Greetings everyone! I'm new here, and I'm looking to get an '06 MINI sometime this year. I've been thinking BRG with white roof/mirrors (I'll name him "Winston" ). I had a couple of quick questions:

First off, I think I'm gonna have to go with the MC and not the MCS for financial reasons (I'd rather have a nicely equipped MC with great gas mileage than a stripped MCS) and also because it's a first car, I'd rather not get anything too speedy . I've been saving up for a car since I was old enough to pretend to drive a car, and I'm trying to keep the cost in the very low 20's, and I was wondering what people thought of the 16" wheels. Any really noticable differences (from a driving perspective )? What about the sport package in general?

Also, what do people think of the chrono pack? I've never been a huge fan of the center speedometer (I don't mind it too much, either, though).

Thanks, and I'm glad to be here!

 

Welcome, MooseMan... I only drove the MCS, so I cant give you a comparison.. But I can tell you that even with just a couple, if not no options, on the MCS, it is low 20s. My BRG MCS was < 23k and I got pretty much everything I wanted in it. I would suggest taking both out for a test drive.. I just had my mind set on the MCS so I didnt bother with the MC

I got the chrono pkg to keep the tach and spedo in front of me.

Anyway. Good luck in your hunt!

 

sounds like a plan. I still suggest you test drive both to be sure of what you want... but a cooper is no slouch and don't let anyone lead you to believe that!

another thing... I personally don't recommend the chrono pack. I think it is a waste of money and you lose some of the 'charm' of having a center mounted speedo. Also, there is an electronic speedo display in the tach on the steering wheel ONLY if you don't get the nav or chrono. I use that speedo 99.9% of the time.

 

I have a '06 MC I wanted the DSC, Fog lamps and Sport seats. So I got the Sport pack. I wish that it included the Xenons like on the MCS. But I got Xenons anyway. I like my 5 stars but am considering a set of holies for the summer.

The center speedo comes in handy when you are on a navagation rally. Especially when the directions read: Turn right, drive 2.6 miles... Turn left, drive .8 miles... It is easier for the navigator in the passengers seat to read the odometer in the center speedo.

I had to ala-kart the MFSW and onboard computer from the premium package, because I didn't want the weight of the sunroof nor did I want the automatic air conditioning. Before I added the alarm, MIB came in at $20,750.

 

Wow, thanks for the quick responses!

I figure I better get this out of the way in the n00b forum , and I apologize in advance for being a complete idiot, but...: Below the headlights on the front bumper, there are two other sets of lights; what in the heck are these?! I'm gonna guess fog lights (on the bottom) and turn signal (between the bottom lights and the headlights)? Again, please excuse my impressive stupidity, and thanks again for the quick responses.

 

Welcome to NAM!!

Good luck in your search for your perfect MINI!

 

you are correct. the middle lights are turn signal indicators and the bottom ones are the front fogs (an option btw)

 

Hey MooseMan - Welcome to the forums - just a quick note on ordering - you may want to talk to your dealer asap about getting an order slot - you don't want to end up with an 07 do you? :-)

 

So if the bottom ones are fog lights, what are they if you don't order the fog lights? Just decoration?

Haha, don't worry I've been in contact with my dealer, I'm on the list and he said I should be fine as long as I submit an order before the summer's out.

Also, just wondering, what's the real benefit to having the 16" wheels? I did some reconfiguring without them and got pretty much everything I wanted for $21,919!

 

if you don't get them I think there's a blank in their place. they will probably also cost a bit much to add afterwards... but that's your call.

as for 16" wheels there is no benefit for a cooper unless you get a big brake kit... but even that might require 17's. I say just find wheels that you like and don't worry about size.