Alcantara sucks. It's like the black paint of interior materials

[668LT4]

I was 50-50 ordering it on my 2022 5 build. Blackwing King told me "no way, don't do it, trust me". That was good enough for me. Leather on it and the 2024 Black Diamond Tricoat, no regrets.

 

[SIR ICE]

I've had Alcantara on the steering wheel and shifter knob of 4 vehicles. I much prefer it over over leather. My hands are always clean and never sweaty when I drive. It's not for everyone but neither is a manual transmission or black paint.

 

[white98ls]

Use Koch-Chemie, available on Amazon. I use it every 2k miles or so, zero regrets about getting alcantara as it looks and feels new.

 

[ibjamin]

Just use soap and water on it. Soak with water, soap it up (I use Dawn spray soap), work the soap in and keep rinsing till clean. Why use chemicals over and over?

I bought an AMG with a steering wheel that was gooey. Horrible. One thorough cleaning and was like new.

 

[jbawden]

^^^Agree on interior detailing, keep it simple. Don't get me wrong, I have no shortage of car product, but I've largely moved away from interior sprays and just use a damp with water only microfiber for seats, controls, and most other soft surfaces.

I HATE shiny leather and once I figured out that leather conditioning lubes are a fraud on coated leather, I just vacuum and wipe down.

I have both wheel materials and sort of torn on which is better. I guess I'd say Alcantara looks better but I think I prefer the hand feel of coated leather.

 

[Melon]

Clean alcantara feels great on the hands, not going to lie.

I never thought about it, but I only use a damp cloth on interiors these days. Griots is a good cleaner for center console coffee spills but, that's about it.

 

[AdamUCF]

I really like the alcantara. I was torn on it with my order but I ended up getting a car off a lot that had it and really glad it has it. I've only got 5k miles on it but clean it with a damp microfiber every once in a while and seems good to me.

 

[FLYARMY]

I have a leather steering wheel and knew that the suede would never hold up over time. I did buy these grips off of Amazon so my leather will even last longer. Fits nice and tight and the red goes with my seat belts .

https://www.amazon.com/Cartist-Steering-Protector-Leather-Universal/dp/B0983LQSG8/ref=sr_1_18_sspa?crid=2SOSUL70CUEJ6&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.W4HHpcLGPxw7MN8MTJyNbfCsG0_1CgK4UMEsEyFVWoq4BuNi4eVHsvJXoOxxOgcmscNQhBocZJr_kVFX0GXNYK2sExOtJt90AbAOzV9ZxHLAzTceZ0drJv0OHYiyZAuVBLm8k9VWTglRq2GI7lBdMxtw-dK3wkoOsjXUEIp_iEEcbR3IfSwjfFTUtwSyCk3RL5e8XnLRLd89nUqw1w6dG8Vcx3i3NUbc904CpIQDusA.6w2rWOvjDIYtdfEhagCCbyuWDvAHsZmcWhIekbF80O8&dib_tag=se&keywords=steering%2Bwheel%2Belgato%2Bgrips%2Bcarbon%2Bfiber&qid=1785896583&sprefix=steering%2Bwheel%2Bellato%2Bgrips%2Bcarbon%2Bfiber%2Caps%2C112&sr=8-18-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9idGY&th=1

 

[jbawden]

^^^Do you have clear plastic covers on your couch?

 

[FLYARMY]

I have bean bag chairs thru out my house. Eating at the kitchen table, I have to stack them !

 

[bloominguez]

I have a leather steering wheel and knew that the suede would never hold up over time. I did buy these grips off of Amazon so my leather will even last longer. Fits nice and tight and the red goes with my seat belts .

https://www.amazon.com/Cartist-Steering-Protector-Leather-Universal/dp/B0983LQSG8/ref=sr_1_18_sspa?crid=2SOSUL70CUEJ6&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.W4HHpcLGPxw7MN8MTJyNbfCsG0_1CgK4UMEsEyFVWoq4BuNi4eVHsvJXoOxxOgcmscNQhBocZJr_kVFX0GXNYK2sExOtJt90AbAOzV9ZxHLAzTceZ0drJv0OHYiyZAuVBLm8k9VWTglRq2GI7lBdMxtw-dK3wkoOsjXUEIp_iEEcbR3IfSwjfFTUtwSyCk3RL5e8XnLRLd89nUqw1w6dG8Vcx3i3NUbc904CpIQDusA.6w2rWOvjDIYtdfEhagCCbyuWDvAHsZmcWhIekbF80O8&dib_tag=se&keywords=steering%2Bwheel%2Belgato%2Bgrips%2Bcarbon%2Bfiber&qid=1785896583&sprefix=steering%2Bwheel%2Bellato%2Bgrips%2Bcarbon%2Bfiber%2Caps%2C112&sr=8-18-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9idGY&th=1

I got this steering wheel cover free at the dealership.

I also don't know why I would pay more for a crummier steering wheel and shifter. In Atlanta that alcantara would be soaked with sweat in no time (air conditioning is not instantaneous, and GM air conditioning isn't even that good compared to other brands). No interest whatsoever, I agree with the thread title.

 

[SIR ICE]

Lots of strong opinions about this option. I did learn that lots of drivers suffer from 'sweaty hands' from driving their Cadillac.

 

[Melon]

Palms sweaty
Got the car in V-Mode already

 

[SIR ICE]

Seems some drivers should be wearing cloth gloves.

 

[Umrswimr]

I had Alcantara steering wheel and shift knob on my CTS-V Coupe and although I kept it "like new" clean with Sonax Cleaner, it was yet another maintenance job. I don't think I will buy another car with it again. I did NOT buy it with my 2026 CT5-V Blackwing...

Same here. My V2 had it and I absolutely hated it. Hard pass this time around.

 

[RDATLTE]

My ZLE has it as standard equipment. I'm not a fan of the extra detailing / maintenance which is required to keep it looking good.

 

[Melon]

Seems some drivers should be wearing cloth gloves.

This is me. I had gloves for the track.
My hands get sweaty when I drive hard. It's definitely a contributor to the need for constant cleaning.

 

[rubberduck]

Some of you guys should probably see a doctor. Botox injections may be in order.

 

[SS_Shooter]

I love the alcantara! On the wheel and shifter, leather is just a little too slick, and when you treat it, it can get a little slimy. Alcantara is perfect and grippy.

And as shown in this thread: Even after it gets dirty and flattened, it can be rejuvenated! The cleaned up pics in this thread look great! I'm going to order that Sonax cleaner and brush combo...

SIDE NOTE: The WORST material used in a V was the gloss black plastic in the 2nd Gen CTS-V's. If you breathed on it, it scratched. Looked at it wrong, it scratched. It was the world's softest plastic. On my 2010, I remember constantly buffing it out with Plastx and cleaning it with a soft cloth lol...

 

[Melon]

Some of you guys should probably see a doctor. Botox injections may be in order.

When you live in the south, you find that everything sweats.