Change from alcantara to cloth on PUP???

[DR61]

I am personally not familiar with the Alcantara, which appears to be a synthetic cloth-like material that has similar feel to suede. I don't know what people are referring to when they say 'basic cloth'. There are hundreds or thousands of types of cloth at many quality levels. I had to go look at my current cars and feel the headliners because I don't remember ever having touched them. The lower priced Mini has a fuzzy synthetic material that doesn't feel that great but looks a bit like suede. The more expensive Volvo ($53K) has a smoother cloth that looks more premium and feels nice, but is not like suede. Since it is something I am not going to touch often, I really don't have a preference as long as it looks OK.

 

[stevejust]

A new Porsche Panamera or latest Audi A8 doesn't come standard with Alcantara headliner either btw. They have cloth. Looks and feels perfect.

Surely you mean "doesn't come standard" with Alcantara. Because it is still available as an upgrade from both Audi and Porsche.

See this for the Audi A8: Audi A8 Packages & Options | 2018 Audi A8 | Audi USA (CTRL + F "Alcantara")

Generally, Porsche charges mutliple thousands of dollars to upgrade to Alcantara depending on the model, and what you're getting in Alcantara.

The Porsche Alcantara steering wheel, for example, has been subject to much derision. But in general, Alcantara remains a pricey upgrade, even on hypercars.

 

[Uncle Paul]

Interesting marketing and branding for Alcantara. Basically plastic/vinyl suede.

 

[Zaphod]

Maybe it was a one off error using the coming non PUP material. Certainly possible. I just put it out there as it’s interesting.

Seems like a plausible explanation. Will see how it plays out.

 

[stevejust]

Have you ever actually compared Alcantara®, to say, a cheap microfiber sofa you can buy at a furniture store for, say, $799? Because there's a huge difference. And I'm not saying that there isn't non-Alcantara® brand microfiber in this world that would adhere to the same rub rate tests that the name brand stuff does, but the idea that Alcantara is a cheap product is asinine. It was started by people who have interests in keeping people under the mistaken belief that leather is a premium material, when in reality leather, even "vegetable tanned leather" is terrible for the environment.

If leather came off a cow and wasn't tanned, it would biodegrade just like the fur and hooves and rest of the cow (though the bones tend to take a very long time). Instead, leather is preserved through a tanning process that typically uses extremely toxic chemicals.

In comparison to leather, there's a reason why you find Alcantara on high end yachts and in cars like this,

or cars like this:

 

[gregincal]

Interesting marketing and branding for Alcantara. Basically plastic/vinyl suede.

Well, the PUP seats are just plastic/vinyl as well. What's the difference?

 

[K-MTG]

It's hard to tell from the video, since naturally you were a little more focused on the bigger picture. The color looks right. The best way to tell is to feel it, is it slightly napped or suede like, like the back side of an animal skin? that's alcantara. honestly, until somebody shows up with pictures of a cloth interior IRL, I'm skeptical.

Yup..it feels like my X headliner.

I can confirm without a doubt your driver side floor mats need to be vacuumed for a presentation video. And possibly a homeless person living in your trunk.

 

[Stoneymonster]

Every 3 I have seen or know about has llama, I mean alcantara headliners and door panels. We have the cloth, or I guess a cloth, headliner on our S. It feels like burlap.

 

[jjwardSD]

I confirmed that they have switched to textile headliners. I am trying to get pictures since there are many at the service center near me that have the textile.

 

[Brandon332]

Damn it, someone else on the main Tesla forum is saying all production is now textile. NOOO What happened to the Alcantara Headliner? | Page 3 | Tesla

 

[Brandon332]

Lol @jjwardSD that's so funny I linked to your other post at the same time you just posted it here. How did you confirm? Seeing it yourself or from others?

 

[jjwardSD]

@Brandon332, the service center confirmed textile on the local cars (checked all cars twice). I then called the person handling my delivery, from there he contacted production and confirmed it as well. He was willing to absolutely guarantee me that there is one and only one configuration of the interior until the callback.

