Limited owners, how's the alcantara holding up? - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

tracerit · 01-28-2013, 01:19 AM

My experience when I was shopping around for a used BMW with alcantara steering wheels have me in doubt about alcantara. They all peeled after a few years and it was gross looking. Now that some of you have had your Limiteds for a while, how has it held up to use?

Would you say wearing jeans wear it down quicker?

Is it a mess if you get it wet (due to rain, not an uncontrollable bladder)?

While the alcantara isn't something that would keep me from going with a Limited, I'd just like to prepare myself

If all goes according to plan, I could end up getting one in two weeks!

mechaghost · 01-28-2013, 03:22 AM

I have the 2nd oldest BRZ in the US and the alcantara is holding up pretty good. I have not done anything special to it except vacuum the car once a week.

ihaskrayon · 01-28-2013, 03:32 AM

The seats will be fine. I think the reason the steering wheels was gross is because it is touched by greasy or sweating hands. Your hand is never in the same position every single time either. You're always moving your hands all over the wheel. The seat, however, you sit and don't really slide around so it's not going to wear as much.

Jeans should be fine, unless you have many rivets or or studs on your pockets. I had a Evo IX and the seats looked damn near brand new when I sold it. There was slight wear on the leather portion, but the alcantara looked new

ashtray · 01-28-2013, 03:51 AM

Got my Limited June 1st. That said, it only has 2,700 miles and drove it in the rain for the first time last week (I nearly cried it got so dirty!). My interior still looks like new - but again, not driven heavily. (3x per week). I don't see it being an issue, but if it does wear poorly, an upholstery shop can sew in some inserts for not much $$.

Calin · 01-28-2013, 04:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashtray

Got my Limited June 1st. That said, it only has 2,700 miles and drove it in the rain for the first time last week (I nearly cried it got so dirty!). My interior still looks like new - but again, not driven heavily. (3x per week). I don't see it being an issue, but if it does wear poorly, an upholstery shop can sew in some inserts for not much $$.

That's exactly what I was thinking. If my alcantara ever starts looking bad, it wouldn't be that big of a deal to have an upholstery shop replace it.

industrial · 01-28-2013, 09:03 AM

I've had alcantara seats in my cars since my first sti. It holds up really well. The alcantara in my brz has around 10k on it...looks brand new. I think the leather side bolsters will show wear far before the alcantara. I'm thinking about sending my steering wheel to be wrapped in the stuff actually.

DGMBRZ · 01-28-2013, 09:13 AM

Mines holding up well too.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

chandz05 · 01-28-2013, 09:23 AM

Yep, 8k miles since last August using her as a DD, and alcantara still looks like new. Even with getting in wet from rain, it doesn't ever get that damp/musty smell like some other car fabrics. But we'll see about that in a few years, I guess

CTB727 · 01-28-2013, 09:34 AM

2,200 miles on my limited since I bought it November 25th and the Alcantara still looks like new.

ap5512 · 01-28-2013, 09:56 AM

My seats definitely still look new after about 10K miles on it. It is daily driven but not long distances. What do you guys use to clean them?

dsgerbc · 01-28-2013, 10:25 AM

10k miles since May. Seats are fine. 2 years in a spec.b prior to that, fine too.
However, alcantara seems to be eating the backpocket stitching in my jeans, lol.

infinite012 · 01-28-2013, 10:38 AM

70,000 miles on my 2008 STI with the grey alcantara/black leather seats and they still looked as fresh as when I picked it up with 37,000 miles on it.

The BRZ side bolsters definitely have me a bit more concerned about wear than the STI since there is an actual side bolster.

Euclid · 01-28-2013, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by infinite012

70,000 miles on my 2008 STI with the grey alcantara/black leather seats and they still looked as fresh as when I picked it up with 37,000 miles on it.

The BRZ side bolsters definitely have me a bit more concerned about wear than the STI since there is an actual side bolster.

Here's a tip for helping prolong the life of your side bolster. When getting out of your car slide the seat back as far as you can. That way when you are getting in you're not rubbing your ass across the bolster as much since the seat is so far back. Of course this likely depends on factors like how large your ass is. :happy0180:

infinite012 · 01-28-2013, 11:32 AM

My ass is badonkalicious.

But honestly, I'm 5'8" and 145 lbs soaking wet.

01-28-2013, 01:19 AM	#1
tracerit Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Drives: '13 SSM BRZ Limited 6MT Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 1,067 Thanks: 593 Thanked 198 Times in 137 Posts Mentioned: 13 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Limited owners, how's the alcantara holding up? My experience when I was shopping around for a used BMW with alcantara steering wheels have me in doubt about alcantara. They all peeled after a few years and it was gross looking. Now that some of you have had your Limiteds for a while, how has it held up to use? Would you say wearing jeans wear it down quicker? Is it a mess if you get it wet (due to rain, not an uncontrollable bladder)? While the alcantara isn't something that would keep me from going with a Limited, I'd just like to prepare myself If all goes according to plan, I could end up getting one in two weeks!

