So I'm getting closer to pulling the proverbial trigger on a Base model and finding that I have to compromise on options to keep my payment where I want it.

I need to stay close to base.

DSC:
How important is the DSC ? I live in Virginia where we can have some snowy winters sometimes. Funny thing is, I grew up in Long Island when all cars were rear wheel drive with no such thing as traction control, and we had plenty of snow. I did just fine. But now I wonder about it.
Cutting DSC saves me a bundle. Bad decision ?

SPORT SEATS:
Yea I want sport seats and English leather. However I can save a bundle here too by sticking with stock seating and leatherette. Is there a major difference in the comfort level here ?


This leaves me with a base car that has:
cold weather package, premium package, and about 900 dollars or so of other minor options.
I can deal with that, but may consider stretching the budget depending on what kind of difference the sport seats and dsc really make. that's why I'm asking.

Thanks !

Floyd

 

Welcome!

DSC ... get it. Some day it might save your life. It should be standard

Leather ... bling

Cold weather? For Virginia? Unless your in the mountains, not needed.

Best of luck!

 

Just my opinions as a recent purchaser who had to struggle through similar issues...

The leather seat options have lumbar support for both driver and passenger, that's a great feature if you intend to do longer drives or have any sort of back issues. (Note: The heated seats are nice on the back too!) With that said the leatherette seats are very nice and of a high quality...just no lumbar support.

DSC, you'll get varying responses on this item. It's a safety feature, so if you ever drive or have a loved one that may drive the car a little harder than they are capable of handling the car...DSC can save their butt (ie. keep the car under control to a point). If you're a capable driver or one who stays within the limits all the time then it would just be an extra...just my $.02. Personally I liked getting it on my MCS because, well I'm not always one to drive "within the limits", I have the option to turn it off on track days, and like the security day-to-day. Plus we get our share of snow/ice etc here in Ohio and my Mini's my daily driver...

Good luck with your purchase, once you get it you won't regret it!

 

It was only 54 degrees here today and I was very happy I had the heated seats! I'd sacrifice almost everything else to have heated seats.
DSC is nice in the snow.
Just my opinion.

 

Thanks for the responses.
I didn't know the lumbar was combined with the leather apolstery. I do have a bad back. Funny thing though, I never use the lumbar options on my other cars I've had.
But good to know the leatherette is nice.

Still unsure about the dsc though. Sounds like it's not crucial though.

more more more.

 

From experience, DSC on a Cooper is pretty pointless. If you're a good driver and have experience in the snow I vote for skipping that. The english leather seats are amazing, if I could afford them in the MCS I'm looking to order shortly I'd have them again.

 

I have the leatherette seat and have no complaints about their comfort. They really are perfectly comfortable, I can't imagine the spending the money to upgrade them. I wouldn't trade my heated seats for anything though. I've only had the car since May and have already used them countless times. I view DSC as a safety feature, and I'll take any safety feature I can get!

 

I love my full set of toggles . But to each their own... !

 

Skip DSC...it's a Cooper, use your head....you'll be fine.

Skip the leather...leatherette is quite good, really.

Skip sport seats....the standard seats were re-fashioned some years back and are much better than the old standard seats used to be.

Done........see now you can pick one if you want...or not.

If I were in your spot and I had to pick one, I might pick DSC because of your snow conditions. You might switch it on now and again...who knows.

However, if it was my car (here) I would (and will) get the sport seats. I haven't had (and won't get) DSC and have never missed it, not even once, but then I'm in Texas. My seats are cloth, but that's a climate-based choice, too.

 

I have the sports seats in leatherette and think them the most comfortable seats I've ever had in a vehicle. I love em.

Get DSC.

Nix the heated seats.

 

amg6975
Thanks for that input. I sat in an mcs in the showroom the other day with the english leather. They really ARE awesome !!! A taste of the soft life for the car. I would love them. Not sure if it'll work out that way though.

katesmini.
Thanks. Good to hear the leatherette is comfy too. I am kind of heavy with a wide back and I think the sport seats may actually squeeze my back a bit anyway. Yup heated seats are like a neccessity with me too. I've had them in my last 3 subarus. I even use them in the summertime. Luckily it seems like just about all cars that dealers have contain the cold weather package. The heated mirrors are very nice too. Never had the heated wiper fluid yet though.

gokartride.
You confuse me. In the same post you told me to skip the sport seats, yet you will get them in your next car. haha.

 

I passed on DSC for my '06 MC (had it on my '02 MCS and I don't miss it at all).

You could still get leather seats and save money, just don't get the english leather. There is a price premium for the englist leather over the regular leather seats.

OR you could get half leather/cloth, or leatherette, or cloth. All would save money.

I would definitely get the sport seats and get them heated. You will not regret spending money on either.

 

When we ordered my wife's Cooper, she wanted a simplly configured MINI and she had already learned that a lot of my "premium" package options were a waste of money and were more annoying than anything.

She wanted sport seats, but knew that the leatherette was actually nicer than my crappy leather that is wrinkled and stretched. Also, the auto AC is really annoying and she wanted the simplicity of easy to turn ***** instead of having to always try to trick the computer into blowing air where you want it.

Also, the sunroof can be a pain in the summer when it makes the MINI into a solar oven. Another "premium" option we passed on for her Cooper.

DSC is a must for daily safety and xenon lights are also a must (in our opinions).

 

Yes...if I were to get one thing. Still...it's a bit of a mystery, isn't it?!

(seriously, my friend just got standard seats and they ain't bad at all, really. Much better than they used to be.)

 

This is a MC? OR MCS?

DSC regardless... I agree it's a good thing to have.

are you planning on keeping your car a long time? If so, spend the money and get what you want/like. You may be kicking yourself (like I did) by trying to cut down on some options.

