I have decided the exterior color is black with white top. Equipped with sunroof. I have also seen the red cloth with leather($800) option with black exterior color. It looks very sharp. I am planning to keep this car for long time (8+ years). Love this combo alot, HOWEVER, does the red cloth fade easily? The car will sit outside 24/7 in S. California?

 

I've had my car since May 05 and the seats have not faded as of yet. My only problem is I seem to get the red cloth dirty easily. I need to some day put some scotchgard or other substance on it to protect it.

 

Excellent exterior color choice (of course, I'm biased). I really love my sunroof, so I am sure you won't be disappointed. I think the red/black seats would look super sharp, I'd say go for it! Sorry I don't have any experience with fading since I just got my car four days ago and I have the grey/black cloth.

 

have it in both of our MINIs. The red cloth does take stains easier than the leather, but 303 aerospace cleaner has gotten everything out so far.

 

Assuming 'Goodberry' ever gets loaded on a boat, I also order the red cloth and black leather, but I also went red dash and door trim. I plan to find some red/bk sissal floor mats too.

From my readings on the forum, everyone suggests treating your fabric and carpets with 303. I found mine at a local boating supply. There is a post on this forum I have run across a couple of time about an owner who applied 303 to his redcloth/bkleather (same as ours) with no problems.. only positive comments.

I plan on dousing 303 all over my red/bk seats and carpet if it ever gets here.

Check out the detailing 101 threads.. I think it is there.

YD

 

Thanks for sharing your thought.

I wish Mini would made the red and black in full leather. The red + black two ton combo really is my cup of tea. Period.

English leather is something I consider, but the extra $900 give me a moment of pause.

 

I just love the Tartan red cloth/leather seats...esp. with the piano black dash !!......don't know about the fading tho, only had my MCS for a few days.

 

I hear the cloth really stains easily with water. Thanks for the 303 tip. I'm picking up my MINI this Saturday with the red tartan cloth and black leather.

Also, with cloth, seats won't feel as hot as all leather. I changed from the Cordoba Beige Leather to Red cloth/Black leather for that very reason, while still having a sharp look with leather.

 

I love red seats in a black car, but I have to be honest. My dealer said the cloth seats have not worn well. He said they are starting to get used Minis with cloth seats that are coming apart. He said the Leatherete is proving to be the most durable even over the leather.

 

I've got these seats in my '05, and I've specified the same for my '06 (currently on order). By and large, they've held up well over 18 months and 32k miles, but the dealer put some nice greasy hand prints on them when replacing the sunroof last month. They're replacing them for me, of course. I'm considering the Wet Okole seat covers as a first line of defense. I picked up a couple of small stains on my own (before the dealer's), but never tried to clean them; I think they probably would have come out fine. The seat covers kind of make the upholstery choice moot, but they do look really nice, so that'll help resale later on (but to the tune of $800? probably not...).

 

I love my red/black cloth leather seats, sort of the best of both worlds. Plus U get the lumbar adjustment as well. My only gripe is that the cloth picks up stains easily (like rain water) but the good news is that they clean easily (I use Armor-All Upholstery Foam on the cloth, and Zymol on the leather). Best $800 option ever spent.

And they are comfortable. I've logged 500 miles a day on road trips and have not once felt sore. Good choice.