 

[Brandon332]

Hmm interesting, and there was no room for error? For example their definition of textile is our definition of alcantara? This is the second direct report of this but it's still fairly hard to believe without pictures. Still seems like there may be room for a simple misunderstanding. How could he guarantee that there's only one configuration of the interior is they are saying it's now textile? That's obviously 2 configs. Hmm....

 

[CuriousG]

I'm going to pick up my S later today and see if I can confirm some 3s on the lot feels like mine or different.

 

[Brandon332]

I'm going to pick up my S later today and see if I can confirm some 3s on the lot feels like mine or different.

Congrats on the S. PICS of Model 3 interior!

 

[SigNC]

I'd rather have the audi headliner material if they are changing things up

 

[jjwardSD]

Hmm interesting, and there was no room for error? For example their definition of textile is our definition of alcantara? This is the second direct report of this but it's still fairly hard to believe without pictures. Still seems like there may be room for a simple misunderstanding. How could he guarantee that there's only one configuration of the interior is they are saying it's now textile? That's obviously 2 configs. Hmm....

I have been told it switched over and the new material is not "fuzzy" at all but rather a tight weave of fabric. I am without a car today so I can't just run over there or I would. The material in the doors is still alcantara/suede as confirmed by the service center.

 

[stevejust]

I have been told it switched over and the new material is not "fuzzy" at all but rather a tight weave of fabric. I am without a car today so I can't just run over there or I would. The material in the doors is still alcantara/suede as confirmed by the service center.

If you can get photos with a macro lens, that would be appreciated. I'm sure there's lawyers out there already plugging this into their boiler plate Cal. Bus. Code § 17200 template complaints. And this is the first probably class action lawsuit against Tesla I would actually have to consider joining, but of course I wouldn't qualify.

I'd be placing my order (AHEM, STILL NO INVITE E-MAIL FROM TESLA) with knowledge of the change. But for anyone who thinks Tesla can just unilaterally make this change by saying they only specified "premium materials throughout" and they never specified "alcantara" (and who knows if it is Alcantara® anyway and so this is a big deal), I have to adamantly disagree. Every single time they've showed the 3 with the PUP package, they've showed it with the alcantara-like interior. They can't just change this by fiat in the $5,000 PUP upgrade package.

As I explained in the reddit thread about this, the proper thing to do would be the following:

<Ring Ring> Consumer: Hello?

Tesla Delivery Specialist: Hi, this is TDS calling from Tesla. I have good news and bad news.

Consumer: Okay, lay it on.

Tesla Delivery Specialist: We can get you into a Model 3 today. The bad news is that it is missing a portion of the premium materials upgrade from the PUP package. We can offer it to you for a $2,000 discount off the purchase price. Would you be interested?

Consumer: That depends, what's wrong with it?

Tesla Delivery Specialist: It is missing the alcantara headliner and door inserts.

Consumer: How long do I have to think about it, and will you cut the price down $2,500?

What they should not be doing is trying to pass off a $5,000 PUP package that was ostensibly supposed to have alcantara is if there hasn't been a material change, when -- quite literally-- the material changed.

If there was a manufacturing reason (such as speed) for the change, they should be telling reservation holders what is happening and why. This shouldn't be how we are hearing about this for the first time.

 

[JoshM]

this is the first probably class action lawsuit against Tesla I would actually have to consider joining

How? Where did Tesla promise to use Alcantara in the headliner for the Model 3? Pretty sure everyone is overreacting here...

 

[jjwardSD]

@JoshM My main reason for even caring is that they had a car for me that needed to be replaced for numerous reasons, then I found out about the switch on the forum, was then promised it was alcantara/suede material, confirmed locally that it is not on the new cars, made more calls, later received confirmation of the switch in production with an apology for the confusion. I am now waiting to see what the new VIN was built with. I am also in the process of checking out the "new" headliner since I have only seen the "old" headliner.