Hi all,

I've been lurking around this forum for a couple of months, sucking up as much MINI info as possible. I hope you can answer some questions for me.

I am, potenitally, going to purchase a Mini for delivery in May... right now I am saving for a down payment. Here are my questions...

Does the sunroof effect the safety of the car? (Mini's great safety is a huge plus for me)

I've been toying around with options... and the Premium pkg really appeals to me... but how necessary are most of the options?

What about the onboard computer? How necessary do you find it? I've been reading about people getting software upgrades that solve some of the cars' problems... can you not get these upgrades if you do not have the onboard computer?

Also, any of you who have a trailer hitch on your Mini, where did you get it and was it expensive to have it installed? I am very handy, but would be a little afraid to take power tools to my brand new baby.

The other car I am considering is the Scion xb. I am in love with the Mini, and really want that more than anything... but I am going to test drive both to give a fare shake.

BTW... I am a 29 (30 in april) woman, currently in NYC, but will be moving in June... most likely to Houston. I will be taking a large paycut, but since the cost of living in Houston is about 1/3 of the cost of living in Manhattan, I am cool with that. I will probably buy my Mini from Mini of the Hamptons, since I have read so many good things about them. I will then take a road trip to visit home (Cape Cod) for one last time to (a) break in the car and (b) take a last visit before I move... (parents sold the house and moved to FL this past summer.)

I'd also love to hear about your experiences with Houston area Mini dealers since that is where I'll have to take my car for maintenance.

Thanks so much for your time.
JennyS

 

I find that I can answer one of your questions easily.

Also, any of you who have a trailer hitch on your Mini, where did you get it and was it expensive to have it installed? I am very handy, but would be a little afraid to take power tools to my brand new baby.

Well there is a guy here called Minimad, he has a shop that will design one for the non-S that will not interfere with the spare tire. He reallt knows his stuff and can likely answer the rest of your questions as well.

 

Really none of the premium package options are necessary. I have the premium package and can tell you I wouldn't get the whole package again.

I hope you enjoy your decision you make in which vehicle to buy and hope you make the most of your relocation.

Happy Motoring!

 

Hi

I am glad to hear that you are going to 'take the plunge!' You will not be disappointed. I love my mini. I ordered my mini with all three packages and the HK stereo system. If you like sunroofs, you will like the mini's. It is huge.
Are you ordering the MC or MCS?

 

i moved from westchester to houston. (i just turned 30 and my wife turns 30 in may!) :smile:

 

Hi!

I spent a ton of time here before ordering my car last month. Here are my thoughts on your questions, point by point:

>>Does the sunroof effect the safety of the car? (Mini's great safety is a huge plus for me)

Not at all. Some people argue that having a "hole" in the roof hurts the structural integrity, but that's not true to the degree that it would affect crash-worthiness. The main sunroof con is weight: it adds about 50-60 lbs. That's only a real issue if you're into autocross, or are a performance junky. I went for the sunroof myself.


>>I've been toying around with options... and the Premium pkg really appeals to me... but how necessary are most of the options?

This is a matter of taste. I went for the Premium, because I wanted the sunroof and the MFSW (Multi Function Steering Wheel). The MFSW is nice, since it puts the stereo controls on the wheel. It's also the only way to get cruise, if you need it for long highway stints. Since I wanted those two pieces, I figured why not spend a little extra and get the trip computer and climate control too. I'd say those two pieces are less essential, though.


>>What about the onboard computer? How necessary do you find it? I've been reading about people getting software upgrades that solve some of the cars' problems... can you not get these upgrades if you do not have the onboard computer?

Yes you can. The engine management software doesn't have anything to do with the on board computer, or OBC. The OBC gives you info like outside temp., fuel economy, range, etc. By no means necessary, but fun if you like gadgets, and doing math.

>>Also, any of you who have a trailer hitch on your Mini, where did you get it and was it expensive to have it installed? I am very handy, but would be a little afraid to take power tools to my brand new baby.

Someone else already answered this better than I can!

>>The other car I am considering is the Scion xb. I am in love with the Mini, and really want that more than anything... but I am going to test drive both to give a fare shake.

