Greetings mini owners. I come in peace! Actually, I've titled this thread pre-mini since I don't actually own one yet. However, I did test drive one today for the first time and certainly found it to have plenty of zip. I will most likely go ahead and use the MiniUSA site to design and build the perfect mini and then wait the two or so months for it to arrive. I am looking at the base model since it has the better gas mileage. I was considering the sport and cold weather packages along with a few other minor options. I know that when buying you should always keep resale in mind. Anyone have any recommendations or words of wisdom before I take the plunge? Also, my hunch is that in the current market (DC area), dealers are getting MSRP on the car? Your advice is welcome

 

Hi Tom... Welcome aboard!

You're about to discover that there are as many valid opinions about what constitutes the 'best' MINI as there are folks who own them. We are blessed with a lot of members who have incredible insight, vast product knowledge, and experience with lots of aftermarket modifications to help you create the MINI of your dreams!

You mentioned that you are considering the Cooper, (non-S) for better mileage, and that's why I made the same choice. I routinely get 42+ mpg on the highway and 38+ in town. The car has plenty of zip for me, and the only time I could use a few more ponies is when I'd like to pass a car on a two lane road in the boonies. With a Cooper S, I'm told you can pretty much point and shoot. With a 'justacooper' we have to be a bit more diligent and make the car work harder to do the same thing. That being said, I am thrilled with the performance of my non-S MINI!

My favorite option: the Nav system. It's overpriced, cumbersome, not very intuitive, and doesn't allow you to simply look up a point of interest (POI), but the darn thing is spectacular at routing (it even includes live satellite traffic updates for covered cities) so it can plot a dynamic route through traffic and avoid the worst backups. That's simply amazing. It even works underground, in tunnels and in parking garages. I've never seen another GPS that could do that.

Second favorite option: Xenon headlights. Truly light years (sorry for the pun) ahead of halogen bulbs.

I imagine a case can be made for each and every option MINI offers, and the coolest thing is that you can configure your MINI however you want it.

Perhaps the hardest choice you'll have to make is which dealership to order it from. Our members have a wide range of experiences at each of the three DC metro dealerships, from wonderful to abysmal. If you have the time and interest, you might visit all three dealerships to see which one gives you the best feeling, and you also might observe how other customers are being treated while you're there. You can pretty much plan to pay list price for a car you order, although sometimes the dealers will offer a discount on a car that's been sitting on their lot for too long. You might score a great deal. If you order, it's customary to get a free set of floormats. Hey, it's better than nothing!

Of the three dealerships, Tate (in Annapolis) is in the process of converting to a new computer system and new ownership, so things might be less smooth when you visit than they will be in the future. That's where I bought my MINI, and they've always treated me pretty well. Are they perfect? No. Is any dealer? (Actually, Annapolis Subaru is the most perfect dealership I've EVER dealt with, and I just wish those guys sold MINIs. They're terrific! They even offered to work on my MINI.)

Tate usually has the longest lead times for service appointments, and might have the fewest loaner cars, but that could change over the next year or two as they remodel the facilities.

Bottom line.... great cars, good dealers, a nice bunch of folks to play with (we have a VERY active club with lots of events, like the picnic coming up real soon), and a wealth of knowledge from helpful folks who are looking forward to welcoming you to the club! Good luck with your new MINI!

~Ed

 

Thanks for your reply Ed! Not sure I will spring for the nav system only because the expense will be difficult to justify but the Xenon lights (weren't they seen over the midwest somewhere?) are now on my list. Although I will say I could have used the nav system finding the mini dealership the other day. And the gas mileage you are reporting is truely encouraging - better than advertised! The rationale for getting a mini is better gas mileage! My Tacoma pickup has been a great vehicle but at 17 mpg it's time to unload it while there's still a market. My hunch is that if gas prices continue to go up everyone and their mother will be trying to unload their behemoths. Once that happens the market will disappear and folks will be stuck. I've been looking at the hybrids and at the mini. Right now if you're in the market for a Prius good luck! The lots are barren. The mini gets pretty good gas mileage and it's fun to drive. When I went to the MiniUSA site to look up Xenon lights I discovered there are a bunch of options I was missing. So my initial choice of mini has suddenly escalated in price. I'm still struggling with the sunroof.

 

Well said Ed !

I purchased Wensleydale based on several things.

1) Had to be an R53 S (No offense R56 owners) with the blower. When MINI announced the R56 and Turbo I knew I must order my MINI asap. The heavens opened and the stars aligned and I was able to do that. The main reason is that I think the 53 looks a bit more like the original bird, and that is what I really like. IMO- The R56 looks like an upgrade to the 53, getting a bit further away from the original. I still like the 56 and would love to have one, I just like Wensley's looks better. The R56 certainly gives a better ride and the turbo S is really quick ! I notice that on our runs !

