Anyone get alcantara?
#1
AudiWorld Senior Member
Thread Starter
Anyone get alcantara?
Hi everyone.. I'm new to the board, and to Audi as well.. I've had my eye on the 2018 S4 for some time now, and my time frame for shopping for one wont be until January.. I was curious if anyone here has taken the 2018 S4 with Alcantara, and if so - how do you like it? Every single one of the S4's available in my area (NY Metro) have all been ordered with the nappa leather.. As it stands right now, my eyes are on the PP with Tech and cold weather packages as well as with the AS tires. No desire for ventilated seats (hated it in my previous vehicles).
Also - I joined ACNA with a 2-year membership a month ago so I would be eligible for the MSRP discount.. I'm not familiar with Audi's build schedules, so I was also wondering what availability is like around January of each year (in case I end up having to do a factory order). The lease on my current vehicle isn't up until May of next year, so I don't mind waiting for an order if its around 3-4 months..
Thanks,
Rick
Also - I joined ACNA with a 2-year membership a month ago so I would be eligible for the MSRP discount.. I'm not familiar with Audi's build schedules, so I was also wondering what availability is like around January of each year (in case I end up having to do a factory order). The lease on my current vehicle isn't up until May of next year, so I don't mind waiting for an order if its around 3-4 months..
Thanks,
Rick
#2
Good move re ACNA -- assures a discount, and if you can do better, at least you have a plan B.
Order time -- for purposes of planning = 100 days, unless you order something from the Exclusive Collection.
The "odd" time of year to order is near the changeover from MY 1 to MY 2. In your case that is not an issue. Factory orders can be less expensive (for the dealer, and should be, therefore, for you too). Why not get EXACTLY what you want? -- this only happens when you special order.
Insofar as not getting leather -- nothing wrong with that, and you're certainly going to get Alcantara if you order. The fact that leather is on most of the inventoried cars is an indication of the dealer's belief that leather will be an easier or shorter sell. If you're buying, you may want to consider leather, assuming leather will retain its value better than Alcantara.
I have a Sheltie -- Alcantara is more difficult to clean and keep clean in my case.
I haven't seen any S4's without leather, either, so I cannot comment on my reaction to it, in person.
I am very happy with the leather -- and since I wanted RED, well, I had no choice.
If you place a car on order in February, you will certainly have the car by May.
Order time -- for purposes of planning = 100 days, unless you order something from the Exclusive Collection.
The "odd" time of year to order is near the changeover from MY 1 to MY 2. In your case that is not an issue. Factory orders can be less expensive (for the dealer, and should be, therefore, for you too). Why not get EXACTLY what you want? -- this only happens when you special order.
Insofar as not getting leather -- nothing wrong with that, and you're certainly going to get Alcantara if you order. The fact that leather is on most of the inventoried cars is an indication of the dealer's belief that leather will be an easier or shorter sell. If you're buying, you may want to consider leather, assuming leather will retain its value better than Alcantara.
I have a Sheltie -- Alcantara is more difficult to clean and keep clean in my case.
I haven't seen any S4's without leather, either, so I cannot comment on my reaction to it, in person.
I am very happy with the leather -- and since I wanted RED, well, I had no choice.
If you place a car on order in February, you will certainly have the car by May.
#3
AudiWorld Senior Member
Thread Starter
Thanks for the info.. Honestly -- if it comes down to something on the lot that is everything I wanted - but it came with the leather, I'd likely take it..
One of the other issues here is that 80% of the in-stock cars here were ordered with the red interior.. I think the red looks sharp -- just on someone else's car.. Wouldn't want it for myself.
Also -- yes, I'm going to be leasing it. I've read conflicting things about alcantara vs leather.. Some people say its easier to maintain than leather.. One key concern I have is that it snows here in the winter, and there will be times I'll end up getting in the car while covered somewhat in snow.
Thanks for all the responses -- very helpful.
One of the other issues here is that 80% of the in-stock cars here were ordered with the red interior.. I think the red looks sharp -- just on someone else's car.. Wouldn't want it for myself.
