Hi there!

I am a 22 year old male looking to buy a new MCS 6spd manual. Just so you get a feel where I'm coming from, I know a good bit about cars and am an avid driving enthusiast. I'll be living in a city next year so I think the Cooper will be a great match for me. (The Titan has got to go! And the 12mpg goes with it!!)

I'm trying to order the Cooper that is most reasonable for me. I'm wondering which options you guys think I will appreciate the most. I'm planning on a 6spd MCS with the Sports Package and Xenon lighting. I cannot live without H.I.D.s - period. The DSC and wheel/tire combination of the Sports Package are a big hit for me, but I'm not sure what to expect of the sport suspension. Seems like something I will benefit from, the way I drive.

I'm tryin to keep the car as low-cost as possible, and this would work out to just over $23k, which seems very reasonable. I'd like as many opinions on the Sports package as I can get, or whatever else options you feel I would enjoy. Are there any very popular options that are costly to install after recieving the car? i.e. Any regrets from people? Though I love technology and gadgets, the convenience package just seems too much for me to muster. I plan on using the car for about 5 years through dental school as my daily driver, then maybe keeping it as a second car.

Thank you for your time,
-Cyrus

p.s. I can't wait to be a MINI owner!!!

 

start here:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ight=4+options

What city? You might want cold weather depending on where you end up.

 

Even here in So CA. i find that everyone who rides with me appreciates the cold weather package with the heated seats.. Great for warming up the muscles before playing Golf or just a little relaxation after a tough day.

That is the ONE option my wife really MISSES having on her Lexus.

Sports suspension and all are fun and you will love them.

Jim

 

Welcome to NAM!!!

I'm a 20 year old male car enthusiast as well, with an MCS, so hopefully I can offer some insight.

The MINI truly is a wonderful car for the city. Many purchase it for that reason alone.

Wow, 12mpg!?! I can't even imagine... My Dad used to have an Armada which used that same 5.6L V8. Quite powerful but the fuel economy was abysmal.

Good pick on the xenons. Opinions seem to be very split (as I'm sure you'll see very soon) but I have and love mine. There's no way I'll buy another car without them!

If you haven't already, you should definitely take a long test drive of a MINI with the sport suspension if you're completely decided on the sport package. The sport suspension has a pretty rough ride and many argue as to its handling benefits. Personally I'd recommend sticking with the stock suspension, throwing on a 19mm or 22mm rear sway bar, then going JCW when you've saved up enough.

Other thing about the sport package is it mandates your getting the crown or web-spoke wheels. While I agree that they're quite appealing aesthetically, they are heavy. My sugestion would be to get DSC a la carte (along with the bonnet stripes if you want them) and use the saved hundreds on other options.

The main options most seem to regret not adding are the rear fog lights, white turn signals, anthracite headliner (depending on your interior) and cold weather package (unless you're in the absolute hottest of locations). To make things worse, all of those are either next to impossible or extremely expensive to add after the fact. That actually goes for the majority of OEM options, so choose wisely.

If you're on a budget definitely skip the convenience package. Especially since it forces that stupid center arm rest on you. Although you should be aware that speccing the multi-function steering wheel is the only way to get cruise control. Another thing to add a la carte if you please.

Final option very much worth considering, LSD!!! Pretty high output + FWD = rather dramatic torque steer from the MCS (in its stock form at least). LSD is helpful in a lot more situations than just track or auto-x. If you'll be dealing with winter conditions it'll help out especially.

Best of luck!

 

Nice post Msteadman.

On the sport suspension, were you referring to it being too rough period, or only with the 17" RF tires? I am teetering on the SS on the MCS, or getting stock and get a 19 mm aftermarket bar.... on 16" wheels (RF at first at least). I have not done extensive test drives to compare, but do live in a city with quite a few bumps...

 

Hey, thanks!

I actually test drove a MINI with SS and 16" RF's and another with SS and 17" RF's (what the OP would have no choice but to get if he opts for the sport package). IMO the ride was pretty rough with both. In truth the standard suspension in combination with either size RF's is pretty firm. That's speaking from personal experience in owning MINIs with both. So my impressions of the SS is that it would just be way too jarring for my personal taste. Then again the JCW suspension is even rougher, but IMHO the amazing handling benefits it reaps at least makes it more worth it.

Ride is very subjective. So my advice would be to do as many test drives in MINIs with as many combinations as you can. Also check out this post for some second opinions.

Good idea on the 19mm rear sway. Made a world of difference on my MINI. Just for comparison's sake, the SS suspension comes with only a 17mm bar in back, just 1mm larger than stock.

 

My MCS came in at $24K. I have 17" crown spoke wheels, limited slip differential, sports leather multifunction steering wheel, white bonnet stripes, chrome line interior, roster red color line accents, and piano black interior surface. Those are the only options I have on mine other that the standard options that come with the MCS. It's all I need to happily motor with my Mini S while having kept the cost down.

 

Okay I'm considering adding the LSD to my list. I've seen it on almost everybody's "needed options list." So maybe I can squeeze out Sports package, LSD, and Xenons. I know the sports package isn't the best option, but I want the wheels and the DSC, and those alone are $1250. The roll bars would be an extra $250 so I'm thinking of sticking with it. Now I've been huge into modifying cars in the past, but I don't think I'll be touching this one. I won't have the time, and I need something uber reliable.

Thanks for all the posts guys!!
-Cyrus

 

I second the LSD. You will definitely regret it if you don't get it, and it is very expensive to add later. Most options on the MINI are much more expensive later, and many cannot be added at all. So choose wisely. I got most of the options I wanted, but spent more than 150% of your budget.

I got the sport packaged, but ended up selling the heavy Crown Spokes. I bought a set of lightweight CenterLine RPM 17x7 for about $750 and a set of Rota RB 16x7 for less than $600. One set is for comfort, the other for canyon carving. I'm in California and don't need snow tires. Some people in colder climates get the least expensive 16" wheels that come with the car and put snow tires on them. Then buy aftermarket wheels for summer/performance tires.

 

Well, I took your advice and ordered the stock suspension today on my soon to be MCS.

specs:

pw/pw
white turns
DSC
LSD
16" bridgespokes
Rear fogs
Anthracite headliner, leatherette seats
MFSW
HiFi
$24050

Week 3 production build, and the wait begins :impatient

 

^^ Congrats!!! Nice specs and a very nice price. The wait truly is the hardest part, but it'll be oh so worth it in the end. Be sure to make your way over the the Peerage and claim your number.

 

Thanks... I am already planning my ad-ons... I may have a whole pile of parts waiting for the MINI to arrive!!

I think I just bought what they call "the starter kit"