Well, the financing is being looked at as we speak. I actually talked to my wife and she's much more accepting about the possibility of the more expensive Mini, but she still doesn't like the payment. I'm looking at 3 different Minis right now:

1) '07 CR/W 6-sp man, Cold Weather, Premium, Sport
Anthracite Headliner
Rooster Red/Black Leather Sport Seats
Rooster Red color line interior
White bonnet stripes

2) '07 MY/B, 6-sp man, Cold Weather, Premium, Sport
Grey/Black Leatherette Sport Seats
Mellow Yellow color line interior
Black bonnet stripes

3) '07 MY/W, 6-sp man, Cold Weather, Premium
Grey/Black Leatherette Sport Seats

4) '07 PS/B 6-sp man, Cold Weather, Premium
Gray/Black Leatherette Sport Seats


#1 & #4 are at the dealer right now (#1 is the expensive one), #2 and #3 are somewhere along the process. Will be about the first week of July before I can get either of them.

Ugh, I'm so torn. I like CR & MY colors pretty equally (Not a PS fan), but the CR one really stands out in my mind, and the fact that I can drive it home today/tomorrow definitely plays into that. I think I can wear the wife down , I just need to figure out if I want to go with the CR or wait another 2-3 weeks for the MY ones.

 

I vote for #2 - STEELERS COLORS!!! But those leather seats in #1 would be soooooo nice!

That said, I plan to order a LiB/W R56 soon.

 

If it were me...I would go for the CR! It sounds beautiful. Cant be that much more, can it? The PS cars are really sweet when you add things like tinted windows, maybe change the wheels out. I think you should go for the one that attracts you the most. I had to have the EB/W, and held out until I found the right car. You should do the same. Are you looking at the 07s for a reason, or is that all that is avaliable to you? Seems there should be more choice to you, considering where you live.

 

Do you really need the premium package? I'd dump that one.

I can see the cold package, being in upstate NY as you are.

Sport package.... gooooood.

 

Right price and options, what color is this one? When I was shopping for my MINI a year ago I wanted an electric blue. I bought a used DS/W. I've had a blast modifying it to remove all the exterior red (lights, etc.) and adding checkers and chrome everywhere. It is absolutely the right car for me now! It was the "wrong" color when I bought it. By the way I was only able to buy it because it was the right price. It is a fairly high mileage 2002 MCS, sun roof and leather interior. It doesn't have cold weather package. I really would have liked to have had heated seats (imagaine that in Wisconsin). Still I'd rather have this car than no MINI! Good luck. I'll look forward to hearing the final outcome!

 

I think #4 is ours if its a turbo version. And it now has a white top. =)
so that one may be unavailable now since it was the only turbo ps/b there

 

oops and I drove the red one with white stripes...kinda hard....I think it has the courtesy package too. Was fun but smelled a lil after. My wife drove it too...she cant drive stick yet.

 

At least #4 won't show all that nasty upstate winter road crud like the others! Premium is expensive if you've got a money crunch, but the resale has got to be much better. If, god forbid, you had to sell it. The upfront cost is indeed high, but your backend savings in the car with the best resale in today's marketplace more than make up for it. If you can swing it.

Has she driven one yet?

 

BOSS10L -
Keep looking for *your* MINI...its out there waiting for you! I found mine (via autotrader.com) earlier this month...a sort of wham bam love at first sight...and then a weekend roadtrip to pick him up! Best of luck!

 

Don't tell me stuff like that man!?!?!

*Edit - Was it an MC or MCS?

 

MCS

 

Drop the premium and leather if that's what'll get you in a car. Go fewer options.

 

This one was an MC.

 

Problem is, I want something I can drive away in, not have to order and wait 6-8 weeks for. Each day that goes by, is one step closer to me going and getting something from the Ford dealer.

I guess I could talk to them about getting one from another dealer, even if I have to pay for the shipping up here.

 

Okay, here's a question for those who have been following my strange oddessy into Minidom....

What would you choose if given the option:

Door #1 - '07 MCS, bone-stock, maybe one or two small options (cold weather and/or MFSW)

Door #2 - '07 MC, practically loaded to the hilt, basically almost everything other than Nav, leather, or body kit.

Also, if you could say why, that would be appreciated as well.

 

DOOR #1! PICK DOOR #1!

It's a heck of a lot easier to ADD stuff you want, then to remove stuff you don't want.

 

I would also go for the MCS, because like Gromit says you can always add (some) extra stuff or customize down the road. Cold weather & MFSW a must for me.

I guess it depends if you like the sunroof & gadgets / options like climate control and convenience. And if you want really good gas mileage (MC) or just decent gas mileage (MCS).

Edit: Don't know if Xenon's are standard in the US (they are in Canada), almost a must have also.

 

Actually, the sad thing is that the MCS gets better gas mileage than my current "fuel miser" (aka 2002 Ford Escort) does. I must admit though that I am becoming pretty impatient about this whole process. I really despise purchasing vehicles, especially new ones. The fact that Mini doesn't move from MSRP doesn't help things either. Time is working against me, and each day that passes with no decision is a day that I am that much closer to just going and leasing a Focus/Civic/Fusion just to create harmony within the house.

Ugh...I usually can pick out, test drive and buy a car within 3 days. I'm going on 3 weeks as of today.

 

We will be picking up our MCS tommorrow about 4. We are both very excited about it. If we didnt want it soo quick we certainly have chose different options. But I think overall ours has the ones we need. I am sure there will be aftermarket support that will allow us to upgrade most issues that plague us over time.

 

Ok. GET THE MCS AND BE DONE WITH IT!

There's your official shove in the back.

Just drop what you're doing. Go NOW!

 

why waste money leasing a crappy car when you can dump your money into something worth it? Sure your payments may be 500 a month but about 400 a month goes to principle! =P

 

I haven't been following this all, but here's my random input...

MC, loaded but not over the top and put it towards a nice weekend with your spouse/kids/whoever when you get the car(surely you'll find $1000 worth of things that you're like "err, that options just silly and I'm spending money cos I can")

 

Have you driven either? That could really help you to decide. Take your wife with you, maybe she would feel more comfortable if she had some say in it, then months down the line she cant really say "I told you so" right??? Id also weigh in the mileage, how far you travel, what you expect out of the car, etc. Just because the dealer is telling you what you should get for mileage, doesnt neccessarily mean thats whats going to happen. I average 30.5 mpg, the books say I should be getting better, but then again, I probably get on my car a little more than I should. You can make a list of pros and cons for either vehicle. Payments, mileage, insurance, smile factor (is big on both cars-bigger on the 's'), cost of upkeep (runflats do suck IMO), and getting along with your family. No matter what, your new ride will be a thousand times better than what youve got now. Go for it, you wont regret it!!!

 

Because my budget can't support a $500/month car payment. My wife is nearly having a coronary over the possibility of a $350-$400 payment. Cars are just something to get you from point A to point B with her. Doesn't matter what bells & whistles it has, and she could care less about the smile factor. It all comes down to money, plain and simple. I wish it weren't but it is.

 

Absolutely buy the stripper MCS. Having the cheap house in the expensive neighborhood is much better than having the expensive house in the cheap neighborhood. Plus, the mcs will pull like your old 'stang.