I'm about one month away from ordering my MINI and have just a few lingering doubts. I hope you can help me out. First, my likely order:

MINI Cooper
Pepper White / Pepper White
Chrome Inserts
Premium & Cold Packages
Sport Suspension (not Plus)
DSC
15" 7-hole wheels
Fog Lights
Sensing Wipers & Auto Dim Mirror
5-speed Manual
Cordoba Beige Soft Leather
Standard Seats
Beige Rubber Floor Mats (front only)

The bold stuff is causing me worry:

1. Though I am currently in Atlanta, I plan on moving back to Denver in a year. Will the Cordoba hold up in more extreme weather? Mainly concerned with the unavoidable snow / mud / wetness that comes with snow outside.

2. I have a very active, excessively drooly Bulldog that will be a regular passenger in the MINI. He has stained (with his feet) and snot / drool caked my Subaru Forester (cloth seats). Cordoba leather isn't going to take this kind of punishment, is it? Also consider his nails (though well worn / trimmed).
How could I ban this cutie from the MINI...

 

I have the Lapis leather, and kids. So I know a thing or two about snot, drool, and other unmentionables that get left on the seats. So far so good, I prefer leather because it cleans up much more easily than cloth when someone spills kool-aid all over the back seat. I'ts been durable too, no major scuffs (but my kids don't have claws, yet either). Get the leather, I think you will be happy with the decision.

p.s. luv those specs. should be one nasty ride.

 

I can comment that I didn't order rubber floor mats because I was worried they would be slippery if I got in the car with wet feet during a rain. I felt it was safer to have carpet floor mats to keep my feet from sliding around while trying to drive.

 

tabbakh: I have the rubber floormats and trust me, it's not a problem. I like them because I can take them out and hose them off.

 

Yes, I am not too keen on the beige rubber mats, but I can tell you my Forester has beige interior and beige carpet mats... They are terribly dirty and worn from two years of CO winters and 75K miles. My 1986 Blazer with its original beige rubber mats and interior is pristine (sp?). Hmmm, never thought about all the beige interiors I've had in the past!

I just don't like the way carpet mats wear under your right heel and are doomed to be stained and filthy looking.

 

for practicality purposes, the leather should be good with your pooch.
however, if i were ordering again, i don't know that i'd get leather
due to the fact that it can feel a bit slippy (no butt dsc) if i take a corner too hard.

may be a concern for you.

love pepper white!

cheers,
S-

 

BullyBob - Have you sat in a car with the sport seats, and then sat in one with regular seats? The difference is very significant. I would really recommend shelling out the extra $270 or whatever it is for the sport seats; they are much more comfortable and supportive, especially if you plan on taking advantage of the MINI's cornering abilities.

I have the leatherette, too. People always think it's leather. Much higher quality than the vinyl that you usually see in cars. It cleans very easily, though I have no idea how resistant it is to claws...

Good luck with your decision!

 

Just realized that you list the premium package among your options. That includes the sport seats, does it not?

 

MC Premium does not include sport seats.

I have dropped my 6'2", 225 lbs. frame and hiney into the sport seats and thought, "I feel pinched!" I was not a fan, in other words. The frequency of me doing "extreme" driving where sports seats would be merited do not outweight the frequency of my desire for comfort in everyday driving.

I don't need to be sold on the value and quality of the leatherette. My buddy has an MCS with leatherette sport seats (I was fooled too, thinking they were leather). I like them, the leatherette that is (not sport seats). But the Cordoba IMO looks sooo much better in the Pepper White ride.

$1250 for aesthetics may seem silly, but I figure (after talking the wife out of the CVT, no offense CVT owners) I have an extra $1250 to drop somewhere.

 

If they aren't slippery I think I'll try them when my MINI arrives. My Jetta has carpet and I keep those little plastic mats on top of them to protect them. I feel like those people that put those cheesy plastic covers on the furniture.