I wish that I bought the cold weather package... at the time it was only $300. To retro fit bun warmers... it'd be a small fortune!

 

Sport seats 100%. leatherette or whatever doesnt matter much. the sport seats are more molded to the body, the only option that shouldnt be an option.

heated seats are great in cold months. can drive with windows down. no ice on side mirrors or fog and you have your jets heat up. I lived in new castle in the mountains and it did snow off and on and built up a lot.

everything else is just visual.

DSC is awesome. you live in VA, if in mountains, it will help you not fly off the mountain or a twisty road. 35% about of vehicular deaths occur without another car in rural areas and are from driving off sides of roads.

 

Very true. Slowing down will help, too.

 

Really? How do you know this?

 

Opinions are like elbows - but since you asked....

My first MINI was a loaded-up MC. My second MINI is a stripped down MCS. I am happier overall with the option configuration of the MCS.

I completely agree with Yucca about whittling down the packages for the options you really want. For instance, I didn't get (or want) the sunroof on the MCS. I also skipped the Auto Climate Control. I applied those savings to other options.

I skipped DSC (but I got ASC standard on the S) and would skip it on a future MC for me - but I would get DSC for the wife. So, no, it isn't a must - but you have to be honest about your driving skill and, frankly, level of involvement. If you primarily commute (thinking about everything while scooting along), then get the DSC. If you primarily DRIVE (focusing solely on the road and the car) then skip it. Think of it as an insurance policy rider.

I was smitten with the English Leather, but it was easier to skip when the US air bag sensor BS made them remove the pleats from the seat bottom - for me that really degraded an otherwise fantabulous design. I love the sport seats and leatherette!

Try to think of it from the reverse angle - if you had more than enough money to buy ALL of the possible options, what would you really appreciate and use frequently? (Think about what you like and dislike about your current and previous vehicles.) Which options would you buy just because they seem cool or for the "just because I can" reasons? This can be a difficult excercise to be honest about, but it can also be very helpful.

 

We all have two??

1wander - I'd say get 'em all!

Oh, you want help CUTTING options.:impatient
That's tougher.

I'd say go for the sports seats. Pay once, enjoy every day.
Leather is tougher - that's a big premium unless you LOVE leather.
Heated seats - no brainer.

Speaking of premium, the DSC is just that - a one time insurance premium. It's absolutely useless unless it saves your @ss once - then it pays for itself in spades.
Before the MINI, I never even had a car with ABS, much less any additional assistance, and I never died. Did do a few 180's on mountain roads, though.

P.S. $900 in 'minor' options??

 

I like my DSC on rainy days. Heated seats are sooo nice. Leather is soft but I tend to slide around in my seat on curves. Lumbar is terrific for my husband who's had major back surgeries. DSC though, is a nice safety feature...plus, I love the look of a dash full of toggles!! Good Luck with choosing.

 

Dave:
Thanks. I'm actually glad to hear when someone says that I don't need the dsc.
Why are the sport seats so much better ? Do they provide more support for your butt or is it just that they hold tighter on the back ?

Yucca:
Thanks. Yea I definitely don't need the auto ac. It's a pita in my opinion too. The moonroof I am conflicted about. I know that in the summer the heat get's in there and the screen Mini provides does little to block it. I've heard that the dealer can tint it pretty dark though and that would help. I kinda want the moonroof only for one reason. So I can smoke in the car when it's raining.

goKart:
:impatient

GoldCountry:
Thanks for the input. Yup, that's why I started this thread. You're right, it takes some pre-thought, discussion and advice to try and avoid the "wishigotthisoption" syndrome.

El Jefe,
>>DSC is awesome. you live in VA, if in mountains, it will help you not fly off the mountain or a twisty road. 35% about of vehicular deaths occur without another car in rural areas and are from driving off sides of roads.<<

You would have to say that. Just when I was almost sure that I was gonna cut DSC.

Mini2Go:
Good post thanks. However, I am being totally honest with myself. If I had all the money to spend, I would get the dsc, nav, harmon, english leather and I'd use them all !!!! In my mind, I think I'll be happier cutting as much as I can live with and keeping the payment small as possible. I'm a conundrum. Frugal and a spendaholic all wrapped up into one skin. :impatient

Eric:
Thanks. Interesting post. I agree about the heated seats. No brainer. It seems that everyone says the sport seats are IT!! I'm gonna have to go spend more time at the dealer trying them out.
Oh, the $900 in minor options ? Man that stuff adds up fast. Stuff like cupholder, maplight, footrest, armrest,glovebox organizer, fog lights.

Dix:
Thanks

 

If I was really trying to cut back I'd just get the MFSW, (someday you will likely want to use cruise control), and forget the rest.

If I did get anything else it would be front and rear fogs so I get lights instead of ugly plastic plugs.

I was at Roadshow MINI in Memphis a few days ago and saw for the first time my money is no object option, English Leather....I loved it.

 

I skimmed pretty quickly here, but I don't think that anyone has mentioned color. Going non-metallic saves money which can be applied towards must-have options and (imo) suits the car better. It's a pity that there are so few choices now.

I'm dead against omitting safety features/options. Keep DSC and think about adding the rear fog lamp if you drive in bad weather.

 

I've got a 2006 MCS and live in the south eastern part of VA. Plenty of rainy days and I've seen that DSC light flash at me a couple of times. I don't know how much is did for me but I'm happy its there.

The leatherette sport seats with heater... very nice seats! Don't know about the heater yet, I'd be insane to turn it on durring a VA summer.

I have the auto AC. It's nice but not essential if you're cutting options.

I like my sunroof but it does let the sun heat the car up. Durring the hot part of the day I keep the screen shade closed and the sunroof closed with the AC on. It's just too hot and humid in the summer. In the morning and evening I open it all up and i love it.