After nearly a year of hanging out here I'm within spitting distance of ordering. On March 3rd I'll be ordering Baxter and I just was wondering if there are any suggestions/warnings to be given.

I've tossed and turn on the "to S or not to S" question and I think I'll go with an S, but I have to builds two choose from even though I lean more heavily on the S.

1st Choice
MCSa
HB/W
Cold Weather
DSC
White V-spokes
front and rear fog lamps
Xenons
Gray Letherette
Chorme Line Interior
Body Color Dash
OBC (possibly a droppable item)
MFSW
Aux. Input (for my older creative mp3 player that would make an excellent on board music player)

2nd choice
MCa
HB/S
Cold Weather
Checkmate
SS+
both fog lamps
Xenons
chrome line interior
OBC (same as above)
MFSW
Aux. Input port.
(the above MCa is if I want to save $$, but if I want to bring it up to close to my MCSa price the below are closely considered options)
JCW Sound Kit
H/K
armrest
antricite headliner

What do you think (please no flame wars about auto vs. manual...I've struggled over that one for long enough) about what I have here? Anything jump out as an incredibly bad idea? I lean on the S because I like the power and the paddles are really cool , but I like the MC for the fuel enconomy, price, and possible extras. Anyone have the JCW Sound Kit? Was it worth the cash? I've heard mixed things about the H/K. Not going to be a track junkie (don't we all start off like that ), but I'll do a few and I love to cruise and I love a car that can go when I want it to, stop when I need to, and handles like it was on rails.

 

Deuce, car number one seems like a very nice spec to me. I think the white wheels look great on a HB/W car, but they are a bear to keep clean. A friend of mine has them on a CR/W & he told me before I bought mine not to get them. The white roof to me would look better than HB/S. Either way you spec it you'll end up with a great car.

 

I would think that the sport exhaust would be an upgrade from stock but still is half as much as the JCW sound package.

Everything else looks cool though. When it comes down to it just get the one that you like to drive more.

 

#1

add Xenons please that is it.

 

Get the S! You'll love it. I love mine with the paddles.

 

You know if you really want an "s" and will drive it hard, you might wanna get the LSD....I can feel the difference in when I drive canyons.

But the car rocks no matter what, you'll be happy with either.

 

#1

 

#1

You're so close to the Sport Pkg.... I know it has the 17s, but you could always sell them, etc. And I'd have to agree with Crashton, the white rims look great when they're clean our breaks let off a lot of dust!

What dealer are you working with?

 

#1 looks good!
Don't forget the Euro shelf! I also love my boot box.
Wax the wheels, and swap pads if you can't deal with the brake dust!
P.S. If you're cheap, get the Aux from Classic - it's a two minute install if you don't mount it, which is pointless since you have to plug a male/male cable to connect a player anyway.

 

Get the S and add the LSD

 

Choice A. I'm a fan of the body colour dash and chrome line instruments.
And get a manual ;-) I had an auto for years and was reeeeally happy when I got my MCS with the six speed. FUN!

 

wow, March 3rd seemed so far away a while back :P
The only opinion i'll give is if you're going to get silver roof, get space blue. HB/W looks like a better combo.
But since i have a pretty stripped down Cooper, i can't give an opinion on anything on your lists... because the only thing i have on either of them is a white roof... and i like my white roof :P

 

Naw, HB/S rules

 

If you got white wheels, especially if you get snow, be prepared to spend your free time cleaning them. Even my MA said to forget about them ... they look great on the showroom floor, terrible after a few days. (And yes I am sure there are many white wheel owners out there who may be happy).

 

You have decided to get an automatic so you def need to get the MCS. If you were considering a manual you could get by w/the MC but if automatic the S is a must.

My dealer gave me an automatic non-S as a loaner car & it was so slow it was scary. I was scared to change lanes on the interstate & scared to pull out in traffic in the MCa.

 

If you go with the MC, be sure to consider get the sports package. When I bought my MC (way back in '02) the sports package got me sport seats (a must), 16" wheels, and DSC. It's a bargain!

 

Go with #1...

but add+
the anthracite headliner... .SO worth the extra $200
the xenons... you wont know how you lived without them!
and the silver roof! it looks FANTASTIC! (and wheels)

 

White wheels: I am more concerned about how the car looks clean, if it is dirty I obviously am not as concerned at the time of how spectacular it looks. A friend of mine got some aftermarket white rims for his IB/W MC and it just looks spectacular. For the snow I plan on getting some cheap rims and a set of snow tires.

LSD: Nice thought, but these are auto trannies. If I get a manual the LSD will be a must.

Xenons: already on both cars

Spt. Package: No, on the S I really don't like any rims besides the web spokes (another 500 big ones) and I've heard bad thing about the rides. I actually like the v-spokes and it saves me money so that is that. On the MCa I am not going to get it because I have the checkmate package there and the checkmate is basically the spt. and then some. It does include sport seats.

colors: I am a huge fan of HB...more so of IB but that isn't an option. SB is nice, but a tad dark for my tastes. HB/S would be a secondary choice and if I could I'd get the checkmate in HB/W and ditch the checkerboard side things. I really like the stronger contrast of white roof, mirrors, and wheels to the body.

Anth. headliner: I think it is weird for me to be one of the few who isn't exactly wanting the anth. headliner. I like the typical light grey because I reflects light better and illuminates the interrior.

Dealer: I'm going to get Baxter from D&R in Indy.

 

I think the bottom line is that after a year of lurking, thinking, deliberating and configurating...

You pretty much know what you want!

Enjoy your new car!

 

#1, the paddles are great, you'll love it (and I'm with you on the stronger contrast, the white really pops!). Contrast is the same reason I'd go with the black 'ette vs the grey if you are getting the matching dash - it will be a better backdrop for all of the color in there and more cohesive since you are already going light with the headliner (which I personally much prefer dark too, but no need to go over that if you like the grey ). But in any case its your car so get what makes ya happy, the spec sounds nice

PS: the other night i was admiring again how the chromeline interior catches the light and creates cool highlights. colors and light movement, good choice

 

I'll throw in my support for the standard headliner. I like the light colored top half and dark bottom half inside. We can just be the rebels. We don't need no stinkin anthracite headliner!

 

I agree you on the HB/W, the contrast is what makes it for me. Those white wheels will look great. But for me I'm too lazy to keep at them I guess.

As far as the anthracite headliner goes, to me it make the interior far too dark. Also that $200 up charge for the black mouse fur vs free for the blonde mouse fur made the decision easy for me.

 

sounds like an auto version of my car... to the t. I do wish I had gotten the white wheels too, so go for it. I don't have the OBC and don't miss it, so if you have to cut a corner go for it. if you want to see any pictures of that spec, just let me know what you haven't seen before and I'll get my camera out.

 

stock headliner =

 

#2, if only you could get the LSD at least go for the JCW though