I just got mine and I love the cloth!

 

I got the leatherette sport seats. The sport seats hold you in when you drive "spiritedly" and the leatherette looks just like leather. Oh and the heat really helps loosening my back when I drive!

 

My Mini S is "Easy to clean" and the turbo engine, "it breathes". It's a guy thing. Some of you will never understand. It's ok, it's ok. But I won't be complimenting you on your nails, ok??

And whoever suggested the "leather" air freshener...mister, you are ready for Donny, TV, and The Next Big Thing. Bring it on. But will it cover The Chronic?? How many of those fresheners will a thousand bucks buy?? Quantity discount??

What ever made the smell of LEATHER so damned appealing? It's like when someone tells me a pinot noir smells like cigar box and leather... I reply, "Where's my bourbon?"

I grew up on, "If it don't go, chrome it." Picadilly Circus is a place in London, not something I want to drive.

Have a p*ssed everyone off now?? Motor on!

(Surfblue has an attitude tonight, but promises to be better in the morning...after the last of the **** CREEK wears off)

 

Does anyone have yoga matt seats? that would be the best of all worlds! Think of the colors and styles. Unlimited. :D

 

I would have gone with the Leather(ette?)/cloth combo if I had gone with the '08 instead of the '05. This is 'cause the two tone interior is just plain beautiful. Other than that I'm a sucker for a well cared for leather interior.

It's high maintenance, and you have to treat it regularly even if it's garaged to keep it up but it can be done.

The biggest difference for me is the smell. Might be corny, but my M is a decade old now but every time I jump in I'm greeted with that glorious showroom aroma. Mind you she's not a daily driver so that does come into play.

I didn't notice much difference 'twixt the real vs. faux as far as ride, comfort, heat. In fact, the leatherette will probably plant your butt better than properly maintained leather which can be a bit slick. I wouldn't say the out gassing of the leatherette was overwhelming or unpleasant, but just a different 'new car smell.'

All-in-all, the faux leather in the MINI is probably the best I've seen outside of microfiber suede so it's a good bet. Leather, pro: smell, a bit more supple, con: high maintenance. To answer the original question though, IMO always take leather/faux over cloth unless that's your only option for two tone.

I think we can probably all agree on one thing, if you're sweating too much then just roll down the windows and drive faster!

-/flea

 

LEATHERETTE FOR SURE

 

I'm undecided on this choice also, the vinyl looks better than I expected. But the cloth feels better to me and I do intend to spend more time sitting in the seat than looking at it. Also, the word "leatherette" has so much "Madison Ave." slicky-ness that I wonder if it will cause me to slid off in the corners.

 

Cloth = body odor

 

That's why I usually wear pants while I'm driving...

 

Doesn't matter. Your arms, passengers, after a workout from the gym, perfumes and colognes, when you are sick. Over time it builds up. Never fails. Every used car I've test drove with cloth interior I smell something from the previous driver and of course people try to mask it with the hanging tree on the rear view mirrors or under the seats.

Cloth seats is what keeps car fresheners in business.

Leather or Leatherette all the way.

 

I suppose leatherette is the best choice if you plan or worry about getting "stuff" on the seats. To me, not as comfortable or good looking as the cloth. Another feature of the cloth is it extends the checkered theme if you go with the standard checkered MCS dash. Compared to the leather options offered both are a good value.

 

Dang, your nose is much better than mine.... I've looked at hundreds of used cars over the years and never noticed that cloth seat cars tend to have a BO smell... but I've never been that sensitive to smells ... so it could well be my imperceptiveness

As far as reeking up my own car .... I don't work out at a gym....or wear colognes (heck, I'm not sure I've ever even written that word). I've got a pick-up truck to carry chain saws, garbage, dirt bikes and the like... but my kids do like gummy bears and crayons...

Why does the real leather cost so much in these tiny interiors? Heck, some of these seat covers cost more than a first-rate motorcycle roadracing suit... which is much better built than any car seat covers I've ever seen.

Hey Joe, you're in NoVA. .. me too... did you get your Mini at Sterling?

 

Yes, I ordered it from Sterling. I'm concerned about the spiked labor charges for the additional accessories i'm hearing.

I think the market finds value in things like leather, thats my only guess. I shake my head when people spend so much money on diamonds but thats another story but it is what the market finds value in. Maybe we are obsessed with clothing and materials from dead animals...don't mean to be so crude.

My nose is pretty good at picking up smells. I think thats why i'm picky with foods and flavors since the nose has a lot to do with that. Leather type interior in cars tend to have less of a odor than cloth to me.

 

Cloth for me.....but I have my reason for this. Someone else may choose leatherette...I like that, too!!

 

Good lord, 25,000 plus post. You must have started posting here when you put an order in for a mini that I saw in the original movie of The Italian Job.

 

I don't watch much TV.

 

Many insurance companies may confuse leatherette with leather when determining the "Actual Cash Value" of your car should you ever have any trouble.

Not that that has happened to me... I'm just sayin'

 

True !

When I was looking at used MINIs on various websites, it amazed me how many non-MINI dealerships listed cars with "Leather" and not a single one said "vinyl". Very easy to confuse them... as I've been saying, 9 out of 10 people will make that mistake.

 

Cloth Leatherette gets too hot in the summer.

 

i have the leatherette and in the winter it's ok, especially with a 3 yr old climbing in and out all the time....on the other hand, in the summer, my butt gets so hot and sweaty that I have to clean the seat with clorox wipes and I think I'm getting diaper rash...i would go leather or cloth (although it smells like a bo taxi cab after a few months)...so i guess it depends on how you intend to use the car and your priorities.

 

I ordered the black cloth and rooster red leather seats and are very happy with the combination (love the lumbar adjustment!) The black cloth feels durable and is not sticky when hot, it does show all fuzz and dirt so I carry a lint roller. The leatherette looks nice and the cloth seems more comfortable, glad I could get both textures in mine.

 

Lounge leather costs about as much as NAV. NAV is really used only when you want to go somewhere where you have not been to before or when you want to impress a passenger. Lounge leather is used all the time. Go leather and skip the NAV.

 

I would have gone with Cloth seats but the Night Fire Red MC only comes with Leatherette. Too way too hot here in the summer for leather or leatherette.

 

Cloth seats are a good choice, nice and firm. Even though they are black, no heat related issues this summer, and it was HOT out. Actually relatively cool to the touch .
Haven't had to try and clean them yet , no spills !

 

Before I placed my order I checked out cloth vs leatherette, and normal vs sport. I ended up with cloth sport seats as I thought the leatherette looked cheap, and the cloth felt better.