Sorry for the glum header, but it's true. My beloved 2004 MINI Cooper, purchased in a Bay Area group buy, has been declared totaled.

I am determined to replace it with a new one, but I've not been keeping in touch with the latest news. Could you kind souls help me out? I know I'm not getting the convertible, but other than that, what do I need to know before setting out to the dealerships? What is the feeling about the automatic S?

I promise to use the search function thoroughly, but I feel like I'm starting from scratch again!

 

Well unless you are buying used or manage to find a new 06 to your liking you will be getting a whole different Mini. Whether the new Mini is good, bad, or meeh is for you to decide. Good luck though (& there are tons of threads on the new Mini in the 2007 section of the forum)

 

I guess you first need to decide if you want the new 2007 or the 2002-2006 version. You can probably get a good deal off the lot for an 06'. The good - you can drive it off immediately, the bad - yor limited to those on the lots right now.

An 07 is a different ballgame alltogether, can't help you there...

 

Look into both the 2002-2006 and the 2007! But nah - no automatic. If you're getting the S, gotta have the manual tranny...

 

sorry to hear your news, but glad you are staying "in the family"

i have an 06 MCS 6-speed and this past weekend I briefly drove both an 07 automatic cooper and a 07 6-speed MCS. I have to say, as much as I've grown to like the design refinements of the 07, I wasn't crazy about the driving experience. the 6-speed felt somewhat sluggish out of first gear, although people say it really goes after 3 or 4 (more so than the current engine). I also missed the supercharger whine.

however, the sport button is very cool. the steering is much more responsive with it on.

didn't love the automatic, but again, for both of these, I didn't test drive them very long, so it's hard to be objective about them.

I think one day i will own an 2nd gen MINI, but it will be a few years. and I may go to an automatic if I move to a heavy traffic area... so that should probably be part of your decision.

one thing i love though, is the new push button start. i'd almost buy an 07 just for that feature!

I know my local dealer is discounting their cars some (but not a lot). and they have a lot of 06s still on their lot, so you'd think they'd discount more.

I think you should test drive an 07 and then decide if its the car for you or if you want to search out an 06 that you like. even if it is at a dealer far away from you, it might be an adventure to go pick it up and drive it home.

 

The feeling about the automatic S is great, plenty of people love it, when you search I'm sure you'll find a lot of info (fwiw we've had both a manual and the auto MCS and enjoyed both). If you take one on a test drive be sure to use manual mode and really wind it up, choose gears and work the paddles to get the best feel - the software won't adapt to your style on a short drive but you can get a fairly good feel (although, for us, the car definately felt better after we drove it for awhile as compared to the test drive).

In any case, if you want the supercharged R53 I guess you'll first need to figure out what colors and options/equipment is important to you and then call around to see what is available. I think there is still a good stock left and you can get deals. If you want the R56 you are probably better off ordering it spec'd exactly as you want, so there will be a wait and you should be able to get it at MSRP - I have not idea how the cost compares to the R53 overall or per option but once you configure one you can get an idea of the base price.

And with any car purchase make sure they give you a contract with the agreed on out the door price without any funny fees. Good luck, I'm sur eyou'll love whatever you get

 

I duno if anyone realized this, but the convertible is still the 06 design..... at least what I read at miniusa... shrugs?

 

Yes, this has been discussed in depth. The convertible was not introduced until 2004, so it has 2 more years to go before its makeover.