the alcantara look and feel but some people absolutely love it.

 

[dave22]

have the interior in my boxster

love it
it just rings my bell for some reason steering wheel too
you cant be grabbing it with filthy hands or sweating all over it
if you have hyperhydrosis its not the material for you

 

[agent 86]

My previous car had alcantara seat inserts and I liked it a lot.

Nick Murray has a youTube video "the good & ugly" of the product. He's a Porsche guy and has very entertaining videos.

 

[dave22]

yea yea

i get it

but it looks cool and chicks dig it

 

[nineball]

i have it in the inserts in my former track car and got it on the steering wheel and shifter in my 718. i like the feel, so it was worth it to me. i would have had it on the seats too if they offered it in the heated and cooled version.

 

[Semitone]

Nick Murray has a youTube video "the good & ugly" of the product. [/url]

Yeah...entertaining videos but not very well informed. Pretty clear he doesn't understand the different between $110/yd Alcantara and $14/yd faux suede. Watch the video for fun but make sure you do some additional research.

By the way, I just ordered a 718 Cayman GTS and went for the Alcantara interior but used leather for the steering wheel and shift knob. I'm a bit too lazy to deal with the maintenance potentially required on the wheel. In any event, my wife's wedding band chews up the steering wheel. Maybe have to trade in her glass ring for a plastic one when she is not looking.

 

[FiscNad]

I ordered a 718 Cayman GTS. I love alcantara and the interior of the GTS is absolutely wow. It looks rich and warm.

However, the salesman took me to the dealer's basement and showed me some used Porsche with alcantara interior. It really put me down. Alcantara seems to be good for about 30 000 km (18 000 miles). The steering wheel seems to be the biggest problem, then the center armrest and on the doors and finally the seats. It didn't look rich anymore... instead, it looked old and dirty. This was a problem since I plan to keep my car much longer.

Sadly, I only kept alcantara on the ceiling and deleted the rest of it. I took the full leather interior instead.

Then when I took my spouse to the dealer to show her the 718 models, I asked her to tell me which interior looks better (without telling her what I ordered). She fell in love with the black Sport-tex interior, telling me how trendy it was and the contrasting stiches, etc...(I can't argue much, she's a designer). So I got the black Sport-tex interior... but still kept the alcantara on the ceiling...

I am getting the car in March.

 

[4802]

I ordered a 718 Cayman GTS. I love alcantara and the interior of the GTS is absolutely wow. It looks rich and warm.

However, the salesman took me to the dealer's basement and showed me some used Porsche with alcantara interior. It really put me down. Alcantara seems to be good for about 30 000 km (18 000 miles). The steering wheel seems to be the biggest problem, then the center armrest and on the doors and finally the seats. It didn't look rich anymore... instead, it looked old and dirty. This was a problem since I plan to keep my car much longer.

Sadly, I only kept alcantara on the ceiling and deleted the rest of it. I took the full leather interior instead.

Then when I took my spouse to the dealer to show her the 718 models, I asked her to tell me which interior looks better (without telling her what I ordered). She fell in love with the black Sport-tex interior, telling me how trendy it was and the contrasting stiches, etc...(I can't argue much, she's a designer). So I got the black Sport-tex interior... but still kept the alcantara on the ceiling...

I am getting the car in March.

Some say Alcantara wears ok (I believe Acky from my recollection has found it reasonably hard wearing). For myself that wasn't my experience in my old 987, particularly on the steering wheel & I'd never consider it again. I don't use hand cream, sun lotion or indeed anything on my hands other than good old common soap. Neither do my hands perspire excessively but the wheel on that 987 was an absolute pain to keep looking tidy. The seats fared better but it was still more trouble than the worth of it. Not for me, not ever again. That sport-tex looks really nice though, I'd certainly consider that when in the future I've had the opportunity to check out its wear rates.

 

[NXM]

I have specced the full interior GTS pack with lots of alcantara! I wasn't going for it originally but once I had seen it in the OPC on a 911 GTS I had to have it. It looks amazing in the flesh and just makes the GTS feel extra special IMO.

I read the reports about its durability and there are different views, both for and against, so I decided to go for it as I loved the look of it so much.

 

[4802]

I read the reports about its durability and there are different views, both for and against, so I decided to go for it as I loved the look of it so much.

