I went with my sister to order a MC today. She has not regsistered on any Mini forums which may have been beneficial in choosing her car. I read some things over here briefly and really appreiciate this and the <search>. She was all set on getting just a loaded MC, with a lot of extra's. Since on a budget but wanting features like leather(rather than pleather), be green with white top and have sunroof. The coolness, she HAS to have a manual trans. I have been bugging her to get the S. I am astonished by all the high end options and features. JCW was out of the question for price. Getting the driving lights was high on her list, apparently more so than getting the S. Right before she made her mind she Drove the S again and after returning it was pretty much decided to get S. I really wanted to see this thing optioned with the LSD since i am trying to gether to autox. I let the LSD go i guess(its her car and she's making the payment) I could not believe the $450 + 400 plus tax charge on those driver lights, I am going to get her the PIAA set i have seen talked about here and install them, along with gauges and other nice pieces. We ended up dropping off some of the features like the alarm, auto climate, Xenon. The deposit was placed today for ordering the car. Can you order the Xenon package? Think this could be added day later to order? I was thinking ig they were less than $500 i would just buy them for her as an added option and pray she lets me drive her mini(once in a while)

 

Get the LSD, it's only $500 to add when ordered, but any aftermarket will be over $1000, and that doesn't count the labor. One of the best deals in the options....

Matt

 

Hi! I strongly encourage your sister to add the Xenons to her specs. I haven't driven an MCS with the LSD, but if I were spec'ing a new MINI, I'd sure order it. I think she has time to make changes to her order, especially if she just ordered it today. Good luck to her! She'll love her MINI!

 

The sunroof and the leather added a lot to the cars final cost. 8.75 in taxes didn't help(Chicago tax) I really wanted to see the LSD especially it gets wet and slippery here and even power to the wheels is good. And trust me i know about the LSD prices, i am installing LSD's into GM FWD Getrag's for my Beretta's. I have 3 options for my GM Getrag's 1. Quaife LSD($1000-$1500) 2. spring loaded with friction plates($500-$650)(like a posi), and 3. That block thing from....
I agree on the Xenon's, and while the LSD is now a lost deal, the Xenon is something i think she would really like(even though she does not know it) Unfortunatly she has not driven a Xenon equipped car and specifically a MC at night. I can't believe the salesguy didn't think the LSD was a good deal. I even asked if there were ANY LSD's in the lost he replied with a NO. When will people realize that getting power equally to both front wheels is a good thing. This is not some exotic option, entry level japanese cars like Sentra SE-R's had it, as did some Corolla's.

My sister is really going to love this car. She took really good care of her old 94 Jetta which this MCS is replacing.

What was the Xenon cost to add it?

 

x2. Best thing I did on my order. Worst thing: skimped on the anthracite headliner. Doh!

 

Does your sister have autocross experience? Is she an aggressive driver?
If so then getting the LSD is helpful with performance driving.

As a safety item the LSD can help maintain traction in bad weather. A nice feature when you need it.

If driving aggressively isn't in her nature then the LSD has less benefit and may not be used much in autocross.

Xenon lights are extra bright and helpful if you need more light for night driving. Seems she likes bright lights. The stock headlights will also work if you don't get to order the xenons and the headlight bulbs can also be swapped out and upgraded easily.

For the money especially if you want manual transmission, the MCS is a very solid buy. Good choice.

Although factory leather is nice, you do have the option to get the standard leatherette or cloth and cover it with custom leather at any time for not too much $$$. Factory leather sometimes sags and can wear out easily in areas being rubbed more.

 

She can be a more agressive driver. She works all kinds of crazy hours and often drives at night. She wanted the driving lights because of looks, more so that lighting.

 

Same here. I barely added the LSD in time with my order, but by the time I wanted to get the anthracite headliner, the order was already set in stone. Maybe I'll get an after market anthracite headliner in a year or two, if I can make some mad money.

 

I wonder if the Motoring Advisor (what MINI calls their salesguys/gals) owns a MINI. It's a good thing that you found a site like NAM. We know more about the MINIs than the majority of the salesfolk do.

The LSD is a great deal. It takes a little time to get a production number, so I think she could make a few changes, if she wants to. Also, there are two leather choices now: the regular leather and the English leather (which is really lovely). I have the regular leather and am very happy with it.

She should go do a night-time test-drive to decide about the Xenons. I LOVE mine!

Hope that helps.

 

True that! I personally am going the alcantara route:$$$$$$$$$$$

Of course that's right after I pick up my new Aston V8 Vantage!

 

I had an 03 MCS w/o LSD and just picked up my 06 MCSc with LSD and I can tell you, it is worth every penny (50,000 pennies to be exact). It noticeable especially when cornering hard or at high speeds. As for the xenons, I wouldn't want to live without them...I love them!

 

I have an S with the LSD and the letherette, has she seen it, I can't tell the differance I found out just last night which one I had (and don't intend upon correcting those who thinnk I have actual leather) And many of those people are car enthuisasts who have leather all over their interiors, MINI has one of if not the best leaterettes out there.

