Greetings humans,

Phew.. 37 some posts later on the thread I started about the S2000 and I was convinced I was doing the right thing in going with the Mini. I mean, wow, this group is impressive!

So here is my configuration that I put together hopefully I can get some advice that might save me money--though I just went through it again and I didn't find much to save on.

Here is my car:

Base MSRP* $24,900 Destination & Handling $550 paint
British Racing Green Body Color $420
Black Top STD
Top Up $0 package
Cold Weather Package $300
Heated Front Seats
Heated Side Mirrors and Washer Jets
Convenience Package $400
Universal Garage Door Opener
Auto Dimming Rear View Mirror
Rain Sensor and Auto Headlamps
Premium Package $1,350
Chrome Line Interior
Automatic AC
On-Board Computer
3-Spoke w/Cruise and Multifunction
8-Spkr. Harman Kardon Sound System
Center Arm Rest
Sport Package $1,350
Dynamic Stability Control
Front Fog Lamps
Xenon Headlamps w/Power Wash
17" 5-Spoke Bullets (Performance)
White Bonnet Stripes performance
Sport Suspension STD
Limited Slip Differential $500
White Alloy Wheels $0
White Mirrors INC
Rear Fog Lamp $100
6-Speed Getrag Manual STD cockpit
Sport Seats STD
Leatherette: Black STD
Int. Surface Anthracite $0
Park Distance Control STD
Computer Nav. System $1,700
On-Board Computer INC TOTAL MSRP AS CONFIGURED* $31,570 accessory**
Hands Free Phone Kit (installation not incl.) $450
Magnetic Stone Guards (installation not incl.) $35
"MINI Cooper S" Chrome Frame (installation not incl.) $40
Panther Leather Shift **** (installation not incl.) $45
Black Rubber Floor Mat (back) (installation not incl.) $30
Auxiliary Audio Input (installation not incl.) $40 TOTAL ACCESSORIES ** $640 TOTAL MSRP AS CONFIGURED* $31,570 TOTAL COMBINED $32,210

 

Looks great mate!!! Now if you could only get the Mini before March 3rd and join us for AMVIV!

 

Welcome to NAM, Mark! I love your specs!!! You will be very happy with the anthracite....it's very durable and attractive.

I went to MINIUSA and spec'd out a new MCS, and it came to more than $40K!!!! But that was with about $12K in accessories (meaning John Cooper Works, etc.)!!!

edit: I did this for fun....not to order a new MINI!!!!

So, I think you have a nice set of goodies there, and for a good price!


Clover

 

Mark,


You can probably save some dough by getting those accessories through Classic MINI. They give NAM members 20% off accessories. If your delaer won't match that then try them out. I did.

 

Then skip all those unnecessary bells and whistles like the cold weather package. I'm in Maine and don't have it. No problem either. Skip the navigation stuff. Been using a map since the late 60's. Never been lost. Just something else to go wrong. Forget the 17" performance wheels. Look you're getting the cold weather package so I guess you live in an area that gets snow. Well those wheels don't work so well in the snow by all the reviews posted. Stick with the standard 15" all weather ones. Forget the fog lamps(mostly for looks) and fancy stereo(save it for a home theater :-). Leave off the premium package. Waste of money. There I think that does it. Mostly what's left is for driving pleasure and that's what this car is all about. Save the bells and whistles for a luxury car when you get it.

 

I have to admit, it does seem like you've overloaded your car a bit with options. For example...center armrest? I don't have one, and though I've had them before in other cars...in the MINI, I really don't think you'll find much use for one. Plus, the price they are charging for that option is pretty hefty.

As to the cold weather package, I to live in an area where we get snow in the Winter, but I find that that option doesn't hep in the least, at for me. However, the heated seats are a great option, and I highly recommend that one all by itself. The auto dimming mirror and the rain sensing wipers are also just completely unrequired in every sense of the word.

