Other than personal preferances, it seems eveyone is in agreement.

Leather: Highest preventative maintenance, hot, $$, made from animal skin (not trying to judge if this is good or bad), most character, feels great, lumbar support .

Cloth: Hardest to keep clean, coolest butt, no lumbar (unless ordered with leather.)

Leatherette: Hot, doesn't have the feel of real leather, easiest to maintain.

When I went to order my MINI, cloth was #1 choice, leather was a distant second, never heard of leatherette. Test drove a car with leather. MINI was out of stock of the cloth I wanted and it would have added a couple months to the delivery date. Couldn't stand the thought of waiting 4 months instead of 2. MA told me about leatherette. My first thought was YUCK!!! that's vinyl (technically I guess it is) then he told me the car I just test drove had leatherette. Ordered the MINI with leatherette.

One thing the MA failed to mention was adjustable lumbar support wasn't available with leatherette (my fault for not doing enough research.) This would have made the choice harder but, after 6 months of ownership, if I were to order another MINI, it would also be leatherette.

 

"leatherette" is an upscale term for Vinyl.

 

Is the quality and weight of the 1700 dollar leather higher than the 1300 dollar leather?

the cooky two toned leather/cloth is probably perfect. However, I have no idea what it could match !!

1700 is a heck of a lot of cash for leather, but it does look dashing.

 

I have the black and gray pleather,
It looks beautiful and everyone who sees it assumes its leather.
and i ususlly don't correct them.
My only complaint is t gets so dang hot and sweaty in the summer.

 

'like budda'

we ordered it on the '06 because they seem to have more thigh bolstering than the std. cloth seats. My husband is 6'1" and has long legs and the seats in my Cabrio make him feel like he is one of the Shriner's in a tiny car.

 

About that English panther leather. I certainly like the retro look. It seems like if it stretched, it would blend in better due to the vertical lines of the seat. The basic leather seat seems to be more simple. Easier to notice wrinkles and cracks. Any thought anyone? I might change my order to the English leather. After all, it's just an extra day at the office.

 

everyone who has sat in the car has remarked how soft and comfy the seats are, and how supportive they are. they seem to be very different in that respect, whereas the stock space grey fabric seats are hard and don't hold you well. YMMV.

 

I think the leather is a nice item to add some richness to the Mini experience but they can be a bit onthe slippery side. They will stretch and wrinkle a bit but that is the case on many leather seats .

Mark

 

leather is nice and looks sweet, but here in florida....NO THANKS!

I got cloth in my MCS, although i dont think it looks as up scale as the leather, i will not be stuck with a sweaty back/butt

and dont even try to deny that all of you with leather and letherette dont get "swamp butt" in the middle of summer in the 90+ heat

this was one option that i picked function over form.

 

and dont even try to deny that you all with leather and letherette dont get "swamp butt" in the middle of summer in the 90+ heat

now that is a first! swamp butt!

 

Climbergirl,

you always seem to catch me when i make a weird post.

 

chopachopachopachopa.......ahhhh..."I love the smell of leatherette in the morning"......chopachopachopachopa.

quote:
"I am not a big fan of sitting on a dead cow."

I guess you'd rather sit on a bunch of dead dinosaurs and decomposed leaves.


quote:
"I got cloth in my MCS, although i dont think it looks as up scale as the leather, i will not be stuck with a sweaty back/butt "


I have Panther black leather and its been in the 90's and 100's and my butt ain't been near no swamp. Granted, I have 35% tint all around (which I highly recommend) and the seats have not been uncomfortable.

I got English Leather coming and I cant wait to get in the car every time and go....snifffffffff.....ahhhhhhh. It's simply mooovelous!

 

Buddha has the English leather. I sat in both the regular leather and the English Panther leather seats. The EP seats were FAR more comfortable than the sport seats. I have some pretty serious back issues, having returned a Mercedes I purchased because the seats physically caused me pain after 15-20 minutes in the car. I learned from that car that I have to sit in a car for at least 20 minutes just to "test drive" the seats. My back definitely could tell the difference between the two.

And yes, there is a difference in the quality of the two leathers.

 

Actually, yes! I'm a geologist

 

OK, Rocky.

 

I wouldn't have it any other way! You keep me laughing!

 

Everything, especially women, is better in leather.

I guess its cloth regular with Sport seats or else English Black panther leather.

 

Jefe...go for the Panther...you WON'T regret it!