Hey guys, my MINI hasn't gone into production just quite yet. That anthracite headliner looks pretty neat, but I don't really want to pay that much extra for a color that should be free. I was thinking there are some other things on my MINI that I really might not need.

1) The armrest. Does it really help a lot with casual driving and sitting in traffic? I've barely driven a manual transmission before, so I'm not too familiar when my arm might use that armrest.

2) The premium package. Let me first say, I definately want the moonroof. I'll probably never use the buttons on the steering wheel, but do I even get cruise control if I don't get it on the steering wheel? The onboard computer looks neat, but how useful is it? And any opinions on the automatic AC vs the manual AC? The automatic AC does look pretty classy.

Thanks,
Jonathan

 

Don't know about the armrest, but many have commented that it's too flimsy.

Get the MFSW, it well worth it. Stereo control without taking your hands off the wheel.

Auto Climate? Don't know, I have manual. It's fine, but the cabin air temp can change when you go from really hard driving, creating lots of heat, to just cruising. I myself don't like auto temp, as it can put the AC on, and if the AC is on when you stop the car, you can get condensation in the ducts, and the car can start to smell furry pretty fast. In my MDX, the first thing I do with the Auto Climate is click AC off! Since my Mini climate control in manual, I don't know how bad the effect is in the Mini.

But in a sense, we're opposites. I didn't get the sun-roof. I hate them (on all cars). On my MDX it gets to be a source of road noise at speeds over 75-80. And it adds weight at about the worst place possible. But for truth in advertising, one of my other cars is a rag-top, so I can get that "feeling" in my Mustang!

Whatever you do, you'll be happy. But I really do reccomend the MFSW.

On board computer? I have it and the nav system. It's nice, but my MPG calculations have been off since I got the car. I've fought with the dealer on this, and they insist that a 30% plus MPG error is normal. So if you do get it, I've found that mini only tells me when I'm doing better or worse with milage, but I have to do odometer math at fill ups to get a good number.

Matt

 

1) I can't imagine the armrest being too much of a good thing, but then again I can't really comment because I don't have one. I just think that it would get in my way.

2) The OBC is nice if you care about your range, keeping track of your MPG, or have trouble reading the really small numbers on the center speedometer... (insert obvious sarcasm)

The automatic climate control was a necessity for me. I don't want to be worrying about my temperature when I'm motoring. I hate figiting with little nobbies trying to get the temperature where I like it. (i'm too hot... **figit figit**... now i'm too cold... **figit figit**... now i'm too hot again... etc.) Also, if you are getting a moon/sun roof, I love how it does a relatively good job of keeping the temperature in the cabin when you get that odd urge to open the roof in 35 degree weather.

I promote the premium package all the way!

 

I think the MFSW is a must... without it you don't have any cruise control... which is a shame in a 22k+ car. The only problem is that if you get MFSW and sunroof you're in about the same money as the whole premium package. As for needing auto climate control or obc... I don't have either and don't miss them. I've heard a lot of people mention annoyances or problems with the auto climate control and the obc is notoriously inaccurate. I would be doing the math anyway, so I just left it off. Keep in mind though that on a message board those that have problems will surface more than the hundreds of people that have an option working just fine for them. I know I have no problems with the manual temp system, but I'm sure the auto system works great for a lot of people too.

 

My wife's '05 MCSa doesn't have the arm rest and I missed it enough to order it on my '06 MCS. I don't think the arm rest is flimsy (you rest your arm on it, you don't stand on it) but the latch on it is loose enough that you can unintentionally open it quite easily. When I get in my wife's car, I just about flop over as I tend to immediately put my weight on the arm rest in getting into a car.

Definitely get the MFSW - the buttons for the radio control are great although I wish that it had a button to switch between radio and CD. The cruise control buttons on the wheel are nice too.

The one negative on the auto AC is the loss of control on fan speed when you turn the front defroster on - for some reason the Brits insist on running this at the maximum fan speed and it CANNOT be turned down (turning down the fan speed turns off the defroster!).

I believe the onboard computer on both MINIs are relatively accurate but you can certainly live without it.

After living with the gauges in my wife's MINI (the standard gauge package), I ordered mine with the chrono package and would highly recommend it. I'm not a fan of a centrally mounted speedo and I like the oil pressure and oil temperature gauges.

 

Armrest....no.

