We've one new addition to the "stable"!
*Pics below.

1st, a little
Backstory

So for about 5-6 months now, the woman has been talking about how she wants to replace her '02 Cavalier with a Mini Cooper. She's a bit of a mini herself, at 4'8", so it seems a match made in heaven.
This would be her first car purchase, as the Cavalier was her college car that daddy paid for. At 120K+ miles, it's been having some issues through the past year.
I told her I was completely on board with this decision, so long as she still looks into a few other cars as well and considers only the MCS when hunting for Mini Coopers. (I mean, who wants to drive a gutless go-kart!)

Recent Events
A couple weeks ago, Sarah & I spent most of a Saturday at the Denver Auto Show. This trip was mostly for my benefit, since she's not nearly the auto enthusiast that I am. However, it did work out well for her as she got to price quite a few new models, sit in them, and check out different options / features. (i.e. "play with all the toys")
We spent the longest amount of time within the Mini section, where we discovered that they were offering some pretty enticing incentives for the next couple weeks. Essentially, we'd be getting a lot of the options Sarah was most interested in for free. But only if we bought new.
With that, the hunt was on...

Last week
We spent most of our free time checking out the market for Mini's, both new and used. I'm proud to say, Sarah passed pretty much instantly on anything that wasn't an S. I guess I talk a good game.
She really wanted a blue one at first. She also fell in love with a new one at Ralph Schomp (the only Mini dealer in Denver Metro) that was all black with black wheels as part of its "Sport Package". The inside was teh sex too, with black leather & red highlights. Our sales person called it the "Black Widow".
Though it doesn't really do it justice, I built an online equivalent on MiniUSA.com.
By this past Friday, however, we decided the payments on the Black Widow (or any other new car on their lot, really) were a bit of a stretch given that we both just started recently at our new jobs.
So... we went back to considering used ones. I was campaigning fairly hard for an '06 I'd found on Craigslist. I saw it as a "best of both worlds" option. It's bluish-black, low mileage, and well-maintained by a former technician at Ralph Schomp. It drove like a dream, helped largely by an optional LSD that's rare to find on an '06. However, the guy was going for a "blacked-out" look with this one, and it just didn't appeal to her aesthetically.

Finally, this past Saturday, we found her "best of both worlds" option at a small dealership up in Longmont.

The New Ride
2007 MCS in Laser Blue.
Turbocharged 1.6L with a 6-spd manual equipped with an LSD.
Only has 14K on the odometer.









*Loading more pics to my Club3G album, 3 at a time. (30+ provided by dealer)

Sarah signed a sales agreement pending service at the recently-built Mini dealer in Loveland. Additionally, new tires were requested for the front as they were worn fairly close to the bars.
When we went to pick it up, we found brand new Falken ZIEX tires all around!
She's still getting used to the 6-speed manual. Until she gets comfortable enough with it, I get to drive the new toy!

More soon...

 

welcome to the laser blue club! Only 14k is really good for an 07! The best way for her to get used to the manual is to have her drive it!!

 

Thanks for the welcome!
Yep. In addition to the exceptionally low mileage, putting it squarely within the "Boot to Bonnet" coverage, we discovered the original owner opted for the 100K Factory Warranty package!! So... kind of a no-brainer for under $20K.
If it were my purchase, I still think I'd have gone with the technician-owned '06, but... the lady liked her bright blue R56!

Don't worry, she's been driving it.
We took it to an empty parking lot on the evening of receipt so she could get a feel for the clutch. Took her 10-15 stalls, but I think she's got it now!
The next evening, she piloted it competently to the Park n' Ride where she catches the bus to/from work. It's a somewhat hilly 1-2 mile stretch with a fair number of stoplights along the way.
We're making progress! Though I still think I might be driving to any of the meets or cruises we attend in the near-to-immediate future...

 

Welcome to NAM! You've got a lucky wife. Laser Blue is a beautiful color.

 

Welcome to the forum, if I had a '02 Cavalier I would want out of it a long time ago, glad you are so happy with the MINI.

