I have an MCS on order and is currently in production. I now have a big financial crunch as I am buying a house. I need to scale back the mini. I am thinking of doing a MC instead of the MCS and ordering it stripped down. Here would be the specks:


CR/W MC
Premium Pack
15” 8 Spoke silver
Xenon lights
Sense wipers and Auto dim mirror (want this for the auto dim mirror)
5 speed manual
Anthrocite seats
Kaleido cloth seats
Sport seats
Chrome exterior
Chrome interior
UNGO (new house has a garage)


I will never do auto cross but I do like spirited driving and taking on the corners. Also know that I am really bummed that I might not get the MCS fully loded. The decision has yet to be decided but it might be the MC.


Here are my questions. What I want to know is what you think about having these vs. not for the daily sporty drive.


DSC
SS+
16” & Run flats
Rear spoiler
PDC

 

This doesn't answer your question, but I think I would get an MCS with no options, rather than an MC with the options you list. I'd rather pay for the supercharged engine and forego all the comfort and conveniences.

I think a base MCS would be under $21K. How much is the MC as you have it optioned?

 

The MC us $20,000. I have thought this route as well but I really like the sunroof..that means premium pack. A MCS with premium is $22k.

 

Honestly, you are not missing on anything by not getting the heavy sunroof. I have a pretty basic '04 MCS with just a few options here and there (No packages) and it has been the best car/choice ever! I love the car!

Gadgets usually wear off in time, but what keeps the adrenaline pumping is the engine, transmission, handling, etc.

If you get a '05 Cooper with the new 5-speed Getrag, probably is a good choice, but since you had your sights on a MCS, moving to a MC might not be a decision you'll be happy with in the long term.

Look at it this way...if you can't swing the new car and the new house, then take a pick which one is more important to you and go that route. If you like the MCS I highly suggest you getting a "bare bones" (Which is already a pretty loaded car anyway) MCS and just add the MFSW. You'll be very happy as you are going to have a car that you can mod/tune later on. You'll already have the needed basics in place.

If you can't afford the MCS period, then re-think the order and perhaps it would be better for you to cancel and postpone the car purchase for later.

A house is a HUGE investment, so very few folks can swing both new shiny car and new house at the same time.


Put your priorities in perspective...the car will always be available to purchase...a house is a lifetime opportunity...don't pass it up.

 

You sound like my dad. You know your right but you sound like my dad.

Dad, can I have $5000...Pleeeeaaaasse

 

Haha.... I am 32, and I have been already there and done that, so take my advice as food for taught.


Thanks to "Daddy" type advice today I enjoy 2 new MINI Coopers and a nice condo,

So, sometimes it pays off to listen to mom and dad

 

You don't have to get the "premium pack" to get the sunroof.

I agree with the others -- a lightly optioned MCS would be better than a heavily optioned MC. Opinion, of course.

 

The sunroof alone is a $800-$900 option. For $400 more (Premium pack) you get auto A/C, OBC and MFSW.

Like I said, a sunroof is not a must in these cars, contrary to popular belief. I would order a base MCS with just MFSW. Plenty of car and thrills for the money. Gadgets get old, the car itself does not.

 

That's not stripped down! You have got alot of options. I think your idea of saving $3000 just by considering the MC is a sound one. Be careful to note some things concerning an MC- you need to keep the weight down due to having only 115 HP not 163 HP like the MCS. So every pound of options is going to affect your MC more-just be aware. Second, there is no reason why your MC cannot be very fun to drive if set up correctly.

I see you list sports seats and xenon lights which are part of the Sports package. And you are considering DSC and 16" runflats which are also part of the Sports package. DSC is a safety feature for daily driving, it's not good for autocross but if you are just commuting, the weather is bad, or your spouse is driving then you'd want it on. The 16" runflats are something that you can "Sell new" to get money to buy budget custom wheels from either tirerack.com for about $129 a rim plus tires about $80 each. Mounting and balancing are included and ground shipping is cheap. Alex@tirerack can help you get something either lightweight in a 15x6.5 or 15x7" since or more showy in a 16x6.5 or 16x7" size. The price for the 15 vs 16 rims is about the same but the tires are a bit more in 16". Edgeracing.com also has very good 16" or even 17" rims for cheap and there are good Toyo and Falken tires for cheap that perform well for the price.

The advantage of custom wheels is you choose the rim size and width, you choose the non runflat tires which give better performance and smoother ride plus they are likely to be lighter weight. By selling your runflats new you can get the best price either in your local area or through ebay.com. To save shipping cost and hassle it's usually good to sell locally. Work with your MA at the dealer to see if anyone with a stock MC with 15" wheels wants to upgrade to 16". A prime candidate is a 2002 MC owner since their tires are worn and they might be ready for an upgrade.

If you wait till the 2005 model year you might get one of the new rim designs in which case that would be worth keeping or be in demand for selling.

Other options listed-
PDC- You don't really need this for a MINI and it can be skipped
SS+ is good for autocross but most people don't really need it. If autocross is not on your mind, then at a latter date for less you can always add H-sport springs and a rear swaybar in fact the bar alone would help enough with handling. Depends if you want a dropped look. The SS+ is springs and rear swaybar but doesn't drop the MINI. It does handle better in corners and gives a slightly rougher ride. It won't be bad with non runflat tires which would smooth out the ride.