IMO the I'd say drop the leather for the leatherette only those who know to look for a lumbar sopprt adjument **** will know the difference get the LSD and I wish I had the Xenons but I took from stock and that is the only OEM option I would really change, but there are other things you can do to be almost as bright for far less $$$. What dealer did you go to and which MA, I bought my car from Kanuz and they had one sales guy who put off getting a MINI until the LSD was available. And awsome service as well, I wish all dealer were setup and as professional and helpful as they are.

You must do everything you can to get the LSD, I have driven ibn the snow up there, the electronics are every bit short of usless, just it the asc/dsc off switch and the LSD puts the car exactly where you want it, it makes the MINI (which is already a great snow car) one of the safest and easist cars to drive in the snow. There is far more to it than preformance, which by the way rocks!!

If it came down to it I'd take the LSD over Xenons and put some quality bulbs in after the car arrives can order them when you get the PIAAs and save on shipping The stock halogens just don't cut it (esp. if you live in the farther suburbs) and there just is no replacement for the LSD offerings. Also may want to adjust aming if you get the halogens.

To change it call the dealer ASAP because sometimes the change the settings if a MINI is already in production but not yet claimed and it would suck if she couldn't make adjustments because she waited.

 

One of the things I love about leatherette is that its so durable. I'm not really a leather person. It wrinkles and rips easily, compared to leatherette. With leatherette you can really rough it up, and it'll still look brand new (in a sense). Doesn't leatherette hold up against water really well? If it does, if you just get done swimming and want to drive back home or drive out somewhere, the water won't really hurt it compared to leather.

 

LSD? Yes!
Xenons? Yes!

Driving lights are OK, check with your local laws regarding legal use of these lights in urban areas- they are pretty bright.

The multicolor leather seats do look nice. The leatherette seat closely resembles the solid dark colored leather seats. Some people can be fooled by leatherette (durable too).

 

Yeah, I love the two-tone look! Gray/Black is AWESOME for the leatherette. I'm getting those with my DS/B MCS.

 

Um...I have news for you: the leatherette gets rips, too, and they are not that easy to deal with.....

 

I am currently making decisions on a replacement for my 03 cooper who got schmushed last week. I am toying with the idea of trying as S this time. I like to do my own stuff, and weight is important to me. If Auto-X is a major factor, go lightweight.

Right now I'm settled on LSD, MFSW, and OBC. No packages. Depending on how I settle with insurance I may add anthracite headliner and aero kit.

I drive a ton at night on dark twisty back roads and the standard lights work great for me.

What's with the unavailability of cloth I love cloth seats

CR/B of course

 

Okay then, well, it still has one thing going for it...it's cheap! Three cheers for being cheap and looking good!

 

There is happiness without LSD...... And Xenons.

Don't have either in my '05 MCS and the car is a blast to drive.

Instead, invest in a good driving school to improve your skills.

 

Yes, but the leatherette is a pretty tough material. In order to rip it apart you would have to sit down with a knife or screwdriver sticking out from your back pockets.

After nearly 4 years of daily use, no rips in the leatherette of the '02 MC.

 

Personally, I have driven MINIs equipped with Xenons and I am not 100% sold on them. I think Xenons are more useful on pitch dark country roads but in the city under street lights they are annoying and a total waste. Like everything else in life, Xenons have their good and bad to them. The bad is added weight, they run extremely hot and those bad boys are very expensive to replace should they die past the warranty period.

Also, Xenon light thefts have increased here in Miami. Just a couple of days ago, I saw a relatively new MCS (2005 or 2006) with no headlights whatsoever! This is an indication that this crime has finally extended to the MINI. In Miami is not uncommon to see Acuras, Audis or Nissans being driven around with no headlights in their sockets.

People like to bash halogen headlights. They work great. Both of my MINIs have the halogens and I can tell you the re-designed light beam projectors and stronger bulbs in the '05-'06 MINIs are much better than the halogens found in the '02-'04 MINIs. Like Minihune said, you can always upgrade your halogen bulbs and improve the lighting a bit more if so desired.

 

I just ordered an S about a month ago. I definitley had to have the LSD and I think the xennon was included in a package but I'm not familiar with the anthracite headliner. What is this option?

Curt

 

Your road conditions and night vision level should dictate what you order on your MINI.

I live in Northern Vermont and drive twisty country roads, at night can be pitch black and have lots of furry critters... Deer, Beavers, Racoons, Bears, Fishercats at night.

Also sand, gravel and loose conditions persist all the time, if you go off-line. Basically, it's a Rallye stage right out of the Monte everyday.

Items I started with on my order.
- Cooper S
- Limited Slip Differential, absolute must order item
- Xenons, best lights I've ever used

 

It's quite possible your sister would have been quite happy w/ a Cooper. If she gets the all other features she wants she'll most likely blow her budget. Aside from the many owners here who have definite and purposeful reasons for driving an MCS, in many, many cases it's just a matter of "selling up." Yes, the MCS has a different sensation when driven back-to-back w/ a Cooper...but Coopers are darn good and many decisions, I feel, have been made based on sketchy information...even gathered here. I think your own enthusiasm may have clouded her reason. Just a theory, though.