I picked up my new Liquid Yellow MCC a week ago -- it's a car from the dealer's stock that was specced very close to what I would've ordered, if I still could've ordered LY -- and just wanted to say hi.

I wish I could say I'm absolutely thrilled with it, as I fully expected to be, but I'm really missing the effortless power that an S delivers and already regretting, somewhat, that I didn't spring for an MCSC instead (I say "somewhat" because the greater fuel economy of the standard Cooper compensates to a point). Of greater concern, though -- and I assume I'd experience this in an S, too -- is that I'm having a hard time finding a comfortable driving position in my car. I'm not at all a fan of the fully-outstretched-arms driving position, but I find that's pretty much my only option in this car since the steering wheel adjusts only for rake and not for reach; when I move the seat close enough so that the steering wheel and shifter are within comfortable reach, my right leg isn't just uncomfortable, it actually hurts (feels like a shin splint) within a few minutes...but if I move the seat back far enough to give my leg some relief, I'm stretching so much to reach the steering wheel and shifter that I actually have to lean forward, away from the seatback, everytime I take a corner. Not good. (And no, I didn't notice any problem during the too-short test drives I took -- if only I'd taken longer ones!)

I'm hoping I'll somehow either figure out a way to adjust everything so that it's "just right," if that's possible, or that I myself will adjust and come to find the driving position a comfortable one over time, because apart from this highly idiosyncratic potential dealbreaker, the car is brilliant!

Anyway, this a great site, and I've already learned a lot. Thanks, and happy motoring!

Here's a quick pic of my new ride from the night I brought it home...

 

I'm not a mechanic, but i know that there must be something you can add on to enchance the power. I'm sure that some of these guys here with mods can help you with that. On the seats, i honestly have know idea.
Good luck ps. sweet lookin ride

 

Have you tried raising/lowering the seat? From other commenters on here, that seems to help many find a comfortable driving position.

 

I've got the seat almost all the way down now, 'cause that's typically where I had it in my previous car and I'd gotten used to sitting low. I tried cranking the seat up really high and in various spots in between the other day, but yeah, I'll keep playing with all the settings and try different combinations and see how it goes. I'm hoping it's more a matter of me adjusting to the new car and that I'll find a comfortable position long-term, 'cause this car is too fun for me not to enjoy every minute behind the wheel!

 

Hi, Wessy! Definitely fiddle with the seat's height until you find your favorite setting. And do not underestimate the Cooper....it is a very fun car! Yours is gorgeous! Welcome to NAM and happy motoring!

 

Raising and lowering the seat really helped me get the driving position "just right". Enjoy!

 

Thanks for the welcomes and advice! I've been experimenting with the seat height, etc., and have been a lot more comfortable the last few days.

Of course, the test'll come when I go for a nice long weekend drive, 'cause that's when I first found myself feeling out of sorts with the driving position. But I'm hoping I'll at least be more comfortable, if maybe not perfectly content, on my next long drive. We shall see...

Speaking of being content, I'm already a lot happier with the power in the Cooper. My previous car was a VW with the 1.8 turbo engine, and when I first got the Cooper, I really missed the effortless power that turbo used to provide, especially in the high-altitude area where I live in Utah. But I'm digging the Cooper more and more for the very reasons I opted for it -- it doesn't have as much power as the S, but it's still a really eager engine, and that Getrag shifter and light-feeling clutch are an absolute treat! I'm finding it a really engaging drive, overall, much more so than my old VW, and my experience driving my new MINI is rekindling my affection for small, relatively lightweight, fun-to-drive cars. (Sound familiar? )

In fact, it's such a pleasure to drive my new MINI that my first reliability issue with the car isn't souring my impression of it overall...and that issue is that, before I've even reached the two-week mark of ownership, my convertible top suddenly won't go down. (The problem seems to be in the "sunroof" portion of the top; yesterday, the sunroof part started making clicking noises as it was closing...it did that a couple times during the day, and then at the end of the day yesterday, when I went to put the top down, the motor for the sunroof portion made a horrible loud buzzing noise and would only retract the sunroof 3 or 4 inches before coming to a complete halt. Fortunately, I was able to close it, but only with more of the terrible loud buzzing.)

It's June, and sunny and beautiful here -- I NEED MY CONVERTIBLE TOP TO WORK! I'm hoping and praying that I'll be able to get an appt. with the local MINI dealer right away next week so that it can be sorted out, because I have a long 5-day weekend driving vacation scheduled beginning on Thursday of next week, and if my top isn't able to go down, I'm going to have to cancel it (because touring with the top down is totally the point, for me, at least). Which would really tick me off.

But apart from that, I am loving the car.