Well either way i'm sure you will love your car and have a great time in it.

 

minimagyar - My only advice is get what you like. If you do not like the sunroof don't get it, if you don't like any form of stock radio and plan on an aftermarket any way do not get the H/K.
This is yours get what you want so that way you will not think about something that you should have gotten. It took me 3 weeks to actually decide on every option I wanted. I could not be more happy and that is what really matters. Since you have to deal with what is out there in the 06 realm it is a little more difficult, GOOD LUCK. Just remember this is for you and you are the only one that has to like it. Make it yours and get what you want.
JMO

- KP

 

Hey as long as you've considered it, you are ahead of the game Mine still had plenty of factory warranty left, I don't buy extended coverage and I do most of my own maintenance, so I was ahead on the deal. I liked the seven thousand dollar discount the most!

Good luck finding your vehicle. If you find one at Motor City Mini I'd be glad to look at it for you Any excuse to hang out with the good peeps at MCM...

 

IMHO, the chrono pack totally ruins the most "classic" interior icon of the original Mini: the center-mounted speedo. Plus, the chrono gauges just fell like they're about 70% wasted space. Again, totally in my opinion, the interior just looks... LACKING without the giant speedo in the center.

BTW - second to my my custom blue interior lighting, the center mount speedo is the thing that turns the most heads when people look into my car.... I always see people pointing and smiling when they see it. With the chrono pack the center gauge just looks odd...

Mmmmmmm.... that's purdy,

 

get all the stuff that you can afford without hurting your finances. once you get the mini that you can afford than later as you save your monies, add the stuff that you wanted slowly but surely. this is part of the mini-fun.

 

that's one funky looking car!!!! I was just a bit worried with the big speedo that my passengers might see at what speed I am flying... ehem driving

I think I have decided pretty much what I want except for the sunroof so I've narrowed it down to 3 cars... I think I'll go to the dealer once more tomorrow at noon to check on the sunroof issue and then decide (the one car w/o it has LSD instead...) all 3 have leatherette which I prefer and the HK system since I am big on my boom, boom... it will be one vibrating mini!

 

See i disagree i know the center mounted speedo is part of it. But for myself i always loved everything about the car but that and i don't really need/want the nav. So i was very happy when the Chrono came out. But thats the best thing about these little cars, there is so many different ways to have them.

 

Unless I read your post wrong (which could be very likely) aren't you too late for the 2006

As far as I know production ended already and the 2007 is your only option... unless you find existing dealer inventory I think you are out of luck.

 

there cars that are already on the lot

 

Yeah like I said... I most likely read the post wrong and sure enough I did! Sorry... ignore my earlier post.
BTW, good luck on the search... seems to be a few at dealers still... so chances are good!

 

Depending on where you live, I would get the sunroof. Regarding the leather, I think the leatherette, looks just as good, if not better. The leather seems to pucker quite a bit.

I have the stock radio and love it. I did not do the chrono package because I don't like the double "tachs" on the steering column. Also, I want the classic look of the speedo in the center.

One thing that I added after I took posession of the car was the aero package. Mine is a Cooper and it makes it look 200% better. Best money spent.

 

I definitely agree on that one, it looks awesome! As soon as I recover financially a bit...

the chrono is cool, but not essential, and I am starting to agree that the big numbers in the middle look better... the HK, I listened to both and although I don't feel it's a huge difference a good quality stereo is something I've always wanted to have... it's cool when I take the car on the road for a few hours --I don't commute it's just my fun car!

 

What are your objectves? Performance, bling... just easy cruising?

 

Simple,

Cordoba Leather, Sunroof, Chrono pack.

The reason I say chrono pack is that now you have a nice glass surface that you can put a Garmin portable Nav system. You just use the suctioncup that it comes with.

 

Hi : I just got a MCSca this past Nov. leather seats,sports pack,cold pack, .. If I had to do it over again,I'd order exactly what I desired instead of picking what the dealer had... I thought I would love the leather but I'm using a loaner(MCSca non-sports) now and the leatherette is quite good,it looks good but no leather smell (no big deal) and a bit smoother ride in the non-sports pack.. The sports pack is good if you want a bit of a firmer ride and sharper handling in the 'S' ..heated seats are the best options on my convertible... I love going top down in the cool of the evening... The chrono looks real nice for just a bit of extra$$ I wanted that but they didn't have it for me,(that's why try to order)If you're not heart set on the 'S' for speed,I 'd say get the MC 5 speed and you'll get a lot better MPG ...plus the MCS will need premium gas...(some say the MC does not) ... Take your time and call people about making the deal,don;t rush and you'll get a better price ... Try to test drive the "sports package' and MC and MCS .. if you are going manual trans .. If this is your first MINI I'd say spend the least amount and you'll get a better return later when you want to trade it in... KM

