What did you guyz pay for your MCS's loaded? I want to try and keep my budget at 20,000. How many of you use 18" wheels? How does the car really handle? When you guyz are driving your MCS hard, what is your average RPM? Was this car designed to be driven at a hig RPM? I'm asking becasue I drive a porsche 944S right now, kinda. It hasnt been running due to some misfortunes. I am kinda comparing the two together. Tell me what you think.

 

Welcome AKIL...good luck finding an MCS for $20,000. The MCS is very comfortable at high RPMs and handles great...look around here and you'll find a lot of answers to any questions that you might have... :smile:

 

As a former Porsche guy (I still have a place in my heart for them), I can tell you that a stock S will way out handle a stock 944S. Even with the Weissach axle of the 944 which provides much better weight distribution, the MINI's combination of spring rates, damping and rebound, geometry, and wide track and short overhangs just make it a go-kart (especially when you dial out the factory understeer).

As far as 20K, well that might be tough. Mine has all three packages and rang in at $24025 MSRP.

Hope that helps!

Randy

 

Yeah, I firgured that 20,000 wouldn't be enough. I mean, I can do 24,000 but really dont want to. Anyways, is the MCS considered a sports car or compact? I'm not trying to be funny either How is insurance on these things? Anyone of you under 25? The car understeers right out of the factory?

 

the base MCS is 19.5k, which gives you about nothing for options, if you count tax, you're already over 20k!

My MCS is 22.8k msrp, read my profile for my options. The base S comes loaded with all the "critical stuff" power mirrors, windows, locks, keyless. Since the S comes with ASC, DSC would be a "nice to have" option, but not "necessary" like a regular Cooper. Stuff like Fog lights ($140) would be a good option to get, and if you're in a cold climate, the Cold weather package ($300). If you got a lazy foot like me and need cruise control, it's $350. Stick with the no-cost stuff, paint: Jet Black, Chili Red, and Liquid Yellow, and interior: Leatherette or Space cloth, and you've got yourself a MSRP of $20,765, which I think is about perfect for you

By the way, those color combinations give you about 100 configurations!
Jet Black
Liquid Yellow
Chili Red
White Roof
Black Roof
Body-color roof
Silver Wheels
White Wheels (white roof only)
Black Leatherette
Space Cloth
Panther Black doors
Magnesium Grey doors
Silver Trim
Alloy Patina Trim
Anthracite Trim

Cheers,
Ryan

 

Yo, before I named my myself AKIL,... my name was overKILL I am probably gonna go all the way with it. We'll see, I still have some other stuff to take care of first,... like selling my car, argh!! Anyways, should come soon.

 

Naw! Dive in head first like I did, order MINI first, then sell old car

Cheers!

 

My MCS has the sport and preium pkgs with CD changer, floormats and some crapo paint portection add on and with tax, tag and tittle in FL it came in just a whisper under $25000.

Motor On
You won't regret the money spent

_________________

Member #47

2002 Dark Silver Mini S white roof and mirrors with Premium and Sport pkgs.
He has come and his name is MINI ME

 

I figure I am going too spend anywhere from 22000 - 24000. I am gonna try and get a 24 - 25000 for like 22 - 23000. I am pretty sure I can do it. Hey how does the GPS unit work,... do you have to pay for that as a monthly charge on top of the intial fee? How many of you have it? Also, you said order it? You dont have to order them do you?

 

18" wheels? Are buying this car for show or go? I paid about $22,000. I know people like/dislike certain options for their own reasons, but here are my thoughts:
I don't like auto A/C. The sunroof is way too noisy to be comfortable when open on the highway, plus I live in FL and the interior would get too hot. 17" S-lites are too heavy. Moving the speedo up behind the steering wheel blocks part of it and the tach from view. And the HK wasn't out when I bought mine.
So, I found a DS/W MCS with the only option being lapis leather and bought it/love it.
Disclaimer: These are just my opinions and some things for you to think about concerning ordering options, but because I don't like the sunroof or whatever, does not mean I hate all sunroof owners.