Sunroof...no. Unless you really want one, which I believe you do. It's heavy, let's heat in, but far be it from me to argue w/ anybody craving some open-air motoring. That's good stuff. There's times I wish I had one and times I'm glad I don't. My Cooper is pretty light and the sunroof would compromise that, but the main reason is that I just don't like that the sunroof is semi-transparent. The sun around here is a killer, at least for me.

MFSW...most would say yes and I respect that. I don't have one, but I'm pretty old school about things like this. I never, ever use cruise (had it on several cars) and reaching my finger a few inches to reach the CD player hasn't given me any dread diseases. It is a cool unit, though, from what I hear....for me it's pretty useless.

OBC...nope. I don't have this either but it seems notoriously inaccurate. So what's the point? Everything I need to see is on the guages.

Auto AC....no. Heard too many complaints. I like it plain, straightforward, and simple.

Obviously, these comments are from a possibly extreme position. I play hardball w/ the whole want/need thing, but in the end my MINI is exactly what I want, and that's what it's all about anyway, right?

Good luck w/ your decisions!!!

 

I have:

1) Armrest (early all-black euro-MINI version). Helpful on a trip as an elbow rest. Useful on a daily basis for storing stuff in an easy to get at location. Worth the $$$ price...nope! Go aftermarket if you really want one. They're a cinch to install.

2) Sunroof. I don't usually race the MINI and I live in the fairly modest climes of the NE US, so I opted for a sunroof. Its wide expanse makes the interior feel large and bright.

However, I'd think twice about this if you live in the far SE, S or SW US. Also, as Matt writes, if you are going to autox/track the car, it is a lot of weight in exactly the worst place.

3) MFSW. No brainer. Get it; you'll wonder why you even questioned the decision after about 5 or 6 hours of MINI ownership!

4) OBC. I like it for only one reason: I can see my speed and RPMs with one glance. Sometimes I use the "miles to go" readout if I am low on gas. Never use the MPG since I calculate pump data.

5) Auto Climate Control. Wouldn't get this again. I have to turn off the AC quite often since I live in a moderate climate and gas prices are rather high (compared to the $0.37 a gallon to fill up my new 1966 Mustang).

Not so. On my 2004, I can press and hold the defrost button for several seconds and have complete fan control of the defrost mode...try it!

Other recommendations:

6) Front mud flaps. I know...sounds dorky but they are very subtle and do a fantastic job keeping dirt and stuff from splashing on the door panels. Pass on the rear flaps, however.

7) Ian Cull's Auto Up circuit. Auto-up windows: MINI should have activated them as standard in the US, but for legal reasons they did not. Ian Cull (www.gbmini.net) designed the original unit that is famous among MINI owners far and wide. He does have a few left but get to him right now!

I'm sure others will chime in about radios (HK vs. std vs. aftermarket) and other doo-dads.

Theo

 

If you are going with the anthracite trim and dark colored seats, which is what I have; Get the headliner if want a really sporty feeling interior - I love mine! I was on a tight budget, but made room for it and almost two months into ownership I’m really glad I did. I do not have a sunroof, but a dark headliner should also make for a nice frame of the view.

I did not get the auto a/c and do not regret it, but do wonder sometimes how cool it would be. For me MFSW is a must; cruise control acts like a speed control. I also really like the radio controls as the little **** on the radio is not the easiest to find/use quickly, and it is really nice to keep your hands on the wheel.

What I have heard on the armrest is you better try it out as depending on your seat position, arm length, torso height etc., it can get in the way. My MA did not recommend it and I did not get it.

 

High gas prices? In norway we have to pay around $1.77 for a liter (98 octain)

 

is the little man with the up arrow also the windscreen vents?

I was confused at first about that too, but then i realized that
a) the defroster is meant to defrost the windows as fast as possible. hence the ludicrus speed of the fan
b) the defroster and the button with the little man and the up arrow utilize the same vents.

**scrounges to find picture...**

here's one:

 

Dear God! That's almost $6.75 a gallon!!!
And we complain about 2.50-2.75 a gallon...

whoa...

 

AMEN Brother rhawth99 PREACH ON! I wish that there was a way to reprogram the bluetooth buttons to change from radio to CD to aux mode.

 

We're just pansies when it comes to energy costs. It's easy to be addicted to something if you're habit doesn't cost much....
I bet if we paid $6 a gallon, there'd be a lot less suburbans on the road. And more Coopers would sell, as a percentage of all Minis sold....

