We have just ordered our MINI S, we have a 2-3 month wait... I originally wanted the leatherette upholstery, but our sales guy talked us into the space cloth. He said customers complain about the leatherette getting too "sticky" and pulling on your skin in hot weather. We would really appreciate any feedback, as I still have a few days to change the order. Thanks

 

I have the space cloth and love it. Had many favourable comments. The "grey" part actually looks more like silver to me. But I AM colour-blind.

 

I will second that leatherette can be kind of hot in the summer. Not hot to the touch, but it does not breathe so you back tends to sweat in it.

 

I have no "direct" experience with leather, but all the folks I know who have space cloth are ga-ga over it. I think you'll be pleased...but opinions on this here tend to be all over the place. Personally, I like the contrast it lends to the interior.

 

I'm partial for cloth seats, but after years of having them I'm ready to have seats that I can easily clean--something you can't do with space cloth. So I'm getting leatherette and probably some cloth covers for the ultimate in servicable upholstery.

 

:smile: :smile: We have the leatherette and like it a lot. We don't find it to be sticky at all unless it's REALLY HOT out and we don't have the AC on - which is rare (that we don't have the AC on)... :smile:

Chow!

Donna
donna@dcmetrominis.org

 

Ditto. I sweat, but I did in the cloth interiors I've owned too.

 

I had initially ordered kaleido cloth, disliking the idea of “plastic” seats. Then I realized that my ’69 Spitfire of course had vinyl seats, and was an acceptable substitute for leather on a reasonably priced car. If it was good enough for the ‘60s, certainly I can see where MINI chose to imitate, I finally understood that. Waiting for my car, I then added some options and changed to the leatherette on sport seats (standard cooper). Owing to a dealer mistake though, my car came through with the kaleido cloth. I was quite alarmed and disappointed when waiting those last days after being told of “imminent delivery,” since by then I had accepted that you can hardly tell that the leatherette isn’t the real thing. But when I saw the car I was relieved--- the cloth is very nicely stitched, and the contrasting panels are very well done- the overall appearance is excellent. Also, the “cloth” is indeed CLOTH, not “velour” type as we are so used to with American and Japanese cars. So, I am very happy that the dealer didn’t manage to make the change for me! The cloth seems tough, it is comfortable, and much more interesting than the leatherette in my opinion. I would expect that the space cloth would be just as durable, and you’d have something more out of the ordinary. It is what I will choose when I am able to upgrade to a MCS…

 

>>We have just ordered our MINI S, we have a 2-3 month wait... I originally wanted the leatherette upholstery, but our sales guy talked us into the space cloth. He said customers complain about the leatherette getting too "sticky" and pulling on your skin in hot weather. We would really appreciate any feedback, as I still have a few days to change the order. Thanks

Dafferjo,
Aloha and welcome to MCO-
For the MCS if you live in a warm climate (Like Hawaii) then space cloth is the way to go. Leatherette is easy to clean but won't be as nice on your skin. If you have ordered the sunroof then the sun heats up the interior and you get a bit hotter.

Enjoy your MCS.

 

Get Space Cloth - I have it - it looks good, feels good, and is cool in the Austin heat.

 

Leatherette hands down! I live in hot and humid South Florida and ZERO issues. I bowed never to owned cloth seats on a car again...in a word YUCK!!! Dirt gets embedded in the seat fabric, liquid spills are harder to soak up and clean, sweat gets trapped in the material, etc, etc. Not to mention smelly seats.

Leatherette is fantastic, easy to clean (Just apply Vinylex every couple of months) doesn't sag, crack, peel like real cowhide (But looks like Leather...its a great people fooler) and it doesn't get dirt and sweat embedded like in yucky cloth seats.

Also Leatherette makes the interior of the car looks classy. This is the same exact seating material found in the $30K+ BMW 3 series.

 

You just need to decide what is most important to you, ease of care or comfort.