Fair enough & I referred to that in my comment regarding Acky who's experience appears to be completely at odds with my own, but I'd never risk it again. Hopefully your findings end up more in line with those of Acky rather than my own.

 

[NXM]

Fair enough & I referred to that in my comment regarding Acky who's experience appears to be completely at odds with my own, but I'd never risk it again. Hopefully your findings end up more in line with those of Acky rather than my own.

I hope so!

I had some alcantara on my z4 that I had a few years ago. Although this was only around a pretty small area of the seats, on the top of side bolsters and in the door trim. I didn't have any issues with it apart from it being white and getting dirty and grubby but it was pretty easy to clean. The GTS interior pack has black alcantara so am not envisaging the dirt being a problem.

 

[Guaji]

Good responses.....I hope I made the right decision or maybe should have spent the extra for Sport Tex. Oh well, too late now. Mostly concerned with durability and wear, so maybe if I clean it periodically I’ll be ok. I wonder if someday if the alcantara wears out on the steering wheel, I can have it re-wrapped with leather

 

[4802]

I wonder if someday if the alcantara wears out on the steering wheel, I can have it re-wrapped with leather

It might take some searching & I may be wrong, but I do seem to have a vague recollection of Acky saying that you can actually have it re-wrapped in alcantara if required. You'd obviously need to direct any question regarding this process in that direction.

 

[TEST DRyVer]

I don't care what anyone says about Alcantara! I would have all the walls of the interior of my house covered in Alcantara! I absolutely love the stuff! I would be the perfect candidate for the GTS, had it been in my budget... It's like asking me if I would marry Scarlett Johansson if I knew in advance the marriage would only last 2 years. The answer is YES! Yes to Scarlett Johansson and YES to Alcantara!

 

[FiscNad]

I don't care what anyone says about Alcantara! I would have all the walls of the interior of my house covered in Alcantara! I absolutely love the stuff! I would be the perfect candidate for the GTS, had it been in my budget... It's like asking me if I would marry Scarlett Johansson if I knew in advance the marriage would only last 2 years. The answer is YES! Yes to Scarlett Johansson and YES to Alcantara!

But what if, after two years, pretty Scarlett become much less pretty and your divorce with her ends up ruining you financially?
Ok, sorry for this bad joke! I shouldn't have written it...

I really admire your passion and your willingness to follow it. I love alcantara more than the Sport-Tex that I took (my second choice...). I regret not being able to convince myself to take more risks and listen to my hart... After all, buying a Porsche is first and foremost a passionate decision.

 

[Guaji]

But what if, after two years, pretty Scarlett become much less pretty and your divorce with her ends up ruining you financially?
Ok, sorry for this bad joke! I shouldn't have written it...

I really admire your passion and your willingness to follow it. I love alcantara more than the Sport-Tex that I took (my second choice...). I regret not being able to convince myself to take more risks and listen to my hart... After all, buying a Porsche is first and foremost a passionate decision.

I was actually considering the Sport Tex, but I guess I’ll stick with the Alcantara and save the $2000+

 

[TEST DRyVer]

I really admire your passion and your willingness to follow it. I love alcantara more than the Sport-Tex that I took

I was actually considering the Sport Tex, but I guess I’ll stick with the Alcantara and save the $2000+


For the record, my 718 is also ordered with Sport-Tex. Alcantara is not an option on base 718's. I wanted to do the steering wheel and shift knob in Alcantara on my build, but as nice as they feel, those would likely be the 2 spots where you don't want Alcantara. That being said, if I had a GTS with all the Alcantara options, I'd jump on it!

 

[FiscNad]

For the record, my 718 is also ordered with Sport-Tex. Alcantara is not an option on base 718's. I wanted to do the steering wheel and shift knob in Alcantara on my build, but as nice as they feel, those would likely be the 2 spots where you don't want Alcantara. That being said, if I had a GTS with all the Alcantara options, I'd jump on it![/QUOTE]




Did you get your car? I didn't get mine yet. I would like to know if you love Sport-Tex. Do you like it better than full leather? Thanks!

 

[dpcompt]

Alcantara

I had an '09 Audi A4 S-Line Prestige with Alcantara and it was the most comfortable car I have ever had for long trips. I got rid of the car with about 35,000 miles and the seats looked like new. I don't get the hate towards Alcantara.