Is there anyone out there who has decided not to take any Packages (Premium etc.), and just go with the basics (maybe add one or two factory extras for the most).

I know most of you are saying why not take the options, but I would like to hear from the few that didn't.

I am very practical, and for me, the MINI sold itself, and I can't wait to drive her.

Is there anyone out there who felt the same?

Motor on
Lolo

 

I'm an old mini pilot from way back when ... they were my daily drivers for over 30 yrs, right up to the day I got the new one: I liked the whole concept of the original and ordered the new as close as i could to be like the Classics. I got the non-pressurized Cooper with sport suspension, sport seats, leather wheel, larger wheel/tyre, cloth interior, fog lights, and that's about it. A skid plate was ordered as soon as I saw Moss advertise them ( just because me old ones had them too - for sump protection). and I'll probably get a new shift **** soon ... but other than that, nothing else is necessary to just go out and drive the heck out of it! A fair number of people posting here are concerned with every creek, grown, rattle and hiccup that comes out of their car - i'm used to them - they'll get tended to eventually ( there is a warranty! ) but in the mean time they don't affect the great performance! and there are those that think the Cooper doesn't have enough power - just like the old ones, if you downshift and put your foot in it, it has all the power you need ( some forget to use the top half of the rev range, but that is where the power and fun are). IMHO - keep it simple and go have a blast! oh and forget the nav system - go get lost and find your way back ...

 

Lolo

The only Package I bought was the COLD package.

The rest is as follows:
Velvet Red
White Top and Wheels
Red Interior
Anthracite interior (I hope - this is an option)
Multi function Leather Steering Wheel
Rear Spoiler
Chrome Bumpers
Sport Seats
Fog Lamps
On-Board Computer

I am VERY happy with my choices - this kept the price under $19,000.
Yes, some of the other options are nice, but $$$$. I have read many times that the Cooper rides much better than the S - because of the run flat tires and the suspension. The car is loaded to begin with - so I look at the options I purchaseed as "Bonus Items".

Choose Wisely! :smile:

GROSS67

 

The only 'extra' I bought were the stripes... other than that, everything's stock...

Rocketboy_X

 

Thanks for your input. Glad to see I am not alone.

8Ball I am right there with you and that NAV Sys. Some of my best motoring was done when I got lost. Who needs it.

BTW I got the spoiler and the 16" Runflats.

(Don't want to be lost and have a flat tire.

 

I didn't get any packages with my MINI. I think the base model has just about everything I need. I'm currently driving a thirty-seven-year-old pickup truck with a manual three-speed transmission, no radio, no air, no power steering, brakes, windows etc. It doesn't even have an automatic choke. So for me, the base model will be like a luxury car. I didn't really see the point of buying a package that had a bunch of stuff I don't really need. Plus, I think that once you start adding packages, the car quickly goes from being reasonably priced to being a bit on the expensive side (for me anyway).

I did get a couple of options though. I decided to put my money into the options that I would get the most use out of. What are the two parts of any car that you have the most direct contact with?? The seat and the steering wheel. So I got the sport seats because I read a couple of reviews that complained about the standard seats being uncomfortable. I also got the multi-function steering wheel. I was going to just get the leather steering wheel, but I figured it was worth spending an extra $150 for cruise control and the radio controls. I also got the chrome line bumper inserts, not for any real reason other than the fact that I like the way they look.

_________________
Oct. Production - 2003 Cooper, Pepper White/Black Roof, w/sport seats, chrome bumpers, multi-function steering wheel and anthracite interior

 

Lolo,

I didn't go for any of the pkgs. either...just picked out the things I wanted, which are listed below in my signature line. The leather multi-function steering wheel with cruise control is a fantastic feature, BTW! I love my MINI Cooper and know you will love yours, however you spec it!

Cheers!
Clover

 

Why would anyone want a NAV system in this car? It seems to me that half the fun about driving this car will be getting lost in it and trying to find your way back. Unless of course you are a guy, in which case you will NEVER stop and ask directions. You'll just be lost forever.

Yeah, I've got a NAV system in my current car...it's called a ROAD MAP!!!!


2003 IB Cooper, sport & premium ordered 8/22/02, in for a long wait 'til January '03

 

I ended up with a car with all three packages, but it was available, and I was at the dealership, and, I'd been staying up nights dreaming about these cars--I couldn't resist.

After having every bell & whistle imaginable, the only things that I think are really nice to have, are:

--the steering wheel w/cruise and radio controls. The radio buttons in particular are great. One of those things I never thought I'd need or use, and it's ended up being a fave feature.

--the xenon headlights and fogs light up the night. Love 'em. Not necessary but nice.

--I never sat in the non-S cooper so I can't compare the seats, but the sport seats are nice, supportive, and feel like they'd be great on a long trip.

To my mind, all of the other features do little to add to the enjoyment of driving the car. It handles beautifully, goes like stink, and stops better than almost anything else I've ever driven.

I think you're on the right track. Keep it to those things that matter. Fun & uncomplicated! Besides all of that you'll smile when you write a smaller check each month!

HTH,

Jeff

 

The only thing I DID NOT GET was the Navigation package.
I never get lost and absolutely..NEVER EVER.... ask for directions while driving...

ROFL :smile:...it's that.... man thing

Peace
D

 

>>I didn't get any packages with my MINI. I think the base model has just about everything I need. I'm currently driving a thirty-seven-year-old pickup truck with a manual three-speed transmission, no radio, no air, no power steering, brakes, windows etc. It doesn't even have an automatic choke. So for me, the base model will be like a luxury car. I didn't really see the point of buying a package that had a bunch of stuff I don't really need. Plus, I think that once you start adding packages, the car quickly goes from being reasonably priced to being a bit on the expensive side (for me anyway).