I think the space cloth is far more comfortable than the leatherette. I have the space cloth, and I park in an open parking lot at work that gets very hot in the summer. When I get it my car, I never feel sticky or wet when sitting on the space cloth seats.

I was loaned a BMW, and when I got in the car in the same conditions, I was miserable. It was uncomfortable to sit on the hot seats, and I immediately felt wet on my back.

All the points about care are accurate, though. Drip some ketchup from your McD's fries on leatherette, and like-new conditions are a wet wipe away. Do the same with cloth, and you're going to spend some time removing a nasty stain.

For me, the comfort factor far outweighs the care factor. I try not to eat in my car, and I have a can of Scotchgard at the house. :smile:

Also, I have a red MCS with the silver interior. I think the two-tone space cloth seats coordinate perfectly with the interior and exterior. I think the seats also look fantastic with the silvers.

Good luck in your decision,
JS

 

I have had no problems with my regular leatherette seats being hot and sticky in our South Florida weather. These seats are far more comfortable than any cloth seats I have owned before. Sorry but there is no comparison.

 

I have leatherette, and it does not breathe, but the space cloth looks like a cheap sharkskin suit. My solution was to get custom Okole charcoal gray covers for the summer in neoprene with blue piping to match my car. It looks sweet. A MINI at SEMA had the same thing in black and yellow. That's how I got the idea. Good luck!

 

Anyone have problems with their leatherette seats becoming scuffed? I picked up my MC with a few light-colored scuffs on the left edge of the driver's seat - probably from someone's cell phone. I've since stopped wearing my phone on my belt so I don't contribute. I've tried cleaning the scuff marks but no luck.

This week I've noticed a similar scuff mark low on the back section where my leather belt rubs on the seat! Do I need to drive in the buff or what?!!

How do I remove these scuffs??

 

I have kids so cloth was not an option.
I also had leatherette in my BMW 3s for the past 6 yrs w/ no problems.
It may get a bit sticky cause it doesn't breathe.

 

Definatly get sweaty-back-syndrome somtimes with the Leatherette.

 

I debated back and forth between these two types of seat covers. Fortunately the day I ordered my car there were two mini cars side by side each with one of the covers. So I sat on one and then the other a few times. The space cloth seemed rough to me so I decided on the letherette and have not been disappointed. I live in Texas where we have had many 100 plus days this summer and my car sits all day in an open lot at work. The seats have never seemed uncomfortably hot to me. ski

 

I have Space Cloth in my 04 and I'm getting Leatherette in my 06. Few reasons... I want my cockpit to be as dark as possible, leatherette is soooo easy to clean, it feels nice. My windows are tinted and my sunroof has limo tint so I don't worrk about the heat.

 

Love the cloth! If you're worried about stains, buy some 303 cloth protectant - it makes everything bead up just fine. Both loaners I've had had the leatherette and I just didn't like it at all.

mb

 

When I ordered my '05 MCS (June '04) there was some confusion prior to the building of '05's (in July of '05) regarding interiors. I had ordered space cloth. When BUD arrived in 8/05 it was leatherette!! I have not been disappointed. I am here in FL and we still are seeing temps in the 90's and the seats have not been an issue. My AC almost blows me out of the car and "hot seats" have not been a problem. Now my WHALEN **** lets me know it is hot! Nick

 

i had leatherette in my BMW and loved it so i ordered it for my MCS. i have the two color grey. i have had cloth seats and they are slightly more comfortable but not as easily cleaned even with scotchguard treatment. the leatherette does look like leather. i would not change my decision. you can see a picture of my interior in my gallery. good luck either way and welcome to the Mini experience.

 

I went for the cloth leather combo, Black panther leather and Red tartan cloth. Our other car is a 330i with the leatherette but we put sheep skin on the front seats right away. Because of the Mini's side air bags in the seat I didn't want to deal with seat covers covering the air bags or having huge cut outs where the air bags are. The cloth is great in hot s cal weather and with the heated seats great on a cold morning.