Refresh packed-down LWBS seat cushions in 718 GT4

[akirasan]

I've always used competition seats (Cobra Evolution, etc) in my DE cars and they always retained their thickness, never packing down. I recently became the owner of a nused 718 GT4 and have found after 6k miles (in 3 months) that the drivers side has both packed down and developed a crease. Normal Alcantra cleaning hasn't had any real effect, looking to see if there's something I'm missing or it's just the nature of the seats.

[Tom]

Assuming you have buckets, @Crazy Eddie can fix you up in no time. I'm not a huge fan of Alcantara on wear surfaces for that reason -- but even more so on surfaces you regularly touch with your hands. That said, there may well be a way to freshen them up -- others would have to weigh in on that...

[Crazy Eddie]

I've always used competition seats (Cobra Evolution, etc) in my DE cars and they always retained their thickness, never packing down. I recently became the owner of a nused 718 GT4 and have found after 6k miles (in 3 months) that the drivers side has both packed down and developed a crease. Normal Alcantra cleaning hasn't had any real effect, looking to see if there's something I'm missing or it's just the nature of the seats.

Can’t say I’ve seen that happen to more current cars
We can recover the existing foam in new Alcantara
If you go to the website www.edguardusa.com and go to shop
You’ll see you can get seat cushion covers replaced
I have the OEM Alcantera or you can go with something else if you’d like
Best regards
Ed
My email address is info@edguardusa.com

[akirasan]

Thanks for the comments. First pass around for Alcantara, learned quickly how to use Sonax to get the steering wheel back in shape, amazed how dirty it got from the previous owners. Replacement for a wrinkle in a 3-year old car seems a bit much at this point, just seems odd/disappointing for an OEM product to pack out with this type of usage.

[Tom]

Thanks for the comments. First pass around for Alcantara, learned quickly how to use Sonax to get the steering wheel back in shape, amazed how dirty it got from the previous owners. Replacement for a wrinkle in a 3-year old car seems a bit much at this point, just seems odd/disappointing for an OEM product to pack out with this type of usage.

Can you post a picture of it?

[blueline]

Thanks for the comments. First pass around for Alcantara, learned quickly how to use Sonax to get the steering wheel back in shape, amazed how dirty it got from the previous owners. Replacement for a wrinkle in a 3-year old car seems a bit much at this point, just seems odd/disappointing for an OEM product to pack out with this type of usage.

Thanks for the tip on the Sonax as that's not one I knew about. I'm assuming this is the one you are referring to and that is as safe for Alcantara as it claims to be:
https://www.amazon.com/Sonax-206141-Uph ... r=8-3&th=1

Regarding the Alcantara LWBS and steering wheel wear, I have had none of what you describe and I have a lot of track miles (street miles too) on my '21 GT4. I guess it helps that I keep sweat off of both the seat and the wheels. (Obviously, using gloves on track and a homemade extra large towel seat cover for the trip back home from same.) An old Carpokes thread on the seat cover here: viewtopic.php?t=1860#p19380

When off track, I keep my hands clean and off the steering wheel as much as possible - no death grip. I also keep very lightweight inexpensive leather driving gloves in the car that I use as needed.

Regarding seat cushion compression, I have none of that on my seats either. (Maybe it helps that I'm not large nor heavy. Possibly the previous owner was and/or did not take care of the seats.)

I know others with Porsche's LWBS in GT cars and have not come across the issues you are having, so maybe something happened to the seat before you owned it such as a major spill of a detrimental liquid or lots of time outside in hot/cold/sun. Also, the use of certain cleaning materials can have a deleterious affect on Alcantara. Generally, light brushing is the best if the material is not soiled badly.

[akirasan]

Yup - unlike the previous owner I'm gloves on-track and clean hands in general as well. I'm ~170 w/helmet so not terribly large. The Alcantra material itself is fine, it's the foam that is at issue where it appears to have lost its memory capabilities. The only thing I can think of - I have brackets that rock the seat back ~3 degrees to keep my neck in position when wearing the helmet. I know that changes load angles (had to put a Sparco cushion in for lumbar) which might account for creasing (pushing forward instead of straight down) but that's just a guess. Fun times...

[blueline]

Now I understand - it's the cushion foam itself that's the problem, rather than the Alcantara. Maybe there's a way to get rid of the crease? Light steam? (Don't try that based on my suggestion - was just a random thought!) A good upholstery shop should have an idea.

Moving on, outside of the seat issue, enjoy your GT4!

[akirasan]

Thanks! I'd seen the steam thing with upholstery restoration so maybe an option. For grins I've poked my service advisor with "Is this supposed to happen on these cars while under warranty?". Car is fun - my previous built 987.2 was fast, this is equally fast with less effort (safety buffer), lots of upside should I decide to push like I did with the old car.

[akirasan]

FWIW, here's what it looks like:



Local dealer mentioned upholstery shop they work with, added that Porsche typically stays away from any warranty coverage for things like this. Maybe the answer is steam them, put them in a plastic bag and get inserts from Eddie.