Let her drive it once!

 

congrats !: ) youll LOVE IT!

 

Hi all.... Sorry I'm late with the latest update, but we did indeed pick up the MINI last Monday afternoon. So far, so good!

Things didn't get off to a particularly auspicious start as we ran out of gas 1/2-mile from the dealer... ironically right in front of my mechanic! Apparently the dealer had forgotten to fill up the tank before we left. (I'd seen the fuel gauge was low, but I didn't realize it was THAT low.) Anyhow, my wife was in her Corolla, so she went back to the dealer -- they were MIGHTY embarrassed, of course -- and they came back with enough gas to get the car started, and then we all convoyed back to the dealer to fill the rest of the tank.

The other issue was that they only had one key. It would have been nice to find this out *before* the day we got the car, but it looks like we'll have to make a trip to MINI dealer to get a replacement. (grumble) Wanted to get a copy of the build sheet anyway, and it'll give my wife an excuse to borrow the car.

Actually, she'll probably end up drving it quite a bit, since it really doesn't do justice to the MINI to simply shuttle me back-and-forth from the train station (as Oilman suggested). Of course my wife is terribly heartbroken at this prospect.

So in that respect, I'm perfectly happy that we went with the automatic transmission. My wife's a little rusty at driving a manual, so this suits her better. It seemed to both of us at first that the transmission was hesitant -- hunting around a bit for the right gear -- but not so much of an issue as we're getting more used to the car. The paddle shifters are definitely the way to go, however. Probably not as responsive as a pure manual transmission, but still plenty of fun.

I don't plan on doing much in the way of mods to this car, beyond a few minor aesthetic tweaks. We ordered a back seat mat from PoochStyles so our pup doesn't slide around/dig her claws into the leather seats, and I picked up an ashtray to serve as a coinholder. (Though I found out that the rear cupholder without the "flanges" has -- surprise! -- a wider diameter than the fronts, so that the ashtray doesn't fit well. I wonder if one can pick up the flanges separately?)

The dealer "tattooed my butt" (as my wife says) -- fortunately just vinyl letters, so it should be easy enough to remove -- and a previous owner also had a "Flyingpistons" logo -- again vinyl letters -- affixed to the rear glass that will also come off. (Very interested to find out what "Flyingpistons" is, btw; probably some sort of motorclub, though I didn't find anything online.)

We're leaning towards getting black-with-white-pinstripe boot stripes from Aesthetic Creations to balance out the hood stripes, and since a previous owner (again) removed the "Cooper S" badge from the boot, we want to get another to replace it.

I'd thought about swapping out the chrome mirror caps for some in dark silver, but after seeing the car in person, I think I actually prefer the chrome. (Looks *much* better in person.)

We'll want to get some rubber "S" floor mats and boot tray (a little heavier wearing than the carpet), and we're looking at various options for internal storage. (Where do people keep their jumper cables, just loose in the boot? I was wondering if the CD changer cover makes for good dedicated storage.) There are also the usual issues with the OEM armrest, of course, that I needn't get into.

We'll need new tires (and a dedicated set of snow tires?) to replace the runflats before winter, and I want to pick up a R5/EMX from Peake Research (especially since my mechanic isn't MINI-specific).

I've also been thinking about adding a rear fog light, but that's a low priority....

Anyhow, enough gushing.... Suffice to say, we're liking the new-to-us MINI!

 

Don't be scared into thinking the CVT is an absolute HORRIBLE decision, it isn't. The CVT is actually probably th e coolest thing in transmissions because of how it works, it's drivability, and it's smarts. It will actually learn from how you drive and adapt itself to you. When I first got mine it was kind of sluggish and really I just thought of it as just another auto but now, a year later, and that thing has learned how I like to drive and is always ready for some fun. I've put on around 5000 miles and most of them are with me pushing the crap out of it. Not one problem. And it's not like I have a long commute or a bunch of highway driving, I'm in stop/go traffic everytime I drive and I could race from stop light to stop light and not have one problem. There are some people on here with well over 100k on their CVT and even some with over 150k on theirs. Don't be scared about it. As long as you have it serviced regularly (once every 17k should do it absolutely no problem) then you'll be a very happy owner of an S CVT. Those that go out usually do because they aren't taken care of or someone thinks they can add more horsepower when the CVT really isn't fond of that (one downside to the CVT). And you shouldn't think the belt is going to just snap if you floor it around town here and there because I do it regulary, once a day come to think of it. Besides, it's not a rubber belt, it's a steel chain belt made to handle the kind of power your car will be putting out plus then some. You hear one bad ending to a CVT and the entire community goes crazy and eats it up, more so for the manual lovers. And thats nothing against manual lovers either because I to drive a manual in my other car. And another thing, if CVT's were so well known for going out so easily and quick as everyone seems to state, then why would there be an option for an extended/lifetime warranty that will cover its replacement fully if it were to fail? It just wouldn't be cost effective for the company issuing the warranty or for insurance companies insuring a car with such a transmission and really a dumb move for BMW to manufacture the car with such a crappy drivetrain. The truth is the CVT is a great transmission and a marvel of engineering. If all the problems with this transmission are SO serious, problematic, evident, or even as frequent as stated; then show me the evidence and some real numbers.

Ahh, I'll get off my soap box now.

 

Thanks, Vineman; I certainly appreciate the support... and I'm sure your words will bring comfort to others who own CVT Coopers. However, the transmission used on the '05 MCS is the Aisin 6-speed torque converter type, not the CVT.

 

Its the same concept as the cvt just tweaked. It's meant to actually handle more horsepower than mine.

 

Gratz bro! If yer even the slightest bit the petrolhead like myself, you're gonna love you're MCS. Too bad no Manual though. I just got the Mini Motoring Accessories catalog and they have an awesome boot storage container for like $150. They also have a dog mat for when your back seats are down to catch all the slober and keep his nails off the carpet.