My R56 should be arriving at the dealer next week so this is kind of a moot point but just out of curiosity...

When I placed the order for my new R56, the dealer told me that for the first month of US production, Mini was only going to send over automatic MCs and manual MCSs. Did anyone else run into that when ordering?

I was pretty set on the manual MC and wondered if that was an attempt to get me to step up to the more-expensive model as I never saw a discussion of such a constraint anywhere on NAM or Mini2.

...Just wondering if I could have gotten my new Mini any sooner.

 

No, your dealer was giving you the straight scoop. If you used the MINI USA configurator, you were given the constraints up front--not exactly a one-month delay, but, if I recall, available starting with March or April builds.

 

My MA told me the same thing and I was only interested in an automatic MC. He said I would probably get my car faster because it is an automatic. So, your MA is being straight with you.

 

My dealer confirms also. I wanted the MC with manual and they REALLY pressured me to take the automatic so I wouldn't have to wait months. I told them I would wait; however long it took. (I knew it was March 1st availability and I ordered March 3.)
There was also A LOT of pressure to purchase a MCS since it already had manual.

 

Glad to hear I was getting good info. I too had a lot of pressure to get an R56 MCS (or take one of their remaining R53s) - While I agree that the S has more pickup, the stock Cooper is more than adequate for my needs plus I figure I'll save a ton of money in the long run in insurance, gas, and tires (I decided to go w/ the stock 15" rims w/o the runflats as I've heard the runflats don't last as long and cost about twice as much to replace.)