Hi all-

Just ordered my CMS and the only detail my wife has me second-guessing is the rear seating. I ordered the bench out of instinct and it just seemed "normal", but she thought the rear buckets were a cool detail and my son seemed to like the buckets on the test drive. We will never have five people in the car. The upside is it would be easier to solve the lack of cup holders if there was a rail back there. This car will be primarily just my commuter, we have an old FJ62 Landcruiser for weekend family trips.

Is there any downside to the rear buckets? Thoughts?

 

I would have gone for buckets except I have two dogs and the CM is pretty much the dog car. I ordered the bench so their legs would not get stuck between the rail and seat.
The rear bucket arrangement is rather cool though, plus it does not force you to buy the flat load floor. My $250 flat load floor has been resting against a wall in the garage for the past few months.

 

I personally wish I had the three across flat seats for carrying things back there but since I didn't custom order mine I didn't have a choice. If you or anyone else has a 2012 with the gravity beige leather I'll trade you for my buckets if you like.

 

We ordered bench for our dog too - but in general I prefer it. It's great for groceries etc. since I don't use the back hatch for that. Also I love the flat load floor. We went on a road trip recently and it was great to have the extra storage of that area. Bucket seats look cooler I think - but bench was more our speed.

 

The bench, to me, is more versatile and just as comfortable. I think all you are losing is the unique factor.

 

Don't base anything on anticipation of using the rail. It's pretty much useless and just gets in the way. Sometimes the MINI designers get these great ideas, but it's obvious they never actually spent time with the car. All pros and cons for buckets or bench are valid. Just a personal choice.

 

Exactly. I too ordered the bench. I think it looks better, will be better with my dogs, and just more practical. I think the buckets make people think, "Wow, cool", and then 10 minutes later, the novelty wears off, and they'd wish they had the bench.

 

I ordered the bucket seats. Rarely do I have more than three other people riding with me and I really liked the uniqueness of it and the center rail lighting in the back!!

 

+1

my white 18" turbofan wheels get the most comments, second is the rear bucket seats

 

We went with the bench as 98% of the time for us there will not be rear seat passengers, and when there is it would rarely be for more than a few miles. But we also wanted the ability to carry 5 people in a pinch.

 

I have the white 18" turbo fans on my Cosmic Blue CMS.....I think I'm really going to like them!

 

I have buckets and love them. I've never been in the bench, but it seems like the buckets would be way more comfortable. I also have the full rail, which I use pretty frequently for holding stuff. I think the full rail is less useless than most of the people here.

 

+1
Also when loading the car for a trip, there is a bit more functionality for cargo without foldiing down seats. The buckets were indeed comfy--but the bench is good and the ability to throw three people (especially little guys like my nephews) back there for a short trip appealed to me.

 

i have 2 kids so we went for the bench so that we have the option of adding a 5th person in an emergency. but then again, we also have a honda odyssey if we really need the room so i probably could have stuck with buckets

 

Just an FYI that I added a couple of interior trade proposals in the Countryman parts section today, if anyone with a non leatherette three across back seat might be interested in having buckets back there.

 

We have bench seat. Other half felt someday we may have 5 in the car. Hasn't happened yet in 6 months of ownership. Took recent trip with two 24" bikes in back with bunch of luggage and assorted tools and junk with no problems. Probably would make same ordering decision.

 

I can't imagine having 3 in the back. Unless they were all preteens that were just old enough to not need a booster seat or something.

 

Bucket Here. Never in my time with CM just over a year, I wished I had the bench (it wasn't available any ways and i would have goen with bucket even with the choice no matter what) No dogs to worry about, no need to carry 5, stuff load just fine in the back even without flat load floor. Totally unique, Totally cool.

All comes down to personal needs and preference. Go with your style~~

 

+1

We have the buckets with the 2-piece rail and we are carrying dogs frequently. I flip down the buckets, clamp them flat with a ratchet tie-down, and throw a thick moving blanket over the back. The dogs do fine in that arrangement, no problem with them sliding around or stepping down between the seats.

We often have one or two other adults in back, and they really like the bucket seats. I can sit back there and it's surprisingly roomy.

We also use the cup holders in the rear rail section when the seats are up, since I can bash my hand on stuff in the front cup holders when shifting.

 

I wanted bucket seats but wife wanted the bench. It's technically going to be her car so bench won. :(

 

-1

Have the buckets. 2 kids & haven't yet had a need for a 5th person. I've got the flat load, so no issues keeping my pup back ther when needed. Cup holders for the kids is good, they've got their own space and they seem comfy.

I have yet to wish for a bench. If that happens, we'll take the mini.... van.

 

Thanks all for the responses and the perspective. I elected to change my order to bucket seats with the full rail. Also took the opportunity to switch to leather/cloth. I'm hoping to go with the PureRed Leather/cloth seating surfaces and keep the door inserts and rail black. Hoping they can pull it off.

This forum is a great resource, now the waiting game begins.

 

I thought I needed the bench for suitcaes & the flat loadfloor. Got the buckets and they work better for both people & carrying things. With the seats up you can keep the items in the boot from shifting when you brake and with a towel in the seat carry taller objects than with the seats down...In addition the passengers are more comfortable and they adjust fron/back & actually tilt for comfort...Go for the buckets inless you'll use the flat loadfloor eveytrip and take no passengers....

 

That 's an excellent discussion of the tradeoff, and we do variable configurations all the time...

 

Wish mine had the buckets. The one they had available had the bench and I didn't want to wait but if I was ordering, searching and didn't have one available right then and there I'd have gone with the buckets. My last daily driver was a Jeep wrangler with the rear seat replaced with a cargo rack so I don't even care about "functionality" of buckets vs bench. I like the look of the buckets and rail. But honestly for me it was just bling factor because I never have more then another person in my car so weighed out the waiting vs getting the one right there. If I could I would get a 2 door version (I know soon right lol). I guess as stated above though it's personal preference, needs and functionality. I don't think you can go wrong with either choice.