So, I'm patiently waiting for my 2009 Clubman S to be delivered. I'm really excited and can't wait to FINALLY drive it. I have no second thoughts about the car itself.

My question is, did anyone have second thoughts about the options they picked out for the car before it was delivered?

I was looking at the mini configuration and realized that for only a little more money I could have had a lot more options. It's not like I have a stripped down model, but I don't know.

Has anyone else had this feeling? Did it go away when you started driving the car?

 

I can speak to the second thoughts before delivery...YES. But I'll deal with it. Haven't yet taken delivery, so I'm not sure how I'll feel after that...but maybe I'll let you know.

Don't worry, be happy!

 

I spent a lot of time configuring before I ordered. No second thoughts here. just took delivery Saturday and car is exactly how I wanted it. love it.

 

I never did have second thoughts, no, but as Browser said I spent a lot of time configurating and I knew exactly what I wanted...very focussed on option selection. From what I can tell, though, you are far from alone. To me (as one who has chosen less-optioned MINIs), aside from the basics essentials, many options have their pluses and minuses. So you can think about them either way now, and once you get your car. For example, you may not have a sunroof, and you may feel you'll miss the open air. But, it does add weight and can lead to a hotter interior...so just think about that and forget the nice breezes. Anthracite headliner? Light and airy, or dark and sultry...both are good, right?? Most of the time you can have an absolutely perfect MINI w/o this or that option....the handling, and practicality, and basic amenities are always there, and once you have your car and are actually motoring, this is what will matter above everything else.

 

A little bit, now and again.
It is a common theme.

Just be glad that you could order with options. Most times to get it like you want it means adjusting after you get it. At least by ordering a MINI you get to start where you want.

 

I absolutely got home and made changes. Twice. My MA was most accommodating. In playing with the configurator after I ordered, I found that with this you get that, sort of thing, which I hadn't noticed before. So I did this and got that and I'm very happy with my final choices.

 

The only thing I added after ordering was the LSD, and I'm still glad about that. The tech geek in me wishes I'd just gone ahead with the Convenience pkg, but in reality I don't think I'll miss it. I'm living without those cool gadgets just fine now, I suppose...but sometimes I wish...

I also wonder why the heck I'm getting heated, folding mirrors (other than the fact that they were bundled with my heated seats!), then there are other times I wish I'd gotten the xenon headlights. (Never had them, either...so why should I want them now?!) And in the quiet of an evening, I may ponder why oh why I decided against lounge leather seats...........

And just once, I even questioned why I opted for the manual transmission (and I've wanted to get back to a stick ever since I bought my first 'family car'!).

But I think it's just the insanity of WAITING! I'm absolutely sure that once my MINI arrives and I'm zipping around those curves, enjoying the fall color display, I won't look back once. Even bare bones (and it's hardly that! ), it would still be the most fun car I've ever had the opportunity to own!

 

Congrats on your order. As with the others, I had my MA on speed dial with changes and this is after I built hundreds of variations on line. At the end of the day, I opted for a relatively low optioned Mini and am very happy.

I would recommend setting a budget/target and prioritize all of your options. I would stop when you get to your target. A little here and there can add up in a hurry.

I think the Mini is a good value, but the options can add up in a hurry. While I'm sure, at times, you'll think about what you don't have; the reality is that the majority of time, you will be having so much fun driving, that you won't even care.

With the Mini, I actually feel less is more.

 

If there's a super $1k option just to have one-touch up windows and sun roof, that will really give me a 2nd thought (or regret of saving that $1k)...

 

oh yeah, w/o a doubt. i haven't had 2nd thoughts yet... but waver back and forth on a few of them often. i actually think mini kils us with the amount of options that often times come standard in other cars. i.e. the stock panels ireally did not like - they look like checkered plastic to me. a piano black (acceptable) finish will dime you for 250. to get rid of plastic around gauges is another 250. to go from horrible sound system to acceptable - 500. it makes not picking all the options difficult!

 

My 2009 MCSa came with one-touch up and down windows standard. I think the sun-roof option was $1,250.

 

You need to talk to your sales rep and have him/her list all of the options you MUST have done at the manufacturer, and the ones that you can get done/from the dealer anytime after you purchase the car. This should help you decide what to get ordered on it, and what you can get away with aquiring some day after you take ownership.

 

I'll second that one..... i still wish I got the anthracite headliner, even though it was grossly overpriced

 

The one-touch up/down for both door windows was added early in the 2008 model and could not be added to the 2007's.

Premium Package includes Sunroof with AutoAir and Multi Function Steering Wheel included for $1250 0n 2007 & 2009 models, 2008 bundled w/HiFi instead of MFSW and cost was $1500.

Sunroof alone was $1000 and its one-touch is limited to opening to vent position.

 

Welcome to the very crafty MINI marketing strategy called the configurator. I really believe the configurator is not your friend in this process. First of all, they leave a couple of options that every car should have as standard off, like MFSW and before 09 DSC. That forces you to go in and build a car with those and see all the other stuff available. At that point you're hooked like a kid in a candy store. It is easy to run up the cost of a mini 8-10K above MSRP for a base model. Rest assured that mini's profit margin is much higher on options than on the car. I'd also remember that the insane resale value minis have is not always applied dollar for dollar to options.

