I picked up my MCS yesterday - I bought it off the lot because of the cash for clunkers program, so it has a few options I might not have bought. The main options: Nav, Areo, Cold Weather, Xenon, Premium, bluetooth/ipod. I was on my way out of town - a 300 mile trip South.

My first impressions:

- Wow - it drives fantastic!

- It looks great.

- The LED lights and Xenons are cool

- The sunroof screen blocks enough light for me. I was worried I would need shades, since I normally like my sunroofs closed. But after driving on a hot and sunny day, I think I like the screen set-up and don't plan on extra shades.

- The non-hifi stereo with the ipod sounds better than I expected.

- Bluetooth syncing with my Palm Pre was flawless. All of my contacts transferred over.

- What's the deal with the non-approved phone possibly causing warranty issues with the car's computer? That worries me big-time. I might re-pair my phone and not let contacts transfer over in order to avoid potential conflicts.

- Averaged 38 mph driving 300 miles on the first day. Cool.

- Was told to only get gas with Techron (Chevron, Phillips, Shell). No Maverick, Walkers, Flying J. Seems ridiculous, but I'll follow the advice until I learn otherwise.

- The Nav system is cool. The GPS part is ok, but I really like the big screen integration with the radio, Ipod, phone, and menu system.

- The voice command into the menus are great. Is that standard or only comes with another option.

- Runflats run fine, not too rough at all.

- I accidentally put the seat heathers on high - didn't realize I had a problem until I was hot and sweaty. The seat gets hot on a summer day!

- The auto temperature doesn't work as well as I want, so far. I needed to crank the temperature down to 62 to get the inside a comfortable temperature during my hot/sunny drive.

I LOVE my new MINI!

 

Awesome! Glad you love it!

I am loving mine every day as well

 

38mph is lame...step on it man!!!

I assume you mean 38mpg???

I love my new MCS too...but i was less than impressed with the stereo so i am upgrading.

 

Awesome! Glad you love it! Curious if I'm missing something? Where are the LED lights>?

 

He might be referring to the average MPH on the trip computer. 38mph on average is actually pretty freakin' fast . But only over a long period of time.

 

Try hitting the "Max" button on your auto air. This will cool your car quickly.....then when cool, hit "auto." I usually set my "auto on 72 degrees, and it is very comfortable....even on the hottest alabama days.

PS Be sure and set your directional arrows to shoot the cool air toward you.

 

dont know where U live OP but shades in the moonroof, whether Zippee (which I have and are great, tested them in Las Vegas last week) or self-cut to fit really help the A/C run cooler and more efficient on those 90 degree + days. You do notice the difference.

As far as the gas goes, I didnt know Shell had Techron as an additive (we dont have Chevron here.) I think U mean use only what BMW calls "top-tier" gas like Shell, Chevron, BP, etc.

 

Check out www.toptiergas.com

 

Umm, yeah. I meant 38 mpg!

 

Thanks for the suggestions on keeping the car cool, and top tier gas. All good points.

 

I just got mine 4 days ago as well. I absolutely echo OP's comments. I don't have the NAV system, but Pretty much right on with the rest. What a FUN car!!!

 

The only "top tier" station listed in that link that is near me is "Shell" and that station is 35 miles from where I live and I live between Baltimore, MD and Washington, DC. Odd.

Jim

 

i am surprised not to see Exxon on the list?

 

I just go to Wawa.
I was never told a "preferred" brand of gas.

 

I was surprised as well. That is what I use as it is the only "named" brand near me.

Jim

 

According to the 20/20 investigation last week, gas companies really only franchise their names, and rarely ever actually own a gas station, but all the gas stations are filled up by the same tanker, who gets their gas from the same filling stations. In short, the gas is very much the same stuff, station-to-station, with some of them adding in a little bit extra detergent to the gas.

The only danger is getting a tank of "bad" gas (that's sat in the reservoir for too long), but that can happen anywhere at any time.

 

follow up about moonroof shades: I have a Clubman S loaner and it's been over 90 degrees here daily, and I miss the Zippee Shades-- they do help keep the car MUCH cooler in the hot sun, and help the A/C work more efficiently and less harder than without.