This is a great site! I am getting ready to join you all, converting over from VW/Audi (well, my wife will still be driving a MkV GTI - a great car in its own right).

I am anguishing over purchasing an 06 MCS off my dealer's lot or ordering an 07. Currently leaning towards an 06 (really like the engine sounds out of the current S!!!), but I also will have to compromise on options/colors if I go with an off-the lot of course.

Look forward to getting to know all of you.

Happy New Year!

Acorin

 

Welcome and Buy the 06.

 

Welcome to NAM. The only advise I can give you. Is get what you want, no matter which one you go with.
Good Luck.

- KP

 

Welcome! I agree! Go with the 06! I just got mine in July and love the sound of the supercharger!

 

Faced the same decision - I ordered an 07. Somebody's got to do it.

 

Welcome... I did the same thing... migrated from the VW/Audi side of things... my wife and I are now on the BMW side . She owns a '06 X3 and I the MCS. Personally I would get the 2006. The 2007 is the first model year worldwide and it will most likely have it's fair share of problems... Rule number 1... never buy the intro models .

oh and that supercharger vs. turbo charger thing too! Plus the '07 MCS is having some factory delays too so your wait will be long!

 

If we followed your Rule 1 you would not be driving an 06' MCS! There wouldn't be any 06s, or 05s, etc. Mini would have gone under immediately!

I can't get on board with this thinking - strangely parallel to driving an SUV so the chump in the small car has the worst end of a crash...

 

There is no production delay in the US... Cars are expected to arrive in time for the US launch ~ Feb 19th...

That being said..go with what you want... for me the final determining factors were 1) mileage/hp increase 2) slightly larger interior...the 06 seemed a touch tight to me where the pedals where at...

Though all the mods out for the R53 were very very tempting.

 

Welcome to NAM!

 

welcome, a am also from the vw audi family and was deciding between a mark V GTI and the 06 MCS or an 07 MCS. part of my decision to go with the 06 MCS was that i wanted the origional new mini body style and much loved by all driving feel and ability before it was gone (from a new purchase possibility) and an engine/car at the end of its model run = at its most dependable and trouble shot. I love my Mini and am happy i bought it.

Someday i will own A GTI again, do you have the DSG, and how do you like the VW?

Best of luck on your decision!

 

I just got some mods on my 2002 and I have to say the SC Whine is so awesome sounding but like others have said go with what you think is your best option.

Welcome to NAM

 

Sorry greg, if you have not purchased a car at the begining of its model run and had the wonderfull good time (sarcasm) of developing a car for the manufacturer with the dealership, time and in some cases wallet (one of the reasons i chose my new mini and the excellent service at the particular dealership), well it is a really frustrating thing.

Having to deal ith a dealership is no fun in these situations. Having been there i can say, it sucks. This is not to say that it will happen with the 07 mini, but a preffer to wait and see with my money. Your parallel of the SUV and this type of thinking , i feel is a bit rude. i do not know if you meant it that way but i feel you are wrong with either your communication style or intent.

Either way Happy New Year!

 

I am busting your chops psb - no offense intended.

 

A MINI is personnel choice...get the one that make you all giddy inside, regardless of the year. At the end you have to be the one that loves it the most. Welcome to NAM!!

 

Total agreement!! Couldn't have said it any better! Welcome to NAM by the way.

 

Welcome to our little obsession

 

Thanks everyone for the welcome and advice. Yesterday was a busy day, but I am now a proud owner of a 2006 Dark Silver/black MCS Manual. I'm loving it so far and can't wait to go on a road trip (really anywhere!).

First, here are the specs: Dark Silver/Black roof & caps, Sport combo (no bonnet stripes, but it does have a black hood scoop which I love), web spokes, limited slip, all anthracite interior, HK, chrono package, rear fog, rubber S mats. According to my MA (and the sheet) it was supposed to be somebody's track car and they changed their minds (lucky me). I worked with Mini of Sterling here in Virginia and they were great, giving me $500 off sticker, which I thought was pretty fair.

I'm ticked at my camera right now because I wanted to already have some pics up, but it's having some issues. As soon as I get them resolved, I hope to have pics up.

In terms of compromises, DS is actually my second favorite color to BRG and I would have liked features of the premium/convenience package (though not the sun-roof), but all-in-all, I'm really happy. Making this happen means that the little guy is going to have to stay stock for a while, but I already have my mod list started in my head and will certainly rely on all of you guys going forward.

As for my decision making process, psb, for me it came down to pretty much exactly the same key factors you listed in what made you go with the 06. I plan to keep this car for a while, so the fact that they have made so many improvements over the life of the R50/53 was a big deal to me.

I'm sure the R56 is going to be an outstanding vehicle and I look forward to seeing them in person. As to the GTI, it is a complete blast. We do have DSG in ours and it is a marvel of technology. In fact, the GTI as our other car weighed on my R53 vs. R56 decision. The GTI has the turbo engine, electromechanical steering, softer suspension, larger size, and better gas mileage that we would be getting in the R56 and I wanted a different driving experience for what will be my daily driver (and now likely weekend road trip car).

One thing I'm excited about my MCS though is getting back into a full manual car - we've been in automatics for several years now, but I was able to convince the wife that we needed to go manual to enjoy the full Mini experience.

 

Happy 2007 all! I got some pics of the new MINI up in my gallery. Lava, you inspired me to include a shot of my cat Athena. She definitely does NOT enjoy the new car, but then again she's sure the world's coming to an end every time we have to take her to the vet.

 

Sweet! I love the black hood scoop too - who needs stripes when you have a black hood scoop? The cat has stripes - leave it at that!

 

I did the same.

 

Nice DS MCS! $500 off the sticker is reason enough to have gone with it! Congrats!

 

congrats Acorin! great looking car. I like the DS/B and the black scoop. I think you made the right choice. I'm excited about seeing the 07s, too, but I needed a car now and will see how they fare before moving up to the new models.

that is one cool looking cat, too!

 

Thanks guys! I'm totally loving this car.

Now, I'm just working (semi) patiently through the break-in period. I have been checking out the "detailing 101" discussions here on NAM because I hate to admit it, but I've previously just taken my cars to the car wash. Clearly, those days are over with the MINI so I'm looking for all the washing tips I can get to keep the MINI in top shape.

By the way, mini_dreams, Grover is really cool! I'm coming to find out that naming one's car is an interesting aspect of MINI ownership/obsession. I wasn't as drawn to HB before seeing your car (I initially thought it had body color roof). However, seeing the pic of your car combined with its name, it just seems perfect! Grover seems cooler by being named Grover - if that makes any sense.

 

Welcome,

We are a MINI/VW house also. My daily ride is a 2000 TDI NB with over 150k. Still pulls hard and gets 48MPG. If MINI does not release a diesel by 2008 I may buy another TDI

 

Thanks again! My only question to myself when driving the MINI today was "what took me so long!?!?!?"

I agree that the new VW TDI engine planned for US release after 2008 could be a real winner. IIRC, it will be the 2.0 liter version already available in Europe with significantly more hp and torq than the 1.9 available over here (as well as of course much better emissions than the current version).

An S-line Audi A3 TDI would be nice...