Yes, I realize that when you're driving you should drive and when you're drinking coffee, you should drink coffee. Sometimes, however, it would be good to be able to travel with a cuppa, and my trusty old Starbucks mug is too danged tall to fit in the MINI's holders. I checked out the SMALLEST mug Starbucks sells today and it was even bigger! It would be great if they had a stainless mug that just held as much as a "tall" coffee (12 oz.) 'cuz that's all I ever need. Does anybody know who sells something that fits into those dinky holders?

 

I think MINIUSA does!!!

 

MINI sent me mine!

 

Thanks HotelCalif -- I checked it out and no only do they have them but they're really cheap (like me!). Only $11.75 plus shipping. I bought one for me and one for the navigator

 

Moss Mini has a few different models of mugs :smile:

Peace,
D

 

what's wrong with the one that comes with the Mini?

 

> what's wrong with the one that comes with the Mini?

And which one would that be? I got nothing in my cup holder but an ash tray, which disappeared immediately.

I gather that some folks have received mugs as part of the copious swag that MINI sends out but nothing like that's come my way yet.

 

GO HERE

 

Once Mini finally figured out they screwed up with the placement of the cup holder, and that no coffee mug in the USA was small enough to get in and out of the holder, they decided to compensate owners by sending out free mugs to customers that already received their cars. Some dealers included the mugs at delivery free of charge. However, who the dealers sent the mugs to was by the dealers choice, which meant that not all owners got them, which pissed off those customers that didn't receive mugs. Do you hear me now New Country Motors?

 

Although it's not apparently what was intended, the MINI design certifies that you will not safely drive and drink coffee at the same time. That front cup holder is simply too small for ANYTHING cup-like, INCLUDING the "free" MINI compensation mug. So, don't feel cheated if you didn't get one...it's useless anyway. Sure, it fits in the holder, but try to get it out without taking your eyes off the road and you'll make a big mess. The bottom line is that the front cup holder is underneath the toggle switch bank and anything removed from the holder must be removed at such an angle so as to clear the switches (or actually, the guards for the switches). Tilting the cup at an angle is difficult, only works one way, and generally causes spills.

Face it, the front cup holder is just not meant to be.

 

Well, as noted above, I've plunked down my bucks for two of these so I guess I'll find out soon whether I can deal with them or not.

I have a mug that was left here by our bass player and that I haven't got around to returning yet. It fit perfectly the time I "borrowed" it for an early-morning excursion. Just so you'll know, these are the dimensions of a mug that "works" in the MINI's cupholders:



_________________

Frau Blüecar -- MC IB/W. Motoring since 3-10-2003

 

Um... I use the large central cupholder between the seats and kinda to the rear.

You get in the habit of reaching back for your drink pretty quick. You can do this without taking your eyes off the road, which is hardly possible for the tiny front cup holders.

 

John W,
Concur.

 

^ Yep, I do that too when it's absolutely not possible to motor without beverages. It's good exercise too.

 

Yeah, I tried the rear cupholder, too. Didn't like reaching that far behind me. A) Since I'm fairly short-legged, the seat is probably a lot further forward than it is for most and B) My arm is not all that flexible these days (it's got 50+ years and umteen million miles on the joints ).

 

However, who the dealers sent the mugs to was by the dealers choice, which meant that not all owners got them, which pissed off those customers that didn't receive mugs. Do you hear me now New Country Motors?

I hear ya, Hank. No New Country mug for me, either...

 

>>Thanks HotelCalif -- I checked it out and no only do they have them but they're really cheap (like me!). Only $11.75 plus shipping. I bought one for me and one for the navigator
Not that $5.00 is huge savings, but I got my mug right from the dealer (before MINIUSA sent me mine) and it was only $7.00! It is weird how the prices are different in different places. The MINI store here has them for like $11.00, but the BMW dealership that you actually pick up your MINI at they are $7.00.

 

The management at New Country Motors did the samething with their invitations to the Italian Job party they are throwing. The 'Managment' picked the customers they wanted to invite!
Are you listening yet New Country Motors?

 

The mugs came via FedEx today. They are about like the one I illustrated above but perhaps 1/4" shorter. I stuck it in the cup holder and went out for an errand or two. I found I could get it out if I tipped it toward me a little and then pulled up. As long as the mug isn't brim-full, it shouldn't spill. Now to see A) if the plastic liner colors the taste (it's orange, yuk) and B) if it keeps the coffee hot for as long a I like. I drink my coffee slowly and lovingly.

Life is too short to drink bad coffee or eat brown bananas.

 

>>Um... I use the large central cupholder between the seats and kinda to the rear.
>>
>>You get in the habit of reaching back for your drink pretty quick. You can do this without taking your eyes off the road, which is hardly possible for the tiny front cup holders.


I think you've got the right idea here!

Oh, but I'm 5' 2" tall, I'll most likely have my seat as far to the front as possible so will that leave that back cupholder as easy to reach as any item on the back seat for me?

My present car is a "no food zone"... I totally refuse to eat in it. If you eat while you drive, it's like calories taken in but not counted as a meal, almost like you haven't eaten so later you wonder, why can't I loose these last 20 lbs when I don't eat that much... ok point made ......

Perhaps my new MINI will be a No Eating or Drinking Zone. A No Drinking Zone would mean No Spills and No Stains! Perhaps I'll keep a bottle of water or soda in the cooled glove box or something.

 

>> Perhaps I'll keep a bottle of water or soda in the cooled glove box or something. >>

It took me three trips to the store to find bottled water that fits in the cupholders. The front one is a huge 6 ouncer (!) and the back one will take a smallish 8-10 oz. bottle. BTW, I would not call the back center console cupholder "large." Mini, if anything.

 

Austin -- I like your reasoning. I've already made the MINI an extended dining room and I guess there's no turning back now (how do you get chocolate stains out of the cloth seats?) With the exception of things like cookies on long trips, however, I don't eat while driving.

As for water: I discovered (and later had confirmed by others) that the best "holder" for water bottles is the space between the right side of the center console and the passenger seat with the lever for adjusting the front-to-back position acting as the third side of a rough triangle. You have to fiddle with the position to get it just right.

 

I got a free MINI cup in the mail this week! It fits fine, but I kinda gave up on drinking much of anything in my MINI as I drive in-town a lot and between shifting and steering (...and having a blast doing it!) I don't have much time to drink anything. I use the "cup holders" for my cell phone and/or sun glasses when I'm out and about, and the "holders" are perfect for that. Personally, I think MINIs are completely worth making little lifestyle adjustments for. I mean...do I really want a big honking cup holder up ahead of the shifter? Not me...I like it as is.