2) I kept options to a minimum, that was to keep the number of systems that may break lower in case they fail after the warranty is gone. Ed mentions Zenons, from a operational standpoint, they are tops, I was nervous about replacement cost, so I went with the standards. Heated seats and mirrors, well they're great on cold mornings but then that's only a few months out of the year and again, something to fix later. There's more but you get the picture.

3) Price needed to stay as low as possible. I'm lucky to have a new car at all !

4) Gas mileage - The S is double what my GT Mustang was getting. Its hard to swallow the $4 a gallon thing but the total fill up is better than the GT.

5) Six speed manual to keep Leona off the wheel ! Ha !

Basically, I ordered Premium for the sunroof and cruise, Space blue & silver with stripe / 17" S-lites for appearence, front and rear fogs for safety, cloth interior to deal with the heat and cold. That's it, she's perfect for my needs. I wasn't concerned with resale- I intend to keep her for a long long time !

As for dealers, I got her at Tate. MOT gave me a quote for $900 over Tate and told me there was no way Tate could sell the car for the price they quoted. I itemized everything and fired back to MOT and received a price back $10 less than Tate. So I asked Tate what they would do for my business, thus they gave me $100 off their original quote, perfect for my rear fog light ! Now, that was through Janie but she is no longer with them. I wanted to post this because you can wheel and deal a little, you just have to strike when the time is right ! MOS treated me pretty lousy but that's another story.

Good luck with your purchase !

Mike

 

I bought my R50 with almost everything except 3 things I've commonly seen on other MINIs - leather, navigation and the rear foglight.

Main reason for the non-S was that it was gonna be my daily driver & needed to have the better mileage. I've had it about 2.5 years & just crossed over 35,000 miles (I've used about 1150 gallons in my 80% city/20% highway driving....giving me about an average of 30 mpg)

Should you get the R56 MC your numbers should be better for a similar scenario.

Hope this helps.

Rowan.

 

You're welcome! If you investigate the mpg that is actually achieved by most Prius owners, it comes in around 44... tops. That would have been my first choice if it lived up to the hype. Happily, it didn't, and was more like a cross between a computer game and an amusement park ride than a real car. And to top it all off, when the car I was waiting to test drive returned from its test loop, the OBC showed that it had actually achieved, are you ready, 28.6 mpg! In town! Where it was supposed to get 60. Can you say 'deal breaker'?

I opted NOT to get the sunroof due to its lack of a solid interior shade. My concern was hot summer sun beating in, even though the sunroof was closed. I am still happy with my choice. Of course, I really wanted a cabrio, but the vision out the back with the top up was less than I could live with. If I ever win the lottery, there will be a second MINI in my garage... WITH a rag top!

 

Well said and very true!!

I'm a Cooper guy, too...it's overall balance and economy are exactly what I want out of a MINI!!! I myself tend to not go for packages as I like my MINIs lightly and very purposefully optioned. It's easy, with all the choices available, to have the price get out of hand and to me driving a reasonably-priced MINI is delicious fun!!! In any case, a bare-bones MINI is luxuriously lavish compared to a classic Mini...something to remember. That said, designing the exact MINI you want is really great, great fun!!! Good luck!!!

 

although my mpg is nowhere near yours.... 27 at best

 

Ed - I agree, I will have Wensleydale, one "S" Cabrio, one "S" Clubman and a Oxy blue Coop in my garage ! Love that color !

Those are just mine, Leona wants a Purple Coop, Clubby and Cabby, + an original.....ugh...gotta start playing the lottery

Either way, you can't go wrong, they're all great !

Mike

 

Mike:

Three minis? Are they breeding at night or are you just a true afficionado?

Tom

 

CR&PW&JB has three MINI's

and theyre all purdy

 

And incredibly SHINY!

 

Hi Tom,

I don't even have my MCS yet, but from much reading of the NAM boards, I have learned:

1. Consensus seems to be that the Anthracite headliner is the way to go. In fact, this is the one option for which I have read unanimous approval (ie, nobody has said "don't get it").
2. ALMOST everybody says get the clear turn signals. Personally I don't understand this one - I actually prefer the yellow, but I seem to be in the minority - a very small minority, apparently.
3. The NAV is praised very highly. I wish I had ordered it, though I already ordered a LOT of options so maybe another 2k would not have been a good idea.
4. Some people don't seem to like the chrome line interior, I guess the sun can reflect (my only choice that I'm slightly regretting).
5. A lot of people say to get the rear fogs so that the toggle buttons are
all filled in.
6. heated seats have a huge following (another option I just don't "get").
7. You absolutely have to get LiB color. Everyone is in agreement on THAT.

Good luck and enjoy!

 

Hi! =) Good luck with your mini-buying experience! I've had mine for almost two months now and i'd definitely recommend customizing your MINI and waiting forever to get the mini you want, instead of buying one off the 'shelf.' The wait sucks, but it's totally worth it. Mine came in before they were expecting it!