 

>>I figure I am going too spend anywhere from 22000 - 24000. I am gonna try and get a 24 - 25000 for like 22 - 23000. I am pretty sure I can do it. Hey how does the GPS unit work,... do you have to pay for that as a monthly charge on top of the intial fee? How many of you have it? Also, you said order it? You dont have to order them do you?
>>

AKIL,

Have you not even been to a dealer yet?! I think you'll find that few dealers have an S in stock to sell, and if they do, they'll still want some premium over MSRP (or some inflated "delivery" package add-on). The waiting lists at dealers to place an order is probably averaging about 3 months right now and coming down. There are stories on these forums of people buying MCSs at below MSRP; but they are few, often have unusual circumstances, and the discount is on the order of a few hundred dollars. If you can walk into a dealer and drive away with an S for thousands below MSRP I and most on these forums will be quite surprised. I think we are still a year or two away from being able to haggle for these cars; the import quantities are too low and the demand is very high. For the S's supply may never outpace demand. That said, I think at full MSRP there is no better automobile value on the market today. If you can pull off the deal you are confident you can get please tell us all how and where!

Best of luck,

James

 

Ok, well I will try my best and let you know. What you said does make sence so I am kinda disappointed but not. We'll see.

 

When I got my first MCS I got it PS/B with just the sports package. I didn't like the sunroof because I didn't really like the functionality of it and I didn't like that you couldn't block out all the light when it was closed. I also don't really like Auto AC typically as I just don't see the point of it. I didn't get leather either because I typically don't like leather as it tends to crack with time and I plan on keeping the car for a looong time plus the leatherette was just fine for me. Now, when I got my second MCS (First one was damaged in an accident and I sold it and got a new one.) I got the second one in black which saved me the $400 in metallic paint cost and with that $400 I got the MFSW which I wish I had been able to get on the first one but by the time I decided I wanted it my car was being built and I could change it. I would recommend this option if you can squeeze it into your budget. Anyways my car came in at $21,575 and I got them to knock off $500 so it came in at basically $21,000. By the way I like my All Black better than I did my PS/B....even tough the PS was nice, the Black is just gorgeous especially with tints.

 

Oh yeah, I plan on blacking out my MCS

 

Orbhot's right. The stripped 'S' is the real deal. I bought off the lot & so ended up with a lot of extras I really didn't need.

What I wanted:

Cruise control/MF steering wheel
Fog Lights/Xenons
Leather

After having one with everything for a few months:
--lose the 17" wheels. Too heavy
--lose the auto-air. It isn't
--I could take or leave the sunroof. It's fun, but heavy
--Love the MF steering wheel. Radio buttons on the wheel rock.
--Dig the heated seats. Never thought I would

HTH, Jeff

 

that's some good advice, jeff!

 

Thanks. I should add, AKIL could pick up an intake, exhaust & the tinted windows for the cost of any one of the packages he leaves off.

Mania rear sway-bar - $250
Rogue intake - $250
UUC or QS Exhaust - $800 (?)

That just about covers a premium package, eh?!

--Jeff

 

I got the Sport package cuz I actually wanted the 17's. Yes they're heavy, and that's the point (read-on!) I'll be using them for snow tire wheels, which means that in wintertime, high rotational inertia equals poorer acceleration equals better snow and ice traction! For summer, I'm getting some lightweight wheels (undecided for now) and non-runflats, probley still in 17" (18" looks too much IMO)


I agree, the auto a/c is not worth it, although it does look cool
heated seats are very, very nice!
xenon's and fog's are classy and usable
DSC is smart to have, keeps ya safe
MFSW is a must, only way you can get cruise

Motor-on (soon enough!)
Ryan

 

I picked up my 2002 Cooper S slighty motored (used) for $20,000. It came with the sport package, and floor mats. It was cheaper than the 2003 Cooper S I had on order and a better equiped. Plus I like the Electric blue more than I thought I would. :smile:.


I luv driving this car!!!!!!!!!!!