Spoiler is cosmetic and can be added later if needed. the MC spoiler from MINI isn't the best and blocks access to the middle brake light very badly. The aerokit spoiler is much better. Even the MCS spoiler will fit.

So on a budget it boils down to more HP and bare bones (stripped MCS) or More options and limited power of the MC. For a daily driver and fun car I would take a moderately optioned MC. If you ever wanted to add performance mods to the MC then it is much more limited than with the MCS. Usually just intake, cat-back exhaust, spark plug wires is good enough. For suspension- lighter wheels, springs and rear swaybar will work.

Have fun. In the UK when I was there most of the MINIs are MC and MINI ONE and few were MCS. The MC models were often modded and looked great.

 

I think the big question here is.... Will he be happy with a MC 6-12 mos down the road, knowing that he could have waited to get the car he really wanted, MCS?


personally, I would wait to get what I really want, not to substitute to later on regret, which is costly in the end.

 

At this point, you are probably better off getting the one you ordered, driving it for a few months, and then selling it. Used Minis are just about the same price as new ones.

 

Hummm...I like your thinking. I get paid 37.5cents a mile. If I drive it for 25000 miles in 9 months thats $13,000 in milage. If I sell the car for $3000 less than I bought it for then I am up $10,000. Sounds to me like a win-win with the next mini having the JCW.

Things that make you go humm...Can I make more $$$ off the car than I can on the house in 9 months. Lets find out.

O'yea MCS driver looking for part-time work to pay the bill. Marketing rep with lots of experience and a really cool car.

Motor on.

 

Ten years ago I bought my house for $150,000 and today I could sell it for close to $300,000. I don't know of any 10 year old car that I could say that about. Real estate appreciates whereas cars depreciate. I would say to put all your efforts into the house and skimp on the car. If you REALLY need to have a MINI then go with a bare bones Cooper and use the extra money for the house and the unexpected bills that go with it. You will still have a ton of fun with the car and be thankful to have the extra cash around to replace the water heater. This is the dad inside me talking.

-Dan

 

I don't know about the rest of you, but if my finances were THAT tight when buying a house, I think I would halt the purchase of the car for 6 months, build some equity, then think about buying the car later. Just my 2-cents.

And for the record, I bought my condo (lakeshore high-rise...), then 4 months later the Mini.

 

As much as I love my MINI, I have to agree that ninja's priority must be his house purchase. Getting situated with the house, seeing what you'll truly need to do with it, then later on, purchasing your MINI makes good sense. You can always get on a list, and when your ordering time comes, then your situation may be more stabilized, enabling you to get the MINI of your dreams when it will be affordable and practical for you. :smile:

Best of luck to you, ninja!

Clo/Wanda

 

couldn't you wait on the mini, purchase the home, and take out a home equity loan? i think (i'm not a banker, in fact, i'm horrible with money) you can take out a home equity loan immediately. where if you bought the mini first, it would take away from your house downpayment...

p.s. my mcs w/ sunroof is on order, i would have waited till after the home purchase, but my credit isn't good enough for a proper mortgage.

 

I believe if you take out a home equity loan, you can take the deduction on the interest.

 

If you don't need the partial rear seat, you could pick up a very nice used Miata for $5k. Probably more reliable than a new Mini even with 100k on the clock and just as much, if not more, fun to drive.

 

6'4" 200and well more than 200 lbs. I would wear a miata as a shoe. Either my mom made me too big or mazda made the cockpit too small.

And I do fit in an older mini. I do love the mazdas though...to the tune of 400,000 miles between 2 proteges.

 

How about an old Sentra SER? Harder to find but plent-o-fun.

 

Personally, I would never risk my house by getting a second mortgage to purchase a car. Miss a payment or two and both the car and house are gone.

Yes, there are tax advantages but your house is sacred so if at all possible, keep your mortgage and car loan in separate accounts.

Second mortgages are to be used only on cases of extreme need and emergency. To buy cars? Don't think so.

 

Mortages are tax deductable.

 

It is true that when you take out that second mortgage you have to "think" about what you are putting down as collateral. If the house is so valuable that you would not want to risk it then you'd have to think twice about doing it for a car purchase.

But if you have the equity in the house and "need" funds that are tax deductible then a second mortgage sure does beat a car loan to finance a car or college tuition or anything else like home improvements. It all depends on what you financial state is. If you have steady income and enough of it then the second mortgage is a great tax shelter especially if you have paid off your first mortgage and you have some money saved but you don't want to deplete it and you don't have a mortgage for a tax shelter.

Extreme need and emergency is not always a criteria for taking out that second mortage. Low mortgage rates, incentives by lending institutions, and need to shelter income from taxes are all valid reasons to consider your options. Just be careful for protecting your collateral because you cannot always tell what is "just around the river bend". Illness in the family or yourself, job insecurity, natural disaster, accidents to bread winners all are things that can happen. Having excellent long term disability helps to keep you financially safe.

 

If you drop to a MC, make sure you change your name fron ninjamini to geishamini.

 

Ninjitsu is the art of stealth and assination.

The geisha is an entertainer that has perfected theiir ability as a conversationalist, a historian, a scientist... They are well trained in everything including manners. They would never make fun of ones name. Espically one that was trained in the art of stealth and assination.