Park distance control? Standard? You must be getting a special package I'm unaware of. Still, it's a completely not necessary option, especially in a little car like the MINI. As to the navigation system, well...if you can easily afford it, why not? It's kind of cool in it's way, though it does have it's limitations. You might want to read up on it more, though it sounds like you've been doing a lot of reading up already. My daughter liked how that option looks, but...geez, $1,700? Ouch!

I like the H & K stereo upgrade. It's nothing as neat as many aftermarket jobs you could get done, but if you're not a big audiophile...it's a perfectly servicable set up. I don't think you'll be disappointed by it, unless you have some warranty issues with it. (I did, but I'm still happy with it...now that all appears well with it, finally.)

The premuim package is a good one. The OBC is handy sometimes, though you could easily live without it. The sunroof, in my book, is nearly a must have, especially if you can appreciate the idea of having such a thing. The automatic climate control is something that I tend to have to control manually, almost always, but it's still nice, and all this comes in a decently priced package overall, so what the heck, eh?

Personally, despite your possibly driving in Winter conditions a lot, and if you can afford it (which it appears you can), I'd go with 16" wheels, as they are considered to provide the best overall ride comfort/cornering performance balance. The 17" wheels are too big, heavy, and less of an overall good size than even the 15" wheels. I currently have the 15" wheels, and they are cheap (relatively speaking), good enough looking, and also the lowest weight wheels of the bunch...by far. However, in order to reduce bottom out problems you might not like, a larger tire size should be put on them right away. Because they are narrower wheels, the 15" wheels are the best for Winter driving, but you do compromise a little in other performance characteristics.

DSC can be a life saving convenience, and I'm all for it. I've gotten a lot of use out of that option in my car, especially when driving in snow, or on ice, or even loose gravel. It can come on more often than it probably should, but you can turn it off when you want it not interfering with your spirited, dry pavement, driving pleasure. I don't know about the LSD, but it sounds worthwhile if you've got the money for it.

I'm not sure I like the look much of the xenon headlights, but they certainly work well, so I can't really complain there. I'm not getting them on my next MINI I'm ordering, but that's in part because I'm trying to trim costs where I can, and I like the base headlight "look" better, despite the reduction in night driving visibility.

So, if I were you, I'd kill some of those overkill options, and get black leather instead of leatherette (although the leatherette is pretty nice in it's own right, for no extra money), as your car will have better resale value with a leather interior. I'd be a little uncertain of harshening up your ride with the sport suspension plus that comes with the sport package, but if you like an extra spirited drive...that may be a must for you.

I'm a little confused, is this an MC, or an MCS that you are getting? From the base MSRP, it looks like you are getting an S model, but I can't tell for sure based on some of your listed options. If it's an S, you'll have to disregard one or two things I mentioned above, as they no longer apply.

Oh, regardless of which model you are getting, I recommend you get mudguards installed right away, as well as a clear bra package, along with the magnetic stone guards (which are LESS important in protecting your MINI compared to the other two items).

Good luck with your purchase. Please let us know how you finally have your baby configured when you order her. :smile:

 

i use the heated seats from the cold weather package all year around here in MI. in the summer time, if i'm driving at night with the windows down, the seats provide just enough warmth. and their invaluable during the winter months. consider what another poster said about the accesories. go thru classic, very very very good and friendly dealer. i disagree with BillyB. first of all, from the sounds of the car it's a cabrio, which means PDC comes standard and is very useful considering it's hard to see behind you over the convertible top. i believe in the cabrio HK is also part of the premium package. the LSD is probably one of the best options MINI has come out with if you want performance. and if you still want 17's, i believe the new 17's that are optional in the sport package are at least somewhat lighter than the S-lites. in the end, you gotta decide what you wanna do, not what a bunch of boneheads like us think

 

Ahhh...I think you're right. It is a Cabrio, in which case I take back what I said about PDC, which I think is standard on a Cabrio in any case.

Hey, if MarkM has the money to spend on those options, I see no problem in his getting every single darn one of them, even though there are a few in there that...just plain aren't necessary. I myself am not of the bare bones MINI school of thought. That being said, there are a lot of MINI options that just aren't all that great. If he's been doing his forum searches thuroughly, he'll likely know which is which. He did ask us what we thought though, and so we are telling him.