 

thanks... certain things I am set on. It has to be an S, 115hp is what I have now and I want more! if I could 200 hp I would but too much $$$... DSC also a must and I like good handling (reason I picked the mini) so the sports package is probably the way to go. I don't want to pay for leather so I am trying to avoid that, and I really don't like the cloth seats. the audio I guess I will try to get but not an absolute must.

biggest hurdle is finding the things I want w/o paying for things I don't need, but I guess that is the price to pay for deciding so late I don't want to order the 2007, I have a couple of cool options so I guess I'll just pick among those -- chili w/black top, chili w/white top, dark silver w/black and hyper blue w/black.

 

+1 on the Chrono Pack - the reason I got it was I did NOT want the center mounted speedo, "classic" or not - I like the speedo and tach where they belong - right in front of me... I'm just an old fart, I guess.

+1 on Xenon headlights - a must-have IMHO.

I have leather - but it's a personal preference thing. I plan on keeping the car forever and like the way good leather wears over 10+ years compared to cloth or faux leather. But there are NICE aftermarket seatcovers available in neoprene and other materials that can really add a lot to a car with cloth or leatherette - and you save a ton of $$$.

+1 on "infinite sunroof" - er, ragtop. But if you can't have that, then yes, you should get the sunroof...

 

I agree, but only with cars that offer "good leather", and the MINI does not offer such a thing. I wish I had the leatherette in mine instead.

 

FWIW, the only thing remotely related to handling in the sport pack (S-lites, xenons, DSC, fogs, stripes) are the S-lites, and those are 25lb boat anchors. They look good (love the look of the white ones with a white roof) but it's arguable whether they enhance handling that much over the 16". Then again, I didn't notice a huge difference when I swapped from S to X-lites, but mentally it felt better dropping 8lbs.

Of course if you want DSC, xenons, fogs and stripes, the Slites don't run much more, and takeoff wheel sets are like cockroaches around here if you want a different set.

 

My MINI leather sure seems nicer than the leather in my old Sebring - and it was going strong after 8 years. And I NEVER took care of it. I'm treating my MINI leather nice...

 

- Chrono is great, keeps the speedo out of passenger's easy view.

- Sunroof is dark tinted and not as obnoxious as some, can have perf vinyl (or solid) over it to darken further if necessary, and the ventilation is nice

- Have had VWs for years, this forum is hands down more mature than VWVortex and leagues better than any Honda forum I've visited. Owners here generally tend to be better educated, more mature, and older (note: I said "generally", and this forum is not boring).

- With the '07's out you should be able to negotiate some, but don't expect miracles. Check the previously-loved Minis, there are many out there and by shopping around you'll find something Really Close to what you need.

Good luck!

 

I didn't get the sunroof because I didn't want it. I had one car with a sunroof and only used it occasionally. I have never regretted not getting the sunroof, but some people can't live without it, it's personal preference.

The stock radio is great, only the most descriminating would want more, the stock radio is just fine for me.

 

I've got the Chrono Pack, and to tell you the only reason for it was to move the speedo in front of me (the trip computer in the Tach can show the speed on some of the cars, but I don't even know if anyone has figured out how it's set and neither did the dealer, which is why I opted for it). It works ok, but after a year and a half I feel it doesn't really go with the rest of the car and I'd rather have the speedo there as it's a Mini and MINI tradition to have it.

In hindsight, I think I would rather have gone for NAV or nothing at all. The sunroof is great, I listened to the HK system and didn't find it much of an upgrade and I thought the leather was not very good, especially for the price. Though, I always liked the look of the English leather option, but that wasn't available when I ordered mine.

 

well, I am slowly (with your help of course!) coming to conclusions... I am now down to 2 (with a refundable deposit on one ).

One last question, is there a difference between the standard audio and the HK when it comes to hooking XM?

Oh, and btw, I agree that this forum is WAY better than Vortex, seems a lot more mature which is really nice!

I always loved my cabrio but for the first time I am really looking forward to my new car... I used to admire classic mini's in my teens and finally I can have one!

 

the car I test drove had the digital speed showing next to the tach, so it definitely works!