Leather or Alcantara

[Chris1.4RT]

The seats in a 172, are they full leather i.e. leather and suede?

or,

Leather and Alcantara?

The reason I ask is time and time again, I've seen the Clio described as 'leather interior' but also as 'half leather interior'.

Alcantara is a brand name. Alcantara is a velvety-feel (almost slightly hairy, like a shaved head) type of man made material. I had Alcantara seats in my Saxo VTS and they felt nothing like the centre bits on the seats of 172s.

The centre bits on my seats in my 172 feel like suede to me and look like suede. On mine, they have scuffed slightly like leather/suede does with heavy use.

Part of the reason I ask this is also because there's a 'How to clean the Alcantara' in the Car Detailing section.

So....

You tell me...

 

[Gareth]

half leather, half alcantara.

 

[Rich]

Alcantara is man made suede, that's whats in the middle of your 172 seats.

 

[Chris1.4RT]

Hmm, I'm not entirely convinced. Rich, I'll go along with you so far as to say Alcantara is a man-made suede-like material but not man made suede. But is there any actual proof ie from Renault like in a brochure?

I've not had leather seats before nor ever been one for buying leather/suede clothing generally so I'm not certain.

Seems like suede to me.

Incidentally, I thought maybe the half-leather term refered to the seats being plastic to the very sides, bottoms and rear.

 

[Rich]

Have a read

http://www.alcantara.com/

Also I know its not 172 but same seats

http://www.renaultsport.co.uk/roadcars/clio182/specification.htm

• Leather/alcantara upholstery with sports front seats

I will scan in my 172 Brochure for you later to.

 

[Chris1.4RT]

Hmm, ok I'm pretty much convinced. If that's the case, there's not much actual real leather on the seats at all then is there?

It's just my old Saxo VTS supposedly had Alcantara seats and yet they felt nothing like the middle bits on the 172.

Unless there's different types of Alcantara.

Cheers.

 

[Rich]

Yeah not much leather seeing as the seat backs are vinyl!

 

[Brazo]

As for the leather, this is often very very poor quality. With older cars, they would take a hide and shave it into three layers. The bottom layer is suede and the top two layers can be used for various parts of the upholstery. But these days they use a chemical process to swell the leather, and then computer controlled machinery to shave the leather into ten layer (yes, 10 layers). This leather is then pressed and stamped with a leather texture (general rule of thumb is that the heavier the leather pattern, the lower quality the leather as the texture is used to hide imperfections). The Leather is then laminated between fabric and a clear breathable vinyl. So in effect, your leather is just vinyl with a leather veneer sandwiched in between.


taken from

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/showthread.php?t=225

 

[Chris1.4RT]

I'll stop telling my mates I've got leather seats then!

Oh and cruise control is pointless, the nights are getting lighter so no one will see my xenons, I can't rag the car like I did my VTS because it drinks petrol, lol trade it in for a 1.2 I think!

 

[Rich]

As for the leather, this is often very very poor quality. With older cars, they would take a hide and shave it into three layers. The bottom layer is suede and the top two layers can be used for various parts of the upholstery. But these days they use a chemical process to swell the leather, and then computer controlled machinery to shave the leather into ten layer (yes, 10 layers). This leather is then pressed and stamped with a leather texture (general rule of thumb is that the heavier the leather pattern, the lower quality the leather as the texture is used to hide imperfections). The Leather is then laminated between fabric and a clear breathable vinyl. So in effect, your leather is just vinyl with a leather veneer sandwiched in between.


taken from

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/showthread.php?t=225

Agreed - This is why the leather in my old 309 Gti felt like leather unlike the plastic like fake crap of my old 306 and the 182.

Damn I miss them old Pug seats

 

[Thomss]

Chris, you seam on a downer about ya car
I never use Cruise on mine, maybe the cold weather is getting you down?

 

[Chris1.4RT]

Lol, nah I'm not at all mate. Just had it long enough now for the novelty to have worn off slightly and being picky about a few things. I didn't catch up with your thread, yours ok now mate?