I am seriously considering getting a MINI in April/May. However, I am not interested in ordering a custom one. I have found several onces at local dealerships (in the Carolinas) that have everything I would spec an ordered car with...except LSD. I don't plan on racing this car, but I do plan on logging a lot of miles, especially during the summer/fall. Should I really look for a MINI with LSD or would it just make my search more difficult and the price higher? Thanks for any responses in advance.

 

While LSD is nice, a good thing to have, there are many, many MINIs out there without one. Also consider all the MINIs bought without one.

 

Tell us what your other specs are, and maybe that will help determine whether you should hold out for one with LSD...

I have LSD on mine, and every day of spirited driving, I am glad it's there!

_Dave_

 

Why wouldn't you order a Mini to get a car the way you want it, especially if you won't be buying for a few more months? From order date to delivery, mine took about 6 weeks, and I got it exactly the way I wanted it, and didn't pay any more or less than if I drove the same car off the lot. If LSD is important to you, I'd make it a priority. I'm close to trading my MC up to an MCS with LSD, having had an LSD equipped FWD car before, I wouldn't get an MCS without it.

-Keith

 

I'm with Keith on this one. Get it the way you want. My guess is there are items on the in stock cars you probably wouldn't buy. Order one save a few bucks & get the LSD you want.

Chuck

 

If you are considering a MINI Cooper S then I have to say that an LSD should be a prioity.

If you live in an area of the world that has snow then it is even more important. Even if there are sand covered roads the LSD makes a difference.

The only reason that I upgraded from an '02 MCS to an '06 MCS was because I wanted an LSD.

 

another note is that if you tell the dealer when you want to take delivery they will gladly put the car in production to have it arrive right around that timeframe. this is perfect for the dealer because they don't have to worry about the car just sitting around as well as they have the ability to get the car in and handle the dealer-installed options on their timeframe and not on that of an anxious buyer. It surely doesn't hurt them to have a car on the floor for a few weeks for everyone to stare at and have it already sold. When I picked up my car, all of the cars in the showroom were already sold and a few on the lot too. On top of everything, once you put in your order you'll have a longer than normal amount of time before you can no longer make any changes. That can be either a good or bad thing, but it's nice to know you can tweak something after you've spent 30 hours on this board reading about every possible option and realize you've missed one.

Oh... and once you build yours and place the order be sure to post your spec for everyone to comment on. that will help you avoid missing some of the hidden or poorly documented options on the configurator.

 

I'm a MA...
My suggestion is order YOUR MINI... exactly how YOU want it equipt.
6-8 weeks is standard f/ deliverly on a MCS
I own a spirited one (minihero.zoomshare.com) w/o a LSD.
It was my personal choice

Peace,
D

 

Really curious if your purchase date is that far out why you wouldn't order to spec.

 

order it the way you want it. If you don't get the LSD (and you want it....) you will always kick yourself in the pants. Plus at $550, it is a steal....

-jac

 

Thanks for the input.
I'm not really considering ordering one because, although I'm almost sure that I'll be going back to the U.S. in April/May (I'm in Ecuador, South America at the moment), there is a slight chance that I might have to stay longer. Thus my inclination for picking one up from a dealer.
The other specs that I am liking at the moment, on what will definitely be an MCS, are the Premium, Sports, and Cold Weather packages, H/K sound, and some other dealer-installed accessories, like the driving lights (or possibly that Alta Light Bar that goes below the bumper).
As for the LSD, whether I order a car or pick one up off a lot, I was still wondering whether it is something that is absolutely necessary, given that I won't be racing at all. I might, however, be living in a place where it snows a lot, so I'll definitely keep that in mind.

Thanks again for the responses and any new info would be appreciated greatly.

 

then I would say you really haven't found one at the dealer yet...if you are away and not due back till april/may, who is to say the ones you currently see at the dealer will even be there...maybe call them and let them know what you will be wanting to buy when you get back and maybe they'll try and get you one.

 

So place an order now and then cancel if things don't work out for you. Seems fairly simple to me.

 

Even though you won't be racing/tracking the car, the LSD still has a significant safety benefit. If you regularly drive on snow, ice, gravel, dirt, rain-slicked pavement, or any such surface that has inconsistent traction, the LSD could well save your life.

If you're speccing DSC on your car, and it has the standard ABS brakes, you might wonder if the LSD adds any additional safety. The answer is yes - ABS keeps your brakes from locking up, allowing you to control the vehicle in an extreme situation, and DSC controls the brakes to help maintain stability, but neither of these is going to help you maintain power to the drive wheels. DSC will actually be actively reducing power. LSD will complement these systems by giving you the traction *and* power you might need to fully regain control.

It's not an essential purchase, but at a mere $500, it's a very wise one in my opinion. Even if you don't deliberately push your vehicle to the limit at the track, Mother Nature has a tendency to push it for you, whether you like it or not.

It also doesn't hurt that the LSD makes spirited cornering extra fun.

 

Thanks for the responses. I'll post up specs once I make some kind of decision. Thanks again.