I like this padded, simulated suede insert that Nissan has applied to each door panel of our 2009 370Z Touring. I'll rest my elbow here at traffic lights or while cruising in 6th on the highway. It's the kind of thoughtful touch that was lacking in the 350Z cockpit. It's also the kind of subtle touch that makes the 370Z seem more plausible as a daily driver.
I would like this insert even more, though, if I was the only one who drove our 370Z. See, I'm neat and tidy. Other editors on our staff? Not so much. And already the suede is showing some light wear right around the door pull.
Perhaps it would have been better not to continue the simulated suede around the handle. But I suspect that might not sit well with the Nissan designer who envisioned this fillet of suede as much as an art form as it is an armrest... notice it has the same ovoid shape as the door release assembly in the upper right.
Erin Riches, Senior Editor @ 9,228 miles
carguy622 says:
04:41 PM, 07/ 9/09
"I'm neat and tidy. Other editors on our staff? Not so much." That's an understatement. You're being very kind.
However, even if one is not neat and tidy, I would expect the material to last longer than 9,228 miles. Is this another case of premium untested materials being used in frequently touched places with no long term testing... e.g. previous Audi and VW door pulls.
brn says:
04:45 PM, 07/ 9/09
I'm not sure how wear around the door pull occurs because other editors (can we call you writers?) aren't neat and tidy.
roadburner says:
05:00 PM, 07/ 9/09
The fake suede on a Cobalt door panel NEVER wears out...
ivannachoo says:
05:14 PM, 07/ 9/09
alcantara?
bkochuk says:
05:24 PM, 07/ 9/09
suede is a bad idea in any car, no matter where it is.
to ivannachoo's point, who had alacantara seats in their audi or subie? looks real good in the showroom. looks so bad at resale.
bc1960 says:
05:45 PM, 07/ 9/09
If you keep it vacuumed regularly, Alcantara or almost any fabric will look a lot better than leather of similar vintage, given that about 75% of the people who choose or are forced to buy it seem unwilling to give it the maintenance it requires to stay pliable and not crack.
mikeolan says:
06:00 PM, 07/ 9/09
I think this is the same stuff on the door panels that's on the Versa's seats and Altima's cloth side bolsters. I could be wrong but the consistency was pretty similar. It's a pretty nice fabric and from my experience wore pretty well.
jederino says:
06:01 PM, 07/ 9/09
^^I like the look of alcantara, but hadn't there was a wear issue with it. Leather can look acceptable with a "patina" of wear, but synthetics do not, so perhaps that is the problem with feaux suede materials.
My old Maxima had the standard fabric seat upholstry, which looked spotless after 11 years. It didn't look as finished as leather when new, but it wore very well.
supergoji says:
06:56 PM, 07/ 9/09
i have suede in my 300zx on the door panels, on the sides of the center console, on the seat surrounds and glove box and under the steering wheel.
been thinking about adding alacantara to the wheel and the shift knob. feels great and looks great.
altimadude00 says:
07:40 PM, 07/ 9/09
I also have suede on the door panels of my '05 Altima, and everyone that has had a ride in it like the texture and feel of it. They thought it was real upscale; and I have to agree with them. It's more upscale than seat cloth and much better than plastic panels.
huyracing says:
08:29 PM, 07/ 9/09
The one touch I dont care for on my GTI is the door handle... which is a hard cheap looking and feeling plastic. It was a change implemented because of the quick wear of the suede used before. While I would like a nice suede, it is for the better... Nissan, you need to do your homework!
wizard8873 says:
06:32 AM, 07/10/09
after reading the Altima comments, it does look like the same material. haven't been in the 370Z so can't tell but if it is, my 06 Altima had just under 60k miles on it after 2.5 years and was still clean. material was nice to the touch. for me, i consider that a lasting material. and I wasn't easy on the car either. it took 3 trips to colorado and several to wisconsin (from indiana) so it saw a lot of use all over.
felonious says:
09:46 AM, 07/10/09
The Alcantara on my STI did great, no wear, but in my S4 it's really doing poorly. It's getting all balled up and looks horrible. It makes it look like I have a sandpaper butt. :)
roar02ram says:
09:06 AM, 07/11/09
Nissan tends to use those little cup things in door panels as door pulls. I much prefer a nice, beefy, solid handle. Those tend to be some hard material that wears better, too.
actual370owner says:
01:54 PM, 07/11/09
No wear on my handle! I do wish Nissan had p
ut a left knee pad oN the door as they did on the center console. Somehow my knee ends up there under hard cornering! Material feels great. GTI poster (bet u r 14 and don't have car), don't tell Nissa what to do unless you actually have one. Go piss and moan at the VW site.