I can't make up my mind save $1500 and go with the leatherette or spring 4 the 1500 upgrade and get the real leather seats? and or heated seats in chicago?

 

Cloth if you don't like hot.

 

IDK why... but I actually like the leatherette over the leather option that Mini has available.
Just feels "better" to me.
Just my personal opinion though.

 

Trust me, you will want the butt warmers in Chicago's winters! And there is nothing cooler than a MINI that can wiggle its mirrors!

MIB had vinyl, and when we sold it, Carmax said it had Leather!

 

I really like my leatherette seats. I don't find them too hot in the summer. They are also easy to keep clean, just wipe them down with a damp rag, occasionally I'll use armor all. Definitely go for heated seats. I even have them here in the SE. In the winter it still gets cold down here and they warm up nicely. I'd save the 1500.

 

I purchased the lounge leather and the cold weather package which includes the seat warmers and have enjoyed both. The leather is expensive but the redwood red gave the interior the look and feel I desired so to me it was worth the price. I spend a good deal of time in the car and these items are an indulgence I enjoy daily.

 

I purchased the black punch leather and I love it! I live in Colorado so the cold weather package was a must for my car! I am very happy with both choices!

 

I like my leatherette. People comment on how nice my "leather" is all the time.

If you get leather, be prepared to maintain it regularly or it may crack and chip. See the current thread on the 1st Gen forum for a discussion.

 

I made the same decision... just seems to "fit" me better. Feels like the seat is just a tad deeper, although perhaps that's my imagination.

 

I have the leatherette and people mistake it for leather all the time. I really like how it looks, and it's easier to care for.

And if I lived in Chicago, I definitely would have gotten the heated seats.

 

Heated seats for sure...

We've had both the Leatherette and Leather - liked them both. We opted for the Leatherette in the Clubman because we had it in our first MINI - and it held up very well. We spent the other $$ on other options...


Donna

 

Leather!!!!

 

Love my black leather punch, but would have been happy with leatherette too.
I didn't originally want the heated seats as we are in Arizona, but my husband insisted. I'm glad I got them as they are great if your back is sore or tired. I just took my mom on a 700-mile road trip and the heated seats helped her bad back during the long drive.

 

+1

 

4 bimmers and now a mini on order, leatherette all the way. If you have a chance to see bm/mini leather seats that are several years old, they tend to develop creases that don't come out. Plus, as mentioned above, super easy to keep clean and much more durable.

Oh, you should read this post also:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=138991

Good luck (oh, get heated seats)

 

leatherette is crap...if you ride more than a few hours you'll be pulling out the disenfectant for the seat under your butt and you'll have mold growing in your groin area

 

thanks guys for your help this really is helping me make my decision!!!

 

I really like my leatherette, having said that, I think I would appreciate the additional lumbar adjustment you get with the leather seats and if I had to do it all over again, I would likely get the leather. Just something to think about.

 

+1 Cold Package (includes heated seats). Heated seats cost same as cold package now so you save no money getting them without the package. It would be nice to be able to heat the seat backs or entire seat but that's not offered. Perhaps in the future? Or perhaps a mod is available? Heated backs are nice for those long trips.

I would recommend that you stay away from cloth - they would make resale difficult. The leatherette is very nice. Leather is also very nice - I personally think that the choice to go with the latter is more dependent on the look that you want. There are some combinations of exterior and interior with leather that are incredible. I went with a minimalist look though - Pure Silver MCS so the leatherette works for my config.

 

I chose the leatherette because I am a slob, and need it to really clean up when I spill something. It really is nice, though. It does not get called leather as much as my wife's VW does, but it is nice. The only thing it lacks is the vents you get in the punch leather. Ventilation is not gonna be as important in Chicago as heated seats will be. I'd get the leatherette with the heated seats, were I you.

 

I'd get the can warmers for sure! It also warms your back so the whole seat is nice and toasty.

I'd have to recommend the leatherette. Most folks/dealers think it's real leather when they see it. I also really like the fact that it doesn't pucker on the "seat" like the real leather does.