Automatic Transmission, bench back seat, USB/bluetooth.

Love it so far. I am wondering if there is any hints on driving with the steptronic shifting.

Here is a photo..

I know I want to do some kind of alteration but not sure what yet?

 

Might I suggest window tint, it looks great with the Lt.Coffee/Black
it really "POPS" on ours we went 35% on the rears and 50% on the front doors and it is just right in our opinion

 

Very nice car!! I'd like some hints on Steptronic as well. I've never heard of it before now and I know nothing about driving a manual either.

 

My CM is a manual gearbox, but my VW Passat had the Tiptronic Automatic tranny which was similar to the Steptronic. To learn it, i just played around with it until I learned what it could do.

To start, try shifting at 500 Rpm intervals and see how it responds. Lacking power or lots of power? You'll learn the best shift points this way.

Once you've got that down, practice downshifting (carefully!) to know when to do it and what to expect.

I'm still doing this with the manual tranny as I've only had the car two weeks.

Have fun!

 

Same here and we even do mountain driving. Never had one bit of a problem on steep terrain or passing on freeways.

Congrats on your new MINI!!

 

Thanks for that. I was getting a bit paranoid about not getting an "S" as well.

 

There may be times where you think "oh dang, shoulda maybe got the S" but then, when you figure out how to use the Septronic with the RPMs and "Sport" button, that thought is fleeting. Most of the time, I don't even have the Sport button on but love that it's there just in case. We live nestled under the Angeles Crest Mountain range and go thru the Tehachipi Range quite often and the MINI performs like a champ. I seriously love this car and think the Justa's get a really bad rap - it's much sportier than people think, especially for the $$! Great gas mileage, too - such a fun ride!

 

Thanks so much! Glad to hear how much you love you CM and I can't wait to get mine! I want to learn how to use the Steptronic and the sport button. Did you learn how to use Steptronic after you got your car or did you already know how to use it?

 

Steptronic isn't very difficult to figure out. If anything it's the only time I miss a pushing on a clutch and driving stick.

 

Agree X1000!!

To mcdwlove: Our MA showed me the Septronic while we test drove a Base before we ordered. I had also driven an "S", both manual & auto, but really was pleased with the Justa (for my driving needs). It's not difficult - you just have to remember that the lower gears are at the bottom of the "tree", a bit opposite of driving manual but easy to adapt to. Missing the clutch at first but then just enjoyed the ride.

Yesterday, did an 88 mi. run thru the San Bernardino Natl. Forest using solely the Septronic - never needed to hit the Sport button once. No lag time shifting gears at all and was much smoother than the auto. Driving downhill was easy and I never had to hit the brakes. It was a blast and my MINI was a happy guy!

 

Thanks! Looking forward to learning how to use it and looking even more forward to getting my car! I have a feeling it won't be until October though. Darn plant shutdown.

 

First post here, hi.

So happy for this thread. I have been scouring the web for real user reviews of the base. I am compiling my options for my order and was leaning toward the base primarily for $ reasons. The dealer poo-poo's the base and the "s" is all that is usually discussed. Pretty pumped about using mid to low grade gas in cooler months. This is news to me, good news. Also, the use of my rare needs for increased peppiness in my routine driving can be overcome with the sport button and the steptronic. Again, thanks to this thread.

I agree with the stripes, I like the stripes, but may feel poserish with a base.

Happy to read there are parking lights with the fog lights, this saved me $250 as I can't stand indents in plastic bumpers for optional lights.

As for other options, I'm thinking the non-bench rear option is my route as my 6yo passenger needs somewhere to put a drink/snack/NintendoDS... and the rail system, flawed as it is, fits the bill.

This thread may have cost $ in other options though with the h/k radio and the sport seats. I think I've actually read somewhere that the sport seats scored better in crash tests.

 

Hello!

There were a few things I wanted to mention about the S and non-S. First, make sure you test drive both. My wife and I did and at first she was very insistent on not getting the S, but after a test drive it changed her mind. This also changed our perspective on other options, since we were paying more for the base.

Also, the S price does include sport seats, so if you're already committed to them you're already part way there in the price jump. Good luck with your purchase!

 

Basically the difference in cost is about $2k plus the pleasure of putting higher octane in it. My base (per the owner's manual) can run on 87 and does very well except when the heat is excessive. We are extremely happy with Betty.

 

Turbos just scare me in that they cause engine wear faster than a naturally-aspirated engine. I'm planning to keep my CM 7-8 years--the last thing I want to do is spring for a new turbocharger/big engine repair on a car with over 100K miles on it.

Maybe modern technology and engineering mitigate the risks?

The Base CM is slow off the line (lacking low end power/torque) but once moving with revs to play with, it's quite fun and peppy (though its less of a factor for me as I don't do a ton of stop & go city driving).

