I did some searching, and I don't know if it is because my search terms are too common (leather, wheels, stereo, etc) that I couldn't find what I was looking for. I'd really like to get people's opinions on certain items and help get the MINI I'd like to order finalized. My apologies if this belongs someplace else or I missed my search. I know how that can really T off some people sometimes

Let me start off by saying I currently drive a 1st generation Miata. I've been looking all over for a car that gives me nearly the same driving feel as my Miata, but with more room, comfort, ability to actually make airport pickups, etc. Essentially a slightly more practical Miata that is still just as fun when I wanna go for a romp. I keep coming back to 2 cars. The MINI and the Acura TSX. I'm leaning MINI as it is closest to the Miata, however, the TSX offers more "goodies" for about the same price as my MINI would, and it is still quite zippy and nimble while giving a better freeway ride. I would get TSX with navigation and it comes with leather. Same price, a MINI would be with cloth and no-nav. The TSX value proposition is very pulling, but my emotions tell me to get the car I think is more fun. At 26 and single, and a Miata driver, that would be the MINI.

1) 16" vs 17" wheels. I don't really care all that much, except the 17's fill the well better and I like the style a bit better. I remember the old car, the 17's were heavy as hell and really gave a punishing ride. Is it the same here, or is it safe to actually order the 17's? I'm not planning to get the sport suspension, but I still want something that doesn't plow when really pushed. I'd like to get the 17's but if the ride and handling are better on the 16's, I'll get those.

2) DSC + Limited Slip. I gotta have the LSD. DSC is a good safety feature. However, it seems like these two items would sorta cancel each other out, am I right? For the LSD to actually work, I need some wheel spin. But if I get wheel spin, then the DSC will kick in. Is there any point in both? If not, which one do I choose? I got the LSD on the Miata and it does make a difference. But with DSC, maybe there's no point....

3) Seating Surfaces. I don't mind the cloth, but as always, leather just feels much more upscale. But it is freakin EXPENSIVE. I can't believe I've optioned up a MINI to $26-$27K and it doesn't have leather. I know it is all personal, but what's your take on comfort, durability, and making the car feel more special when you get in? I'd be happy with cloth, but I wonder if I'd always regret not throwing down for the leather.

4) Upgrade Stereo. I like listening to my tunes, but I don't need the best system on earth. I haven' heard the 10 speaker system yet, but what's the take here? Noticably better than the stock? Is the stock pretty good?

4a) Sirius. I gotta have this. I will never go back. So I was leaning towards the (delayed until June) Audio Package. Does anyone have an idea on the likely cost of this? If the upgrade stereo is $550 alone, you have to figure they're gonna tack some more on top of that for the Sirius + HD radio. If it is a ton of money, it might not be worth waiting. If I don't wait, can I add Sirius to either the base or upgrade stereo currently available (I could care less about the HD radio). What's the Sirius unit cost from the dealership? This is really the big one since if I want the package I gotta wait till june, otherwise I can order right away.

5) Bluetooth. I did find some info on this. I want the armrest anyway, so for $400 it seems like a decent system. Does it work well (the TSX bluetooth is fantastic)?

6) Color/Paint. I'm leaning toward the red/white roof/white bonnet stripes. Always loved that combo! Does the non-metallic paint need different care or fade any better or worse? I like some of the blues too, but then more money

I think that's about it. Any help/recommendations/personal experiences with getting something and thinking it was a waste or not getting something and wish you had are very much appreciated. I hate to admit it, but that TSX just offers so much for the price that it is sometimes hard to know the MINI is the right choice. But I know it is a car I will smile when I see it. I see myself forming a bond with it that no amount of comfort or gagets could make up for. Just kind frustrating to have to pay more for a MINI with less stuff. The Acura is certainly still on my list (and I narrowed it down after driving EVERYTHING similar).

I apologize for the long post and if I made any mistakes in post location or my searches.

 

I came from an Accord, you came from a Miata, yet we both narrowed it down to the same two cars as our next vehicle; the TSX or the MINI. But for me, the TSX was very much a back up in case I drove the MINI (which I have been lusting after since 2001) and did not like it. I drove it, loved it and ordered one. After owning 5 Honda products in a row I figured there was no sense in driving the TSX ...I knew what to expect.

But, I did not know what to expect from the MINI and it was soooooooooo different from any of my Honda's ...it was more fun, way cooler, more involving ...and at the risk of sounding hokey, it was a more emotional experience. Done deal.

As for your questions:

1. I went with the 17" based on looks alone.

2. Excellent question. I got both and hope thats not a bad thing.

3. One word ...leatherette. Trust me.

4. I sell audio gear for a living, so I bought the upgrade system without listening to either system. No mater how good the basic system is, I'm assuming the upgrade is better ...and better works for me.

4a. I would think this could be added later.

5. I don't know.

6. I don't know about the fading, but I love that combo.

Yes, the MINI has less "stuff" than the TSX ...but it has way more soul.

Best of luck to you.

dean.

 

Hi there.

I have a MCSa on order, being built this weekend. Should be headed to the shipyard on Tuesday or so. i can't speak from experience, but I've done quite a bit of research on some of this stuff, and I'm glad to share after having so many others on here do the same for me. NAM is a great internet community... welcome!

