It's all about grip. On seating surfaces it prevents you from sliding around, with the steering wheel rim it provides extra grip.

MoeMistry, I couldn't find any information on AutoGlym's website concerning the Alcantara cleaner. Can you help?

 

The product is called Interior Shampoo or Interior Cleaner. I stock them if you'd like some. The 500mL and 1 Gallon combo is $27.99 or the 500mL is $7.99

 

alcantara!

usually that is much more expensive than smooth leather and nicer too

 

alcantara! no sweaty palms.

 

Maybe I am an odd-ball here but I recently replaced my alcatara with leather and I love it! I like the feel of leather better than alcantara. However I am keeping my alcantara and who knows one day I might switch it back!

 

I had the optional thicker leather steering wheel on my C2S, and I have the alcantara on the GT3. Both are nice wheels, but my preference is the alcantara, as it seems to have a little better grip. Whether it will hold up over the years is a concern.

 

nope, natural leather is more $ than alcantara.
because it's used a lot in luxury cars people believe it's more exotic material than leather-
so of course car companies use cheaper alcantara and charge more than leather.

it sure looks pretty but in real life it's not all that great.
i prefer leather.
recently some car companies started to use real suede or nubuck in their cars... i'd love to try those though.

 

I chose leather and I am very happy with it. It is supposed to be thicker than the alcantara.

 

Just realized this is an old thread, recently revived and found my post from one year ago.

My steering wheel is leather but the shifter was alcantara: I just had it replaced by a Turbo short shifter (steel + carbon fiber), because the alcantara had completely worn out on the inside grip. It looked like crap after about 6 months. Porsche replaced it under warranty.

My advice: if you are going to keep your car for more than a few months, go with leather. Alcantara will wear out, no matter how well you take care of it.

 

Did you have to pay extra to have Porsche replace the alcantara shifter with the Turbo ss one under warranty?

 

It is amazing to find this post over a year later. As it turns out, most of my driving is on the track and the Alcantara on the steering wheel and shift **** show little or no wear. I like the feel of both without gloves on the street and the grip with gloves on the track.

 

No, I didn't. They kept the old part...

 

If you "drive it like you stole it" the palms do get a bit sweaty! On leather this does reduce grip between hand and wheel. Alcantara feels good in the hand and according to Porsche is long lasting. Haven't seen a tatty one yet. They also say better not to wear gloves although I always wear them at track days.

 

I like the feel of alcantara over leather.