Well, after 3 days with the MCS and 400 miles under it's belt, I absolutely love it! I have to get used to the firm seats, especially the leg bolsters. They are comfortable, but not natual feeling yet (unless im in a hard corner).

The car does however have a couple factory flaws that will be corrected in a few days when they can get me in.

First, after 300 miles I did indeed developt he passenger speaker housing/door panel rattle. It's not super loud, but easily heard on a few tracks. Hopefully the service dept is up on the unauthorized fix - I do not want them pulling the panel and simply putting it back on.

Second, the windows do not always operate correctly when opening/closing the doors. Sometimes the glass fails to drop the 1/4", sometimes it fails to raise. The passenger glass has hit the trim while closing the door, and both have left a 1/4" gap after closing.

They will also be fixing the ipod adapter install goof, disconnecting/leaving off the +12v acc wire from the radio.

And hopefully they will have the balck carpet floormats I ordered with the car in stock now.

I did a full detailing sat. afternoon and it looks great. I was impressed on how few contaminates the paint had - the slay session went very smoothly (pun intended). There were just a few random spots, other than that nothing major at all. It's scratch and swirl-free, and the Zaino brought out the luster and shades. In the sun the Hyper Blue takes on a puiple tone at some angles now.

I gave it the full Zaino treatment, with 2 coats of Z2, and it looks fantastic, but the difference was not as great from stock as other cars I have done. This is not the fault of Zaino, it is testiment to the high-quality of the Mini paint right from the factory.

I am extremely impressed with the car's power, not just for a 1.6L but overall. I am having an absolute blast just breaking it in! My shifting isn't as smooth as it could be, short shifting right at the begining of the power peak and only using 1/2 throttle.

My other car is a modified 300HP GTP, and it has over 320lb/ft of torque at just 1800 RPM. Obviously the power delivery style of these cars is dramatically different. Jumping back intot he GTP the other day to move it in the parking lot - it felt like I was in someone else's car - I had already become completely accustomed to the Mini. I thought I would miss the huge off-idle power in stop and go traffic, but I don't.

The one thing I still can't get over is how the Mini just wants to pull and pull and pull! I look down and see I'm doing 20+ over what I thought I was, or what it feels like. The car is so amazingly smooth. And somehow, the car gives the illusion of going slower, like sitting up in our Blazer does. In most lower cars, I have always had the impression of going faster than I was, but not in the Mini. 70 seems like 40 in my GTP.

The other nice thing is I'm surprised how much pull it has in all gears at any speed. I had a 1995 Sunfire GT which was also a VERY fun car, with a similar power delivery to the Mini, but obviously didn't handle anything like it. The sunfire however, would shudder and buck in 5th as low as 35 if you gave it throttle. The Mini just purrs along, even in 6th.

Incidentally, If below 2k, anyone in the rear is reporting they can't hear anything except exhaust resonance. I kick it down a gear and all is well. This was only an issue at slow speeds around town.

Tonight I discovered the lights to the ground from the doors - ver nice! I am actually much more impressed witht he car at night than in the day! Partially because of the EXCELLENT headlights (xenon), partially because of the excellent gauges and lighting, partially for the incredible, blind-spot-free visibility. I have never enjoyed a car so much!

The auto wipers simply amaze me! I picked up the car in a storm, and they amazed me all the way home. They are tuned absolutely perfectly! Just when you start to think to yourself - I want to wipe the glass - it's just did it. And it not ONCE wiped too early, causing a screech.

So far the only things I wish the car had that it didn't are a heads-up-display (I wish every car could have this option - I am REALLY going to missit) and a compass display somewhere, like in the mirror or overhead light pod.

I will get nice pictured soon, probably this weekend after I wash it down again. I didn't finish the detail session in time for good light Sat, and have been on a short road trip today.

In short - LOVE THE CAR! If anyone is waiting for yours and are reading this...you won't be disappointed!

 

glad to hear your enjoying your car, i also had a sunfire (98 SE) and although it was fun, it doesn't compare with my MINI. i look forward to seeing the pics!!

 

Glad you're enjoying it.. reading your post is making my wait even harder than it already was

 

I had a GT 5-speed.

 

Sounds great
Try this with your windows.Roll them all the way down,then roll them up and hold the toggle for at least 10 seconds.Should reset the dip.If not,the dealer will have a fix.
And remember,if the windows are not ALL the way up,they will not dip,even 1/16".Hold the toggle in the up position for a second or two,every time.

 

I already tried the reset, it only fixed it for a few cycles.

 

Got the car back this afternoon, all is well.

They found a pinched wire from the Ipod adpator install, fixed it.

They adjusted the window drop, works fine now.

They added foam insulation around the bottom edge of the door panel, stopped the rattle.

 

There you go,all fixed,now get out there and motor