No regrets with the Base--I'm quite happy with it as well. And at the risk of being a "poser," I put the stripes on it. Who cares what others think? (this includes your Motoring Advisor)

Most on this forum enjoy giving a good "razz" (e.g. Sealy who thinks that ANYONE with a CM that's not Pure Red/White Top is crazy), and I really don't think anyone would really find fault someone for "you-ifying" a Base CM. If they do, they're the issue, not you.

 

Hehe, that's funny.

Started driving in the mid-80's and had some quick cars, but in the mid-90's I realized that I was an idiot hot-rodder and purposefully chose my first square/slow car. It was a 1991 Volvo 240. Slow AND poor handling, and I loved it immensely until it got too long in the tooth. I guess I have a thing for squarish cars as I currently drive a 2005 Element. This E is probably the best all arounder that I can imagine for what I use a car for, but as I never seem to sit on a car for more than a few years I am looking at the MINI (like the E, I wanted one since the new incarnation came out. Actually I did the same with "new" Vespas and Triumph Bonnevilles too. The Mini will be the final check on the want list. Now that I think about it, I think all of these things came out about 2001. Hmmmm).

I guess my point is I don't need quick and may prefer not to have it.


Funny how engines and gearing have changed in few short years. My E weighs about 200# more than the CM Justa and has about 39 more hp yet feels pretty similar to me. Maybe I need a longer test drive to be sure.

As for the stripes, I really like the sport stripes, like Ragnar's (see previous post). Poser or not, those are cool. I can't figure out on the builder if the bonnet stripes include the boot stripes, especially since they don't seem to be a listed option.

 

On the issue of sport stripes on a non-S Countryman, I would say go for it.

Then again, I'm not likely to get razzed by Sealy, since the CM I ordered is Pure Red with a white top ...and sport stripes... granted I did get an S. I did leave myself open to people knocking me for not getting the All4 and for getting a manual. Heck, there's enough people out there that think that any Countryman as an abomination that should have never existed!

Everyone has their own definition of what is 'crazy' as far as ordering, but all that really matters is getting what you want and choose to afford.

 

Since you guys like the stripes and are watching costs, I ordered the stripes from House of Grafx for $40 (includes enough for the boot & bonnet) and did the install myself. I figured between the $150+ for stripes from Mini and $250 to have them install, I could make about 9 botched attempts to install and still come out even on cost. Did it on the first try. Better to put those funds towards another option built into the car and leave MINI USA out of the stripes transaction

It was tricky, but I did the wet install and it was forgiving enough to make it look good.

 

[QUOTE=

;3591612]On the issue of sport stripes on a non-S Countryman, I would say go for it.

Then again, I'm not likely to get razzed by Sealy, since the CM I ordered is Pure Red with a white top ...and sport stripes... granted I did get an S. I did leave myself open to people knocking me for not getting the All4 and for getting a manual. Heck, there's enough people out there that think that any Countryman as an abomination that should have never existed!

Everyone has their own definition of what is 'crazy' as far as ordering, but all that really matters is getting what you want and choose to afford.[/

You are so correct. Order what you think is best as you are the one who has to be happy not the other Miniacs. My wife and I sat there and picked the brain of the MA.We had alot of questions as to what is a necessity and what is a pure want. We also set a budget and that ruled out many of the options. Our list was Sunroof Necessity. HK Sound (Necessity) Sport Seats Absolute Necessity (bad back) Steptronic Necessity Auto Temp Control a case where want outweighed necessity. Only thing I was sorry that I did not get was the fog lights. Definitely next time. You can go crazy with your order so take your time and do the right thing. You can actually take a vehicle with a base price of $22K and get it up to $32K without blinking an eye.

 

FWIW, I have bonnet stripes on my 02 Justa Cooper, and none on my 02 MCS. I haven't been pulled over by the MINI stripe police yet. The whole point of owning a MINI is that you can outfit it ANY way you want, as long as you have the cash in hand. Reading through this thread may have convinced me to order my Paceman as a Justa rather than an S.

 

Well said! (to both mrluckypa and veggivet)

 

Thank you! I ordered the stripes on my CM base because I love the way they look and they make me happy. I didn't even know that stripes were an "S" thing until I read posts in this thread.

On another note, I personally think that the grill on the base is way cooler than the S grill. Who cares about turbo when you can have a sweet grill.

 

Do our non-S hoods (bonnet) not come with a liner inside the engine bay? Mine doesn't.

 

I don't think stripes are at all model specific. My base'05 that I bought new at the dealer came with stripes. If anything I think it's strange to see any MINI without stripes. They look naked!

 

Okay, I'll admit it. What do you mean by a hood liner?

SunnySideUp...that made me laugh!