Ok, decided to take my puppies for a spin over the weekend, and I was on the highway, and I heard it start. My one puppy (actually 6 years old) was sitting in the passenger seats and started ralphing. He threw up all over the seat and on the foot well.

Turned right back around and got home. Some paper towels, a little Aerospace protectant, and VIOLA! No smell, no wet, no nothing. Like nothing happened.

I've also spilled coffee, had take out food boxes pop open, you name it. I've only had Dobby for a year, and I think of all the stains and the smells I would have had I not had vinyl seats and rubber mats.

I know some of y'all like space cloth, but I am so happy I don't have it....everyone that gets in my car remarks at how I still have that new car smell.......

 

If I were ordering now I definitely would get the leatherette over the cloth. While the octagon panther black cloth does look nice, I'm constantly worried about spilling on it. I listened to my MA who said I should buy cloth for comfort in very hot or very cold weather. But I've read many posts from people who have leatherette who say they don't have a problem with too hot or too cold seats. Oh well....next MINI I guess.

 

Yeah, I have to admit that on warm days, I "stick" to the leatherette. No doubt. But I sure don't mind. 'Cause then sweat doesn't get into the cloth either.

 

Our '04 has Panther Black Leather - seat heaters make it nice in the winter, but I'm dreading summer. My wife is ordering an '05 (or '06?) MCSa soon and we're going to spec the red cloth seats - we both think it's the best look in a CR/B MCS. Just need to find some Scotchgard real quick like. . .

 

I believe 303 Fabric Guard is a better product than Scotchguard as it also offers UV protection. I used Scotchguard but it didn't keep my seat from getting a whitish stain from a liquid that the detailer spilled. It cleaned up nicely, but the liquid should have beaded from the Scotchguard and not seep into the cloth like it did.

 

Thanks for the suggestion- I had already bought, but not yet applied, Scotchguard to my '05 space cloth seats. I originally had Kaleido '03 cloth, and liked it very much, but it was discontinued. But the space is very good looking in the configuration of my car. I am continually amazed, I have found many good suggestions/resolutions to issues though this site, from always willing to share participants. I'm going to get some 303 at the local boat store on my way home this afternoon.

 

I'd just like to put in a plug for the term "ralphing"!!!

I love my leatherette seats. Two and a half years, and they look absolutely 100% brand new. And people really do think they're leather. A coworker has a new Passat wagon with leatherette seats, and he talks them up every chance he gets!

 

Always good to hear the misadventures of a fellow maydayer!

Cloth was one of the things I was pre-decided on and the reviews of the forums (and the fact that I thought the leatherette mini in the showroom was leather) made me switch at the last minute. I'm thankful every day.

 

Glad to hear everything turned out alright for you. Gotta say that I have experienced accidents in other cars with leather (even light color leather) and never had a problem cleaning it up either. Rubber mats are the best, I use em in every season

For people with cloth who are going to treat it with chemicals for stain protection, well I would think twice about that. If it were me I would not do it, who knows how long it will release fumes that are likely not very good for you, epecially in an enclosed environment like a car. Not to be an alarmist but its better to be safe with stuff like that in my opinion.

 

LOVE my leatherette and rubber mats!

I originally got the rubber mats only for winter use. But once I saw how they looked, the cloth mats went into storage and have yet to come out (anyone want to buy some mint condition cloth mats?).

So easy to clean, and they look brand new if I clean them with 303.

 

These are interesting mats! Where from?

I see other posts on this thread regarding stain treatments. And one comment was correct, I treated yesterday, and lots of drying, my space cl seats with 303, (I've learned from other posts on NAM that it is far better than scotchguard). But you are correct, by time I got to work this morning, despite open windows, I had quite a headache... Possibly I will post back here though my opinions on the product. One thing I could not do though, is let the space cl go untreated...

 

Scooterboy, I second Vladimir's comment and question about your rubber mats. They look pretty interesting. It looks like they fit pretty good, are they made specifically for the MINI? If you don't mind, I would be interested in knowing where to get some of these mats. Thanks!

virtualmini

 

By the way, anyone considering aftermarket purchase of those "diamond plate aluminum" mats, forget them. They do LOOK fantastic, and add a terribly great techno and reflective look. But, the front mats fit only OK, and the rear, (check the photo in any catalog you see them), are simply the wrong shape - they do NOT fit in the rear of the MINI at all. My guess is that they were designed with CAM, and not "inside" of a real car. The fact that the rear ones are the wrong shape, is just a complete botch.

 

It took days for the Scotchguard smell to completely go away from my car. Just when I thought it was gone, I would come back to my car after leaving it parked with the windows closed on a sunny day, and the smell would be there. But the smell did go away and MINI's wonderful new car smell came back (I never had a car with such a sweet new car smell before...even my Mother noticed it). So, if you park your car in a garage, you should leave the windows open for a few days. Even better, if you park it outside in a safe area you should leave the windows open to help get the smell completely out.

 

In response to your confirmation, I am going to roll down the windows and hit the gas this afternoon, to get as much real air in there as I can!

 

Now that's the fun way to do it!

 

Yes they are genuine MINI mats - perfect fit.

These were the original rubber mats available in the new MINI, but were discontinued in the U.S. with the 03 model year because they were worried that a citizen of our lawsuit-happy country would catch their foot on one of the rings, miss a pedal, and get hurt. No matter that the rings on the front half of the driver's mat are inverted instead of raised.

I didn't like the new rubber mats with the "bumps", and really wanted the notched ring pattern. So I bought a set from an ebay seller in Canada where they were still available.

They're still listed on Canada's MINI website: LINK Click on any of the models on the left, then click Interior.

 

I have the rubber mats with the rings,love em.I have never had a problem with my foot getting caught and missing a pedalDid not bother with the back ones,my back seats are rarely up.That being said,my front Leatherette seats look just like the back ones,which have been up maybe 5 times,in 20 months:smile: