I should have shared this when I first discoverd it a couple of days after I brought Jack home. I like to carry big water bottles - like the 1 liter Aquafina or Dasani bottles...and they don't sit in any of the cupholders really well. BUT, these bottles sit perfectly between the seat forwards/backwards adjustment (on the inside of either seat) and the seat. As long as the seat isn't all the way forward, there's plenty of room for it to sit up on it's own...and from what I can tell, it's not harming anything. Perfect distance away from my reach...it's great :smile:

 

Zwoman, do you have more info about this cupholder, like photo or where to buy them. That is the first problem I've notice the cup holders being too small to be usefull. Thanks jceviche

 

Hi jceviche!

It was free with the car! :smile: It's not a special cup holder...I just stick the bottle between the seat adjustment handle (the one on the inside of either seat - I use the passenger side since I'm driving) and the seat. The bottle is held upright by the adjustment bar and the seat itself. Every car should come w/it. I love it.

 

mmm.. very confusing u have picture?

 

I'm sorry I'm not explaining it very well; and I don't have a picture. You know that handle that you pull up on to move the seat back and forth (leg room adjustment)? I just place the bottle between that handle and the seat. It actually sits on the floor and is just supported by the handle and the seat. If you have the seat moved too far forward, you won't have enough room for any bottles. Does that help at all? I don't have a digital camera, so I can't really put one up. We'll see if I can come up with one. Anyone else out there know what I'm talking about?

 

Trivia Time... What extremely common/standard feature is included in every car except those made by BMW?

Answer: The cup-holder!
Well, the MINI has them, but the front 2 are pretty much useless.

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Pure Silver Cooper, Black Top, Tinted Windows, Manual of course, Premium & Sport Package, black profile leather, and 6-cd changer - I call her Dr. Emma Peel! GRRR BABY! VERY GRRR!!!

 

I use the same technique and it works just fine with the Aquafina....

 

Yeah the cupholders in the front are pretty useless for bottles, but I can fit my cups from Starbucks in there so I won't complain. The cup holder between the seats works just fine if I have a bottle of soda or water.

 

It took me a while, but if finally relized that the cup holders in the front hold cans quite nicely... theirfor i'm calling on all soda mfgs to bring the can-bottle to the states... They have them over in japan, and darn it, we need them here... It's, well, a can, but it looks like a bottle, with the twist off cap, on top... come on pepsi/coke... we want... no, we NEED can-bottles here! :smile:

But I'm planing on putting some cloth (probally black jersesy material) on the sides/back of the bottom of the center console thing, so I can use the area below my toggles as a bottle holder... i'll work nice, once i get around to doing it..

Rocketboy_X

 

Yeah, the front cupholders on Ringo are pretty useless -- as cupholders. I bought a second ashtray insert and now have them both up-front. The driver's side has parking meter change under its lid and the passenger's has M&Ms. Sweet!

 

Another option
http://www.mossmini.com/cgi-bin/db2w...D=&T=34500

 

MINI also just released a new coffee mug with the mini logo on miniusa.com. Super cute and fits in the holder! = )

http://www.motoringgear.com/Img/Icn/COFFEE_MUG.jpg[/IMG]

 

>>Yeah, the front cupholders on Ringo are pretty useless -- as cupholders. I bought a second ashtray insert and now have them both up-front. The driver's side has parking meter change under its lid and the passenger's has M&Ms. Sweet! <<



I love it! That is the best use I have heard for the 2 cupholders. I think I'm going to steal your idea once I get my MINI.

 

My Mini Cooper (SG/B) is due at the VDC in Jersey tomorrow, and I've been wondering about this cup holder situation. My VW Jetta has a cup holder that will not accomodate any travel mug unless I remove the ashtray. The Mini cup holders look the same. Am I correct in assuming the Mini will not accomodate my coffee cup? I see Mini is selling a 4.75 inch tall travel cup that it says fits on the dash, and I guess I'll buy it if necessary. I have a FrancisFrancis! espresso maker and a long commute, now I need a cup that will bring the two together in splendid harmony.
I love German auto engineers, but damn them and their resistence to coffee drinking in the car!

 

Definitely the little cupholder/ashtray thingy will be for change in my car. That's the first thing I decided the first time I set foot in a MINI.

 

zwoman, your "cupholder" idea works great! I like to bring a one-liter Nalgene bottle with me for longer trips, and it sits perfectly between the passenger seat and the front/back adjustment handle.

I also found that the space below the toggle switches holds a stack of CDs very well, even without blocking up the spaces on either side. They don't lay flat because of the cigarette lighter in the middle, but I could still fit seven or eight cases in there, no problem. Might work better if I take the lighter out, since it won't be used anyway. Anyone lighting up a cigarette in my car is going to make me wish I had one of those ejector seat toggle switches.

 

The cupholders work fine if you turn the bottle upside down (recommended you leave the top on) and then place in the cupholders with the phone charger cord wrapped around to secure it....

 

My cupholders work great...when my wife tells me they're not big enough to hold a 20 oz. bottle of Diet Pepsi, I tell her that's because you're not supposed to be drinking in my car!

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Motoring like a madman in my Chili Red Cooper S, white roof and mirror caps...

 

Nalgene bottles fit perfectly in the cubby space under the toggle switches, without impeading the shift pattern in the least... found out last night after sending it shooting around the car at Mack 4 after taking a little too hard of a turn for the umpteenth time.

 

>>MINI also just released a new coffee mug with the mini logo on miniusa.com. Super cute and fits in the holder! = )
>>
>>http://www.motoringgear.com/Img/Icn/COFFEE_MUG.jpg[/IMG]

I got it with my car, it fits great...

 

Apparently cup holders are considered by some to be an "American" thing. (They may be right! ) Hats off to the ingenious US MINI owners who are making the most of available cabin storeage...no small feat! Keep those ideas comin'!!!!!!!