[Off to place my order.] Again thanks for the contributions.

 

6'8"? Are you POSITIVE you can sit with comfort in the Mini? I like your choices. That what makes the MINI so unique. You can literally custom build your car to your personal taste. Ask 100 people to "build" their Mini and no two would be alike.

 

The CVT sounds like a blast to drive! One thing I might suggest for your consideration is sport seats, unless the newer standard seats have been improved.

 

In all honesty I fit better in an 05 Mini than I do my 94 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

The sports seats, I dont fit in. I actually sit higher in those than the standard seats (my hair brushes the roof with the sports seats and not with the standard).

 

Hi! The specifications you mentioned sound GREAT! I just wanted to chime in and tell you that I have the Cooper CVT, and absolutely love it :D. Also, the MFSW is wonderful, as is the auto dim/rain sensor feature.

No matter what, you will be very happy with your car. Good luck!

 

I was the same way when I specced my MINI. I wanted a little better stereo than stock but didn't want to go through the hassle of an aftermarket upgrade. When I test drove all three MINIs available then (MC w/ 5 speed, MC w/ CVT and MCS) I tried my favorite CD on the regular stereo and the HK one. Night and day difference, especially on very low bass. Now granted, the volume won't blow your pants off, but I think the sound quality is very much improved. I recommend it, but you might want to try out the sound for yourself to see if it's worth the extra $550. It's not a "must have" but a very nice "like to have".

On the manual thing, this is the first stick shift I have ever owned and frankly, I wouldn't have it any other way. I practiced on my husband's car before we picked up the MINI and haven't looked back since. You might want to give it at least a test drive first. But then again, CVTs are pretty nice in their own right. Whatever you decide, I'm sure you will be elated. :smile:

 

Is DSC something an everyday driver needs? I understand that its not intended for those wanting to take the car to a track, but is it a positive option for those everyday commuters?

 

I'd say, especially a plus for everyday drivers, its gotten me out of quite a few binds. Knowing you can take that off ramp a little faster than everyone else is also quite comforting.

 

get the H/K. Sounds like it will meet your needs perfectly. COnsider the COld weather package, depending on where you live. I love the heated seats.

 

the options you chose look pretty good. i just wish i would have known about the anthracite headliner when i got my car


have fun with your new toy

 

I like my DSC. It's helped me out of one or two hairy situations when I was a little overzealous hitting a curve. I still think I need to get used to how it works so when I hit winter I know what I'm dealing with. I need to hit an empty parking lot on a rainy day and throw it around a bit

 

The anthracite dash does not look bad with the normal interior. People have been ordering it this way for years. So I wouldn't feel bad or disappointed if you can't get the anthracite headliner. Still it is a nice option and if you want to wait for it go for it. It is suppose to be available for all November builds, so if your MA puts the code in the factory will hold it until it can fulfill it. The code is 4AA.

 

It's definitely worthwhile to have, but it you like to drive fast, it can be a bit annoying, esp. when your tires begin to wear. I take off from stoplights like motorcycles do. You know, the first thing out of the gate???

I like the feeling of driving in a big cushion of space--no SUV's or cars around me. My DSC light comes on all the time though, especially since I MTH Powerchipped my car and have so much more torque, I get more wheel spin which leads to the DSC coming on, and killing the fun, cause it chops the throttle.

But I wouldn't NOT want DSC either. It's great for poor road conditions, or saving your butt when you accidentally go beyond your limits in the canyons, etc...

I just turn it off temporarily when I think it might go off prematurely and turn it back on when it's safe. I.e., pulling into traffic from a driveway where I need to cross some free running water.

Richard

 

Thanks everyone for their comments.

Having thought that I still had time to make these decisions, its appreciative to get others' input.

And now to just 'nail down' everything.

 

Figuring out which options you want is relatively easy. Just do a search on which one you are curious about and you will find dozens and dozens of opinions here on NAM. And, you'll find out the pros and cons of each option that way. I think the hardest decision is settling on a color. That's purely aesthetic. The options actually have some legitamate and functional downsides and upsides, while all of the colors look pretty darn good IMO. Regardless of what your figure out, I'm sure you will be just as happy with the car as the rest of us.