Absolutely. Particularly with kids, want them to exit car on side of street with no traffic, or side of car not parked against snow bank, big puddle, etc.

 

Yes, you should have gotten Nav.

 

Yes, I agree! I actually knew I would feel that way in the first year.

What made the decision was the fact that the Nav system in my 03' MCS really sucks when you compare it to what I currently have on my iPhone & iPad. This being the first year of a new system, it is going to be pretty cool. But 3 years from now, I'll have gone through 2 generations of iPhones and the in car system will be showing it's age.

I was struggling with the decision going back and forth when I learned two things. First, adding Nav would have pushed my production date back a month, and second, the price for Nav would have pushed me over $40k which I wanted to stay under.

So I'm still feeling pretty OK with the decision although seeing the ability to send addresses to the car from Google through MINI connected is pretty cool. But yeah, maybe next time I'll skip some other accessories and go for Nav again...

 

I was just needling you since I know you have some angst over the decision. For me, I prefer an integrated nav system. It's always in the car and it's designed to interact with other systems. Since I lease cars for no more than 36 mos, the obsolence issue is not a big deal for me. For folks keeping cars long term, there is surely more to consider.

 

I think I would go with the full rail now.... My wife was pretty against it though.

You need the full rail to add armrest to the back, also I think it would have been good to have the full rail so you could mount an video screen , ipad, or something like that so both backseat passengers could watch it.

Right now what i would want is a big compartment with a lid that I can mount on the rail under the armrest

 

I'm always up for a ribbing! Yeah, we keep our cars for a long time. We've got two kids driving now and the third not far behind so an extra car or two is always handy.

 

Yeah, an iPad mount is what I'm looking for first. No 3rd party rail accessories out yet?

 

There's no point to the split rail at all, except to have a cupholder under your elbow. To get any benefit at all, you have to go full rail, so the accessories can be placed a little out in front of you It hasn't bothered us at all. Going over it is not difficult for children. My two-year-old has already found many creative uses for the ashtray and sunglasses case.

When someone comes out with an iPad holder, I'll be the first in line. Just imagine the kids watching Netflix on long car trips! they also need some kind of fast food box to secure your food. I believe these kinda of thing will turn up in the marketplace eventually.

 

I'm getting this one precisely because my kids will be driving in a year. They are getting my Honda Element (which I'll still use to haul music gear and the dogs). I think it will be a while before they get to drive the Mini. Call me selfish.

 

If you get the split and an armrest in the front, just plan on the front half being useful as pen holder and that's about all. I wish I had gotten the full.

 

[QUOTE=Midtown Brown; Going over it is not difficult for children.

As kids we always had the transmission tunnel dividing the floor in the backseat of rear wheel drive cars, for some siblings the rail dividing the area might be good!

 

On my test drive, the subject came up. Sales person said his manager rode in the back seat of a two-part car and the front unit assembly stuck out just enough that he kept whacking his shin on it. Just an observation - may be subjective to the size or shape of the manager.

 

Re those who ask about who moves between rear seats and why the half rail might be convenient - if you live in an area where either you frequently park in tight spaces and only have access from one side is one situation where I could this happening, or for safety reasons, you'd prefer folks not entering the car from the street side, but scooting in and across from the curb side. Say when someone is picking up or dropping off in front of the school, a store, a restaurant, etc.

I don't really think it's THAT uncommon, but this is from the guy who locked himself in the back of a CountryMan!

 

To me the question shouldn't be split or full, it should be why do we have to choose? They should have made the rail so the section that differentiates betweeen the split and full was REMOVABLE. That way you could have it in when you need it and take it out if you need to spread something across the floor. I mean, how hard would it have really been?
The whole rail system is a total mess. I love the concept, but the rail designers and the parking brake designers really should have talked, which they obviously didn't. Same with the armrest. The rail is pretty much useless in the front because of those 2 things, except for the glasses holder.
For the record, I went with the split.

Happy Motoring!

 

Yea, I can see it now . . .

 

Like I think most feel, the rail concept is just flat out odd and maybe a bit too gimmicky and the utility when maximized by its presence (in full form) is still not that impressive to warrant such a item.

The full rail just looks ridiculous.

 

Is it just me or does that sound like an feminist manifesto description of the male organ?

 

For me, when I saw the CM concept, the rail is what made the interior so interesting. When it came time to order, I did see the split rail in the showroom CM. It just looked so lacking that the only reason I could think of was the safety of children getting in & out.
There is no doubt, 3rd party manufacturers with develop some useful attachments. The iPad is a given, I'd like to see a storage compartment with a slot for the iPad. (How's that idea). Also, a gizmo that brings the iPhone to a useful position up front, The current included attachment is a flimsy joke & more of an after thought as far as I'm concerned. The cup holders are another sore spot, not very accommodating for a decent size cup. Owning an R53, the only useful holder is the one that has a NO GLASS icon on it. MINI doesn't want or think you should have any liquids in the car

I ordered a full rail if not just for the novelty/cool factor.(plus,no more young kids to consider)
BTW, for full rail owners, there is a power outlet behind the armrest just under the rail

 

Brilliant.

 

I have a similar configuration vehicle now and drove both the full rail and split rail CMs, always trading off to sit in back, too. I didn't have a problem with the split rail and I often put stuff on the floor behind the front seat, so I went with the split rail (lack of rail loading options noted).

 

We went with the split rail as well. I just didn't care for the appearance of the full rail and it seemed to limit the comfort level of the back seats.

 

Totally agree with Blue...this is the primary reason I ordered the two-part rail. It happens all the time and I don't want them to have to climb over the rail.

 

It's not just Mini it's a European thing, they just don't think cup holders are important. I've owned a Mini, a BMW, 2 Audis, and 2 VW's, and a Peugeot (405, don't ask) and not one had a decent cup holder.

 

Even with teenagers, I'm finding the rail a major pain. Xenons and split rail, and it would be the perfect car.

 

+1. Most European cars have horrible cup holders that seem to be an after thought. Driving is taken a lot more serious over in Europe than here in the US. The texting, e-mailing, eating, drinking, and just pure lack of focus while driving over there is a lot less prevalent than it is here in the US.