1) My understanding is that the 17" with the regular suspension handles well and maintains a good level of comfort. I've heard with sports suspension, the 16" are a good balance, but if you're getting SS, most people will go for the bigger tires as well, and the drop in ride quality.

In short, I understand the suspension to be tuned to the runflats, and are a much more comfortable ride with any runflat tires than the later R53s.


2) No idea. LSD isn't available with an auto.

3) I went with the Tuscan Beige Leather seats. $1700. I've sat in them, and they seem very nice. The lounge leather is even nicer, but I'm not sure without extended use if one is more worth the cost than the other. The Lounge gets rave reviews, and I haven't heard much about the "standard" leather (the Gravity Tuscan and the Punch Carbon) finishes, but what I've heard is also good. I wanted the beige because in Florida, a light interior can mean the difference between a 90 or 110 degree interior temperature after your car sits out in the parking lot all day...


4) I've heard good things about the HiFi from the folks at Mini2.com, where they've had these for a while. Some expect the impossible from a car audio systemm, but most people seem happy.

4a) Sirius: Me too... But I bought now without waiting because Sirius isn't available until June, and the subscription is lifetime but tied to the car's VIN. I'd rather just get the Sirius installed and get service from Sirius and pay for their lifetime option, which can follow me to my next car, instead of being locked into the car. Plus I can get an add-on subscription for use at work or something. Details about the plan aren't out yet, and there's the XM merger as well that may come into play. The ala carte options were priced, I think at: HiFi $550, Sirius $900, HiDef Radio $400. That's from memory, I may be wrong.

5) Bluetooth. I have heard this is great, IF your phone works with it. If you plug your phone into the armrest, the car has an external antenna that boosts the signal and will also charge the phone. The sound quality in the car and for the person on the other end of the call is said to be VERY good.

6) Color/Paint. Red and Silver body colors seem pretty common. I went with Lightning Blue w/white stripes. Very personal, I always like the way the red looks though.

I hope that helps. I'm upgrading form a Honda Civic... I expect it to be an upgrade well worth the wait, and the money. Enjoy.

 

Jerome, one of my best friends has a TSX 6 speed and I absolutely loves the way it drives. The car is pretty quick and the handling is excellent. And the price is great for what you get, a 4 seater with tons of standard equipments. However, keep in mind you are really getting an Honda Accord (as in Japan and Europe) as much as they try to sell the car up here in the US. So you have to decide rather you think $30K is the right price for an Accord.
Now on with the questions
1) I aggree with what jmelrose says, I do think the 17" looks better with R56

2) DSC can be turned off via a button press

3) I have the lounge leather but when I saw the leatherette at the Auto show I thought it was real leather. So I think that's a potential option

4) At the Mini2.com forum everyone seems to have nice thing to say about the HiFi upgrade. I myself did not get the option.

4a) Not a fan of radio so can't help you here.

5) Bluetooth. What jmelrose says

6) Color/Paint. Nice color choice

I think the Mini has more personality and character and that's why I will vote for a Mini

 

Welcome, Jerome81! NAM has been a godsend for me throughout my Mini ordering/waiting experience.

One thing before I get into the details - I, too, was teetering between the Mini and the TSX. Two things made the decision for me: the test drive (I'm coming from an Accord, so this blew my mind), and what reelsmith mentioned about the soul of the Mini.

1) The 17" wheels are not going to make or break your driving experience. The difference in ride comfort, from what I hear, is negligible. I absolutely LOVE the crown spokes, and agree with the 17's being better from a scale perspective. I ended up with 16's because I had already specc'd the heck out of my Mini and couldn't justify the cost (for both the wheels and eventually replacing the tires).

2) The DSC is a nice safety feature. I'd definitely recommend the LSD. Unless you're an absolute maniac on the road, DSC isn't a necessity.

3) I chose the checkered cloth upholstery - probably because I've always had cloth. The leatherette is excellent. If you're going to go leather, go all out for the Lounge. When I sat in the Redwood Lounge leather at the launch event I didn't want to get up. My only issue with leather (or the leatherette) is that when it's hot the seats are scorching, when it's cold they're freezing, and they do not breathe. My back was super sweaty after a quick test drive. Ick.

4) If you enjoy music, the upgrade is an absolute must.

4a) I'd get the aftermarket Sirius setup. More flexible, and you don't have to pay an arm and a leg for a lifetime subscription (a little overkill, imho).

5) I rarely use my phone for talking (texting mostly), so Bluetooth would've been silly for me. I've heard great things about it, however.

6) I chose CR because it's a classic Mini color. Best red ever. I was leaning heavily towards the Laser Blue. Looks super-duper with white roof/stripes/wheels. (Crown spokes, of course ). Choose a color that makes you smile.

Good luck with your configurating! It's a long, arduous, yet supremely fulfilling process.

 

Exactly my sentiment - and why I chose the Laser Blue with white roof/stripes/wheels. I continue to have minor misgivings just because I know it'll be a chore keeping the wheels clean but - I smile everytime I see pictures with that combo so I'm going for it.

