It's funny, after almost 3 years of owning my current MC I'm thinking of ordering a new '05 MCS - and I STILL am having trouble making up my mind on some things!

Before buying my current MINI I was only a passive automotive enthusiast - ogling periodicals and cool cars as they passed me by. ...I drove Subaru wagons. Getting a MINI has been a life-changing experience. I helped to start the local MINI Club (and am still active as a Director); I have been to a fistful of track days and a driving school; I have spent countless hours reading/writing posts on an enthusiast message forum (or two, or three...); I WORK at the MINI dealership for crying out loud! I know the MINI has also caused some of you to change your lives and your livelihood. (I might have to start a new thread just on this topic....hmmm.....)

Anyhow, this time 'round my goal is to buy with the future in mind. The future, that is, of a track toy! This will have to be a gradual metamorphasis for me. The wifee will need a new car in couple years, so (unless I come into BIG $$ in the meantime) this will be a daily driver for a number of years before I can buy myself another daily driver that will then enable me to relegate this new MCS to purely track use. Oh, and since I'm getting 2 new cars before the wifee gets another new one - I am on a pretty tight budget - or, you could read that as short leash.

I've done a mock-up of the design I think I want. Even though it's nothing earth-shattering, grandiose, or exceptional - it's mostly unique (to my knowledge) even though it is still simple and the influences will be obvious. I'd post it but for whatever reason I'm feeling somewhat protective of the idea - so you'll have to wait until it's closer to a reality. I need to discuss some of it with the graphics folks here. (I'll be in touch.)

But the real trouble is giving up my ammenities. Since I expect it to be a daily driver for at least 5 years, I don't want to give up everything and there are certain things I had been wishing to get - but I do want to keep weight and cost down. My PS/B MC is currently nicely equipped for an '02 with CWP, PP, SP, NAV, CVT and a few bits and baubles. Here's what I'm considering:

PW/B MCS LSD, DSC, MFSW, CWP, Chrono Pak, OBC, front fogs.

Here are some options I'm still undecided on, but mostly rejecting:

Xenons - kinda like them, kinda don't (reference to another post). Don't want the extra weight or cost.

Convenience Pak - Have always liked the auto-wipers. Like the auto-lights and like the uncluttered, integrated garage-door thing. Don't want the extra cost or the weight (although minimal). Have lived without all of them this far...

Rear fog - Visibility from the rear in inclement weather isn't the best - and there is that eternal quest for the complete toggle row. Cost is minimal - but you know how things add up. Weight is marginal - and it is on the light end of the car.

PW Roof - I am big on the historic value of a contrasting roof color - but this might work better at certain stages of my design process. Obviously, no weight or cost difference. I live in a moderate clime, so I can deal with the black for heat in the summer.

Ok, so here it is, I'm opening it up to hear your thoughts from all angles.

 

Since you're kinda thinking about the track anyway, don't pay for anything that won't contribute directly to performance. As for the the full bank of toggles, all you need to add is the front and rear fogs, and you're done. In fact, if those were your only two options, you'd still get a car with a CDP and AC. That's pretty nice for under $23,000! So you're payments will be low . . .

. . . (of course, on the plus side, you'll be able to sneak in little go-fast bits here and there on the aftermarket! . . . ssshhhhh! )

 

I personally like your spec. In terms of the "Convenience pack" and the "Rear Fogs" I highly recommend both as they add safety features to the car and increase their resale value. In the convenience pack, the auto headlights, rain sensing wipers, self dimming rear view mirror and Homelink integration all work extremely well and transparently. Further, the self dimming mirror is a must in these cars and it effectively helps reduce headlight glare from cars behind you (Specially those pesky SUVs with powerful HIDs) with no manual intervention whatsoever. Once you have these features, you will never want to go back. I had both the rain sensing wipers and self dimming mirror in my ex-2004 MCS and that's why I ordered them again in the '05 MCS.

The Homelink integration works fantastic and you can program up to 3 separate homelink devices, such as door garage openers, remote home alarm devices and lighting devices. Not having to carry a brick sized remote garage door opener inside the car, was a big selling point for me. I used to have a similar OEM Homelink integration in a GM car I used to have, so for a long time I missed this cool feature and was glad to hear that MINI finally was going to offer it for '05. For $400 factory install, is not a bad deal for 4 very cool features.