I know the feelling... granted, my last car wasn't 37 years old, it didn't have power steering, but it did have a drivers side window that didn't roll up, rear defogger that didn't defog, a heater that just pushed air w/o that pesking heating, and an electrical system that was totally shot.. (I went on vacation for 14 days, so it wasn't driven for about 16 days, in the summer, and it was dead as a doornail when i tried to start it back up... glad I had to go somewhere before I had to go to work...

Rocketboy_X

 

I got the Sports, Aero and Rally Lights all for different reasons. Sports because if I had to add the couple of things I wanted from that package, it would have cost more than the package itself. That was for good buying sense. The Aero because I liked the look and not many MCS have it. That was the vane side of me. The Rally Lights, because I drive 80 miles to work between 2:30 and 3:30 AM, down country/forest type roads and highway. I had a deer attack my car two years ago while I was going 70 MPH. It nearly killed me, taking out the front passenger side fender all the way to the rear wing of my '99 Mitz 3000 GT. If I can see 40 feet further that time of the night, I am thankful. Those lights are to save my life.

 

MCS with only 4 options: Xenon headlamps, fog lamps, heated seats and metalic paint. The car comes with so much standard equip. I am not missing anything. Although I did not order the car, its what I wanted in a nut shell.

 

I ORIGINALLY started out with just the sport package and the sunroof. Then I added the premium package b/c the auto air and the onboard computer seemed "cool" and I've never had a car WITHOUT cruise - I thought it would be weird not having it even though I almost never use it and a true MINI shouldn't really have it b/c driving with cruise is NOT motoring!!! The thing that really got me was reading all of the comments on this board about the MFSW. Everyone was absolutely raving about it. So I added the whole premium package. I figured I was already paying $800 for the sunroof so adding $450 for the other stuff was a good deal. I really LOVE the MFSW. It makes driving even cooler when you can change the volume and CD tracks/radio stations without moving or taking your eyes off of the road.

Then I added the winter package b/c I was afraid I might not get my car until late fall and couldn't get a lot of use out of the sunroof. So I wanted a "toy" to play with for the cold weather. And I also thought the heated seats would be GREAT for my wife since she's always cold and I'm always warm, I could keep the heat low or off in cold weather and she could stay warm without me sweating.

Turns out, I LOVE the heated seats. My wife loves them, and I do too! :smile: But when I returned a few weeks later and took my wife for a test drive, she thought the leatherette seats were a bit too hard and uncomfortable. So O then switched to leather (which I wanted in the first place) guilt-free! :smile: I added the Lapis Blue Leather which I really wanted from the first day my brother showed me a MINI brochure.

We ALL LOVE the Lapis Blue Leather! My wife can sit in my MINI for hours in complete comfort. She's even sat in the MINI for 2 hrs watching one of my flag football league games and bragged about how cozy she was. We both feel the Lapis Blue Leather sports seats are the most comfortable car seats we've ever experienced!!! EVERYONE who sees or sits in my car ALWAYS comments on how gorgeous the seats are and how incredibly comfortable they are. As a matter of fact, I probably get the MOST compliments on the leather seats.

My $0.02

 

I'm probably the only MINI owner to have done this, but I bought everything in the sports package EXCEPT the 17" wheels. Granted, theI paid roughly $35 less for all that stuff than if I had gotten the package with the 17s, but I didn't want them. I think the 16" wheels look better on the S, and also, I have bad PA roads to deal with, and wanted more rubber to protect me and my rims.

I've never had power anything before. But I DID have a sunroof in my '85 GTI, and that was an absolute must. It's also the reason I eleiminated the WRX,Impreza from my list of potential vehicles... no sunroof.

So i got the premium package. I wanted cruise controll, wanted the SunRoof, and the on board computer is actually useful.. another thing I got hooked on from my '85 GTI.

Leatherette all the way. I actually would have preferrred cloth, but I figgured Leatherette was more stain resistant, and I can get seat covers.

I got cold package becasue of the winters here. Actually, the heated seats are great, but I got the package becasue the heated washer jets and mirrors weren't available separately.

Also, I plan to have this car for a very long time. SO I might have gone with a few extras, but this is NOT just a toy. it is ALSO a toy. I figgure, in 10 years I'll strip all of the extra weight out of it and make it as racer. Yeah.

 

I ordered a Plain Jane MCS with fog lamps and the DSC. I am also getting the dealer installed driving lamps. The standard configuration has all the goodies I need. I view most of the other options as added weight, potential problems, and collectors of road grime and corrosion fostering agents. If I need the NAV to know where I am I shouldn't be there. The Mini experience should be one of motoring!!

 

>>I'm probably the only MINI owner to have done this, but I bought everything in the sports package EXCEPT the 17" wheels. Granted, theI paid roughly $35 less for all that stuff than if I had gotten the package with the 17s, but I didn't want them. I think the 16" wheels look better on the S, and also, I have bad PA roads to deal with, and wanted more rubber to protect me and my rims.
>>

I was ALMOST like you. I didn't want the larger tires, BUT, I think the 16" 'S' Wheels are hideous. So I got the whole sports package. I LOVE the look of the 17's but didn't need to have larger wheels, just wanted prettier ones.

Not on dark silver, but on some MCS colors, the 16" do look ok, IMO.

 

>>I was ALMOST like you. I didn't want the larger tires, BUT, I think the 16" 'S' Wheels are hideous. So I got the whole sports package. I LOVE the look of the 17's but didn't need to have larger wheels, just wanted prettier ones.
>>
>>Not on dark silver, but on some MCS colors, the 16" do look ok, IMO.


Hey, to each his own! That's what makes MINI great!

And I agree.. i think the 16s look much better on dark colours.