I think you'll find the Scion to be much more minivan-like. I know it's the new thing, but I don't see the appeal myself. A Miata might be a more direct competitor, if you can deal with two seats. Or maybe the Civic Si, or Beetle Turbo.


>>BTW... I am a 29 (30 in april) woman, currently in NYC, but will be moving in June... most likely to Houston.

I'm 31, and I'm from NJ originally, live in FL now. It's warmer and all, but I miss NYC!


>>Thanks so much for your time.

You're welcome.

 

The only thing in the Premium Package that's absolutely necessary is the MFSW, (muti-function steering wheel). Unless you don't mind not having cruise control. Not having cruise will also likely make your car harder to sell if you ever want to. You can get the MFSW as a $350 option if you don't get the Premium Package.

The onboard computer has nothing to do with the car's ability to get software upgrades. About the only thing I look at on mine is the gas mileage readout and I'm not sure how accurate it is.

The sunroof is very enjoyable and I'm sure it doesn't have any significant effect on safety.

:smile:

R.E.

 

As someone stated previously, the nice thing about ordering from the factory is that you don't have to take everything in the package if you don't want.

I wanted the multi-function steering wheel and on-board computer, but not the sunroof or auto-air. So that's what I got. I'd say the MFSW is the most essential component of the package.

 

JennyS,
Aloha and welcome to NAM.
Good to hear from you. Don't just lurk- post a few.

>>I am, potenitally, going to purchase a Mini for delivery in May... right now I am saving for a down payment. Here are my questions...

Be sure to test drive a few and plan ahead for in some areas there is a 2 to 6 month wait. Get on the wait list early.

>>Does the sunroof effect the safety of the car? (Mini's great safety is a huge plus for me)

From a practical point of view there is no evidence known that says safety is reduced. Did the NHTSA test crash test a MINI with a sunroof? Not sure but I did find this reference.
http://www-cs-students.stanford.edu/...dans_2003.html
They mention :
"For uniform price comparison, option configurations as similar as possible were used, corresponding roughly to fully loaded except for no navigation system, manual transmission instead of automatic, no upgraded stereo if it was separately optional, no upgraded leather if regular leather or leather seating surfaces were the default, and no 18 inch wheels if 17 inch wheels were already included. This almost always resulted in conifgurations with the following features: leather seats, sport-tuned suspension with 17 inch wheels, xenon/HID headlights, sunroof, heated seats, 60/40 folding rear seat, 6-disc CD changer, telematics (e.g., OnStar), climate control, and sometimes parking assist. " But maybe that is just for estimating the comparative cost of the car-not really what they ordered.

From a structural point of view- you remove a huge chunk of metal from the roof and replace it with glass, a sliding hinge and a sunroof frame. It is possible that some structural reinforcements are added as well to help make the sunroof more solidly mounted in the roof-hence all of the weight. Even with that- the rule of thumb is that it won't be as strong as the MINI with no sunroof. Any mechanical or automotive engineers out there?

Personally I would not worry about it. The MINI is an extremely safe car and if you go to driving school to learn how to drive in emergency situations and how to performance drive then you will be more prepared.

>>I've been toying around with options... and the Premium pkg really appeals to me... but how necessary are most of the options?

I didn't get the Premium pkg although I could have. At $1250 more it didn't seem worth it. The sunroof was a big chunk of that but I did not want the added complexity and heat that comes in due to it's 50% shade and I didn't want to risk any leaks and expensive repairs down the road. Also there are known problems and fixes with rattling. I didn't know about the weight and I am glad I did not get it. The other items are useful like the MFSW-has controls you can use for the audio system but I removed and upgraded mine. The trip computer- very inaccurate sometimes but mostly for fun-not really needed, auto AC- more gadgets and more to go wrong and more weight- I don't use AC. Cruise control- others don't use it much but I would have so that was missed for me.

>>What about the onboard computer? How necessary do you find it? I've been reading about people getting software upgrades that solve some of the cars' problems... can you not get these upgrades if you do not have the onboard computer?

I think the software upgrades you mentioned are for the engine's ECU chip and deal with the management of the engine and performance. Yes this is upgradeable. The MINI has a separate trip computer mentioned above that is optional.

>>Also, any of you who have a trailer hitch on your Mini, where did you get it and was it expensive to have it installed? I am very handy, but would be a little afraid to take power tools to my brand new baby.
>>
>>The other car I am considering is the Scion xb. I am in love with the Mini, and really want that more than anything... but I am going to test drive both to give a fare shake.

By all means test drive. Choose a MINI with stock lightweight wheels not the big heavy ones with runflats.
If you like automatics try the CVT model which is much better than any Toyota automatic.

>>BTW... I am a 29 (30 in april) woman, currently in NYC, but will be moving in June... most likely to Houston. I will be taking a large paycut, but since the cost of living in Houston is about 1/3 of the cost of living in Manhattan, I am cool with that. I will probably buy my Mini from Mini of the Hamptons, since I have read so many good things about them. I will then take a road trip to visit home (Cape Cod) for one last time to (a) break in the car and (b) take a last visit before I move... (parents sold the house and moved to FL this past summer.)

MINI of the Hamptons should have something for you. They often advertise that they have quite a few MC and MCS in stock most of the time.

Good luck.


_________________
ALOHA

 

Definitely get the multi-function steering wheel! The buttons are so small on the stereo system that it is unsafe to try to operate the radio using them while driving.

I have 2 MCS's, one with auto climate, one without. The automatic isn't that great, IMO, though some people love it. If I set it at 68 in the summer at 2pm, it's great, but at 8pm, 68 feels too cold, so I have to change it anyway. It's also a bit confusing if you want to operate it manually. I find the traditional set-up more attractive, a real classic look. But the auto climate control panel is set up to look like the MINI symbol, which is also cool.

One of my MINI's has a sunroof, one does not. I don't think that I miss the sunroof when I'm without it, but I sure do love it when I'm with it!

Don't know if you're considering the MC or MCS, but in the case of the MCS, do not get the 17" wheels with the run-flats! Many people have switched to 16" wheels and tires, including me on one MCS.

Good luck, keep us posted!

 

Hi Y'all,

Thanks for all your input thus far! I am getting a plain cooper... at this point I am thinking of going with the MFSW--Question... does that include cruise?, rear spoiler, bonnet stripes and aux audio. No sunroof. It would be nice, but I am going to be living on a teacher's salary. :smile:

JennyS

 

MFSW does include Cruise Control, Leather wrapped steering wheel and remote control buttons for the stereo (Located behind the spokes) all for $350 which is a very good bargain.


The Cooper spoiler retails for $100. It is very discreet compared to the more pronounced rear spoiler design in the Cooper S.

My wife has a "Plain Jane" '02 Cooper CVT and the car looks awesome. Only options she got were the MFSW and the CVT. A lot of people think her car retailed for well over $30K (Its got to be that chrome grille front end).

The MINI is a fantastic car even in basic form. You are getting lots of ammenties and safety features for $17K, so you won't be dissapointed.

 

>>Dennis... How was the move from Westchester to Houston? Any culture shock problems? I really dislike living in NYC... so I am hoping for a nice change of pace. :smile:
>>
>>JennyS

Well they you will like it here i'm sure. You even have the "ya'll" down. I still refuse to say that. :smile:




_________________
-dennis
ON ORDER: 2004 C/W MINI COOPER S
January delivery :smile:

 

this is great!

After driving a MC in Spain for a week (great that Hertz rents them out there for a small premium) I love the car! I have been mulling over actually selling my Neon and getting a MC. I'd love to get an S but I don't want the additional cost and driving here in NYC well it's not like you drive very far from street light to street light anyways.

I've ben able to get lots of my questions answered by reading these forums this past week.

I do have a question about the 17's and runflats, why not? Ride sacrificed?

 

I don't have my car yet, but that's why I opted for the 16's with runflats. I would have chosen non-runflats for an even better ride, but i was worried about not having a spare. Maybe when the runflats go bald I'll make the switch. Also, i don't care for the look or the extra weight of the 17's.