Either way, assuming he doesn't end up with a lemmon, he's gonna have one heck of a MINI.

As far as the 17" wheels go... I still think he should go with 16" wheels. I just think he'll be happier with those in the long run, at least when it comes to selecting from OEM wheels. (Others might say he'd be better off getting aftemarket 16", or 17", wheels, but some people, including myself, just aren't all that into the aftermarket thing.) Since he's getting a Cabrio, getting the 15" base wheels would likely cost him more money anyway (as they are not standard on that model), so he may as well get something he likes the look of within his model category. Regardless, he should seriously consider getting better aftermarket TIRES right away, especially if his stock wheels will come with runflats, which they likely will.

Just my two cents worth of opinion on the subject matter.

Oh, and since this is a Cabrio, the leatherette is probably a more practical choice for him, compared to leather, in case he leaves his top down and gets his upholstery rained on a few times. (I've always feared that would happen to me if I had a Cabrio.)

 

See my last post to your first s2k vs thread on my opinion

One way to save money is not to buy any accessories from the dealer when you buy the car. Places like Sterling in Virginia and Classic in Ohio offer part discounts to Roadfly/NAM board users and charge less then most local dealers even with shipping.

 

Hey BillyB, the 17" bullet wheels come with "performance" run-flat tires. The ones on the MCSC I saw at South Bay MINI on Monday were the Dunlop SP 9000's, which had some decent reviews at Tire Rack. If anyone wants to comment on these tires, I'd be interested, since I'm getting the same wheel/tire combo on my MCSC.

I also think the butt-warmers are essential for a convertible, even in SoCal! (But maybe that's just my tired old bones talkin'...)

_Dave_

 

Nice car! You can really load up a MINI before you get to the price of an S2000.

Your spec is similar to the car I ordered, but you have more goodies. My observations:

Cold Weather Package: definitely! This one's a no brainer, even if you don't live in the snow belt. Just do it. I loved my Passat's heated seats when I lived in Orange County, and I love them even more now that I live in Utah.

Nav system: I love nav, but I'm not a fan of factory set-ups. Too much $$$ and you're stuck with what you get. Say you fall in love with your MINI and want to keep it years and years until it's a "classic." That nav system is going to look awfully funky on your dash 20 years from now. Or even 5. I say if navigation is important, get a nice little portable unit that will 1) cost much less, 2) be transferrable to other vehicles, 3) be upgraded more easily, and 4) not be a permanent (and one day unsightly) part of your car. I plan on keeping my MINI until I can drive my grandkids around in it. I don't want a cheesy 20-year-old computer screen dinosaur staring me in the face when I do.

Wheels: I specced the 17" bullets too. I love those wheels.

Premium Package: I didn't spec this as I've read some less-than-positive experiences with the auto-AC system, and besides, it's a convertible! Who needs automatic climate control in a topless car? Not me (but maybe you). And as far as I can tell, the On-Board Computer in the MINI is next to useless. Not a third as functional as the one that came standard in my Passat, so certainly not worth the upcharge.

Color: all MINI colors are great! I'd rather spend the $420 on other options (LSD for instance) rather than metallic flecks in my paint, so I went Chili Red (love the Liquid Yellow too). Plus the red interior dash and door rings look fantastic! I've never had to pay an upcharge on any of my other cars for metallic paint and this just didn't sit well with me. But if you have the bucks, get the color that sings to you.

Leatherette: this is the one I'd think long and hard about. If you plan on a lot of topless motoring, and I would hope that you do, the leatherette (read: vinyl) seating is going to get very hot and very sticky. Vinyl does not breathe. Even the leather (black) in my Passat is too sticky for me in the summer, and at least leather breathes (somewhat). And that's with the windows up and the A/C blasting. Personally I wouldn't want leather in a convertible, let alone vinyl. I went with cloth. I love the cloth seats in my Miata. Always comfortable. No sweat circles on the back when you jump out of the car. Hold you snug during hearty cornering. I'm not a huge fan of the silver+black cloth seating in the MCSC and would prefer all-black, but since silver+black is all they offer I guess I'll just have to live with it. If you decide to stick (heh heh) with the leatherette, remember me when you're sweating and squirming in your seat on a hot sunny afternoon.

