I am planning to order an 03, probably a mcs. I have the standard leatherette seats and find them very uncomfortable (on a good day!). I have tried the different seats and the cloth sports seats are by far the most comfortable (even enjoyable) for me (I'm 5'9'' and 130), with the sport leather a distant second.
Does everyone who has the cloth sport seat find them comfortable? Would you order the car with these seats again? Has anyone had a problem or complaint with them? Are they still as comfortable as they break in?
I appreciate your help... from the bottom of my.... well I guess, from the bottom of my bottom... I want to get this mini to be the right one.
Thx,
Steve

 

I have cloth sport seats and I have absolutely NO complaints....I have never been a huge fan of leather and I am completely pleased with my decision. No problems here!

(I am littler than some of you guys....5'6.5", 115 lbs...or so....)

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<a href ="/modules.php?op=modload&name=Messages&file= replypmsg&send=1&uname=l.mini">Sen d
me a PM</a>

 

I love mine :smile: the only problem is that they are so tight, my dog can't get a grip on them Every turn that I take, I hear him crashing to the side

 

I purchased my MINI with the sport seats in a tartan red cloth. If I had to to do it all over again I would definitely stick with them. They are quite easy to clean, especially if you scotch guard them, and MINI offers exact matching seat covers just in case. I haven't had any back problems in relation to the seats design, and they don't get too hot or too cold. IMHO I'd recommend them, plus I love the color and the secure feeling of the sport seats keep me firmly planted when attacking twists, turns, and curves.
Oh btw I'm also the same height and weight so no problems here.
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no alarms and no surprises

 

Thx! That's three "loves it"-- one dog issue, but no back issues-- a strong endorsement for the bipedal species! These seem like the most popular seats. Arre there more owners out there with cloth sports who would like to comment? Do people find them comfortable on longer trips?b

I may end up ordering mine sooner.

 

Love them over here. I was the first one to have them as an option at that dealer I ordered from. The staff there were quite impressed. They all were running around in their company MINI's with leather, hoping that now they would have got the space cloth. It looks way better too, imo. They're soo comfortable. Hugs nicely. Drove 4 hours home from the dealer, and no complaints, other than adjusting to driving that low of a car. Had knee issues from a prior incident. Had a pickup before the MCS. But anywho, I'm happy with my seats. No scorching hot seats in summer or frosty seats in the winter.
Cheers,

 

Oh, and I'm 5'8" 160.

R

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2002 Darksilver/Black Cooper S

 

Can anyone tell me if the sport seats are standard with the Cooper S, or do you have to get the $1250 Sport package to get them? I know leather is an option, which I'm not getting.

 

Sport seats are standard on the Cooper S.

R

 

ive got cloth sport seats and i have no MAJOR complaints. i have to be honest, i hated the fact i was gonna have to settle for the cloth, i wanted the leatherette or leather, but it was urgent i got my mini when i got it. i just thought it was gonna be nicer to have leather, and easier to clean and maintain, BUT i have been convinced i did not make a bad choice at all, yeah maybe the leather is nicer, but hotter in the florida sun.
i have gotten to love my seats, and yes the are VERY comfortable, i ahve to drive from school at UF in gainesville and back home to miami, thats a 6 hour drive...ive done them w/ my girlfriend, and we've both felt the same way, we've made these trips in other cars and buses...one things for sure, the 6 hours go by way faster than in any other vehicle for the reason that at the end of the trips, we simply didnt feel tired, i do all of the driving, and i feel ready to mae the trip back as soon as i get there, our behinds arent soar, backs arent either, and we're never stiff from sitting there for 6 hours, and i make the trips direct, no stops, i like to get there asap.
the only problems, and i beleive are minor, i can really think of are these 2:
1- cloth seats hold too many odors like sweaty bodies after the gym (solution: bring a towel to cover the seats)
2- easier to stain than the leather and harder to clean than it too (solution: if ur doin something ur mini could get dirty in, u shouldnt be doin it in the 1st place!!!)

but i dont care, the pros OUTRAGEOUSLY overcome the cons
no regrets, get the cloth seats, theyre great

luis

 

I have the standard Leatherette seats and find them plenty comfortable and far more appealing than any of the other cloth choices.

I am 5'10" and 165 pounds...no problem.

 

I have the cloth seats on my MCS and love them. I wouldn't have gone with the leather even if it was free. My wife and I did a trip to the Grand Canyon over TG, 600 miles in 2 days and had no complaints. I'm 5'9" and 300lb.

 

Love the cloth seats, never been a big fan of leather... or plastic for that matter... What I REALLY REALLY love though is the anthracite interior, it looks so sharp! I would recommend it to anybody
My $.03

 

I preer Leatherette over cloth and the latter over real cowhide.

The leatherette standard seating option in the MINI is of very high quality (Much better than the $1,250 cowhide) so much so that people riding in my car think that the seats are covered in real leather.

I beg to disagree about the "plastic" comment. The BMW/MINI Leatherette seats are not your Grandpa's 1950's sticky, smelly, hot and ugly plastic vinyl seats.

