Hi everybody. I'm looking at purchasing a new Mini in the next few weeks, off somebody's lot, no less... and I was wondering if you could give me a little friendly advice - really! The "S" version is out due to the higher cost, but I'm not quite sure whether or not to get the cabriolet. Anyone care to share their experiences? I live in Atlanta, GA - so hard winters don't really come into play. I'd really appreciate it!!

 

Welcome to NAM, Dan! Well, it really is hard to ascertain the answers to your questions as only you know those answers for yourself. We can give our own experiences and offer advice, but it'll be just that, advice.

IMHO, if you're married, have kids, or plan on lugging around anything more than a small dog and a weekends worth of clothing, then maybe the cabriolet is not for you. Also, even a base, no-options cabriolet is at least $800 more than a base, no-options S model. I'm not a fan of cabriolets in any way, shape or form. That's not a slam on them, it's just that since I live in the frigid NE, they are only practical for 3 months out of the year, and that is hoping we don't get torrential rainfall during that time.

I do have an MC that does have the dual-pane sunroof, and IMHO, it's the best of both worlds. When I want to let the sun shine on in, I just flip the switch. When I don't, I keep it closed.

As others had told me, my best advice is to do two things:

1) Test drive all the models you are interested in. Good decisions cannot be made based off second-hand accounts or incomplete information.

2) Make a list of your "must have" options. You'll be surprised at the end of the day what you can live without in order to get what you can't live without. My only must have options were the Cold Weather package and the Multi-Function Steering Wheel. YMMV.

I was in a rush to get my Mini so I didn't order it exactly the way I would have wanted it. While we do love "Kassy" unconditionally, I won't make that mistake again. My next Mini will be ordered with exactly what I want in/on it, not just buying what was available. 6-8 weeks of waiting is better than 3-5 years of regretting (not that I'm regretting my purchase).

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

 

Wow! Thanks for your response. Since I posted my original question, I've seen one or two used minis for sale around town, and of those, one is a yellow "S", so I may go take a look at it when the dealership opens. It's a coupe, with the sunroof option, and I agree that gives you the best of both worlds for an affordable price. Thanks again for the input - much appreciated.

 

One thing to keep in mind when buying a used Mini. If it is a CPO Mini, you'll get a 10 year, 100,000 mile warranty with it. These only come from Mini dealerships. I've heard tell of a plan by Mini to offer that same extended warranty to all Mini owners sometime in the near future (rumors are that it will run about $2K), but as of right now, until I see it in writing, it's still a rumor.

One other thing to consider is the Mini Select financing. It's what I did for mine. In a nutshell, you choose a payment length from 24-48 months, and make those payments based on the Mini you configure. At the end of that term, you then have the following choices:

1 - Finance the balloon payment and keep the Mini.
2 - Trade in the Mini for a new one, cashing in on any positive equity you still have in the car (unlike a lease). If you break even or at worst, have negative equity (highly unlikely), then just put a little more down when you get your next one.
3 - Sell the car private party, and do as option # 2.

Either way, it pretty much seems like a win-win situation. The finance charges are slightly higher than with a conventional new car loan, but you don't have the flexibility of lower payments with Mini Select. I plan on sending in an extra bit each month to ensure I have some positive equity built in when I trade in "Kassy" in another 3 years to get my MCS.

Also, if you don't put a lot of miles on cars, leasing may be a viable option. My wife is leasing her current car, and it's our first lease, so I can't say 100% if it is for us just yet. Some people swear by it, but I have an issue paying for something I have absolutely no stake of ownership in.

 

I find that I rarely ever drop the top on my vintage Mustang here (in Atlanta as well) except for a late evening cruise (after the sun is behind the trees) in the summer. The sun is just too hot and saps my energy quickly, and the A/C is useless with the top down. It is great for a few weeks in the spring and then again in the fall, and while I love the old girl, I'll never opt for my daily ride to be a 'vert. My MCS has the sunroof, and it is wonderful - and I don't have to pull over to close it when a rain storm pops up.

 

Best of luck with your new Mini!! (Looks great, by the way) Thanks for the valuable input from a local, whose opinion is certainly relevant. I'm getting pretty close...

 

I strongly recommend that you see Amanda at MINI of South Atlanta - she can assist you with both new and pre-owned MINI's. The cost of the a MINI cabriolet would likely be more than a MINI S with a sunroof. Either way, I recommend the sunroof in Atlanta - my sports cars have all been either Porsche cabriolets or coupes with sunroofs. this is my second MINI with a sunroof, and I actually prefer the tighter chassis in the coupes.

Good motoring!

 

Just to add to some of these comments, I started looking at the MC cabrio but in the end purchased a MC-S coupe. Even thou my car is only a week old today, I have no regrets.

My wife and my 2 dogs ride comfortably, we have an SUV for future family expansion

the sun roof is a must, you'll love it.

 

The dual pane sunroof is the way to go. No security issues (have had a convertible 'broken into', and the chassis is tighter. One sugestion I may offer is to get the Xenons, they are awesome. It would be best to drive each one though, and like stated prior, to figure out what you are willing to let go of to get the things you really want. Good luck to you, and happy car shopping!

 

Welcome to NAM, Commander Dan! The fact that you want a MINI already shows you to be very intelligent. I'm sure you will find the perfect MINI for you.

 

If the S is out due to higher cost (~$3150), how can you consider the cabrio, which adds $3900?