 

I almost went for one or more of the packages, because "for just a little more you can have ...." But then I said 'do I really need/want the other options that go with the package? The answer was 'no' and I just went for the sunroof, xenon headlights and fog lights. The sunroof is expensive but it provides for a very different motoring experience. It really opens up the car to the world!

I almost went for the multi-function steering wheel because the CD/radio controls are a bit small (I didn't need or want cruise control). One thing you should know though: I usually only listen to one CD or radio station at a time, so I rarely fiddle with the controls. The only control I might fiddle with is the volume. The neat thing is, the CD player installed in the MCS (I have an '04) has a function whereby you can set it to increase its volume as a function of vehicle speed, so I rarely really have to fiddle with anything on the controls.

 

>>>>Dennis... How was the move from Westchester to Houston? Any culture shock problems? I really dislike living in NYC... so I am hoping for a nice change of pace. :smile:
>>>>
>>>>JennyS
>>
>>Well they you will like it here i'm sure. You even have the "ya'll" down. I still refuse to say that. :smile:

 

i used a few adjectives to help describe a difference in attitude that jenny would have related to. maybe you should have taken your own advice and contacted me privately about your concern rather than taking this thread off-topic, you think? Did I hit a nerve?
And i even made fun of the NY attitude. If you can't laugh at yourself.....

_________________

-dennis
ON ORDER: 2004 C/W MINI COOPER S
January delivery :smile:

 

>>i used a few adjectives to help describe a difference in attitude that jenny would have related to. maybe you should have taken your own advice and contacted me privately about your concern rather than taking this thread off-topic, you think? Did I hit a nerve?
>>And i even made fun of the NY attitude. If you can't laugh at yourself.....<<

It was too late for me to take the tread off topic. Apparently you haven't read many of my post or you would know I have no trouble laughing at myself.

What you did do is reinforce the stereotype of a typical New Yorker. I hope you live real close to town.
>>
>>_________________
>>
>>-dennis
>>ON ORDER: 2004 C/W MINI COOPER S
>>January delivery :smile:

 

ok, well just don't shoot me if you see me in town. Speaking of which, I never got the Luann Platter joke from that show until i moved here and went to Luby's for the first time. haha, you should have seen my face when i looked up at the menu and it clicked inside my head.

 

Back to topic.
>>Does the sunroof effect the safety of the car? (Mini's great safety is a huge plus for me)

Here is a link to a video of the European crash test (previously posted)
http://www.aftonbladet.se/vss/quickt...cooper,00.html

It shows a standard cooper without sunroof in frontal crash test. The roof clearly buckles in the middle and would stress a sunroof if it where there. I would expect that the sunroof would pop out much like a windshield will if compromised.

Another place to look for loss of integrity is in post accident pictures of MINIs with sunroofs. Is the sunroof intact or not? I will be watching.

 

Can't address the towing issue, but I have the Premium package (and am getting it again on my next MINI). I use it all, especially the MFSW. Re: the auto AC- I override it most all the time, and it works just fine that way, plus it looks WAAYY better lit up at night than does the 3 dial standard system (IMO) The sunroof is just as safe as not, nothing to worry about there. One other must-have is the sport seats. You'll really enjoy the extra support if you pull serious G's through the windy places, something I'm fairly sure you won't be doing in a Scion

 

>> One other must-have is the sport seats.

Jenny

 

<<<This is actually an interesting point... I remember reading on threads in the past that the sport seats aren't too comfy if you are on the short side. I'm 5'4, long legs, short torso... so I am not sure if that is for me. >>>

I'm on the short side of 5'4" (read: I'm about 5'3 3/4&quot and I love love love my seats! They've never been uncomfortable and Buddha knows I have spent some time in my car...

 

Our '02 Cooper CVT has standard seats and no problems. We did a 2,800 mile roadtrip in about 1 week of driving and the seats, to my surprise, were very comfy during our 6 to 8 hour drives. I am 5-10 and the wife is 5-5.

I really like the Sport Seats in my new MCS (Specially for lateral support) but the standard buckets are not that bad.