I went with the sport package (which is oddly non sport related, IMHO), and researched the options in that package considerably. DSC has pros and cons, but it is after all operated by a switch, so I'll just engage it when I need it as a safety feature, such as when road conditions are slippery. I'm not sure there'd be any point it having engaged at other times, and I do like the security of having it available when I might need it. I don't see it as conflicting with LSD (which I'm also getting), and in fact I think they are a nice combo - one safety, one performance. If you run with DSC off in performance driving conditions, which I think you definitely would because you dont want Computer Mom tapping your brakes at those times, then when LSD really engages the DSC will be offline. I don't see them usually being operationally effective at the same time - minimal overlap. I don't think there is a negative with owning both - might be a positive when you get the best of both in lousy conditions.

Seating surfaces - I went with cloth for breathability and affordability, plus the temperature considerations mentioned above. To each their own.

Upgraded stereo - I also hear the base stereo is good, but I've had a lousy stereo for too long and for "insurance" wanted to be sure I'd have no second thoughts. I have a keen musicians ear and will notice the difference. I just hope it's well balanced and not to "boomy". If you're a finatic, it's an easy choice, if not, the base stereo is probably quite decent. Reading your post and others mention of the stereo, it sounds like you'd be fine with the base.

Go with the color you love, all should be well within your ability to maintain.

Good advice above. Best of luck with your decisions!

 

1) 17"
2) Get both - they work quite well together.
3) Leatherette. It's terrific.
4) Get the hi-fi. It's a good system for the price.
4a and 5) I'd skip 'em both, but sounds like you've allready decided.
6) Excellent colors. Do it!

 

MINI leatherette is of a very high quality. It doesn't wrinkle and show its age like leather. Cloth is a good option as well; however the new leatherette on a R56 is two tone and looks as good as the $900 leather/cloth.

 

Comparing 16" on an R50 w/sport susp to 17" on an R56 w/sport susp -- it's about the same, IMO, maybe even a bit less harsh on the R56. It's not a softer ride, it just handles it better. On the R50 we have, a road with lots of crack-patches (like someone got out there with a caulk gun) is jarring enough to almost feel unstable. I'd choose here based on aesthetics and pocketbook.

I believe they actually work together, and LSD actually will keep DSC from kicking on as much. But a wheel chirp on a shift will still make DSC kick in, which is a tad annoying, and that's why if you're driving like that, you turn DSC off.

Have a look at the leatherette -- it's very nice. Not supple like leather, but not nearly the vinyl of days gone by.

I would. Even the HiFi has its issues. It really could use a small sub to tighten up the and better tone controls. An equalizer would help considerably. That's one reason why I'm thinking of going ahead and getting the iPod connector, because I can do EQ at the iPod. Heck, if they'd have just put a midrange control in there, I could make the AM radio not sound so much like it's in a box. As it is, I generally run +4 on bass and treble and use the fader to control the tonal balance. Some radio stations hype the bass though, and that's a bit much.

I really got spoiled by the 4Runner's JBL Synthesis surround sound system, which is a genuine 7.1 system.

That being said, I have the same quarrels with the previous gen's H/K HiFi, but that's more easily upgraded at the head unit. I'm content, just not thrilled.

Incoming sound quality is like an AM radio. My wife says when I call from the car that she can hear me OK, but I won't be able to use it to take conference calls in the car, because of the road noise.

 

1) 16" vs 17" wheels. Personally I prefer the 17s thought they might add more weight to the car and of course $$$. Anybody know if the crown spokes are as heavy as the s-lites?

2) DSC + Limited Slip. I am getting DSC if nothing else for resale value. It will be mandatory in all cars in 2012. I've heard the new one is less intrusive anyway.

3) Seating Surfaces. I was a great fan of leatherette till I read how toxic PVC is. I am going with cloth simply for that. Leather is very nice but I'd rather have the navi for another $2k. BTW, I've seen the new cloth and it's very nice.

4) Upgrade Stereo. If you can upgrade, by all means. The regular stereo is ok but this one is very nice --at least the HK was. Is the new one HK too?

4a) Sirius. I would get the auxiliary input... who knows what will happen with Sirius and XM joining, going under, etc. I will probably get the Garmin that does GPS, XM Traffic, XM radio & MP3s all in one, and hook with the aux.

5) Bluetooth. No clue, sorry

6) Color/Paint. Totally personal. Keep in mind metallic adds another $450, so you might want to pay for the Hi-Fi instead of the color.

 

Per the tire and wheel FAQ at mini2.com the crown spokes are 22lbs and the S-lites are 25lbs.

 

I seem to remember reading that the cd changer was Alpine. It would seem to reason that the rest of the system (electronics at least) are also Alpine.

 

22 is always better than 25

the regular stereo is alpine, it's always been. not sure about the hi-fi...

 

I want to address #3 only: I chose cloth it is very durable and it has a nice design it does not look "cheap" however If I was going to re-order and change one thing I would spec the black lounge leather, but $1900 is a lot and you can't see the seats when you are in the car, also I got heated seats and I worry if the repeated heat and cold on the leather would wear it down over time.