I am considering buying a MCS off the lot of my local MINI dealer, and I had a question for NAM'ers that I couldn't find an answer to using the search button.

I generally do NOT like how sweaty my back got during the test drive with the MCS that had leatherette. However, I do know that the "sweaty" months are less than the other months.

Has anyone used a cloth seat cover for summer months on your leatherette seats?

Buying a car off the lot will be $1000 off MSRP, and I'll have it right away But, at the same time, there are some options on the cars on the lot that I don't necessarily need... and they're almost ALL leatherette.

 

With air conditioning i get through the hot months without sweating too much :-)

But no i have no experience with cloth covers, sorry

 

We have Leatherette in our '08 MC, but we are driving a loaner with the Cloth Seats...I'm SOOOOOOO glad I have the Leatherette. The seats in the loaner are very dirty. Hubby thinks they're pretty comfortabe, but I've let him know what it would take to keep them looking as meticulous as I keep our Leatherette Seats. You would need a steam machine to keep the cloth from looking dirty, Club Soda and a Terry Towel will get most dirt off the seats, but if you get a spill the only thing that will get the spill completely out of the foam inards is a Steam Machine.

We have 2 Dogs as well, they don't ride in Molly, but a Clubman might be in our future for them to be able to go anywhere with us and I'm thinking the cloth seats will take a beating with the Dog Hair, Nails and Smells!!

 

You might look into "Wet Okole" seat covers. A few folks in our club have them and have been very happy and it gets hot here in Las Vegas. Take a look at: http://www.wetokole.com/MINIC.html

 

Has anyone considered those "cool cushions", the ones with the fans attached and that plug into power outlet? Seems like they would work well.

 

bumping this up... Does anyone else have any experience putting cloth seat covers OVER the leatherette seats?

I'm trying to determine whether I should buy a car off the lot (for $1000 off MSRP) that has leatherette (which I think gives bad sweaty back) only to buy $300 seat covers.... if this even helps...

 

I have experience. My 2006 VW new beetle TDI had leatherette seats. I bought cloth seat covers for the summer. They were good quality, and side airbag friendly (that is important!) but I found they did not have a tight fit, and I slid around in them, and they always looked frumpy.

My advice--- order the car you want. I wouldn't settle for a vehicle you are not 100% satisfied with before you even buy it. Save a grand? Go to another dealership. Tell them you want a grand off a vehicle you order. You will get what you want. Don't let a dealer push a car on the lot.

I ordered my MCS with cloth seats. I have never seen an MCS in real life with cloth seats. Not sure what this leatherette revolution is all about!

 

I also have the Wet Okole (over standard leatherette) and they are so comfortable that I would want them over cloth or leather as well!

See what I did {HERE} under my Wet Okole! Makes a seven hour drive more comfortable than a two hour drive was before.

 

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This is what I use. Not the Ford of course (I couldn't find the exact one that I have) but I got it at a local O'Reilly Auto Parts store and it works well. It's gray and matches the interior. I'm sure it doesn't look as good as seat covers but it looks ok and it sure helps on those hot sticky days in LA (Lower Alabama).

 

Are those the regular neoprene Wet Okole's? Do you get the sweaty back during hot days?

I'm thinking of snagging something off the lot, and am curious if I should limit myself to cloth seats.

 

I put seat covers from Moss MINI over my pleather. Nice fit and easy to install!

 

Squirlz, I don't mean to repeat myself, but... those are the neoprene seat covers right? Do you think they are way less "sweaty" for the back than the leatherette?

 

Just the regular Wet Okole and they are truly "No Sweat" seats.

Supreme comfort in both hot and cold weather and a breeze to shampoo!

 

I've done a little research here on Wet Okoles vs. the Moss MINI (Cover King) seat covers. First, the Cover Kings sold by Moss cost about $169 for the fronts and are made of a material called "Neosupreme". They are not the same grade of neoprene that the Wet Okoles are made of. They are marketed as a cheaper alternative to neoprene seat covers, but may be all you'll need. I considered them, as I really need to feel my seat heaters and thought they would be more effective with a thinner seat cover like these. But, they do not make them for the rear seats in the cabrios so I crossed them off my list. An email to Cover King inquiring about rear seat convertible seat cover options went unanswered.

The Cover King covers do come in a higher grade neoprene, but the price is very close to what Wet Okole charges for their set covers (Cover Kings @ $250 - ish for fronts, depending on the site you buy from, Wet Okoles start @ $235), but the Cover King covers have fewer color options.

I had leatherette in my old MCS and rarely had a sweaty back. But since I'm female I always wear a shirt. I really wish I had leatherette in my cabrio.

 

Well they were a Christmas present and there hasn't been any hot weather yet

But they certainly seem more breathable than the leatherette. They add a little more cushion too. My fiance has space cloth in her MINI and she likes my covers.

 

Wet Okoles don't let the heat through the seats? is that what i'm understanding? Moss (cover King) allow more heat than the Okoles right? anyone have experience with the MINI accessory covers? Like do they allow for the seat heaters to be felt through them?

 

The Wet Okoles *do* allow the seat heaters to be felt, from what I have been told, but it takes longer for them to be felt.

I would guess that they don't get as hot since there is an additional barrier between butt & seat, but in my MCS w/leatherette they got too hot after a short time anyway.

I love warmth (esp. in my convertible) so I considered going with thinner covers. But since I cannot get an answer on rear seat cabrio options from Cover King, I will probably go with the Okoles.