Nicole

I would never do suede in a car. It's not an ideal material for the kind of wear and temperature changes you see in a car - but the worst is that it's hard to clean without leaving stains.

If you want the look of suede, go with alcantara - that's a synthetic material that looks and feels almost like suede, is super easy to clean, and doesn't fade as much as suede and leather do.

If you look at the top-of-the-line Mercedes and Mercedes AMG, as well as some Audis, they have alcantara as a headliner.

I have dark blue alcantara on a chair in the living room - have had it for more than 10 years now, and it still looks and feels like new. This is not automotive grade, though.

Champagne

I have had suede on my front seats for the past 25,000 miles and they still don't show any signs of wear.
Suede is very comfortable and will hold you in your seat almost as well as sport bolsters
Suede, like many other things, comes in an array of quality. Good quality suede can be treated against stains and is extremely hard wearing.

Alcantara is only color fast if the automotive variety is used. Most shops use the furniture grade which is a lot cheaper, but not UV resistant. This is one instance where using the real thing makes a big difference.

I work with both real suede and Alcantara a lot. I like them. They both have their qualities and limitations.

Paul

Nicole

Yes, I should have made it more clear that you need the automotive grade alcantara, if you plan to use it in a car.

You can probably make good suede work in a car, but I doubt it will ever be as easy to clean as alcantara.

As I said: I personally would not do it. That's my personal opinion. Feel free to disagree!

Kevin Michael

When Paul's car was here at the shop, his suede inserts looked absolutely like new. When I cleaned his interior for delivery I was amazed at how well the suede cooperated with such a light cleaning. Was this sprayed with some kind of "guard" Paul?

No_Substitute

Tomorrow morning I will get in my 928, see the cracked pod/dash, the warped center console, the tattered steering wheel and the faded carpet...and sob softly to myself all the way to work.

Perhaps I should ask Paul to stitch up a leather Kleenex box cover for me.

pcar928fan

It only takes a little money and time to fix all that! Just DO IT MAN! You will then LOVE GETTING IN YOUR CAR!

Champagne

We use a UV protectant and a stain guard, both from Leather Magic.

I remember when we did my T-belt at Roger's place, I spilled my whole coffee on my front seat getting into the car while it was on the ramp. Linda and I just sponged the wet area with paper towels and figured we would try and clean it once we got home.
When we brought the car down, we couldn't even see where the seat had been wet.

On the other hand, I've spilled glue on a finished piece of Alcantara. I was about to start over when Linda tryed to clean it with solvent. When she was done, we had to air the piece for a while because of the smell, but there was absolutely no trace anything ever happened.

Paul

NoVector

That's funny! $47 at ClC Leather: http://www.clcleather.net/tissuebox.html

shadowknight

Some updates to my beat up interior

before:

after: Wheel, pod, shifter and shift boot

before:

After:


After

Before:

During: Something is missing...

sil

Shadowknight,very nice rear centre console.Did you do the seats?
The fronts look like they're recovered.Who did the work?

Sil

'93 GTS

shadowknight

Front seat's are recovered at a local shop here in Tampa the rest was done by Paul and Co.

No_Substitute

Actually, as I sit here in my office I can see a pile of parts I collected off ebay early last year - a recovered pod, a good condition dash, a Momo steering wheel and adapter, a swanky shifter and boot, a new Blaupunkt stereo, a Leatherique kit for the seats...everything except a center console and carpet set and speakers.

My problem (ok, not really a "problem") is that I have spent the last five years building a very successful business. While the blessings that go along with that are great, so are the responsibilities. It's exhausting. My relationships and health have suffered and need attention. The last thing I want to do when I get home is fight with oddly angled screws and a tangle of wires.

Anyway, I still adore my 928, despite the natty interior. This thread has me thinking that I might treat myself by popping to have someone else handle those screws and wires...and motor mounts...and some other misc mechanical tweaks. Any referrals around Tampa to do this kind of stuff would be much appreciated.

pcar928fan

^^^^^^
Hang in man... be glad you have a good job/career and there is a lot to be said for that this day and age and you can spend time on the car when you have it...take care of the ones you love in your life too as they are irreplaceable. I have been out of work for the last 14 months but am glad to be working again now doing something that I find enjoyable.

shadowknight

No Sub. I sent you a PM about local shops