Matt

 

Heck at D&R in Indy, if you want a MC you have to order one. Everything they have in stock is MCS or MCSC

 

I should probably also add, I'm getting the auxilary audio input. So I won't be able to control any MP3 player by the MFSW with that (except for volume). If cruise control is really worth it, then I should probably get the MFSW.

 

If you got the ipod adapter instead (and an ipod, obviously) you could control song selection as well as volume via the MFSW. The aux input is a crude solution, IMHO.

 

Now, press that button for about 3 or 4 seconds and you will be able to use the fan controls to reduce the airflow from "Hurricane Mode" winds down to a gentle breeze. But if you only press it for a second, it defalts to "Hurricane Mode"!

FWIW,

Theo

 

I have the auto A/C and I like it. A long time ago, I had a Cadillac and I always liked how I could dial up a desired temerature and not have to mess with it every few minutes. I think it's great. My other cars require continuous fiddling to maintain a constant comfortable temperature.

The MFSW is a neat option, and the only way to get cruise control.

The OBC is not that great, but it's not a hinderance either.

Rawhyde

 

One more opinion:

1. Sunroof ... a waste and heavy.
2. armrest ... not needed
3. Cruise ... waste ... luxary
4. Buttons for radio of steering wheel ... how often do you really change the station???
5. Auto AC ... waste ... you cant tell how cold it is in the car?
6. OBC ...USE it all the time to show speed ... never look at the real Speedo. Also good to show outside temp in the winter.

 

Hi Jonathan,

I just ordered a couple of weeks ago and had similar considerations. Here's what/why happened with me. Basically I just thought of my habits :

armrest: considred it because you can put stuff in it without having to reach for the glovebox, but didn't care enough. A friend has a rubber MINI catch tray that fits perfectly between the two seats so you can put little things in it. I like that. Otherwise don't need to rest my arm.

OBC: I got it because I really like that it tells me the speed and how long i can go after the low on gas light comes on ... (this might cause some rants.. but it's saved me once on another car so i really appreciate the little feature)

Premium Package:

(1) I really wanted the moonroof for the 'aquarium feel' .. I commuted with a friend in a MINI for a year and he had it. I don't like them on most other cars but this one is really nice and big. I had BMW 323 where I never cared about the sunroof . I didn't open it a single time that I can remember. But when I got into a MINI without one, it felt kinda claustrophobic . We have a Mercedes C230 Kompressor coupe that has a panoramic sunroof that goes nearly all the way and I Loooooove that on it , more for the visibility/light/view than for opening it .. I think it depends on the car .. People who sit in the backseat also really appreciate it because i think it psychologically makes the back seat feel roomier

(2) MFSW : I couldn't care enough. I also got the aux plug even though i have an ipod becuase I like the ipod interface (the ipod adapter forces pre-created playlists). I've *never* used cruise control.

(3) The auto AC: The BMW 323 had it and so does the C230 Kompressor. If it's cold, I get in and blast the heat till I get warm then i drop it down again. Maybe that's not the optimal behavior, but i can't help it (ie: what I really do versus what i should ideally do) ... I've never used the 'you can be warm but i can be cold' split cabin feature. Don't know whether the MINI's auto AC offers that too but that's useless fo me. So I decided i don't care about the auto AC either ..

So I decided to just trade it off for stuff i really did want (chrome interior, spoiler, silver bonnet stripe, etc).. I ordered the moonroof on its own from the Premium pkg, and only the DSC and the spoiler from the sports package

my .02

 

hm... thats odd... mine never defaults to "blow your pants off" mode... only a tap takes it to normality

 

I've always used the actual defroster button (on the right half of the AUTO button) to defrost. I will have to try the outlined button next time for my defrosting needs. I guess that was what was confusing me - don't know why the outlined button isn't labelled with the industry standard defroster symbol if that is what it is. British-German humor I guess . Thanks for the clarification.

 

You'll love the Multi Functional Steering Wheel. I hesitated to get the premium package too, but I wanted the moon roof so I did it. Now, I can't live without the MFSW. It's great!

 

I wouldn't be comfortable in the mini during my 90 minute commute w/ out an arm rest.

I'm 6'2" and need somewhere to put my arms! I agree the stock is flimsy, IF you're trying to use it to get in/out of the seat or elevate your derrier to "adjust" things, however it doesn't flex at all w/ the weight of my arm on it, whihc is what I use it for

 

I have aux input for my PDA that I use as digital player - I like the MFSW volume control to raise and lower as I get on and off the highway.

I don't have OBC and I have the speed or temp right in front of me on tach. How does having OBC change that?