Also -- yes, I'm going to be leasing it. I've read conflicting things about alcantara vs leather.. Some people say its easier to maintain than leather.. One key concern I have is that it snows here in the winter, and there will be times I'll end up getting in the car while covered somewhat in snow.
Thanks for all the responses -- very helpful.
#4
If I read what you wrote correctly, Alcantara is NOT easier to maintain than leather, the opposite is true.
If you spill a Caramel Macchiato on the Alcantara and on the Leather -- a damp towel will completely wipe clean (with no sticky residue) the leather, the Alcantara is, well, it is [human made] suede. There will be more effort required to clean it up and keep it clean. The leather is virtually a "forget about it" covering. Now, if you have a box cutter in your back pocket with the blade extended, you will cut the Alcantara and you will cut the leather. There are leather repair companies that can bring the leather back to life and it will be virtually impossible to tell where the cut happened. The Alcantara when repaired will show.
Assuming you treat both coverings with reasonable care, they both are unlikely to be problematic. The Alcantara is synthetic suede, however, and even though it is synthetic, it is, since it is not smooth, more porous. Yet, being synthetic it does have a decent resistance to staining.
My wife and I have had virtually all leather seats in our Audis, BMWs, Infininit and Acura cars. I even had leather in my VW Quantum from a few years ago. Other than my white leather seats in an Audi S6 I had, I've had very little work to do -- other than wiping with a damp towel from time to time -- to keep the leather clean.
Please get the Alacantara if you want -- but not because someone told you it is easier to keep clean than Audis leather interior coverings.
The reason to get one vs the other should be, overall, because you like the look and feel of the seat covered as you want.
Audis with red leather seats used to be rare. I had to special order my 2014 S4 with them, they were so rare to be found in dealer inventory. The S4 with the seats now in FULL RED LEATHER, rather than black and red, is a looker. This color is clearly the "it" color at least today, anyway. Until I got mine and then my wife got her SQ5 also in red leather, we had actually never seen an Audi in red leather. We ordered our cars with red (in 2013 ordering 2014 MY cars) leather after only seeing them in a brochure.
Overall, leather will be easier to take care of is the message here. And, if you get in your car covered in snow and your seats are leather, they tend to dry quickly.
If you care, here are some data points from an "Alcantara" forum:
"The alcantara is a HUGE pain in the *** to keep clean on seats; especially in the brighter colors. As gets all clumpy and what not if you get anything greasy on it (skin oil etc).
I had very difficult time keeping the alcantara wheel clean on my M3, ESPECIALLY if you're taking it in to get any work done - slightly dirty hands and it will all end up on the wheel. The inserts on my s8 are doing decent, but these aren't on the wear surfaces."
"I had a 10 year old Audi with Nappa leather. It was well maintained and still looked, smelled and felt great. Slippery like leather.
My father in law has a pretty new Audi with alcantara. It picks up fuzzies, hair, etc. If that would bug you - don't get it. However, I think it looks great, and feels a little nicer / gripier than just regular leather.
I would assume alcantara will last a long time if well maintained, but perhaps not as well as real leather."
So many things are subjective in life, and cars are very personal. If you like the look and feel of the Alcantara, and end up getting the leather, you'll probably bitch and moan and never be fully happy because you'll be thinking "I should have gone with the the Alcantara -- I never should have listened to those folks on AudiWorld."
That is why I'm always prone to just putting my thoughts out there and ending with:
Drive it like YOU live!
If you spill a Caramel Macchiato on the Alcantara and on the Leather -- a damp towel will completely wipe clean (with no sticky residue) the leather, the Alcantara is, well, it is [human made] suede. There will be more effort required to clean it up and keep it clean. The leather is virtually a "forget about it" covering. Now, if you have a box cutter in your back pocket with the blade extended, you will cut the Alcantara and you will cut the leather. There are leather repair companies that can bring the leather back to life and it will be virtually impossible to tell where the cut happened. The Alcantara when repaired will show.
Assuming you treat both coverings with reasonable care, they both are unlikely to be problematic. The Alcantara is synthetic suede, however, and even though it is synthetic, it is, since it is not smooth, more porous. Yet, being synthetic it does have a decent resistance to staining.
My wife and I have had virtually all leather seats in our Audis, BMWs, Infininit and Acura cars. I even had leather in my VW Quantum from a few years ago. Other than my white leather seats in an Audi S6 I had, I've had very little work to do -- other than wiping with a damp towel from time to time -- to keep the leather clean.
Please get the Alacantara if you want -- but not because someone told you it is easier to keep clean than Audis leather interior coverings.
The reason to get one vs the other should be, overall, because you like the look and feel of the seat covered as you want.
Audis with red leather seats used to be rare. I had to special order my 2014 S4 with them, they were so rare to be found in dealer inventory. The S4 with the seats now in FULL RED LEATHER, rather than black and red, is a looker. This color is clearly the "it" color at least today, anyway. Until I got mine and then my wife got her SQ5 also in red leather, we had actually never seen an Audi in red leather. We ordered our cars with red (in 2013 ordering 2014 MY cars) leather after only seeing them in a brochure.
Overall, leather will be easier to take care of is the message here. And, if you get in your car covered in snow and your seats are leather, they tend to dry quickly.
If you care, here are some data points from an "Alcantara" forum:
"The alcantara is a HUGE pain in the *** to keep clean on seats; especially in the brighter colors. As gets all clumpy and what not if you get anything greasy on it (skin oil etc).
I had very difficult time keeping the alcantara wheel clean on my M3, ESPECIALLY if you're taking it in to get any work done - slightly dirty hands and it will all end up on the wheel. The inserts on my s8 are doing decent, but these aren't on the wear surfaces."
"I had a 10 year old Audi with Nappa leather. It was well maintained and still looked, smelled and felt great. Slippery like leather.
My father in law has a pretty new Audi with alcantara. It picks up fuzzies, hair, etc. If that would bug you - don't get it. However, I think it looks great, and feels a little nicer / gripier than just regular leather.
I would assume alcantara will last a long time if well maintained, but perhaps not as well as real leather."
So many things are subjective in life, and cars are very personal. If you like the look and feel of the Alcantara, and end up getting the leather, you'll probably bitch and moan and never be fully happy because you'll be thinking "I should have gone with the the Alcantara -- I never should have listened to those folks on AudiWorld."
That is why I'm always prone to just putting my thoughts out there and ending with:
Drive it like YOU live!
#5
I have Alcantara in my Macan GTS and love it! It stays warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer and the grip is great. Been super easy to keep clean and wears really well.
That said I find the Audi Alcantara seats to be nowhere near as premium feeling. The leather parts on the seating are not as nice as the Nappa leather on the full leather seats. You also do not get quite the same contrast on the seats/doors with the stitching in the Alcantara version. For these reasons, as much as I would like Alcantara in the S5, I ordered full Napa.
But you should really try and find an S4/S5 with Alcantara to see how you like it.
That said I find the Audi Alcantara seats to be nowhere near as premium feeling. The leather parts on the seating are not as nice as the Nappa leather on the full leather seats. You also do not get quite the same contrast on the seats/doors with the stitching in the Alcantara version. For these reasons, as much as I would like Alcantara in the S5, I ordered full Napa.
But you should really try and find an S4/S5 with Alcantara to see how you like it.
#7
Fwiw, I had alcantara seat inserts in my 911 and AMG, and now have leather in my Q5. I am an alcantara true believer. I would get it in every car if I could. It's cooler in summer, warmer in winter, more comfortable, and your car smells less like a tannery. I love it.
Having said that, I am not a slob, and did not have kids or pets crawling around to spill god knows what on the alcantara inserts themselves, so I can't comment on stain-removing crisis management problems other than I didn't have any in normal use. I also can't comment on the quality of Audi's alcantara compared to Porsche's or Mercedes's. And I also fully grant this is all subjective. But as someone who lived with it for years I wanted to give my two cents.
Having said that, I am not a slob, and did not have kids or pets crawling around to spill god knows what on the alcantara inserts themselves, so I can't comment on stain-removing crisis management problems other than I didn't have any in normal use. I also can't comment on the quality of Audi's alcantara compared to Porsche's or Mercedes's. And I also fully grant this is all subjective. But as someone who lived with it for years I wanted to give my two cents.
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