Anyone have this combo? What do you think? Does it look cool, or make the interior feel claustrophobic? I can't get a sunroof b/c I'm a bit too tall, so now I'm debating whether to go with the anthracite lining or not. I saw it in a car with a sunroof and liked the look, but wondered if it would make the inside seem too dark or small or something. I didn't love the full roof in grey, but I'm trying to figure out which would be the worst of the two.

I'm leaning towards putting this on a laser blue with silver roof.

 

ebh,

First, you have great taste! I have a laser blue/silver roof/anthracite headliner. I have the sunroof though. I will say that first thing everyone at the Mini dealer said to me when I said I was getting the anthracite headliner was "You are getting a sunroof, right?". I was originally planning on not getting a sunroof, but was afraid (like you) that the anthracite would make it feel much too confined and claustrophobic. I sat in just about every Mini on the lot (Cooper, Clubman, Anthracite, and regular headliners)...and even the regular headliner felt a bit claustrophobic to me without the sunroof.

All that said, the anthracite headliner is one of my absolute favorite things about my Clubman. Have you tried lowering/playing around with the seat positions to see if you could make it work with a sunroof? If there's any possible way to make the sunroof work for you, that would be my choice!

 

I struggled just as you did with the Anthracite question. I didn't want the interior to feel small and was concerned that it would look odd against my Lightning Blue / White color scheme. However after looking at one at the dealer it is beautiful and I highly recommend it.

After reading many many posts here and looking at the comparison pictures, and then going back to my dealer to look at one which had just come in (they never had any on the lot that I could look at) I ended up adding it to my order the day before it went into production.

 

I have it. The most sporty combo you can get

 

I have it as well. Looks very nice.

 

I have it too, in combination with pianoblack/roosterred dash and JCW leather/alcantara Recaro's that looks great I have the tinted rear windows too

 

Looks cool; not claustrophobic. Even with my black leather seats, it doesn't feel cramped. The interior (esp. without the sunroof) is awfully spacious.

 

Glad to hear since I just ordered that combo! We've got the Anthracite on our 05 DS/W and I just thought it would be odd to not have it. Both do have the sunroof, though.

 

I got the anthracite headliner without sunroof and I really like the look. I've got the cloth seats, wood trim, and the default dark gray color line. It's a really dark interior, but I think it looks great and I've gotten plenty of complements on it.

Besides, if I'm going to pay $250 for a different color headliner, I want to see lots of it.

 

Ok, I'm in the minority here.
I didn't consider the Anthracite Liner.
Is it fuzzy like the stock liner? I haven't seen one in person.

 

I just took delivery on a car with that combination because I'm not a fan of sunroofs. It's not the least bit claustrophobic to me.

Remember, when you get the anthracite headliner, everything north of the dash becomes anthracite -- including the pillars and the visors. To me, this ties the whole interior together. I thought that the standard grey felt disjointed because it's a light grey like none of the other greys in the interior.
It's a personal thing.

 

Awesome, thanks everyone. I'm going to go with the anthracite. I think I've got my spec all figured out except for deciding about cloth/leather or just vinyl.

 

i considered the anthracite also this second time around, mostly because i do smoke the occasional cigar in the car and on my previous R50 had some tobacco stains develop on the headliner ...

but, yes after sitting in one with anthracite, it did feel a bit more closed in and less "lively" if you will ... and since I was not planning on the sunroof ... the standard one will have to do.

 

I have it i think its great...It pulls the interior together a lot better (considering the bottom half is black, the top black ties it together) and yes is very sporty

 

+1 I felt the same way. it made the interior feel more classy/upscale.

 

how does being too tall hinder getting a sunroof? I would doubt there is that much difference. I'm 6'4" and no troubles. Yea, my head is close, but change the seat.

Lower the seat if headroom is a issue. If you're that tall, buy a different car.

 

lucky for you. but the sunroof makes the top about 2" lower. I don't really like my head feeling like it's scratching the crossbar between the two panes of glass, which it does even with the seat all the way down. Since you seem to have such strong opinions about what sort of car I should get, any suggestions for another car that's fun to drive and gets good gas mileage?

 

I say stay will the MINI...no other car will be as satisfying...just go with what you said by not doing the sun roof...if its that close to your head, you could always get a cabrio

 

Since you can't do a sunroof, I'll go ahead and cast my vote for the anthracite headliner, no sunroof (vs the regular headliner no sunroof). The anthracite is a MUST...as others have said, it provides a sleeker, more contiguous feel.

I swayed to the sunroof side because it really wasn't any skin off my nose to have one (I'm average height, I wanted the rest of the premium package anyway, my husband loves sunroofs, and the folks at the dealership said that Minis with sunroofs usually sell quicker/easier). I just keep it closed all the time

 

Civic or Prius

 

You guys are killing me: "anthracite made the interior look more upscale, classy." I love that.

The stock liner isn't 'taxi ugly.'
This is one of those preference items.

Personally, the only time I notice the headliner is if it's a fugly color.
For me, the stock color makes the space a little more open.

 

BUt they standard headliner is boring. so many cars do it..... its passe now.

 

No one has jumped in my Clubman and commented on my ugly headliner.
It's a preference thing for some of you "hardcore headliner" fans.

Most will NEVER notice a headliner.
Some will ALWAYS notice a headliner.

 

I've sat in both, a gray headliner at the dealer and my anthracite headliner. It IS noticeably darker in the car with the anthracite headliner. But it also matches well with the darker interior and it seems a bit sportier or upscale, if a piece of fabric glued to the roof could be counted as such.

Here's mine for a little reference:

 

Well, originally my MA suggested against the Anthracite because I'm not getting a sunroof either.

But after reading this thread, I had changed my mind and called yesterday to change it.

Too late!

Of course, that means my cars is in production, so that can be the silver lining. I'll love my MINI regardless, so I wouldn't get too wrapped up in the headliner choice. It will be fine no matter which one you spec.