Does anyone have info about this?

I went to order my Countryman a couple of days ago (waited in order to time it with the end of my lease), and my MA was not given the option to include MINI Connected. The only possible choice was MINI Connected + Navigation. That same day, MINI issued a memo stating, quite vaguely, that MINI Connected was not available. The dealership also told me that the cars they had ordered (presumably the unsold cars, not the custom ordered ones?) with MINI Connected would be manufactured without the MINI Connected.

Firstly, does anyone know anything about this? I'm getting relatively little info from my dealership. (In their defense, I don't think they have any additional info.) I'm not sure if I should try to wait it out, or just order my car without it.

Secondly, is the navigation system worth the additional $750? Navigation is something I really don't need or want, so shelling out an extra $750 for it seems like a total waste, especially since I could be spending the money on another option I'd really enjoy.

Thanks!

 

I have navigation, and I like it very much, clear maps, easy to use once you get the hang of it, is it perfect no, but no nav is. It is over priced, yes when you compare it to portable systems (although nothing beats built in integration IMHO), but compared to most auto makers $750 is cheap for Nav option (whe you look at it that way). I can see the reason for leaving it out overall, but if your getting connect anyway I think its a no brainer to go Nav as well.

 

I was talked into the connected at the dealership and I have to say, I really like it. If $750 won't break the bank, get it with Nav. The whole "send to car" Google search feature with Mini Connected is pretty bad ***. If you use it once a year on a road trip, it will pay for itself, I'm sure.

Just my opinion, though. I didn't know I wanted it until I had it, now I can't imagine why I would have ordered a car without it.

 

My dealer told me the issue is the shortage of parts from Japan (due to earthquake). He told me they're on indefinite hold on ordering MiniConnected/Nav

 

Thanks for the info! Did your dealer say there's a problem with both Connected AND Connected+Nav? I was given the option to add Connected+Nav, but I couldn't get Connected by itself.

Thanks again!

 

He didn't say (I didn't ask). He made it sound like the problem was nav units, but I'm not really sure.