Leatherette vs leather?

[MissouriMini]

Hey I ordered my S with the leather option, but I am thinking of changing to leatherette. Many seem to think that the leaterette is as good or better then the leather and you save $1250. However, my wife (who is very health conscience) worries about the chemicals used to create the leatherette and the possible smells caused by those chemicals. She believes therefore that leather is the more "natural" healthy way to go. Any thoughts?

[HarryHBMCC]

I like the look and feel of the leatherette. The real leather is very soft and I wonder how long it will last.

No bad smells here. I think you'd have to eat the seat covers to get any health effects and even then I'm not sure whether any of the plasticizing agents would cause problems.

Harry

[chiph]

A friend used to work in the leather business, and he says what with all the flame retardants and UV protectants needed for use in autos, there isn't much "leather" in the leather today. Based on that, I would say that the leatherette is actually the more "healthy" of the two, since it's much less likely to transfer any chemical residue to your skin.

I have the leatherette in my MCS, and no one has been able to spot it for being vinyl so far. I think I made the right choice in saving the $1200 for other options.

Chip H.

[AprilWhine]

Both the leather and leatherette are nice. Just pick the one that suits your life and purse. I have leather, but then, I don't mind doing a quarterly leather treatment, and don't haul people or things that would damage it. If I had a dog, for instance, I would have bought the leatherette.

[uua]

I have the leatherette. I was planning on leather, but this car configuration was available immediately. Most people think it is leather. It is comfortable, and easy to clean of dog hair. I was disappointed at the lack of lumbar support control; however I haven't really missed it. Leather sports seats do have lumbar support control I read in one thread.

[JayL]

I'm in the ordering process as well, and can't decide between leather and leatherette. Everyone in this forum seems to be please with the leatherette, but I'm unsure of its appearance over the leather. Unfortunately, I haven't seen leatherette in person and only have one picture to go from. Does anybody have pics of the leatherette interior, front seat and back?

Jason

[wmdapple]

Our Cooper S has black Leather in it. And we love it. Keep it clean and occasisionally conditioned and it will last he same as my 25 year old Saddle and the leather in my Alfa.

It takes work, but in the end, it's worth it in my opinion

[andrewinla]

After 35K miles the BMW leather has creases where the seat bolsters are. I do condition the leather and the crease goes away then comes back.

Back then I had no choice leather was the only option, but when speccing the MINI I chose leatherette.

I rented a MCS for the weekend with leatherette. Every friend I drove around in said " wow, love the leather interior!"...Now I've seen the cloth and find that to be very nice looking too! But too late.

The chemicals they use in processing leather cant be any worse for your wife anyway. What does natural mean anyway?

Plastic comes from nature..just like cocaine, gasoline, and arsenic which all can be harmful.

[Humourl3ss]

I couldn't fathom spending the money on real leather.

I've never seen, felt or smelled leather in a car that's made me totally happy (but then again, I've yet to drive an Aston Martin or Bentley, so take my opinion for what it's worth).

I find the leatherette to be essentially scent free. In fact, I've noticed my MCS to have among the weakest "new car smell" (read: isocyanates and other lovely chemicals) of any vehicle I've purchased.

My only gripe is that it should be offered in two-tone. Blue/Black or Green/Black would be sooo-poib!

-CW

[aMini2Go]

Quote:

Originally posted by Humourl3ss
My only gripe is that it should be offered in two-tone. Blue/Black or Green/Black would be sooo-poib!

-CW [/b]

I too wish the leatherette had been offered in multi-tones.

Otherwise I really am very pleased with the leatherette. It has an outstanding look and feel. I will never use the word 'vinyl' to describe it - it is just so NOT vinyl!

Plus, I couldn't get over the textured leather look. It was just a little too wierd for me.

[monica]

I've worn holes through two (2) cars with cloth and one (1) with leather. So I figured that I'd give the leatherette a try, plus I have a three year old. Well so far the leatherette has definately been the sensible choice, my son managed to spill a bottle full of water on the seat first trip out. I just wiped it up, wedged a towel up under the car seat. That said I still wish I had gotten leather (if only MINI had a crappy leather option). The leather and leatherette feel about the same under your butt at first but where as leather starts to warm up and conform to your rear after a bit the leather just stays hard and cold. I know how that may sound but that's just it, the leatherette is like hard metal and the leather like warm flesh...unless it's really HOT out then the leatherette sears the flesh off your thighs and leather feels like cool flesh...on your hot thighs...whooo I think I need go sit in my "cold" MINI.

[aMini2Go]

Heated seats make all the difference for that little problem!

[HarryHBMCC]

Yep, heated seats solve the winter problem and a white roof and AC solve the summer problem of leatherette

Harry

[MINImalist]

Quote:

Originally posted by HarryIndiBlue
Yep, heated seats solve the winter problem and a white roof and AC solve the summer problem of leatherette

Harry

I got all of those, plus the sunroof so it can be tilted up for ventilation in summer
(all that black glass kinda cancels out the benefits of the white, though )
I agree with most here, that the leatherette is just fine - the best imitation of dead cow I've yet seen, and I prefer the "pattern" of it to the leather that was offered. That said, I also wish there was a 2-tone option, red/black in my case
I found the leather to smell the best in the showroom, but as mentioned above the leatherette has very little smell to it - probably a plus in your wife's case (also it won't offend any tree-hugging, animal-saving types if you're into that sort of thing).

[Tom F.]

I have the Lapis Blue leather, which I like, but we are starting to get -at 2500 miles- the deteriorating seat problem, which I guess is a lapis issue from the various posts, but may also relate to the foam or the seat frame under the leather. I like leather, but its not necessary in any way.

At the DC auto show this weekend they have a MCS with space grey cloth. Very, very nice, striking, really. I think bartnik has posted some pics of his someplace, do a search if you are curious.

Whatever, get the seatheaters, even if you use them only occcasionally, the heated mirrors are safety item, IMHO.

Good luck