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01-28-2013, 03:22 AM	#2
mechaghost Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Drives: Silver AT Limited Location: Seattle Posts: 823 Thanks: 145 Thanked 344 Times in 159 Posts Mentioned: 17 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I have the 2nd oldest BRZ in the US and the alcantara is holding up pretty good. I have not done anything special to it except vacuum the car once a week.

01-28-2013, 03:32 AM	#3
ihaskrayon The Comedian Join Date: Jun 2012 Drives: SWP BRZ Limited Location: Irvine Posts: 969 Thanks: 94 Thanked 642 Times in 266 Posts Mentioned: 12 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	The seats will be fine. I think the reason the steering wheels was gross is because it is touched by greasy or sweating hands. Your hand is never in the same position every single time either. You're always moving your hands all over the wheel. The seat, however, you sit and don't really slide around so it's not going to wear as much. Jeans should be fine, unless you have many rivets or or studs on your pockets. I had a Evo IX and the seats looked damn near brand new when I sold it. There was slight wear on the leather portion, but the alcantara looked new

01-28-2013, 03:51 AM	#4
ashtray As Seen On The Internet Join Date: Apr 2011 Drives: 2003 WRX, 2013 BRZ, 442 Location: SoCal Posts: 852 Thanks: 23 Thanked 251 Times in 159 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	Got my Limited June 1st. That said, it only has 2,700 miles and drove it in the rain for the first time last week (I nearly cried it got so dirty!). My interior still looks like new - but again, not driven heavily. (3x per week). I don't see it being an issue, but if it does wear poorly, an upholstery shop can sew in some inserts for not much $$.

01-28-2013, 09:03 AM	#6
industrial Add lightness! Join Date: Apr 2012 Drives: 17' WRX Location: Boston Posts: 1,253 Thanks: 380 Thanked 888 Times in 411 Posts Mentioned: 20 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I've had alcantara seats in my cars since my first sti. It holds up really well. The alcantara in my brz has around 10k on it...looks brand new. I think the leather side bolsters will show wear far before the alcantara. I'm thinking about sending my steering wheel to be wrapped in the stuff actually.

01-28-2013, 09:13 AM	#7
DGMBRZ Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Drives: 2013 Subaru BRZ in DGM Location: Miami, FL Posts: 230 Thanks: 61 Thanked 63 Times in 54 Posts Mentioned: 21 Post(s) Tagged: 3 Thread(s)	Mines holding up well too. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

01-28-2013, 09:23 AM	#8
chandz05 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Drives: CBS BRZ limited MT Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 151 Thanks: 38 Thanked 26 Times in 23 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Yep, 8k miles since last August using her as a DD, and alcantara still looks like new. Even with getting in wet from rain, it doesn't ever get that damp/musty smell like some other car fabrics. But we'll see about that in a few years, I guess

01-28-2013, 09:34 AM	#9
CTB727 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Drives: 2013 Subaru BRZ Location: USA Posts: 237 Thanks: 65 Thanked 104 Times in 59 Posts Mentioned: 3 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	2,200 miles on my limited since I bought it November 25th and the Alcantara still looks like new.

01-28-2013, 09:56 AM	#10
ap5512 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Drives: 2013 SWP BRZ Location: NoVA Posts: 532 Thanks: 241 Thanked 142 Times in 97 Posts Mentioned: 4 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	My seats definitely still look new after about 10K miles on it. It is daily driven but not long distances. What do you guys use to clean them?

01-28-2013, 10:25 AM	#11
dsgerbc Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Drives: BRZ(sold), STI Location: A2, MI Posts: 1,915 Thanks: 176 Thanked 419 Times in 241 Posts Mentioned: 11 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	10k miles since May. Seats are fine. 2 years in a spec.b prior to that, fine too. However, alcantara seems to be eating the backpocket stitching in my jeans, lol.

01-28-2013, 10:38 AM	#12
infinite012 Banned Join Date: Jan 2013 Drives: 13 DGM BRZ Ltd Location: Williamsburg, VA Posts: 974 Thanks: 294 Thanked 470 Times in 255 Posts Mentioned: 17 Post(s) Tagged: 4 Thread(s)	70,000 miles on my 2008 STI with the grey alcantara/black leather seats and they still looked as fresh as when I picked it up with 37,000 miles on it. The BRZ side bolsters definitely have me a bit more concerned about wear than the STI since there is an actual side bolster.

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01-28-2013, 11:32 AM	#14
infinite012 Banned Join Date: Jan 2013 Drives: 13 DGM BRZ Ltd Location: Williamsburg, VA Posts: 974 Thanks: 294 Thanked 470 Times in 255 Posts Mentioned: 17 Post(s) Tagged: 4 Thread(s)	My ass is badonkalicious. But honestly, I'm 5'8" and 145 lbs soaking wet.