18 replies to this topic

[roberts]

Good afternoon TMF,

 

As many of you will know, we have been offering seat covers and seat re-trims for standard Classic Mini seats now for just over a year - and, in that time we have manufactured covers in a range of different designs.

 

We are now getting very close to officially launching our Classic Mini seat cover kits but are yet to decide on a standard multi-colour design for the single post headrest type seats (standard in all MK3 to mid-MK6, 1970 to 1992, Classic Minis). So a very simple question/vote for you all...

 

Which of the following designs do you guys prefer?

 

Design 1

 

Design 2

 

Design 3

 

Plus, any comments, suggestions etc. please fire away.


Thanks
Andy @ Optimise Automotive

Website: www.optimise-automotive.com
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +44 (0) 1782 579 080

Edited by roberts, 07 May 2013 - 12:11 PM.

[smev]

2 is good but I went for 3, just the right refined look. I could see these matched with similar style door cards to be strong but quite classy still. 1 I think is a bit too much red.

[freshairmini]

ooo, neck and neck. I agree with smev, just a more refined look.

 

Ultimately tho, two and three are both good.

[roberts]

Right here is the 'design speak' of the designs for you guys... fingers crossed this explains why I'm hunting for your feedback.

 

Firstly...

I understand that most people would love to be able to re-cover single post headrest type seats and give them a "sporty look" (design 2). But the problem is, they are not a sporty seat and you can't make them sporty, you can only try.

 

So if you do fit design 2 although the design looks sporty in pattern (the split face gives the illusion that the seat has sports bolsters) - the seats are still "box" seats with no shape to them.

 

That is why I added design 1...

Basically that is the colour layout that should be used on a seats of this design type. If you look around the car world you will see what I mean by that, all classic seats (Beetle, MG, VW Camper etc.) have a colour on the faces and a different colour on the borders (just as the standard Classic Mini designs do).

 

With the above in mind...

That is why I added design 3 - a comprise between both, that will look great on a box type seat.

 

To finish...

Unfortunately, I had a feeling that it would be design 2, as that is the most popular design. But (as above) design 3 suits the box style of seat much better - it's a decision that we need to make, fingers crossed the feedback here will help (at the moment it's a close call).

 

Thanks
Andy @ Optimise Automotive

Website: www.optimise-automotive.com
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +44 (0) 1782 579 080

[Algordo1100]

I like all 3, but I certainly have an order of preference.

Design 1 suits the seats the best. As said, they are not a sporty seat. I like number 1 the best, then 3, and finally 2.

Inevitably design 2 is going to be popular. I think this design would far better suit the later SPI/MPI seats as they actually have shape.  The single post seats share the space advantage inherited from the 'no post' seats (ie ,they allow for rear leg room)  but they can be uncomfy as the post pokes you in the back.  Its a compromise.

.

Anyway, My personal favourite design used on these seats is that from the Mini 30 (and RSP cooper).  Would it be possible to mimic this design and put the contrast areas where the leather areas are on the '30' seats, If you see what I mean.

 

Picture for clarity: (these are member jackF's  from the valuations area)

 

 

 

 

Al

[E.L.M.O]

3

[Gremlin]

No. 2 but with black headrests

[surfblue63]

I voted for 3.

 

Maybe it's the choice of colour but the others are just too much. I guess 1 could work if you have colours which were closer, such as black and grey, of light and darker shades of blue.

 

2 is the same, probably better with more matched colouring.

 

3. The only thing I don't like about 3 is the edge piping.

 

When I had my seats done I had piping put inbetween the panels and a double stitch on the edge.

 

 

I know the front are not the single post type but the look would be the same.

 

[roberts]

I like all 3, but I certainly have an order of preference.

Design 1 suits the seats the best. As said, they are not a sporty seat. I like number 1 the best, then 3, and finally 2.

Inevitably design 2 is going to be popular. I think this design would far better suit the later SPI/MPI seats as they actually have shape.  The single post seats share the space advantage inherited from the 'no post' seats (ie ,they allow for rear leg room)  but they can be uncomfy as the post pokes you in the back.  Its a compromise.

.

Anyway, My personal favourite design used on these seats is that from the Mini 30 (and RSP cooper).  Would it be possible to mimic this design and put the contrast areas where the leather areas are on the '30' seats, If you see what I mean.

 

Picture for clarity: (these are member jackF's  from the valuations area)

 

Al

 

That's great - thanks for the feedback!!
 