Don't you just love this MINI speccing business? What a great experience!

 

Geez... your specs are almost identical to the car I Have. I too have a BRG MCS Convertible. If you have the money, then get every option you want. It's that simple. If you have to "trim the fat" then the first thing I would eliminate is the Convenience Package. It is a waste of money IMHO. The center arm rest WILL BE A FREE STANDARD OPTION AFTER MARCH ON THE CONVERTIBLE. So if you can wait until then, it will come free at no cost to you. The hands free phone kit seems a lot of money to me, but I rather have it than use a cell phone. I am always nervous with drivers talking on their cell phone while speeding down the road. The rear fog light is sort of a waste (I confess, I have it and it looks COOL) but it fills up the toggle switch which looks much better to me than an empty spot. The Leather shift **** to me doesn't add any "Bling Bling" over the standard one. Everything else I would keep.

 

Holy moly that's a lot of stuff! There is no way I can tell you what you need and what you don't need, all I can do is remind you to only get the stuff that you would miss if you didn't get it.

You know what I mean, you're driving down the road, hanging out, chilling out maxin relaxin all cool, and then BAM, you wish you had a rear fog light because the dude behind you is about to nail you cause he can't see you through the fog! Situations like that are what I'm talking about, true need.

Anyhoozle, while you're spending money, why not go for the 200$ anthracite headliner; it isn't on your list, but it really goes well with the int. surface anthracite color.

mb - damn proud to be the author of "winning argument" from your other thread!

 

I don't think anthracite headliner is an option on a 'vert is it?

 

I just saw your post and was amused at just how differently I see things - but I love that about life, everything is subjective. I am on these boards to listen to what others have to say, learn things and share info - its all good .

Here's my take on what you brought up:

Cold Weather Package: - Agree. I live in Northern Cal and find I use the heated seats all the time, every season. When its chilly, as it tends to be in the early morning and at night, there is no better way to warm up. Besides, a cold engine doesnt provide much hot air, and the seat heaters work in a second. I could do without the other things, but they add all of $30 ontop of the cost of the heated seats. I used to think heated seats were stupid, never ordered them, but a friend showed me the error of my ways :smile:

Nav system: - Built in is the only way I'd go, preferably OEM. I personally do not want an item I need to carry, move, lockup like a handheld unit (I also wonder if those things detach and bop you in the head or something as a projectile if you are in an accident). There are good aftermarket solutions but I cannot stand screens that block vents or tacked on looking head units. On top of that the good ones can be even more expensive installed then OEM. Another option is a nav with no screen. I have a Traffic Pro in the M Coupe and it looks almost exactly stock. It works fantastically too, there is just no map, only voice direction, arrows, and a visual cue of how close you are to your turn/exit.

I used the stock nav on my 3 series for the past 5 years very frequently, it does what I need it to, and it looks nice and integrated - only slightly different then the new units, not a dated eyesore. The big difference between us I think is that the Mini will be my daily driver which I will keep for some time, but not planning on keeping it forever. If I end up doing that and want to change the nav I think there are ways to put a new screen in the same space and do something custom with the headunit.

Wheels: Well, I'm getting a tin top so no direct comparison. I did order the web spokes, but who knows, I have a tendancy towards going for an individual look and getting aftermarket wheels

Premium Package: Again, not the same since I primarily got it for the sunroof. I also like the auto ac.

Color: I went the route of rationalizing the $400 and spending it elsewhere as I resent the upcharge. But I have to go with my heart since I enjoy looking at my cars, and when I saw HB I loved the moods of it and the metallic highlights.