 

Thanks!
Did I say wife?!? Naw, we're not quite to that stage in our relationship. Perhaps in another year. Y'know, once she becomes confident with "the stick".

She is a lucky lady, though. The Laser Blue makes quite an impact.

The MINI is awesome. I love it in Sport mode, in particular.
Funny thing about the Cavalier? It's trade-in value is only about $800.
So... we're probably keeping it for now.

 

Welcome, That's a good lookin car, and it's got hard to find LSD.

 

That's a nice find with the obsolete mechanical lsd.

Now about this "gutless go-kart" remark.....

 

Haha, I'm sure he meant "gutless" in a good way. You know, like lean and mean...slim and healthy...um...right RansoMINI?

Congrats on the sweet looking ride!

 

Welcome to NAM, nice looking mini. Great job talking her into getting the S model.

 

Welcome to NAM and MINI ownership.

Nice find on the 07, a very nice combination of color and options.

The 06 you passed upon, was the Perry's 06, if so that is more than a casual 06, go buy it for yourself.

Come join at us some MINI5280 gatherings, it will be fun. Lot's of MINI5280 folks up on the NorthSide.

Check out the MINI5280 club area here on NAM.

Don

 

Thanks! We think so as well, though I'm still quite disappointed that it only has standard halogens vs. Xenon/HID, but the discovery of an equipped LSD tipped the scales back in its favor.
I test-drove a 2010 Clubman with LSD while we were considering new MINI's.
...Obsolete?

Did my remark offend you somehow? Either you misunderstood me ...or you drive a standard (non-S) Cooper. Both are things that should be corrected.
I meant "gutless" as in "underpowered", but was referring to the non-S Coopers.

And thanks!
Thanks. It wasn't a very hard sell, to be honest.
Thanks, Don!

Nice to see a local chime in! We certainly do plan to join in on some MINI5280 fun soon. Looks as though we just missed the Loveland MINI Soft-Opening. I'd like to make it to their Grand Opening, though I seriously doubt Sarah will be able to take the day off. Perhaps I can convince her of the merits of establishing relationships with the folks at the dealership, as well as with local enthusiasts... and get the key for the day.

Oh, and the owner of the '06 I was keen on is named Wes. Not sure if he is/was active on MINI forums, but he's certainly an enthusiast who knows all there is to know about... well, the 1st gen MINI at least.
I only wish we could afford two $20K cars right now... *sigh*

 

While there were some 2010s built with LSDs, there are no longer any MINIs being built with mechanical LSD's.


"Underpowered" is relative. Considering that there are numerous similarly-priced vehicles and even family sedans that will walk (or run) away from even a Cooper S in a straight line, one could easily argue that all MINIs are "underpowered."

Of course, the majority would agree that it's the driving dynamics and handling that make the MINI as fun as it is, and since the S doesn't really do anything differently than a Cooper except accelerate faster in a straight line, a lot of people opt for the Cooper.

 

"Did my remark offend you somehow? Either you misunderstood me ...or you drive a standard (non-S) Cooper. Both are things that should be corrected."

No I wasn't offended and am not offended by your newer attempt either.

Nice explanation, Blaine. And I would add that an "S" is not likely to be competitive in stock category autocross without a factory lsd. I have a Cooper on order.

 

My apologies.
It was never my intention to be offensive (either time). Rather, I was merely attempting to match what I read as a playful tone. Reading back, I can see where I might have come across as a bit of an ***. Not good for my first post here, I imagine.

Anyway, it was my assumption that this forum was largely populated by MCS lovers who looked down their noses at the standard Cooper as lacking in many respects. That's certainly been my experience locally. Further, I had been led to believe that the MCS had tighter handling characteristics in addition to its larger HP numbers.
But... what do I know? I'm new to the platform, after all!

The lady has been driving the MCS more regularly, and has made progress in her mastery of the clutch.
Tomorrow should be a clear day, and the new ride will be left in my hands to detail. Time permitting, I plan on a full wash, clay-bar, and wax as well as some thorough interior detailing. Once it's shiny, expect some new pics to go up!