6 weeks of waiting are over, STÖPSL (German equivalent to Munchkin, cute little thing) finally arrive on Friday.

Besides the kids going crazy over it, it is great fun indeed. Some thoughts:

• Originally wanted to have British Racing Green, but don't particular care for the metallic BRG (would have prefered the original) and in combination with Redwood Red it looks to Christmassy (see other post a few days ago with pics). The Astro Black looks great, depending on the sun falling on it, it is almost a dark dark blueish tone - very cool
• Redwood Red: have seen a bunch of pictures, ranging from orange to bright red, the actual color is actually a more loungy brownish red, quite beautiful but not quite as splashy as some pictures make it. Super Comfortable seats, though - better than the standard ones by far.
• English Oak: the verdict is still out on this one - it is nice, but with a hindsight I might have opted for Piano Black Lacquer
• English Oak would look great if the Steering Wheel would be in wood as ordered - the leather is not particularly nice, it does not feel rich, has no stitching and appears to be pretty middle of the road. Wooden Steering wheel will be installed at no expense to me (duh!, I already paid for it) in the next two months.
• Chrome Interior & Exterior are nice features
• Anthrazid (dark grey, almost black) interior roof is fabulous, this is problably the first feature I would recommend to everybody to get, it looks so much nicer than the mouse grey that is standard (I have added pictures a few postings further down of this)
• Bluetooth works great with Blackberry Pearl, good communication even when motoring with the windows down
• Not friends yet with the Comfort Access yet - have not figured out yet when it opens what door and unfortunately the different keys don't seem to remember the mirror settings as I switch cars with my wife.
• Hifi system is okay, certainly not great - $550 seems to be a bit of a rip-off for the quality provided. Having said that, it is not bad either, was just hoping for more.
• I-Pod connector not available in Las Vegas yet
• Love the sunroof, Bi-Xenons etc that came with the Sports Package
• Limited Slip Differential: right up there with the headline in must-get items . I believe it will pay for itself in less tire use and considering the substantial power of the engine on the front wheels it safes you the embarrassing squeeching tires. I might be wrong, but I think it also controls the torque-steer a bit better (compared to the test drive a few weeks ago)
• Sport Suspension with 17" wheels - answered the question a few posts earlier how the COOP video does the sliding rear (other than handbreak). The car is almost perfectly balanced and does not understeer, I actually had a bit of an oversteer at some point - this will need to be explored on the track.
• It is next to impossible to drive 35mph with the car, before you know it you are at 60mph.
• I now understand why peoples smile in their MINIs, getting to place is so easy and so much fun, makes every other car almost cumbersome to go to run little errands that are just another excuse to drive the MINI.
• MINI drivers don't seem to greet each other (Motorcycles do, Miata's do, 2CV do, but apparently not MINIs)
• Breaking the car in gently is not easy , it is just too much fun to rev it up a bit (resulting in a bit of a smell of the car)
• Let me know if you have any questions - great little car indeed

 

Some more pictures of STÖPSL

 

Maybe the coolest looking Mini I have ever seen, seriously. Congratulations.

I'll try to share some pix of mine, if I can get to it later - All black. I love it too, and concur with everything you said about the experience of driving it.

BTW - What did you do to add your pictures like that? (I've seen them posted a number of ways, and I prefer the way you did.)

- R

 

Another Batch ...

 

About 2 inches below the Submit Reply button is a button labeled Manage Attachements - it opens another window where you can browse your harddrive and attach files

 

Interesting comment about Mini drivers greating each other...

In Northern NJ, I've been greeted by at least half of the Mini Drivers that I've seen on the road... (more so on secondary roads than the highways)

 

Excellent! Theory predicts this, but empirical verification is always good! Thanks. Nice car.

 

Nice car. That's not the lounge leather is it? Good move on the wood steering wheel. One thing I learned about the Arizona sun and leather steering wheels: whatever the padding is under the leather will come seeping out of the seams some day. Wood is solid, leather is not.

 

Great car and great write up
i will get my mcs hopefully by friday,Asto black,black roof,black interior.
i am glad that besides looking terrific the seats are comfertable too

will post a lot of pics when i get her...in the mean time will lust looking to others minis

happy driving

 

It is the Lounge Leather - Redwood Red ...

 

Nice car!At $300 for run flats I,d keep it out of construction sites.

 

Hmmm . . . I share your slight doubts somewhat on the Oak with the Redwood. It doesn't quite come across the way I'd predicted it would in my mind. It's almost as if the Red is stealing the thunder of the Oak a bit. Perhaps the wood steering wheel will help balance this out.

Nevertheless, still a very striking and beautiful car. Congratulations!

 

Beautiful car!

 

That's a gorgeous car.

Could you post a couple of photos showing the anthracite headliner better? I don't believe I've seen a photo of that.

You say that headliner would be one of your first "must get" options, but personally I worry that the anthracite headliner would make the car feel smaller inside, a bit claustrophobic....especially if I don't get a sunroof. Do you think these fears are unfounded?

 

WOW now thats a mini!!! congrats looks GREAT!

 

Great looking car. Like the exterior trim choices.

Are you in AZ? (no front plate, desert flora, new construction in pics)

If so, bring the car to the dynamic mini collective's next meet at the Pavillions!

 

The car looks fantastic. That color combo is one of the best I've seen, especially when the light hits the paint and that slight blue comes out... it's great with the redwood red interior.

 

TFM, thanks for posting the pictures-like I mentioned in a previous thread, I'm considering the exact combo you have (Astro, White Roof, Redwood). Couldn't really decide on the stripes, and I must say that they look great.

When you get the wood steering wheel, please post updates!

 

I am actually in Las Vegas - but this might be a great excuse for a little weekend motoring action ...

 

Dang nmce looking Mini. I envy you guys not having to put a front license plate on the car. I wish I could get away with that. Makes the car soooo much nicer looking.

 

Here you go - it is really quite neat ...

 

I kinda looks like indoor/outdoor carpeting, or felt. Is that what it feels like?

 

yup, it does, though it does not feel cheapish

 

I have almost the same car with the tan leather...i love it too..the wood next to the leather..so sweet. it's very refined...will post some on mine..i am getting white stripes tomorrow with a checkered sunroof graphic. excited.

 

What's up with the checkered sunroof deal? In the configurator I couldn't figure out what it was. Does it just stick onto the sunroof, or what?