Race-tex vs leather for a daily driver?

[Moheisen(FirstEV)]

Hey everyone. I’d really appreciate your honest thoughts on Race-Tex versus leather interiors.

I’ve personally never owned a car with a Race-Tex interior, and I’ve found a lot of conflicting opinions online. Given that many members here have experience with both sports cars and more family-oriented Porsches, I’d love to hear your real-world impressions and long-term thoughts on this option.

Thanks!

 

[Alpha]

I own two Racetex equipped cars, a 911 and a Taycan.

The 911 is has the full RaceTex GTS interior, but with leather on the steering wheel and the gearknob. For me that is the perfect combination as Race Tex (and Alcantara which basically is the same thing) can become flat, shiny and feel sticky as various contaminants from your hands get into the material.

So when I specced my Tacyan I wanted a leather steering wheel with the GTS interior. Porsche told me it wasn't possible, but they could inquire through the Sonderwunsch-program and make it happen. In the end I dropped it and just got the Race Tex steering wheel. It's about 14000 km later and I'm actually perfectly happy with the Race Tex wheel. It's comfortable, doesn't get as cold in the winter (and yes it's heated).

The thing that made it click for me is to remember that Race Tex is basically.. Plastic. So you can rub it down and clean it with little worry of damage. I usually just wipe it down whenever I wipe over the interior, probably monthly. Has worked fine for me. The Taycan is MY23so it has been a few years, still looks like new

 

[Moheisen(FirstEV)]

I own two Racetex equipped cars, a 911 and a Taycan.

The 911 is has the full RaceTex GTS interior, but with leather on the steering wheel and the gearknob. For me that is the perfect combination as Race Tex (and Alcantara which basically is the same thing) can become flat, shiny and feel sticky as various contaminants from your hands get into the material.

So when I specced my Tacyan I wanted a leather steering wheel with the GTS interior. Porsche told me it wasn't possible, but they could inquire through the Sonderwunsch-program and make it happen. In the end I dropped it and just got the Race Tex steering wheel. It's about 14000 km later and I'm actually perfectly happy with the Race Tex wheel. It's comfortable, doesn't get as cold in the winter (and yes it's heated).

The thing that made it click for me is to remember that Race Tex is basically.. Plastic. So you can rub it down and clean it with little worry of damage. I usually just wipe it down whenever I wipe over the interior, probably monthly. Has worked fine for me. The Taycan is MY23so it has been a few years, still looks like new

I really appreciate your comment! I took the plunge and locked in my spec with the Race-tex and pepita interior. It is a bit daunting to be honest, but I really like it in combination with my sporty specc. In all the cars I have ever had it has been leather and I wanted to spice it up but very cautions for the maintenance..

I usually drive longer journeys in the car, how has that been in comparison with leather?

 

[Alpha]

I really appreciate your comment! I took the plunge and locked in my spec with the Race-tex and pepita interior. It is a bit daunting to be honest, but I really like it in combination with my sporty specc. In all the cars I have ever had it has been leather and I wanted to spice it up but very cautions for the maintenance..

I usually drive longer journeys in the car, how has that been in comparison with leather?

No difference really, Race Tex feels good in your hands so no issues for me.

 

[Moheisen(FirstEV)]

No difference really, Race Tex feels good in your hands so no issues for me.

Thank you, I appreciate it a a lot.

 

[cutting42]

Just jumping in on this thread rather than starting another. I have alcantara in my McLaren and love it but will a Race-Tex interior affect resale on the Cayenne, I guess most are looking for leather. This will be my first Porsche so don't know how sensitive spec is on resale.

 

[Fun TC Driving]

Leather is so much easier to keep and maintain “nice” if the interior is more than rarely casually treated, so believe “use case’ is critically before making the RaceTex vs leather decision, e.g., family of five with young kids, beach trips with sunscreen, French fries being handed back and forth versus an “older” family who rarely would use the back seat except for adults and others who are interior respectful.

As I asked a friend who wanted my opinion on this same issue a couple of years ago, and responded, “suggest you take a look at your current daily driver first?

Does one “care and keep it up” or on occaision does its interior look like a week into a road trip gone amuck?

 

[cutting42]

Leather is so much easier to keep and maintain “nice” if the interior is more than rarely casually treated, so believe “use case’ is critically before making the RaceTex vs leather decision, e.g., family of five with young kids, beach trips with sunscreen, French fries being handed back and forth versus an “older” family who rarely would use the back seat except for adults and others who are interior respectful.

As I asked a friend who wanted my opinion on this same issue a couple of years ago, and responded, “suggest you take a look at your current daily driver first?

Does one “care and keep it up” or on occaision does its interior look like a week into a road trip gone amuck?

Great advice, my kids have their own cars these days and family duties are more civilised than the horrors of sticky hands and sweets fortunately.

 

[Moheisen(FirstEV)]

Leather is so much easier to keep and maintain “nice” if the interior is more than rarely casually treated, so believe “use case’ is critically before making the RaceTex vs leather decision, e.g., family of five with young kids, beach trips with sunscreen, French fries being handed back and forth versus an “older” family who rarely would use the back seat except for adults and others who are interior respectful.

As I asked a friend who wanted my opinion on this same issue a couple of years ago, and responded, “suggest you take a look at your current daily driver first?

Does one “care and keep it up” or on occaision does its interior look like a week into a road trip gone amuck?

I agree with you, but I also think Racetex vs. leather is somewhat of a generational thing. My father, who is probably around the average age of the typical Porsche buyer, also believes leather is superior in every way — luxury, feel, and durability. However, everyone I’ve spoken to around my age thinks Racetex is a really nice material and looks fantastic.

I think it’s a more emotional choice, and that’s ultimately why I went for it. I’m also quite particular about keeping the car clean, don’t have issues with sweaty hands, and even if the kids eat in the back, we clean it up straight away, so maintenance isn’t really a concern for me. However, the deciding factor for me was that I’m leasing it through my company, so I’m comfortable taking the risk knowing I’ll only have the car for three years.