The rear fogs, aside from the obvious safety benefits, will also give you a full 6 toggle switch bank. For $100 factory install, it was a no brainer for me. Also I dislike the cheap plastic black cover in the rear bumper of non-rear fog equipped MINIs. Get them, because if you later change your mind it will be more time consuming and expensive having these installed at the dealer, but probably you'll get a big employee discount, but still, you know.

I did not get the Xenons and went with front fogs/halogens instead. For 2005, MINI improved not only the looks of the standard headlights, but also the optics and light brightness of the Halogens. These lights are much better IMO than the '02-'04 units.

The Xenons still provide superior light coverage and look wicked cool, but they add 10 pounds weight to the front of the car and are more complex since you have the power washers and autoleveling features. Unless you do lots and lots of driving on very dark roads, you may not need them if you drive under city lighting. Most people get them because they look cool and add some "Catchet" and appeal to the looks of the car.

Same color roof is actually rare, but since I am hard headed, I prefer my MINIs to have contrasting color roofs. However, a Chili Red/Chili Red MCS looks brilliant or DS/DS. With Pure silver, I personally prefer the black roof, but all PS/PS is on the rare side.

Good luck deciding.

 

I wanted Silver with a red interior, Lola wanted Blue with the Lapis Blue interior..who ever decided the color got to pay for the car...Blue/white it is.

But I loved the Silver/black top and the red interior.

 

I have really enjoyed the automatic wipers and auto-dimming rearview mirror.

 

HUH! How ironic! My Dad has driven Subaru wagons(legacy FWD+outback ltd. AWD) and our MCS is going to see our driveway in a few hours! hope the same thing happens...

-Paul

 

Ahhhh, yes - this and my custom design elements are also part of the reason I need to keep the factory cost to a minimum.

I don't think I'm going to be worrying about resale value much for this one. (Of course, that's what I thought with the first one!!! ) ...That said, I am a HUGE fan of the rain-sensing wipers. I'm just so fanatical about the wipers being the "right" speed - especially when it's no longer raining but there's a lot of road spray - that is the most frustrating time to use wipers. If no one is in front of you, then you don't need anything - but as soon as you pass that semi you all-of-the-sudden need hyperspeed wiping!

Currently the garage doors are the only homelink devices we have. My opener is from a newer Genie, so it really isn't that big. The autoheadlights and auto-dimming mirror are nice, but....

I think I'm choking on the $400 for the Conv. Pak. NO, it isn't a lot of money - but I just haven't come up with/heard a strong enough argument to convince myself to get them. So far, I think this pak is still off the list.

That rear fog is probably going to bug me if I don't get it. I also dislike the black plastic cover. What's $100 anyhow? This one is teetering towards the *approved* list. ~~~~Mental Note: I wonder what other nifty function this space can possibly serve?~~~~

I won't ever talk bad about a Subaru - I was happy enough with them to get 3 in a row! All showed bullet-proof reliability and were amazingly well-composed, decent handling vehicles given their format and admittedly bland styling. (but things are improving) ...I never should have sold that last one - but the MINI and a quick bout of unemployment forced my hand.

Thanks for the thoughts.... I'm ready for more!

 

Now one thing i'm not completely clear on is if this will be a second car for almost track only duty or this is replacing the MC and will eventually become a track car?

It it will become a track car but you will daily drive it for 5 years first i would say get the options you want so you can be comefortable.

If it'll imediately become a track car i would say don't go for the Xenons because its just extra weight and you'll never really need them. Otherwise, GET THEM!

The rear fog, i would say get it and think of it this way. Its your little racing fog light like the Formula One cars have. Only race cars have a small hyper bright fog light on the middle rear of the car hehe. Thats how i will think of mine, whenever i autocross that little rear fog will be blaring bright so people will SEE me driving away from them hehe.

 

Definitely the latter - the MC is up for sale.

Now there's an idea I like! Heh heh heh!

 

Since you're coming from an early model MINI, keep in mind that the suspension was softened about 1/2 way throught the '03 model year.

I now have an '05 and I'm really happy with the gearing and added zip, but the handling is not as sharp. My early model '03 was stiffer and handled like it was on rails. While the '05 still handles great, its not the same. It seems to drift more and is not quite as flat in corners as I remember. If I had it to do over, I'd get the JCW suspension and the LSD. Maybe its just my car, but if you're considering taking it to the track, you might want to test drive an '05 with special attention to the suspension and handling. Then decide if you want to spring for the JCW suspension.

 

OMG...Never even thought of that...and all along I thought the '05 position was dumb and the only reason to get it was for the full toggles (which being a girl, the asthetic bit is important to me). Now, I can't wait to get mine installed!!!