Hi, I've been lurking here for about 6 months and we're finally getting ready to order our first Mini. This is what we are thinking of:

08 CR/W MCSa

Chrome Line Exterior
White Bonnet Stripes

Cold Weather Pkg
Convenience Pkg
Sport Pkg
Front Fog Lamps
Xenon Headlamps
Auto Transmission
Auto AC
10 Speaker HiFi
Sirius Satellite
Leather: Punch Carbon Black
Dark Grey Color Line
Fluid Silver Interior Surface
[FONT=&quot]Anthracite Headliner[/FONT]

The two questions are:

1) How does the piping on the Lounge Leather hold up? We'd order it but we're afraid the piping would wear too fast?

2) Does the Auto AC work well? The auto AC on our Jeep GC is pretty bad.

Thanks, hope to order next week.

 

I can't answer the lounge leather question other than to say it'll last at least 4 years or 50,000 miles. The auto AC in my 04 works pretty well. I don't know if it's as good or better in the new models. There's a sensor on the dash that senses sunlight, so it'll know to crank up the AC or turn down the heat if the sun is intense... at least that's what my MA told me. I do have to tweak it every so often to get comfortable. One thing about it is that it only works in even numbers, so if I'm comfortable at 71 or 69, I'll have to settle for an adjacent number.

But, here's a couple of suggestions on your order: get the rear fog light too since it's only $100, and it'll add another switch to your toggle bank. Also, don't get the factory installed Sirius... it's a rip-off. You can get your dealer to install the same thing for a whole lot less.

 

The auto AC in 'our' 04 MCS works well, though I've seen some posts to the effect that it doesn't heat up very quickly and some people crank up the heat manually when its really cold outside, then switch back to auto AC. I ordered the auto AC in mine, I like it a lot in the 04 mini.

Good choice on the Xenons. Those, and the Multi function steering wheel, seem to be addicting in that once you have had them, for most people, you don't want to do w/out them again.