Leatherette: I'm not a big fan of it, but agree it might be better then leather in a convertible, not only due to the sun induced sweating, but the sun will probably be hard on the hides in general. I ended up not selecting cloth for the MCS as I determined it would stain too easily for me (I often have a dog in the car). I also preferrred the feel of the leather - which actually seems thicker then then stuff in most BMWs. I'm used to taking care of it, the cleaning and conditioning you need to do periodically, so that is not a factor for me - but it can be for some so its worth being aware of.

Anyway, different choices make things interesting :smile: The variety of options you can select from in the Mini are really great - makes ordering other cars look boring

 

Thank all of you for taking the time to write long and interesting posts. While I may not agree with everything I have read I do feel like each post was thoughtful and very helpful and constructive!

I will reconfigure some of the items based on your feedback.

Here is my take:

Cold Weather Package: I origionally did not have this option--however the girlfriend factor comes in here. She loves the heated seats concept as she has it in her Cadilac STS and was saddened when I did not opt for it. I opted for it alone and the nice little applet told me that if only I spent $30 more I could have the amazing other features too. $30 for cool stuff? Sure why not. I live in SoCal by the way. I used to live in Virginia so I do know that SoCal really doesn't have "cold" weather. I ask you though? Would you deny your girlfriend?

Leather versus Leatherette: I was truly hoping to see Carintheian leather as that would be my first choice if I could have had it. I had it leather to start with but thought that the leatherette would be more durable. I had leather in my S2000 and I didn't really have any problem with it. I thought about cloth but I had cloth seats in my Del Sol and they just got trashed by the world when I ran open topped. Cloth seems like a non-starter for me.

Wheels: Yeah, I don't know what to do here. I just went with the stock. I am thinking now I should consider the 16s, the question is--what is the difference? Also since there is no spare in the car why wouldn't I want the run-flats? Do they suck?

Sport Suspension: Interesting. Will it make the car feel every bump? Is that more a tire issue than a suspension issue? My S2000 had the performance tires on it (probably contributed to my crash) I drove a 2005 S2000 and it felt a LOT less bumpy. It did not have the same tires on it at all. According to the dealer Honda changed the tires in 2004--using less expensive ones. My guess is--a lot of owners of S2000s were crashing them in the rain.

Hardtop versus Convertable: Every day I change my mind on this. One day I love the idea of the convertable. The next I think--I really want to see out the back and I like the space I gain if I go with the hard top and the sun roof. What made you choose what you did? I could save some coin if I went that way. I was told by the dealer (interestingly enough) that she had more flexibility on the convertables and the mark up. Perhaps they are not selling as well?

Anyway thanks for the great posts. One note of concern though. GEICO called and said there was a slight chance that the car will not be totalled. It will depend on what they think the value is of the car. He will let me know tomorrow. Personally (I know you can't see it) I don't want it back. I am very afraid of taking a car that may have had frame damage back. I tell you the right rear quarter was hit hard. It broke the brake rotor and shoved the wheel in. I might also add that when you looked at the car from behind the rear end did not seem to line up with the front. I admit I couldn't look at the wheel line on the left hand side to determine that--just the body work.

Anyway.. love this place. I want to be a Mini owner! I am going to Long Beach BMW and the other dealer someone mentioned as a possibility that is near there. Maybe I will see you there!

Look for a blond guy staring at Mini's like a doe looking into a headlight....

-mark=

 

runflats don't suck... depends on which you get, i have a friend who autocross and says the sp9000 are alot better than the europi@ .. so really depends on which runflat u get on the 17... for the 16 i'd say ditch the runflats.. i had them on my S before i switched them to re750s...

one thing is runflats are safer on long trips... but just keep a comprssor and a can of goo handy and ur good to go! runflats ride alot harder than regular tires

dont bother too much about sport suspension.. i dont believe it is much different than the stock version...

i'd add lsd too!

i have leatherette.. and yes they do get sticky in the summer.. but their grip, their stain resistance just makes it all up

 

Darn, just when I think I'm done posting to this thread... Well, I'm sure some of you know how it is.

