Whats The Difference Alcantara/Suade

hl0m4n · 10-17-2007, 06:20 PM

whats the difference between alcantara and suade? i felt the suade on my friend's srt8 and it kind of feels like alcantara like the m3 competition steering wheel. any real difference?

the alcanatara is the real shit no?

mkaaes · 10-17-2007, 06:28 PM

Alcantara is a man made material, it's considered a "super" suede. In theory it's cheaper to manufacture than to buy real suede, but due to great marketing or extensive use in other high end cars it costs a lot more than it really should.

TTG · 10-17-2007, 06:45 PM

ALCANTARA.COM

jvzhp · 10-17-2007, 07:01 PM

had it on my 04 330 ZHP steering wheel -wears and discolors rather quickly thankfully had ordered leather seats. Paid for M3 steering wheel after 4months and would have done anything to get rid of that wheel. looked and felt torn up after a while. I think its made for driving gloves.

de.abeja · 10-18-2007, 10:55 AM

^^^^^^
It is made for use with gloves, oil from our hands saturates the microfibers and causes them to mat down resulting in a slick worn out appearance. You can clean it carefully and almost restore it's texture and look. If you always wear gloves then the wheel will look good for a long time, especially if you wear split-face leather or alcantra gloves.

DrGP · 10-18-2007, 11:41 AM

Alcantara is artificial suede. It can be cleaned much easier than suede which is very difficult to clean. Alcantara is not a bad material for seating surfaces because it prevents you from sliding when cornering. I would think it would be a really poor material to use on a steering wheel due to the dirt and oil on your hands soiling the material. Many S4 owners have had it on their seats and like it.

hl0m4n · 10-18-2007, 12:55 PM

so suede is the real shiet compared to the alcantara. just alcantara maintainence is easier and a bit cheaper.

KL2DC · 10-18-2007, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hl0m4n

so suede is the real shiet compared to the alcantara. just alcantara maintainence is easier and a bit cheaper.

yep just like leather vs leatherette...

JCo · 10-18-2007, 01:49 PM

I had that steering wheel too (04' 330 M-Perf pkg). I liked it, but it didn't look that good after 3 years.

hl0m4n · 10-18-2007, 02:51 PM

does alcantara/suede have a scale of quality like a diamond or carbon fiber?

de.abeja · 10-19-2007, 03:25 PM

I don't think so as far as alcantra goes, but leather does have a grading system I am just not versed on it.

10-17-2007, 06:20 PM	#1
hl0m4n Major General 2159 Rep 5,623 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NY iTrader: (58)	Whats The Difference Alcantara/Suade whats the difference between alcantara and suade? i felt the suade on my friend's srt8 and it kind of feels like alcantara like the m3 competition steering wheel. any real difference? the alcanatara is the real shit no?
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10-17-2007, 06:28 PM	#2
mkaaes Lieutenant 26 Rep 419 Posts Drives: 997.2 C4S Join Date: May 2007 Location: seattle iTrader: (2)	Alcantara is a man made material, it's considered a "super" suede. In theory it's cheaper to manufacture than to buy real suede, but due to great marketing or extensive use in other high end cars it costs a lot more than it really should.
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10-17-2007, 06:45 PM	#3
TTG ... 936 Rep 4,326 Posts Drives: M340 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (3) Garage List 2011 BMW M3 [7.84] 2007 335 Coupe (ret ... [9.00]	A Good Web Site for you to chekc out! ALCANTARA.COM __________________ 2020 G20 M340 xDrive - Portimao Blue - ZDA\|ZPP\|ZPX\|1CR\|1PE\|6NW\|6WD 2016 F10 535i xDrive - AW - Retired 2011 E92 M3 - AW……………....ED April 29th, 2010 - Retired 2007 E92 335i -Space Gray.....ED Oct 19th, 2006 - Retired
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10-17-2007, 07:01 PM	#4
jvzhp Private 0 Rep 57 Posts Drives: 2014 535x Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Long Island, New York iTrader: (1)	alcanterra had it on my 04 330 ZHP steering wheel -wears and discolors rather quickly thankfully had ordered leather seats. Paid for M3 steering wheel after 4months and would have done anything to get rid of that wheel. looked and felt torn up after a while. I think its made for driving gloves. Last edited by jvzhp; 10-17-2007 at 07:02 PM.. Reason: typo
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10-18-2007, 10:55 AM	#5
de.abeja First Lieutenant 5 Rep 301 Posts Drives: 335 sedan Join Date: May 2007 Location: San Diego iTrader: (0)	^^^^^^ It is made for use with gloves, oil from our hands saturates the microfibers and causes them to mat down resulting in a slick worn out appearance. You can clean it carefully and almost restore it's texture and look. If you always wear gloves then the wheel will look good for a long time, especially if you wear split-face leather or alcantra gloves.
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10-18-2007, 11:41 AM	#6
DrGP Lieutenant Colonel 137 Rep 1,914 Posts Drives: Sapphire 335i coupe Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: SE, PA iTrader: (0)	Alcantara is artificial suede. It can be cleaned much easier than suede which is very difficult to clean. Alcantara is not a bad material for seating surfaces because it prevents you from sliding when cornering. I would think it would be a really poor material to use on a steering wheel due to the dirt and oil on your hands soiling the material. Many S4 owners have had it on their seats and like it.
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10-18-2007, 12:55 PM	#7
hl0m4n Major General 2159 Rep 5,623 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NY iTrader: (58)	so suede is the real shiet compared to the alcantara. just alcantara maintainence is easier and a bit cheaper.
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10-18-2007, 01:49 PM	#9
JCo Private 0 Rep 55 Posts Drives: 2007 e90 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	I had that steering wheel too (04' 330 M-Perf pkg). I liked it, but it didn't look that good after 3 years.
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10-18-2007, 02:51 PM	#10
hl0m4n Major General 2159 Rep 5,623 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NY iTrader: (58)	does alcantara/suede have a scale of quality like a diamond or carbon fiber?
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10-19-2007, 03:25 PM	#11
de.abeja First Lieutenant 5 Rep 301 Posts Drives: 335 sedan Join Date: May 2007 Location: San Diego iTrader: (0)	I don't think so as far as alcantra goes, but leather does have a grading system I am just not versed on it.
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