The more I think about it, the more I'm leaning towards not including it in my MINI. Here are my reasons, and perhaps you can give me some advice:

The posts that I have seen regarding the sunroof make sense. The fact that you can't completely block the sun might be the deal breaker, even if you can get after market shades. Plus another thing that can go wrong.

I'm ordering a MCS with tuscan beige leather, and any bit of added protection to keep it looking nice would help, right?

I'm not so into the music that I need the 10 speaker system that is now part of the 08 premium package

I can live with regular AC and microfilter, and not the automatic AC with carbonfilter (is it really worth $500?, especially since I live on the California Coast where it is often very nice weather)

I can put the $$ to better use with an alarm, ipod connector, and perhaps the comfort access system (for those who have it, what do you think?)

*****

Do you think not having the sunroof takes away from the resale value? Are people really looking for that?

thanks for your advice!

 

I did not order the premium package as I never use the sunroof on cars I have bought before. I did order everything else that was in the package though

As for resale. Not something I typically worry about as a car is not an investment but I am sure that there are people out there with the same mindset of not wanting the sun blasting them especially here in Texas in August

 

I got the comfort access system a-la-carte without the package and love it. Totally worth it imo.

Also the manual A/C is just fine, since the cubic footage inside the MINI is so small the a/c has no problem getting it cold and then keeping it there even on the lowest fan setting

 

Thanks for the quick reply! Fortunately, I don't live in a hot and humid area (California Coast), but I barely use the sunroof on my current car (civic ex) as it is, so I thought why pay a lot of $$ for a less efficient sunroof.

take it easy

 

Sounds like you should save your $$ for other options, especially since the upgraded stereo isn't important to you. Sure the resale will be less because the car will cost less, but it isn't like nobody will buy it because it doesn't have a sunroof on it.

 

My 2003 MCS came with the premium package. I ended up covering the sunroof glass with white vinyl to cut down on glare and I HATE the auto AC because it takes a lot of button pressing to trick it to do what I want it to do.

For these reasons, we ordered my wife's Cooper without sunroof or auto AC. So much better and a clean roof looks great on a MINI.

When it is time to replace my 2003 MCS, I will not be getting the premium package and will use the money to get things I really want.

 

I for one love my sunroof. I took a relative for a ride on Thanksgiving, and of course opened it up, even though I live in Michigan, and it was snowing at the time. Heated seats helped, and, as long as we weren't stopped at stop signs and lights, the snow stayed out of the car. (Just light flurries.)

I have driven the R53 convertible -- I had one as a loaner -- and while having the top down is fun, you give up a lot of visibility with the top down or up, and it's tough to go out on the interstate with the top down when it's below 65 F -- butt warmer or not. The sunroof extends one's "open" motoring season a little bit further than one can obtain with the ragtop.

 

NO Sun roof - never use it and its VERY bright... Manual A/C works great for me... save a bunch of $$ that I put towards my Leather Lounge -

 

If money is no problem, I'd say get it. But you sound like you could use the money saved elsewhere. As far as resale value.... If you spend $1000 more to buy an option and get $300 back when you sell the car, that is $700 lost. If you save $1000 and get $300 less when you sell, that's $700 you saved.

 

I think you are wise to forego the Premium package, as I did. Sunroofs are heavy, expensive, complex, problematic and many people simply do not like them. The manual A/C works fine, is easy to use and gives you a granular level of control over the HVAC system. One less automatic gizmo to break. If you want the upgraded stereo ( a good option, in my opinion) it can be ordered a la carte. I believe it's better to order option you really want and/or need, rather than bundling marginal features in expensive packages. (That said, the Cold Weather Package is a god buy and very useful.)

 

Personally, I love my car with the premium package. I like the sunroofs and people really get a kick when they notice there's two of them- but then again I'm in Washington, so the negatives aren't as pronounced and we need as much sun as we can get.

The auto AC works for me- neither my wife or I ever feel the need to fiddle with it, but honestly I could live without it.

Also, I've become spoiled by the comfort access- now and again it takes me a bit to remember that I have to get my keys out to get into my house

The resale value seems to hold well for Minis regardless of their configuration, if you're not really interested in the sunroof there's plenty of other little bits to add.

Depending on when you're planning to get your car, the USB option may be in the States. It's been delayed, but it might be something to ask your MA about if you're already looking into the iPod adapter. The bluetooth prep would be required though.

 

I'm not a fan of sunroofs. They add weight to the top of the car, raising the center of gravity, can be the source of leaks and wind noise, and I have a medical problem with too much sun exposure.

I have the auto AC and don't have a problem with it, but it isn't that much of a convenience. Money is better spent on heated seats. I live in Carmel Valley, CA and I'm very happy to have the heated seats.

The HIFI system isn't that great. I replaced all my HIFI speakers with Infinity Kappas and it helps. However, others have posted that the standard audio is pretty poor. If you are going for the standard, why spend the money on iPod Integration?

Also, the MINI has a lot of road noise, which makes listening to music difficult. I've Dynamatted the back of my MCS, but still need to do the front.

Comfort Access is very nice. I like it a lot. Thought it was silly when I ordered, but it came in a package. Packages have changed since I ordered.

 

I loved my sunroof. I ordered it on my new car too. IMO it is a must-have in Florida!

I did notice when the insurance company wrote up the value of my old car that they would deduct $350 from the value if I didn't have the sunroof.

 

+! the sunroof makes the car

 

Thanks, Robin, for the advice. I live in the Monterey/Carmel area as well so I can appreciate the heated seats. My girlfriend is the one who really was excited to get them, though. I thought the ipod integration would make the sound quality better as opposed to using my current belkin fm transmitter adapter. I'm not a big audiophile, but I do love my ipod.

I think I'll drop the premium package and just add the comfort access system. Almost everyone seems to like it, even though it might seem frivolous.

cheers!

 

there is a sunroof in all the cars that my family owns, bar one which is a convertiable.....and I use the sunroof all the time. AC kills fuel economy, so i open up the windows and the roof and bam.

 

I did not order any packages. I picked only what I wanted. The sunroof is one option I am so glad I did not get.

Unfortunately, the weather here is a sunroof killer. Very few days of the year can one be comfortable with the windows down. We have had 2 days like that this year, so far. Not enough to warrant the option, in my opinion.

 

It's been proven on Mythbusters that it only kills the fuel economy at speeds below 45 MPH. Keeping the windows open at speeds above that actually gives you worse fuel economy than using the a/c (increased wind resistance/drag coefficient).

 

hmmm, didn't see that one....makes sense though i guess....i'll see if it's on YouTube

 

I don't care for the sunroof in the mini. So I skipped the premium pkg.

 

I did get the Premium Package. When it gets here, I'll have the glass tinted very dark as to block as much sun as possible. This is what I've done with my previous sun-roofed vehicles. Dark when you want it dark... open when you want the sun.

 

That is what I did with my sunroof too.

The new Premium Package seems a good price, even though it went up from $1400 to $1500, You get the HI-FI sound system.

 

I have the premium package, but I don't remember what;s in it. Is that the package with the rattles??

 

Love my sunroof immensely. Would never buy another car without one.

 

So the sunroof doesn't have a sliding panel that covers the sunroof and you can pull back the panel like the other cars i've seen?