I guess I'm having a hard time staying away from this one, because I'm in the process of ordering my next MINI from Julie at Classic MINI in Ohio, and I'm still debating how exactly I'll configure the new baby. Being as I've been through this once before, and not all that long ago as it turns out, I think the process will be a little easier.

I'm sorry your old car may not be written off as totaled, that may greatly complicate things for you. I hope that all works out for you, as you seem very excited at the prospect of getting a MINI. I can understand, believe me!

If you really like the 17" wheels, and if the tires they'll give you are highly rated, then you should go for them, or you might otherwise have regrets. And from what I've experienced with my current MINI, regret about the purchase can really lessen the...er...magic of your driving experience. I happen to like the R90 16" wheels, and they are a good platform for an upgraded set of tires, but that's just my opinion for me. 16" would perform overall better for you, but not necessarily but much, and you might hardly notice the difference if you were given the chance to compare. So, I say go with what you've got your heart set on...unless you're truly not sure, and have other options that intrigue you as well.

I still think you should simplify, as well as save a tiny smidge of money, by just getting the heated seats, sans the whole CWP. My heated mirrors are on ALL the time (as long as the car is on, as there's no on/off switch for this option), which means they ALWAYS have hard water spots on them, and I could do with less of that. I've had no issue with the heated washer jets, but even in sub-freezing (though NOT sub-zero) conditions...I've not really needed them yet, and they are an extra (small) complication to the car.

There was a great black leather option for the MINI in prior model years. It was called Panther Black, or something like that, and had a really cool texture to it, as well as better breathability, and a higher reputation than the other leather options for durability. I'm looking at getting the Octagon Red Cloth/ Black Leather combo, but I'm not sure about spending $800 more for a MOSTLY cloth option, when most people are very happy with leatherette...even in warm climates. In a convertible though, that other opinion might be quite right...in that with the top down, they could get a little TOO hot when the car is parked in the sun. If I were you, I'd post a seperate thread specifically asking Cabrio owners about their own experiences with their chosen upholstery. It might be very helpful to you.

I can understand your concerns about cloth seats. I'm not too happy with my Space Gray cloth seats, though the material is less durable in appearance than the new Octagon cloth styles. As to the color specific dual tone cloth seats available for the Cabrios... I've looked at them, felt them, and...they seem better than Space Gray cloth, but...I'm still not sure about them. Leatherette just seems a safer bet. Taking good care of my MINI can be taxing, and my cloth seats make that job even harder.

I think that the runflat tires, regardless of brand, are the big problem with why Sport Suspension Plus equipped MINI's seem to ride particularly hard, because those two options tend to go together. Once people switch to softer running, non-runflat, tires, their ride seems to improve considerably. Yet, I'm not sure how much more performance you get for your extra $500, compared to what must be some kind of loss in ride smoothness. This is another area where you might want to post a specific thread asking about the difference.

In my opinion, with the top up, the Cabrios just don't look as good as a hard top MINI. With the top down though, everything changes, and the Cabrio is pretty neat looking. I like having a hard top over my head, and the MINI hard top sunroof option is a really nice, though pricey, option. I've only seen Cabrios on the internet, or at my current dealer in Sacramento. The loss of, as it is, already limited seating space in the back of the Cabrio, as well as boot storage space, is not something I would be willing to accept. I think of my MINI as a two-door, four passenger car (which it trul IS, for me). If you think of your soon to be MINI as a two-seater, with some "extra" room in the back, then you should be ok with the extra space limitations of Cabrio. However, you'd definitely save some coin, regardless of "dealer mark-down" (which I highly suspect is salesmanship BS in any case), which you can pocket...or spend insead on an MCS, or on other options, or whatever.

The OBC and Automatic Climate Control Options are ones you could very easily live without. I doubt you'd ever miss them. That being said, I'm perfectly happy with these two options in my car...though I'm likely to not order them next time around. But I'm a poor guy, so you need to figure that in to some of my opinions here.

