What happens when you assume? or "Alacantra revealed"

[myzmak]

No, I don't make an 'ass' out of 'u' and 'me'. I feel like a #$!#@!@$!@ moron.

In all the original whining and bellyaching about how the F8X didn't offer Alacantra this and that (especially the headliners, we were told - cue hysterical track: "how can we live without the F10's Alacantra headliners? Those other cars have Alacantra headliners! Why not us! Dear God above won't someone please think of the children!" etc) I have to say....I just assumed Alacantra was, you know, actually nice suede.

Like, it was a real, natural, somewhat rare/hard to make and thus exclusive and expensive fabric.

As many of you probably knew, ummmm, no. No it isn't. It is just ultrasuede or, as others might call it, fake suede.

It is the same crap that they put on cheap couches at Sears that they tell you won't stain.

http://jalopnik.com/what-the-hell-is...way-1604799947

So why do we care about it again?

[gblansten]

I love it in my M5. I have a lift where I turn the car upside down and then I crawl into the car and roll around on the luxurious plush headliner. It is awesome. If I could get a whole suit made out of it I would.

[Jockey]

because racecar?

[Bob Santorini]

We need it.
M2 with alcantara steering wheel, gear knob, bucket seats and dash please.

[04cobra]

I don't like alcantara on my steering wheels, actually makes it feel MORE slippery to me. I like it on the seats and headliner, and maybe on the door panels.

[dmk08]

For some reason when I ordered my car I thought I was getting it as a head liner w/ Full. I kinda like my head liner tho so its all gravy.

[dmk08]

Originally Posted by 04cobra

I don't like alcantara on my steering wheels, actually makes it feel MORE slippery to me. I like it on the seats and headliner, and maybe on the door panels.

You're supposed to pair it with hipster bmw driving gloves.

[m34m]

Originally Posted by gblansten

I love it in my M5. I have a lift where I turn the car upside down and then I crawl into the car and roll around on the luxurious plush headliner. It is awesome. If I could get a whole suit made out of it I would.

The question is Mr. Costanza, do you do it in the nude? This separates the men from the boys.

[gblansten]

Originally Posted by m34m

The question is Mr. Costanza, do you do it in the nude? This separates the men from the boys.

Glad you got the reference.

[myzmak]

Originally Posted by gblansten

I love it in my M5. I have a lift where I turn the car upside down and then I crawl into the car and roll around on the luxurious plush headliner. It is awesome. If I could get a whole suit made out of it I would.

Originally Posted by m34m

The question is Mr. Costanza, do you do it in the nude? This separates the men from the boys.

Originally Posted by gblansten

Glad you got the reference.

Nothing wrong with being ensconced in velour.....

But, seriously, as a 'luxury car' item in 2015, why would this be desirable?

Here I was thinking it was the equivalent of milk-fed-virginal-albino-yak-hide and, uh, no. It is the same shitty thing I could have had on a cheap suit in 1973.

[carsrmyvice]

Because it feels and looks much nicer than the alternative. I had it in my 991 and will miss it a bit. But I'm getting more leather this time so I will survive! Leather dash here I come lol

[myzmak]

Originally Posted by carsrmyvice

Because it feels and looks much nicer than the alternative. I had it in my 991 and will miss it a bit. But I'm getting more leather this time so I will survive! Leather dash here I come lol

See, this is what I don't get.

The fake suede is better than....what? The normal fabric headliner? (ie: a different artificial fibre)

Isnt it the case that we have just been lulled into thinking there is something 'premium' about the ultrasuede when, in fact, there isn't anything premium about it at all?

It's like the Michael Kors of car accessories - expensive, sure. Actually exclusive? Maybe not so much....

[Stilakazam]

But but it is used in racing. It's used as a flame retardant covering for formula 1 seats.

Look at http://www.f1technical.net/f1db/cars...12bb32cae4a3ef

At the very bottom in cockpit specifications.

Now we can watch people justify it.

[IM2C]

Time for a beer man. Yep.

[oldmanstyle]

It has more grip than leather and holds you in your seat better. It doesn't get hot like leather, so when your car is sitting in 90-100 deg heat the interior doesn't turn into as much of an oven. Likewise the shifter and steering wheel don't get hot spots from sunlight. No real downside unless you have to have the look and smell of leather.

[Lups]

Originally Posted by myzmak

No, I don't make an 'ass' out of 'u' and 'me'. I feel like a #$!#@!@$!@ moron.

In all the original whining and bellyaching about how the F8X didn't offer Alacantra this and that (especially the headliners, we were told - cue hysterical track: "how can we live without the F10's Alacantra headliners? Those other cars have Alacantra headliners! Why not us! Dear God above won't someone please think of the children!" etc) I have to say....I just assumed Alacantra was, you know, actually nice suede.

Like, it was a real, natural, somewhat rare/hard to make and thus exclusive and expensive fabric.

As many of you probably knew, ummmm, no. No it isn't. It is just ultrasuede or, as others might call it, fake suede.

It is the same crap that they put on cheap couches at Sears that they tell you won't stain.

http://jalopnik.com/what-the-hell-is...way-1604799947

So why do we care about it again?

Even I knew this!

Anyone who wants a permanent and extremely durable replacement to their ugly black fabrics I can rent you a permanent solution baggage. You take my other dog for a 10 minute spin and your whole interior is white. This is a permanent cure for the ugly interior and a money back guaranteed if you ever complain about the original look again.

[Warranty P]

People always want what they can't have. It's just nature.

[Falafel Combo]

I would basically crawl out of my skin if they put any alcantara surfaces in my car. Cloth, I like. Alcantara, is the thing of nightmares!


Some background ... I can't eat peaches. I can not just wash a peach and bite into it without being totally grossed out. I have to peel them first. The peach fuzz gives me serious goose bumps and just feels gross. Like I'm eating carpet. Still not sure why.


You guys can all get together and have your fancy BMW Alcantara appreciation days and BMW Alcantara dress up parties every year, and I still will never show up!

[Bahn360Photo]

bottom line is it feels nice to the touch and looks better then cheap underwear material used for to wrap interior

[Wah]

Its all about making your car feel like your living room. All these expensive leathers and fabrics started out on your couch.

[myzmak]

Originally Posted by Wah

Its all about making your car feel like your living room. All these expensive leathers and fabrics started out on your couch.

Oh I get that - but, again, what amazes me is how it just seems to be 100% marketing.

Leather is at least something that takes some artisanship/craft to make well (good hides, good tanning, etc). The limitations inherent in a finite resource create some intrinsic value.

But a synthetic fiber is just 'crank up the manufacturing process and let it go'. There are no actual limitations in the volume of the stuff (the raw materials are cheap and abundant, so one can make as much as one wants at a very low cost) and so it has no intrinsic value. So it isn't really a 'luxury'. I think that car companies have just done a fabulous job of creating the illusion of exclusivity and luxury with something that isn't at all exclusive (which, in this use of 'luxury' is a prerequisite)

It might have some practical benefits as a material compared to leather as another poster noted, but it sure ain't 'exclusive' or truly luxurious - yet that is how we have (apparently) been trained to consider it.

[Brosef]

it's desirable because it emulates suede, which is a super premium fabric. it's synthetic though, so it's extremely durable. win-win.