To the OP: my opinion is that you're gotta go to the dealer and see/feel/sit and make up your own mind. As you can see here you're gonna get thumbs up/down for just about every seating option. Your as* and my as* are probably different and your back and my back are different too. IMO seats are half about the look of the interior/fabric and half about comfort. I like my leather sport seats a lot, but I am pretty slim. The Tuscan beige goes with my interior and that was important. But I don't use the lumbar support and I don't really go for seat heaters. But tons of people love both of those. See what I mean? And you cannot tell what the interior colors of the car really look like with the configurator. I cannot stress that enough.

 

+1 Next time around for sure.

 

+350 When I sold MINIs I told clients NOT to sit in the Lounge seats unless they were ready for a $2000 upgrade LOL

 

$2000 for leather on car seats is a bit much.

 

I wrote about this in a previous post - - -

Before I ordered, I specced out my '08 MINI on the mini.ca website. Then I checked one more box, the Lounge Leather seats. The price rose $3400.

Almost 15% added to the total price of the car - for upholstery.

I don't think so!

Even the cloth cost an extra $1000. Better - but still, $1000!

Leatherette for me, all the way. I'll spend my $3400 on something else, thank you.


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I understand that reasoning, I went through the same process. The problem is that the leatherette turned out to be not as comfortable as I would like...and I now wish I'd elected to go with the leather (or cloth) seats.

 

That's STRANGE.......I got cloth seats and it was NO additional cost at all?

 

I'm in Canada, options and packages are quite different here. We get the leatherette on the base MINI and have to pay to upgrade to anything else. We also pay for all maintenance, no 3-year free maintenance here. As a bonus, our base MINI is also more expensive. Thanks, BMW!!


I, on the other hand, was pleasantly surprised at the comfort of the base seats with the leatherette. No problem for me at all. Plus, I can be a complete slob in my car if I want - no worries about spills, dirt or muddy dog feet, all just wipe up with a damp cloth. Can't be so careless with the other upholstery options, and this is a huge advantage for me.


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The OP is on a budget so I think that rules out any of the leather options. In the US the leatherette and cloth seats cost the same. If he's buying a just-a-cooper then the only extra would be to spring for the sport seats (separate from the sports package). I strongly prefer the sport seats over the base seats in the Cooper. But I wound up buying an S so the sports seats are standard. I agree with other posters that leatherette versus cloth is a personal preference. Try them both and chose accordingly. On day 2 of my cooper ownership my son spilled a soda on my leatherette seats. So easy to clean - - cloth may have been easy but I'm sure some of the soda would have soaked into the cushions.

 

I got the "Leather Punch" seats on my MCS ($1500) as part of a package. Am I glad I did! Just sitting and looking at a seat doesn't tell you anything about seat design. Not even a test drive will do. Only a +300 mile haul will do. If you can get out of the car after that and stand up straight without any pain, you know you've got good seats. My MCS seats did just that. When you reach a certain age (ahem), this gets to be important. Most comfortable long distance car seats I've ever had. Work good in the twisty's, too.

Dwight

 

I agree with ChrisTKD about the sport seats. Although the side bolsters on the sport seats do not look like much, they get the job done. Surprisingly, there is a night and day difference between the basic and sport.

 

Thanks again all, it's nice to find a forum with such helpful folks. I think we'll go with the sport seats, since they don't cost much more. Leather would be nice, but leatherette fits our budget and lifestyle better. Now to decide on the color.....

 

Living in Florida my back would sweat in the leatherette because it does not breath so I got the cloth seats. The are very very comfortable and they grip you and hold you in very good too.

 

+1 I am paying the price for a 500 mile trip. My back is "killing" me! Leather for me next time...for sure.

 

We picked our Clubman off the showroom floor w/ the Hot Chocolate interior and cloth/leather sport seats. They are beautiful and feel great when you sit in the car. Even around town they are great, but 3 hours in the saddle and my legs are hurting.

The bolsters in the seat (not the back) press on the sides of my legs and eventually cut off circulation. I am not "large" but I do have big thighs and this car wears me out on a long trip I would trade these + $$ in a heartbeat for a pair of Hot Chocolate Lounge leather seats.

+1 on test driving every seat config. you can and do it on the highway w/ out using cruise.

 

Heated cloth sports with the lumbar support mod. Unlike leather (real or otherwise), they are cool in the summer, warm in the winter. My only complaint is the occasional static shock when I get out if I'm wearing wool pants.

 

I've had my "justa" for almost a year - almost 8000 miles on him, including 3 all-day drives. I am in my mid-50s, about 170 lbs, and have pain in my sacroiliac joints (where the spine connects to the pelvis). My MINI has leatherette sport seats. I find them extremely comfortable for someone with my problem. The seats put pressure below my lumbar spine - the sacroiliac area - and that supports me such that I can drive all day with just short breaks every 3 - 4 hours. No back or sacroiliac pain. The sport seats also hold me in the seat really well.

I understand that many people have trouble with the sacroiliac, so thought I'd let fellow MINIacs (and future MINIacs) know what at least for one person with sacroiliac problems, the MINI sport seats are great (cannot say the same for my wife's Camry - I need a pillow to take that car for more than a short drive). I can understand how MINI seats might be inadequate for someone with lumbar back problems; hence the need for the lumbar adjustment.

 

For you guys over 50, if you're getting leg pain after 3-4 hours of driving, it ain't the seats fault. Blood is pooling in your lower legs from lack of muscle contraction. This can cause a stroke! My Dr. says 1 to 1.5 hrs max. Same applies to airplane rides. Stop, get out and walk around till your toes stop tingling. Don't know if this applies to women, but can't think why it shouldn't.

 

IMO....am very unimpressed with the sport seats...

I got the leather, heated seats for the wife, and lumbar support is non existent...

Also, it feels to me that I am pushed forward with the head rest, and the bolster's don't do a very good job of holding me in while pitching through hard corners....(Maybe I am spoiled with my previous sports seats in my old 335i or the Lotus, but....the seats are my least favorite thing in the car after the torque steer!)