Basically, yeah, that's what I was getting at retarding the designs. Also, just to let you know we have already finalised our SPi/MPi seat cover designs - and they are very much like design 2.

 

As for the design on the Mini 30 seats - I couldn't agree more they look brilliant. But...

 

They only look brilliant because the central horizontal insert stripes are a textured (it's got a pattern to it) cloth - so a vinyl leatherette cover would simply look to plain unfortunately. It would work if the stripe was perforated vinyl leatherette, but then that's additional cost and also not something that a majority people want (our standard designs have to appeal to the masses).

 

Thanks
Andy @ Optimise Automotive

Website: www.optimise-automotive.com
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +44 (0) 1782 579 080

Edited by roberts, 07 May 2013 - 04:38 PM.

[roberts]

I voted for 3.

 

Maybe it's the choice of colour but the others are just too much. I guess 1 could work if you have colours which were closer, such as black and grey, of light and darker shades of blue.

 

2 is the same, probably better with more matched colouring.

 

3. The only thing I don't like about 3 is the edge piping.

 

When I had my seats done I had piping put inbetween the panels and a double stitch on the edge.

 

 

 

I know the front are not the single post type but the look would be the same.

 

Again thanks for the feedback but I think you missed "we are yet to decide on a standard multi-colour design" - as you have mentioned matched colouring.

 

This vote/thread is about multi-colours so not interested in single colour designs (sorry) - single colour is sorted, in fact all of the above designs are the same design if you only have one colour. We are now finalising what to do if you introduce a second colour.
 

So, regarding the piping placement... single post head rest seats are completely different to SPi/MPi seats.

 

Both the front and back seat covers have to match as a set, so the designs of the front covers have to be replicated on the back covers.

 

The way the front cover panels are sewn (put/fit etc.) together means you have to have a line of piping running around the edge of the single post head rest seat - if you don't the seat squab cover could loose it's shape.

 

Especially if fitted slightly incorrectly by customers who don't really know what they are doing. This means, we have to offer a cover kit that's as easy to fit as possible (so people don't get it as wrong) and the piping acts as an excellent guide/reference point that is semi-rigid to line up along the shoulder of the squab.

 

Also, the single post head rest seats are thinner than the SPi seats that you have fitted so if you introduced the piping in a similar place you would end up with piping under your ass, which could be very uncomfortable on long journeys (which is actually a criticism of standard MK1/MK2 rigid none reclining seats that had piping in that place).

 

Once again thanks - keep it coming.

 

Thanks
Andy @ Optimise Automotive

Website: www.optimise-automotive.com
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +44 (0) 1782 579 080

Edited by roberts, 07 May 2013 - 05:42 PM.

[Mattl]

Do you need to make decision? Can you really not offer the choice?

 

Just playing devils advocate

[Alex_B]

Design 3 again for me, I like the idea of the "sportier" colouring of the 2nd option but it would be a bit boy racer trying to make it look like something its not, and 3 really looks much classier 

one is a bit too plain in my opinion :) 

[roberts]

Do you need to make decision? Can you really not offer the choice?

 

Just playing devils advocate

 

Yes, we need to offer a standard option - you can certainly ask for a bespoke design, that's no problem at all. But we need one as our standard design (that you will be able to purchase directly on the website).

 

And, the standard design needs to be the design that the most people want, as not everyone reads information provided or thinks of asking for something custom (something that's not listed and/or photographed) - they just buy what they see (unfortunately).

 

Thanks
Andy @ Optimise Automotive

Website: www.optimise-automotive.com
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +44 (0) 1782 579 080

[roberts]

Design 3 again for me, I like the idea of the "sportier" colouring of the 2nd option but it would be a bit boy racer trying to make it look like something its not, and 3 really looks much classier 

one is a bit too plain in my opinion :) 

 

Yeah, every time I see a set of Classic Mini seats in design two I just think they look like a set of Halfords seat covers (we have even done full leather re-trims in that design and I thought the same).

 

But, at the moment if you combine the poll above and facebook design 2 is clearly the favourite.

 

Thanks
Andy @ Optimise Automotive

Website: www.optimise-automotive.com
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +44 (0) 1782 579 080

[roberts]

So at 19:30 on 7/05/2013 it stands:

Facebook:
1: 0
2: 7
3: 8

TMF:
1: 1
2: 22
3: 19

Totals:
1: 1
2: 29
3: 27

Close at the end of the day.