I have the cold package and my heated seats! They've come in handy a few chilly/rainy mornings.
As someone mentined above, i didn't get the rear fogs (because i THOUGHT they were stock w/ the S's...) and now one of my toggle switches is empty. It looks dumb. So, for the extra $100 for rear fogs, i'd definitely get them.

This was my first brand new car so i customized it exactly how i wanted, regarless of price. I was spending a decent chunk anyway, might as well have what i wanted!! =)

Oh, and dark silver is totally the best color!

 

Anthracite headliner? Didn't they open for Tom Petty once?

 

Well.....its like this, I have yet to find a good "stud" service for Wensleydale so the little ones will have to wait a little bit longer




Oh but I disagree ! Space Blue and Silver is the ONLY color combination to have .........Oh yeah, I forgot, they don't offer it on the R56 ! too bad

 

Ok. So I have been getting some pretty good advice on what options to consider when building my new mini. Having never purchased a new car, let alone a mini, I am finding that choosing options can become rather intoxicating. I've probably configured a dozen minis by now and I am finding that a relatively affordable purchase can quickly escalate in price. It's not like buying a burger! On the one shoulder sits a little devil prodding me to go ahead and buy those Xenon lights and the anthracite headliner while his antagonist is trying to keep things reasonable. Not that I can't afford the expense. But I would like a clear conscience afterwards. So.....question for the forum....what options did you not purchase that you wish you had and why? Also, what options did you purchase that, upon reflection, you could have done without? I thank those who already have provided some good advice on my other posting (Pre Mini).

 

The devil in me says the "Works" kit would have been sweet but $6000 ?

The devil also said the "Traditional English Leather" would have been real nice but that was $3000 more

So that left me with,

The external gauge pod with boost and oil for the steering column, not the chrono package. N/A on the R56.

I-Pod adapter

At one time I thought the HK (harmon kardon) Upgrade to the sound would have been nice. I drove a loaner that had it and while it's amplitude was higher, the quality was not as good as the standard system - IMO. The highs are way too high and the lows are too muddy. A good system should sound good with minimum cutting and boosting of the bass and treble. The standard system is like that, the HK system needed quite a bit of cutting. I did drive the R56 with the boosted system and found it to be a nice compromise between the stock R53 and the HK.

Honestly, I really got what I wanted with Wensleydale.

What's the deal with the headliner ? I thought it was just a color difference ? I have the standard liner and its fine with me.

Mike

 

The auto-dimming mirror. I had one on my prior car and thought I didn't need it. Well, since the MINI is rather low, compared to SUVs at least, a lot of headlights shine right into that mirror. I mean, it's not a huge problem to go and turn the little **** to adjust it, but I should've ditched the auto-wipers for the auto mirror. Really handy in this car.

 

Also think about things that are cheap to add in the build but more expensive later. In my case the Limited Slip Differential was $500 total vs. $1500-2000 plus install aftermarket. Also the front and rear fogs. Seem high till you realize that if you add them later it costs $ to have the dealer program them in.

 

My only purchasing regret was that I did not get the anthracite headliner. I investigated buying the parts separately and doing it myself, and it turned out to be over $1600. I had a friend who traded in 5 Minis, at least one of which had a headliner and I tried to convince him to swap headliners with me before he traded in, but he didn't.

Point is, I wanted it and my SA never told me about it. On the Mini USA website, it never seemed clear exactly what it was. If I had known, I would have gotten it for sure.

I love the MCS. You never know when you want the power... And with the way BMW engineers these things, it would be more costly to try and beef it up later. When that same person and I went from DC to MOTD07 I was getting 33mpg in my 05 MCS and he was getting 40+ in his 07 MCS. I think losing a mile per gallon or two for a way higher fun factor is way worth it. Just my opinion.

 

Ok. So at least two of you have recommended the anthricite headliner. What in the world is it? Please explain because I am about to order......

 

It is a blackout kit for the interior roof of your Mini. The pillars going from the dash and doors up, the oh sh*t handles, the light fixtures, everything is black/dark grey anthracite. Looks very very good.

Headliner:

 

I just got my car on Friday and I absolutely love the Anthracite headliner! I had not seen it when ordering it and not only is the color great, but it feels like felt. Very nice, HIGHLY recommended.

Tony

ps - I love love love my new MCS!

 

I recommend getting an S instead of factory NAV (although the R56 NAV is quite slick with the little joystick thing)

Things I regret:
1. Not having the speedo in the center console due to the convenience package. (I think that was the convenience package).

2. Paying more for R98 rims since I prol would have just changed them out anyway. But, not sure if I could have removed those as they might have just come with the Sport package.

3. Regret NOT getting aerokit factory installed. Along with that comes the regret of getting extra exterior chrome.