Hi I'm Matt and I'm new here, and I was interested in buying a MINI. I'll be graduating from Massage therapy school in about nine months, so I figured I'd be making enough money around then to get a decent car. I want to get a MINI cooper S automatic transmission with the whole GPS and park assist thing. I just wanted to hear some opinions as to how worth it it woulod be, I was just curious ast to how reliable it is, the quality of the car, and anything I shoud know before I buy it, because its a European car, and that means serious maintenance bills, so I would appreciate hearing different opinions from different ppl, also any opinions on how the dealer installed GPS and park assist is, and if it would be worth it to ger the upgraded sound system.

Thanks in advance,
Matt

 

If you need the park assist in a MINI, there's no amount of help in the world for you!

You get free maintenance (oil changes and the like) up to 36,000 miles. Also, the MINI uses synthetic oil so you don't need to change the oil nearly as often as normal oil.

 

i wont lie to you matt.. our beloved MINI's are buggy. some people have problems, some don't.

how much more is the parking assist? is it worth it? it's a pretty tiny car... is the sunroof worth it? do you need the sport package? how much is the GPS? is that worth it to you? im just throwing stuff out there... you can get the "S" bone stock and get a real good deal. or get what you want and pay for it, only you will be as satisfied as your wallet can handle

good luck

 

Get everything. And then you'll realize that you really didn't get everything (because of all the aftermarket stuff). Then you'll try to get everything. (sure we all say, "oh, just one mod won't hurt!"). You'll go broke, you'll spend all of your time on NAM, you'll lose your friends, your job, your family, but somehow you won't care.
The addiction can get ugly. I thought someone should tell you before you get behind the wheel!

 

You need help ? YOU ??

Go check out the Obsessive Compulsive MINI Owners Thread and you'll see some people who REALLY need help !

 

Every car comes with a warranty. If you live close to a MINI dealer, then you are easily covered if there are problems. If it is a lemon, then you are protected by the law. If it has more than its share of problems during the warranty time, then sell it once the warranty expires. These days, all cars are expensive to fix, period.

My 2003 MCS has had some occasional minor issues, my wife's 2006 Cooper has been absolutely flawless in 10k miles and has never been to the dealer for anything.

By the time you are ready to order your MINI, you'll be ordering the newly re-designed version, so we just don't know anything about reliability at this point.

Do consider which options you really want/need. My 2003 MCS is almost fully loaded and my wife's 2006 Cooper has only the specific options that we wanted after having experience with my car. If only I had known how annoying the auto AC and sunroof were and how much better the leatherette is over the expensive but cheap quality leather. . . .

 

you gotta got with the cold weather pack depending on where you live, and you really dont need the parking assist thing, these cars are not ford expeditions

 

I don't know if it's still this way. When I got my 2004 MCS, I decided I needed a seat with adjustable lumbar support (back problems). My MA told me I had to get leather seats. Told him I didn't want leather, just adjustable lumbar support. After much discussion, I agreed to purchase the lumbar support and get the free leather, although the MA still thinks I ordered leather seats to get the free lumbar support.

 

Hey I just got a 2004 MCS with leather and I don't have that lumbar support. Or maybe I just don't know how to work it, but there's no little **** on the seat like the manual says there would be! I'm feeling ripped off here :(

 

it's the "dial" on your right side (if youre driving)

 

Ya I know where it "should" be, but I have nothing there, and I have leather seats so now I'm not sure if I was supposed to have it there or not. The lumbar support is a little to stiff for my liking and I would love to turn it down a notch.

 

Hey Matt I'm in the same boat you are.......research and decisions. Even though they said they are buggy...I still want one.

 

I say definately do the NAV system so that you don't have to worry about taking a portable on out of the car. I've never had a prob with the NAV. I've got the Cold Weather, Premium, the Sports Pac, and the Park Dis. Control. I definately wouldn't get rid of any of the pacs but if I had to I could do without the park dis. control. It's nice to have but like someone else said these are Expeditions so it's not a must have. I see people complain about the Auto Climate Control all the time but personnally I see nothing wrong with it. I also say get the letherette. Make sure you also check out the Trunk Monkey system.

 

I got the park distance control on mine, and I am glad I did. It's just one of those things that's nice to have and may come in handy. I think in a few years it'll be like power locks, practically every new car will have it.

 

I'm visually impaired, so I think the GPS and Park Dist. Ctrl are kinda must haves, but how do u guys rate the upgraded sound system? is it really good? my main concern is bass, its gotta have good bass, my mom has a mark levinson system in her lexus and it has very crisp sound and lots of base so I figured since the MINI is kina an expensive car, its stereo upgrade would be pretty good

 

I definately agree, the only reason why I considered not getting one is cuz my mom was gonna give me her Lexus GS 300 (2003) but she changed her mind, but I'm glad cuz the MINI is sportier looking anyways

 

You would probably save money and get a better sounding system if you bought good aftermarket components.

 

Are you sure you have leather and not leatherette?

 

I've got the hk upgrade and I love it... lots of bass and decent sound. Can you get a cheaper and/or better aftermarket system? you bet.

Also, if you order a convertible in 2007 you will get the same body design as the 2006... just a thought