Ultra suede seat inseerts?

[ladiesgod]

So I'm getting seat inserts replaced by an upholstery company here in Connecticut on my Audi dealerships tab because they stained one of my seats.
This company from what I hear has really good feedback and does excellent work.
The owner of the place after looking at my car ordered closest matching fabric. I thought it would be Alcanatara but he ordered Ultra Suede. He says it's the same shit.

Is this a bad idea? I've done as much reading as I could about this. Sounds like Ultra suede is more popular for interior trim, but I've seen posts where guys have used it for seat inserts. The guys at the shop have been doing this for a long time so I trust their opinion but I'd like to run it by your guys here.

[s4ski]

I have no experience with Ultra Suede, but I seriously doubt it is the same in terms of matching OEM fabric color. Are you replacing the inserts in all of your seats? If so and you like the fabric, then go for it. However, since this is on the dealership and appears only one seat was damaged, why mess with third party sort-of-similiar? Insist the dealer replace with OEM covers, IMO.

[Quadfreak]

I have no experience with Ultra Suede, but I seriously doubt it is the same in terms of matching OEM fabric color. Are you replacing the inserts in all of your seats? If so and you like the fabric, then go for it. However, since this is on the dealership and appears only one seat was damaged, why mess with third party sort-of-similiar? Insist the dealer replace with OEM covers, IMO.

post whoring today.....

but this had been covered multiple times already in this thread : http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...ight=alcantara

[s4ski]

post whoring today.....

but this had been covered multiple times already in this thread : http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...ight=alcantara

I don't know how I missed this thread. So my question is does x fabric color from Alcantara match y fabric color from Ultra Suede?

[Concavitor]

Just watch out for which backing you get on the Ultrasuede. The following is from Wikipedia:

What is the difference between Ultrasuede (as it is known in the US and a registered trademark of Toray Ultrasuede (America), Inc., the U.S.-based marketing arm for the man-made suede) and Alcantara (as it is known in Europe and made by Alcantara S.p.A which is 70% owned by Toray Industries, Inc.)?[6] Both are a man-made suede made from a polymer microfiber. Both were created in the 1970s and are commonly referred to as ultra-microfiber.

The Alcantara product is produced in the city of Terni in Italy, while the Ultrasuede product is produced in Japan. They are very similar for the most part with the Alcantara product being available in: 1) non-backed versions, 2) backed with a poly woven fabric backing, and 3) a foam backing. Ultrasuede is available in non-backed versions and backed with a poly woven fabric backing. The production of the products is identical with the only real difference being in the dying process: Alcantara has a slightly mottled appearance while the Ultrasuede is a little more rich and consistent in its dye/color.

Most of the confusion is related to the automotive lines. Alcantara has a number of automotive lines including Cover, Formal, Compact, Panel, Soft, and Perform (all with slightly different qualities depending on the application). However, there are only two types of Ultrasuede lines designated for the automotive market: Ultrasuede Ambiance - wide array of colors with no backing, and Ultrasuede Milano - this has a backing material applied to it and is more suitable for automotive applications such as seat upholstery.

Both materials are made in the same manner and to the same specifications with the only difference being the products color range and appearance. "After Ultrasuede started being produced in Italy under its European name, Alcantara, Okamoto would be named recipient of the Leonardo Prize, for contributing to the global luster of MADE IN ITALY."[7] Clever marketing and a wise placement of a production facility on Toray’s part gave them a product that was a direct competitor for Italian leather. Sadly, due to lack of brand recognition, the term 'Ultrasuede' has been used to describe most all microfiber suedes on the market.

[s4ski]

Both materials are made in the same manner and to the same specifications with the only difference being the products color range and appearance.

This is what would worry me. OP, did they show you samples, or did you take them at their word?

[ladiesgod]

This is what would worry me. OP, did they show you samples, or did you take them at their word?

I took his advice on the best color. They showed me a sample, it was a color called platinum. It was the closest to me out of all the colors. Didn't look too far off. It's a little hard for me because I'm a little color blind and my seats are a little worn but it looked good. I looked all over online to see if there was a way I could give him an exact color code or something but couldn't find it.

[.Koby.]

What shop in CT is doing them?

[ladiesgod]

What shop in CT is doing them?

http://www.bellsautointeriorofgreenwich.com/