Just left a deposit an 06 BRG metallic MCS with black roof, with leatherette, cold weath pkg, anthrocite, sport pkg, Multi Func Wheel, Black Bonnet stripes, Chrome Line Int, Dual Pane Pana Roof, 17 S Lite wheels, all season rf tires, HK stereo. six speed manual, sticker $25,450, The best they can do is $450 off that sticker price. Looking to sell the Honda Element on EBay, which should easilly come out to over $4000 over the dealer trade value they offered me which was apauling. Also trying to get about a 5.9 apr.

The items this MCS are missing that would be nice are the climate control and trip computer and of course real leather, but the leatherette is surprising nice and hopefully will hold up.

There was another Chili Red one with gray top and stripes, but no HK stereo, no sport pkg, but had climate control for i think $700 less than the green one I chose. It was a tossup for the two until I asked to play my Rush 2112 CD in both the HK and non HK systems. The HK was that much better to make me choose the green one, also the red is hot, but I was thinking that I should be low profile (can't be a cop magnet with a red car again)

By the way these were the only two 6 speed manual MCS's on the lot.

Oh, and my girlfrend thinks I am crazy? I was planning on keeping the Element for another few years, but I weighed out the pros and cons. 1) being that interest rates are rising so but now, 2) The Element is still worth something with 114k and I owe very little, 3) financially in a better place than I was a few years back. Time to motor baby!

 

I can assure you of a couple things.

#1) The standard climate control is MUCH more user friendly than the automatic system. After having the automatic system in my 2003 MCS, we chose the standard for my wife's 2006 Cooper because I'm always working to outsmart the darn thing to make it do what I really want. A couple easy to understand ***** is much better.

#2) The rather cheap leather MINI used for my 2003 MCS is the reason that we went with leatherette in the 2006 Cooper. My leather now looks kinda crummy in spots, but my friends with similar age and mileage leatherette have seats that look like new. Plus, everyone that has ever sat on the leatherette has commented on the nice leather seats.

So not only are you not missing out, you've got the better stuff and money in your pocket for mods!

The trip computer is nice, but again, not a necessity at all. The only thing I really use it for is to better estimate when my gas tank is about to run dry.

You are going to have a blast! Welcome to NAM!

 

Welcome to NAM, shanes! You'll like the leatherette -- it looks more like leather than the leather! LOL! I, too, have the leather in my '03 MCS, and will be getting some Wet Okole seatcovers for it this year because the driver's seat has some wear spots.

You'll be glad to have the sport package and I love the H/K stereo, which my '02 Cooper didn't have. Well worth the money. Enjoy your new MINI and post some pix when you take delivery.

 

Welcome to NAM!

You'll LOVE your MINI! It has really nice specs

You can always add the onboard computer... but most of us never use it! (Like Yucca, I only use mine when my gas needle is on the red line!)


congrats!

 

I wish i didn't have the AUTO AC.

 

My '02 didn't have it, my '03 does...they are both good systems. I like the Auto AC when I am motoring through deserts!

 

Welcome to NAM and to the BRG owners club.. First of all Great choice of COLOR, maybe I am biased.
Sounds like you got most everything that you wanted and that is the point.
Happy Motoring and please post picture when you have a chance would love to see.

- KP

 

Welcome to NAM!

 

That sounds like a well equipped MINI, and at a discount to boot! (MINI dealers will ordinarily not deal, which is why I guess they don't call themselves "dealers"!). The leatherette is durable and easy to clean (although, like leather, is hot in the summer and cold in the winter). The auto climate is a real pain IMO, and you won't miss it.

Enjoy motoring, and welcome to the cult!

 

Shanes, that sounds like a great MINI. BRG was actually my first choice of colors (though DS is really growing on me) and like you sport package w/6-speed was most important in options.

I had to choose between a sport package equipped and premium/cold weather equipped cars and chose the sport. So far, I haven't missed the stuff I don't have to say the least!

look forward to pics.

 

Congrats! And a great choice of music to fully test out the capabilities of the HK! When you get a chance, also experiment the systems' separation capabilities w/ the songs YYZ, Totem Pole, and for a live cut, any song from Different Stages (focusing on the bass tracks). Enjoy!

 

Welcome my man! Excellent choice of a vehicle. You'll love it!

 

1) Leatherette
2) No Auto Climate

Welcome

 

Agreed on the leatherette - save yourself the money, it wears better than the leather and everyone who has seen my car comments on the "beautiful leather". As far as the auto climate, I know I'm in the majority but I like it...but I could also do just fine without it. The only time I really find it particularly handy is on longer trips.

You did great on the price, and $450 off is $450 better than I did and for a lot of people who had a markup, a LOT better than some

Congrats on the new MINI and welcome! There's lots of great people here.

 

Grats on the new purchase. If you really want the cpu this is a cheap alterative.

http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/electronic/8426/

All this talk about leatherette and leather I never knew they had both. I have no clue which one I have now :(

 

Nice spec, nice color, nice attitude. You got a winner there - congrats!
HK rawks!

 

Congrats!

 

Well, I thought this one out long and hard this past weekend, and I have to pass on the MCS until next year. I decided that (yes) I was in a crossroad with the Element because it is worth something still, but will be loosing value fast from this point from now on. I decided to finish paying off the Element, and keep it as a winter/second car when I get a Mini later. Come spring of 08, I will get either an 08 or pick up a used 06. I have to see how the first gen's pan out after the new gens come out. I think I will avoid an 07 unless I find out good reviews about them.

I know, It was sad for me today because I stoped at Morristown Mini to take another look at the BRG Cooper S that I left the deposit on with the SOLD tag on it because of me, but I have to get my deposit back tomorrow. It was nice to own 2.5% of an MCS for just a few days with my $500.00 deposite.

 

BOO

 

I second the BOO.

 

Looks like I am getting the Mini again. I stopped at another Mini dealer yesterday and obsessed all night about this little car. I am taking the plunge tonight, just hope the dealer has that smae Mini instock when I call in about an hour?

 

If that particular car is gone, there will probably be more around.

I pick up mine tomorrow, a 2006 DS/B with premium, cold, leatherette, anthracite interior, and that's about all. I got $500 off MSRP from International here in Milwaukee, they have about 60-70 2006s in stock. Most are equipped pretty close to what I have, but there are others with sport, HK, etc.

They have a BRG/W with premium, cold, and one of either dsc, hk, or xenons (I just know it was $500 more than mine.... )

you'll love the MINI. My first MINI's first song was Subdivisions, by the way

 

Just checked with the dealer, the car is still there YES. But I am leaving work early and heading over to another dealer today to talk and see what they have. If I am not happy with the other dealer, I will close the deal on the BRG one tonight. I decided to just take the $7500 for the Element because I only owe $6000, plus the car has 116 k and it will be pretty hard to sell/

 

alright shanes! It seems like you definitely got your money's worth out of the Element anyways, so you shouldn't have any regrets.

Good luck on your choices!

 

From the opposing point of view;

I would not ever consider a MINI w/o the auto climate control or trip computer.

To each his own.

RR