The leatherette has one inmense advantage over cloth: Ease of cleaning. Try cleaning a bad spill on cloth seats (Specially for those of you with small children) whereas in the leatherette is a breeze to keep clean and looking new.

The letherette gives all the advantages of leather for $1,250 less and minus the headaches associated with maintaining real cowhide upholstery (Peeling, discoloring, creasing, etc)

Cloth has its advantages as it is cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter but after experiencing BMW's leatherette seating material, cloth in my humble opinion is a thing of the past.

 

I got the cloth mainly because I love how the silver/black pattern compliments the silver/black of my car (and the silver/gray door panels). To each their own though!

 

I'm not responsible enough for kids, so I'm not too worried about the spills... other than the occasional coffee spill... I hate coffee spills

 

The cloth sport seats are great. Not too firm like the leatherette and soft to the touch. They're grippy and very comfortable.

 

>>The letherette gives all the advantages of leather for $1,250 less

Not true. The leather seats get adjustible lumbar.

R

 

>>I got the cloth mainly because I love how the silver/black pattern compliments the silver/black of my car (and the silver/gray door panels).

Here here!!!

R

 

>>>>The letherette gives all the advantages of leather for $1,250 less
>>
>>Not true. The leather seats get adjustible lumbar.
>>
>>R

True, you are right. But if the lumbar support was my first priority then I would have sprung for the leather seats.

I have never had a positive experience with the lumbar support on many cars (Including the other one I drive), so the lack of lumbar support in the leatherette/cloth choices doesn't not bother me one bit.


How about a Leatherette/Cloth combination like the one offered in European market MINIs?

 

I have the cloth seats and they are awesome. I would never have gone with the leatherette. Think about having to sit in those seats when its 95 degrees outside!!! Aaghh

 

>>I preer Leatherette over cloth and the latter over real cowhide.
>>
>>The leatherette standard seating option in the MINI is of very high quality (Much better than the $1,250 cowhide) so much so that people riding in my car think that the seats are covered in real leather.
>>

(((Having the leatherette, I agree that the feel of it is close to leather-- it is of high quality. I did find it to be quite sticky in the summer though.

My main gripe is the shape of the standard seat versus the sports seat. I find the seat to have contours in the bottom that end up with me feeling sunk into the middle of the seat. The lumbar is digs right in the middle of my back, and is so big that there feels no escape, and the seat is curved at the top with the headrest pushing my neck and shoulders forward. The sports seat seems like I am more supported on the seat bottom and I can sit up with my head and shoulders straight. I don't get pushed forward by the top of the seat and the headrest. Sorry if this is a little detailed, but I have had time to study it as I have tried to find a

Of the sports seats I tried, I found the cloth covering to be immediately comfortable. The leather was too hard for me, and the lumbar support was not where I keep my lumbar. Would be my first choice though if they had the height adjustable lumbar in the MINI.

Anyway, I am glad you are enjoying your leatherette standard!!!

 

>>2- easier to stain than the leather and harder to clean than it too (solution: if ur doin something ur mini could get dirty in, u shouldnt be doin it in the 1st place!!!)
>>
>>but i dont care, the pros OUTRAGEOUSLY overcome the cons
>>no regrets, get the cloth seats, theyre great
>>
>>luis

Luis, You haven't read the mini motorer book. Dirt just means you're a motorer! It's a badge of honor to motoring enthusiasts! Well, maybe for a little while 'til i have time to get 'em cleaned proper!

 

Thanks for your feedback and help!! Cloth sports seats are looking like they will be in my future. I'm gonna call MINI and make sure that the sports seats are the same seats in the mc and the mcs (details for de-tail), so I am sure that I am getting the seat I am expecting to get. Does anyone know whether they are the same seats in the mc and mcs.

Then my next decision will be whether to get another mc or go with a mcs. Initially I liked the balance of performance and handling of the mc better. It felt and sounded, for lack of a better term, friendlier. After owning a mc for awhile (and loving it), I wouldn't mind a little more power on the expressway, and when operating the A/C. I wish though the mcs came in pepper white. I will have to obsess for awhile about the color, if I go with a mcs. None of the colors stand out to me like the pepper white did. I'll probably go to Cincinnati and test out the mcs again. Also want to listen to the HC stereo once-- will likely order this, as have not been too thrilled with the stereo. Just found out that they have temporarily stopped installing the factory alarms-- I would like to have an alarm on my next cooper too. Hopefully they will start offering this again soon.

Thanks again for the help!!

 

I have leather seats on two other vehicles & love the leather. After looking at many
MC's, I decided on Red & black cloth seats in any all chili red MC. I made my decision on appearance only. Just a beautiful combination. The cloth seats are very comfee and seem to be of high quality. Could not be more pleased. Everyone
who visits with my new little car remarks about the beauty of the interior. I say you
should go with what turns you on the most. What makes you feel gushy and ooeee
gooey.
"worry free motoring"!/terry