are you serious?

 

Surely not windier than the Miata with the roof down? I don't see how this could be possible.

 

If you mean by Proximity Keyless Start.....yes
If you mean by Keyless Start with no Identifying chip unit at all.......no
If you mean generally........um, no.

 

What would I change? MINI/BMW's idea of BRG to a real, honest British Racing Green!

And someday when Gromit needs to be painted, that's what's going to happen!

 

When I ordered my '06, "speed-sensing" was standard, and "rain-sensing" was an option. Because I'd already optioned just about everything else, I declined this one. Now I wish I'd gotten it.

 

Good call! "Real" BRG as seen on 70's MG's and John Steed's Bentley is a beautiful deep colour that can make a car's bodywork look almost fluid when polished to perfection. My Dad had a 1965 Ford Corsair in BRG and he would spend hours polishing it. I have yet to see a finish like it, and that includes today's megadollar cars.

 

Oh yasss! I miss the days of multi-lacquered paint jobs. More work, but NOTHING looks as good!

 

The only thing I would change is the back window controls. Its a little weird having them up on top of the winshield....and I'm not thrilled that the switch controls both windows in tamdem. What if I only want to open a window on one side?

 

I would change the seat pump adjuster, it gets caught on my pants all the time when I am exiting the car

 

Is there really any point to opening only one rear window? Unless I'm wrong they don't open unless the roof is open n'est pas? I mean they're either down or up on a convertible.

 

lol sorry. it just struck me odd like i didnt know if you were that emphatic about auto settings. I duno why. I think I was sleepy.

Are people supporting flat paints vs metallic brg? bah. I havent seen a brg flat paint mini in a photo that would make me want that on a new car. I just bought a brg/brg MCS with chromeline ext.

 

i would add a wiper on the rear window of the cabrio
it gets soooooooooo dirty when it rains.

 

HU99: I drove my '99 10AE Miata for 6 years and in the chilly 3 weeks I've been driving the MCC/BRG I and my wife agree it's "windier" now. I was usually toasty warm in the Miata--I think it may be the closer windscreen and no back seat which caused the Miata to fit more like a glove. I find I must bundle up now to drive the PA turnpike. No wind protector in either car. But now I don't have to choose between the wife or the Lab when I travel. Love it so far.

 

Mine was missing both front and read fog lights, was the only thing not installed from the factory that I wanted which was not on the car when built. Cost me a lot, but I had them both dealer installed. Was $425 for the front (vs $150 from the factory) and $175 for the rear. Yup, $600 total for the fog lights. But it included a new toggle switch asm and the MA asked me if I wanted a fully populated one (even though I don't have the DSC option) and I said "absolutely". I'm not sure what I will use that extra switch for, maybe for a garage door opened. As for traditional toggle switches vs. what we have, --anyone yonger than 35 doesn't know what the originals were like so they skipped that little piece of authenticity. That's my guesstimate anyways.

 

I can't believe no one else has said it... Or maybe it is like this only on the 2006 model. I would make some changes to the instrumentation. I do not like the orange/red instrumentation at night at all. It's fine for the redline portion of the tachometer, but I would much prefer bright white with maybe a slight tint of blue, green, or lavender on the instrument tower and also on the computer (mpg display etc) readout. Would be much easier to read, especially for those of us who don't wear reading glasses while driving. Also agree with the observations about the clock, as it is now pretty useless.

Unfortunately, all the automakers agreed that 2006 cars would have the red instrumentation. It doesn't matter if you are in a Mazda, a Pontiac, or a Mini, you WILL get the red instruments.

 

I'd like more functionality from my over-priced HK head unit. Something like meta-tag capability, folder and file browsing, not leaving the song I'm listening to when switching to Random, and enough memory to remember if I was on random when I shut the car off. It's got a nice enough sound quality, but how about some volume, huh? I don't think you should be able to listen to a $900 (Canadian) car audio system at full volume, but I frequently reach the upper limit of it's volume and want MORE!

 

i thought that was for some pens or something

 

550 dollars for a great sounding system is like not pricey at all. The software is kinda lame compared to a simple panasonic though that is true. It is a bit 1990's styled. That's a wealthy person's thing though. to have it look a few years behind high tech, its hard to explain the whole wealthy person's ego thing. LIke the new chryslers. They look thick, broad, lots of big fronts. Truly butt-ugly and tacky, that's the point though. Rich person ego prevails. The new caddy. same thing. fancy stupid SUV's, same thing. I look at the bmw's and notice the stark similarity of their radio systems. A 159 dollar panasonic head unit is more versatile, but thats the whole point. I dont know if anyone can follow this but that's the elitest way. They actually enjoy paying 900 dollars to replace a blown amp, and also enjoy being able to complain about it.

Still, it should have better software.

 

There's some truth too that. I think it has something to do with them nurturing a martyr complex since true humility tends to be so elusive to many wealthy people. Myself, the factory installed no-frills lame stereo is all I need. I don't listen to it much, I like the sound of the car much better. But as long as we are discussing it, I will chip in that the reception on the radio isn't that great. Also, each time I use the CD player it always begins with "CD CHECK" for about 5 seconds prior to functioning normally. Does it when I insert a new CD or when I switch from radio to CD...,,, I suspect that isn't normal but then there are a lot of little quirks with the Mini that might include that being perfectly normal, especially since it is so consistent.

Anybody else have the same behavior from theirs?

 

Interesting idea, but it's not just the "wealthy people" head units that are overly-simplistic and overpriced. Even the cars that are marketed toward the younger crowd have factory head units that would be put to shame by a $159 Panasonic deck.

The automakers realize that 99% of the buyers don't care about the extra bells and whistles that the car stereo aftermarket has to offer. That's why the factory head units are so "lowest common denominator", even the premium ones.

Scott

 

Ditto! Mine rattles like hell.

 

You are NOT KIDDING! It's almost like the engineers wanted a good laugh. Who's bright idea was that?

 

I'd get rid of my OEM iPod adapter and get a better one (it freezes my iPod constantly) and I would get the rear fog lamp.

 

ok i figured with all the modders and DIY people here it was time to have a "WHAT WAS MINI THINKING" THREAD.

Use this to post any comment you may have as to "stupid (*@#* designers" you may have come accross while working on your mini.

I will start with this one

- changin the door handles. Simple design with only the hex bolts to remove and a cable but there is only about 3" of space between the inner and outer skins and no access but the hole in the center of the door. talk about getting bent out of shape and such just to get the tools into the back bolt!! what the *&#^ where they thinking!?!?

p.s. still trying to get the drivers door handle back together!

 

Taking the R53 out of production ...what were they thinking ?