Decide what are 'have to haves'. Then decide a budget or NTE (not to exceed) cost of your mini (not monthly payment but total cost). Do this BEFORE the configurator. Stick to your NTE, then go to the configurator and prioritize a list of other options you are thinking about and draw the line where your budget runs out.

I did this. I had a NTE of 22 for a MC and my have to haves were MFSW, DSC, Hi-Fi, and bonnet stripes, and metallic paint (BRG). That afforded me some extra to option out my mini, which included, sport seats, oak dash, fog lights, and arm rest. I came in a little under 22. I left off a few things that I thought would be nice, but they didn't make the cut.

I felt so good about sticking to my plan and budget that I had no second thoughts about those few things that didn't make the cut.

 

The only real option I wish I had ordered with my car was the Clear or white turning signals. I got tired of the "sunny side up" egg look of the head lights fairly quickly. It was only a hundred or so dollars, but at the time, I felt I should not have to pay extra for a color choice. so i didn't....

 

I ordered lots of options. The only second thoughts I had were when I went to pay for it.

What options do you wish you had ordered?

 

the configger really epitomizes option creep: I actually built a uber-loaded 2009 JCW Clubman that exceeded $50,000 yikers!

 

I sort of had second thoughts, but not in the way that you did, you say you could have added a lot more options for a little more money, but this is a very scary way to start thinking, I know Once I started breaking options down into how much more they would be on the monthly payments, all of a sudden everythingthing seemed completely affordable! i'd be a fool not to pay another 10$ a month for this or 13$ a month for that, but let me tell you... it all adds up. My regret is more the "did I really need all these options?" But i have a feeling i will get over that very quickly once I see the car.

 

If you're on the fence, get the option. I'm beginning to regret not getting the convenience package and Nav, about the only things I skipped...

 

I kinda wish I'd gotten the option with intermittent/adjustable wipers, but didn't think it was worth (another) $500. I'd also like to have the USB port, but don't GAF about bluetooth, so same comment.

I love the way MINI let's the customer pick the options, unlike other companies that put the good stuff in bundles with crappy stuff and undesirable stuff.

 

I too changed my order twice (or was it three times) and ended up with my fav Mini combo. I LOVE my sunroof and while sometimes I wish I got the darker headliner, I am VERY happy with Mini.

 

Not to turn this into a debate on whats good and whats bad, but I skipped all the packages because I wasnt thrilled with them. At first, I had 2 packages, then it went down to 1 and the more I test drove/read NAM/MU, I didn't pick one single package.

And I probably configged for a month and a half before I ordered, so I was sure. No regrets.

 

Here are my options:

$500 for Xenon headlights - Well worth it and probably the max anyone will ever have to pay for this option now-a-days. I will never buy another car without them, even at $500.

$1250 Convenience package - I'm a tech lover, so needless to say its worth it to me. My cell phone (Mot SLVR) works perfectly with the bluetooth! Only had the car for 4 days and it hasn't rained, so I can't comment on the auto-wipers. I know I'll like them thought.

$1250 Web spoke wheels - Yes I know it costs too much, but I wanted something different than the standard 17" wheels. The web spoke wheels look great to me (I guess thats what counts?)

$500 for blue paint - I could have just as easily gotten the Chili Red and saved $500. Still looks good though.

$1500 punch leather seats - looks great, just like leatherette. Personal thing I guess. Included choice of dash color (I got woodgrain - nice, by the way).

$250 Chrome line interior - Looks like it should be standard. I don't think I would like the flat grey.

$250 Anthracite headliner - dark, quiet, relaxing - nice!

$500 Auto A/C - remember I said I was a tech freak. Set and forget! Works great so far (looks good too).

$100 rear fog lights - your kidding, right! Why wouldn't you? Looks good, functional, fills up the switch panel - duh! My wife drove down the street at night while I watched from the back and I thought - Wow - Those lights looks great (all of them) and were really bright!

$250 center arn rest - nice for resting my arm, even when shifting. Storage space is small and it blocks the rear seat cup holder (except for a 12oz can). 50/50 on this one.

$250 multi-function wheel controls - worth it for just the cruise controls alone. The audio controls are a plus.

$375 JCW strut tower brace +$150 installation - Looks cool, hard to tell at this point if there is any real benefit. Could do without!

 

I agree with the person who noted that the config eliminates some items that should be standard and then options them in packages with stuff you may not want but because they're cheaper that way you get them anyway (Auto AC for example-I really don't think I like it that much but oh well). What I did was establish a target price (30K) and added stuff until I got there. I did away with stuff like stripes and the sport suspension because I knew I could add that later and cheaper if I desired. I got my car off the lot so I eliminated heated seats too, but I wanted them (I live where it's colder). Now I'm glad I don't have it from what I heard on this forum. I love my ($800) wheels but looking back I'd get cheapo wheels/tires and upgrade to aftermarket now. The other temptation was the NAV. One friend said she couldn't live without it. But to me it was a $2300 toy, I really don't need that function myself and its price just irked me. I'd get it for $800, not $2100.