Hey everyone, just thought I'd say 'hi' and ask a couple questions. I'm a recent university graduate at my first "real job" and I thought after saving up for a while I'd treat myself with a new driving machine. If things go well I can probably buy the car in six months or so. I love my current car, a 1987 Volvo 740 Turbo, but it's a lot of work to modify it to the point where it's as sporty as some of the new cars, and frankly, fuel economy could be better (25 UK MPG city).

I had three major candidates: the Volvo C30, which, unfortunately, costs about $15,000 more in Canada than the 'States (and before anyone says to import it, Volvo Canada won't issue the papers so it's a no-go), the Mazdaspeed 3, and of course, the Mini. I wasn't interested in the Mini until the Clubman hit, and I didn't like the looks of it too much initially but it's grown on me. Plus, the fact the new Cooper S is turbocharged instead of a supercharger helps, just a bit more familiarity under the hood!

My ideal configuration is a fully-loaded Mini Cooper S Clubman. British racing green with white roof and bonnet stripes. My questions are, though:

1. Doesn't anyone have a BRG Clubman? I couldn't find a single picture in the Clubman photos thread!

2. How does it look with the white roof and silver pillars (why don't they offer black pillars with a white roof...)? Again, lack of pictures isn't really helping here.

3. How is the factory navigation system? I currently use my laptop with a GPS adapter, and the advantage is it's super easy to update - new navigation software comes out, just install it! I'd rather not have a laptop kicking around the front seat though... but $2500 is rather steep when I can buy a windshield-mounted deluxe Garmin or TomTom for under $1000.

4. Does the "media integration kit" for the stereo have an iPod dock connector, or just an 'aux-in' 3.5 mm pin jack? I'm wondering if it will charge the iPod and control it from the head unit, maybe display the track names on the Mini's stereo. If it doesn't do this, is there even any point to getting the media kit? I don't really need bluetooth as I despise talking on the phone in the car, even if it's with a stereo-based handsfree.

5. What's the best road light solution that doesn't involve taking the front end of the car apart? I'd like to mount ANY lights i want to, not just some special Mini one, if possible.

Thanks for any help!

 

Welcome! First off, let me say that you have excellent color choices in mind Ours is en route now, so there will be at least one BRG Clubman S in the Twin Cities. As for the roof, it's silver(not white) for the Clubbie so I'm expecting it to look awesome. From my understanding the ipod integration will display track info on the head unit and uses a cable of some sort, not the 3.5mm jack. Anyways, please let us know what you decide!

 

http://www.mini2.com/forum/mini-clubman/151439-british-racing-green-clubman-roll-call.html
and
http://www.flickr.com/photos/driveblind/
and
http://www.flickr.com/photos/1884327...7603745110564/

Also the Flickr group http://www.flickr.com/groups/mini_clubman/ has lots of different colors

 

Thanks, nomo! That flickr gallery from driveblind is essentially the car I want to buy. Very good to see it in some real-life shots instead of promo stuff.

Also: weinerdog, yeah, you're completely right. I don't know why I got the white roof into my head, I must have been looking at the regular Cooper S at some point.