Good luck. I hope everything turns out ok for you. A Cabrio MINI would be a real fun car to drive around in down there in Southern California. There is some kind of option that you can have dealer installed that cuts down on the wind backlash that bounces around the car when you're motoring down the road with the top down. I guess it doesn't come standard with the Cabrio package, but I understand it's highly recommended by other Cabrio owners. You might want to consider checking into it. It sounds like something I'd get, but then...I'm rather **** about my MINI.

 

The wind deflector option is $425US "uninstalled". I think there's also one that has a translucent checkerboard motif for slightly more. Somewhere there's a post that does a comparison of Cabrio noise/turbulence at speed, ranking combinations of deflector only, deflector w/ windows up, windows up only, roof up, etc.

I also read a review that suggested that the Cabrio top-down is quieter and less turbulent than the hardtop with the moonroof open!

One last thing: I was VERY concerned about the harsh ride with the sport suspension and the 17" runflats, but I've taken several test drives with this combo on some very beat up southern Cali concrete roads, and the ride was fine.

_Dave_

 

...just how well/poorly the various cabrio upholstery options perform in summer heat... It's largely subjective anyhow... Who's idea was it anyway, to introduce this car in the WINTER??

Tatt

 

When I get my cloth-interior cabrio, I'll drop the top and drive around in a pair of vinyl pants for a day to give me some perspective on the cloth vs. leatherette debate.

P.S. MINI likely didn't want to compete with the Mustang convertible's big springtime introduction, which would tempt prospective MINI buyers with its live axle handling prowess.

 

to help with your decision on some of those options...how's about go on down to the dealer and take a test drive in different cars with different options?

maybe a cabrio vs. sunroof
16's vs. 17's
runflats vs. non-runflats
etc.

i believe the ride quality is much improved in the new models compared to previous, so the wheel size may not be as big a factor as some of us with older minis have been writing about. myself, personally, i like the smaller look and ride, especially over potholes. so i've got 15's with 205/55 s03's in '03 mcs with h-sports springs. much plusher ride over those crappy roads and still plenty good cornering ability in both wet and dry. before that had 16's with 205/50 tires and i believe that was the optimum balance of comfort and performance.

with all the rain over there, traction/safety is a must. dsc and good rain performing tires, likely aftermarket, would be a good idea. lsd for a few hundred $$$ is an option i wish i had. those auto-sensing things can get fooled and not work quite the way you want it to.

and since i live on a tropical island, heated anything, nav and leather was not considered. but moonroof is essential, along with tint.

i would also highly recommend the clear bra, which you could also get aftermarket but not sure which is cheaper though. if you drive on highways, especially with lots of construction vehicles and potholes, your nice brg bonnet will get absolutely pelted. i got mine the day i drove off the lot, based on the pelting i got with my first mini.

 

There was really only one reason I chose Leatherette over cloth for my Cabrio.... BIRD POOP! I will deal with sweating in the seats, just can't deal with trying to clean cloth. Hopefully most stuff will just wipe off with Leatherette.

 

You asked about HT vs. Cabrio .... well, I like to be able to see above me when it rains, so, go fig, HT/Sunroof option for me... Oh, and I like that I can still feel "open" even when all closed up to the weather.... I rode in the back of a Mini Cabrio one night, with a friend driving (I was curious if the wind blows over your head, like in my friends BMW cabrio), uh, not really... I asked to have the top put up... even thought it was night, I felt depressed .... you always have SOME level of openess feeling with the sunroof, even when it's closed (it's a light transmission thing).

Doug

 

I'm with you, CapW. I LOVE convertibles, but it's nice to have a 'safe haven' in the rain. I'd recommend a nicely optioned MCS, and buying a used Miata with the delta... Best of both worlds, in all conditions!
Need four seats? Got 'em - MCS.
Need an excuse not to drive others? Got it! - Miata
Don't feel like wind in your hair? Got it - MCS
Feel like breaking the tail loose (without e-brake :smile: )? Got it - Miata

As for options - Gotta get the CWP - a $300 bargain. Sport suspension isn't an option, it's standard on the MCS. If you want to save money, ditch the leather and Bluetooth, but that's just me. Also, a Garmin or Magellan could be used in both the MCS and Miata.