Personally, I wouldn't buy a car with an automatic transmission. I *love* driving stick. That said, I'd probably rather a MC with a stick over a MCS with auto. So, if you're going to torture hubby by getting an auto, at least go with the S so he has something a little more fun to compensate.

 

Ditto 1000 times over! I picked up my Nuvi 760 during Father's Day sales for a ridiculously low price. I got the friction mount for the dash so it's supremely easy to stash in the glove box when I get out of the car, and I can take the Nuvi with me in case I want to look something up while I'm sitting in the restaurant (or at home, or wherever) .

I travel for work a good bit too, and having the Nuvi means I can take it with me.

I know you mentioned extras in the Mini Nav unit...not sure what they are though. Are they really worth giving up the leather seats? I guess that's the question!

 

Yah, what Schatzy said....I got the embedded navi - it's OK...but it doesn't always find the places you KNOW are there (official listing semantics, I guess) and the discs cost about $200, which you "ought" to replace them every 2-3 years. It DOES tell you when there are traffic jams, but to my knowledge, i can't change the icon to a cool MINI. Only a funky pointer. I DO like the embedded NAVI for the idea that it's also a computer screen for my iPod.

Nothing like floating down the river....: (I couldn't get the image to show.)
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ze/big/cat/500

 

I've got a non-S on order and this thread has got me thinking about whether I should've ponied up an additional $4,000 for the S. Then I remembered why I didn't get the S...it's got stiffer suspension which equals a harsher ride in everyday driving. So factor that in too in addition to the gas savings and cost savings with the non S. I've got an infant and a toddler, so I don't think they would've appreciated all the jostling around. To each their own though.

 

Here is some good reading on the built in NAV. Many people seem to have a problem with it.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=119125

The Nuvi and others like it are much better and you can get them for much less and the other benefit is that you could use in in one of your other NOT FUN cars as well.

 

ditto!!!

 

No no no....those are called "MINI SUPPORT VEHICLES."

 

a really fully optioned out (meaning heavy), base clubman with an auto? It will end up being 'your' car, because it won't be as fast or engaging as your husband would apparently like.

I would drop the nav for sure if it came down to that or the turbo.

while the picture above is very 'nice', I prefer a more minimalist approach to my MINIs. I have a $150 garmin Nuvi that works great, and I have a car that is really fun to drive, and really easy to care for on the inside (no leather care to worry about)

Plus, if you plan to keep the car, take a look at a car with leather and about 100,000 miles on it. The leatherette looks much nicer once both are 'worn in'.

 

So funny...I just went and typed in "www.garmin.com" and what comes up...a Garmin unit on a MINI!!! = )

 

Getting both will make you both happy in the long run! 2K extra is less than marriage therapy or figuring custody of the MINI! Go for both and give up lattes and pedicures for a year (or not. . . )!

 

I got a non-s auto without leather and love it. I have had leather in every car I have ever owned myself and grew up in leather seats. We got the leatherett in the Clubman and I have no complaints about it. I think that the leatheret will last better than the real leather. In my experience my leather seats have torn in numerous places and cracked. While I was in college a friend of mine had a 20+ year old MB with the MB Tech seats and they were in like new condition. As for the S I test drove one and found that they are a lot of fun but really 2k extra worth of fun. I also second getting a Garmin instead of the built in Nav.

 

I went with the Clubman S, manual and the standard Chrome and cloth seats, great comfort...and I don't share my car with hubby... this baby is ALL MINE!!!

 

Why does everyone keep saying the S is only $2K over the non S, isn't it more like $4K???

 

Cooper clubman base is 21350, clubman S base is 24350. Add in the standard features on the S that are options on the base, and it really is about $2000 difference.

 

Michael Scott: "That's what she said."

 

Leather is really an extravagance most Europeans wouldn't be caught dead with. They ship it over here because fat Americans like it. And I am including myself. I liked the piping, but I think the leatherette would last longer based on my experiences with it.

You would have to be a billionaire to drive a fully optioned 7 series BMW in Germany. They have them with 4 cylinders, cloth seats, and manual trannies. Automatics are another thing I don't know if I've ever seen in Europe.

 

Hubby and I really enjoyed reading everyone's input. You guys are the best and we're so glad to have found this forum.

We finally came to a compromise and we're getting the S (so he'll have fun driving) and the chrome line (so I get some bling in the car), but we're keeping the Navi. We have a portable navi and guess what, it's never around when you need it! Hubby takes it out of the car to download his music and forgets to put it back or misplaces it, and he's one of those guys who hate asking for directions. As for me, I'm bad at directions, I get lost just going around the corner is how bad I am. It may save us some money, but at least I know that it's always in the car when we need it!

We're meeting with our MA on Friday to finalize our order. I sure hope that we don't see any Mini with HC leather in the dealer, or we may have to go broke and get both!

 

BTW, he wants to keep the 17"wheels and after reading some of your posts, I don't think we should. Am I right on this one? He's reasoning is not good enough to convenience me. He said that with the 17" it'll be more solid in turns. I say having the S model is solid enough, 17" is heavier and less smooth in driving, and I don't see any difference in size. Compromise is never easy!

 

Are you okay with the harsher ride that comes from the sport suspension on the S? And torque steer?

 

I have the S, 17" and sports package. I love driving this car and don't find it "harsh" in any way!

ETA: as far as torque steer, I only experience that when I am gunning it from 2nd to 3rd gear (OK which is pretty much always... ) but I don't understand what the big deal is about that, either? You feel the steering pull, and you turn the steering wheel an inch to correct it. It's not like it pulls you 3 feet into the other lane???

 

the only good sulution is a compromise you both can live with. take a sheet and write down all the good things with each request then in another colomn write all the negatives with that decision. also are there are areas you can delete or change to make up the 2K difference with other options you may be willing to do without. ie there are some ext colours with no extra charge others have a 500.00 premium added. let us say you choose lightening blue but can live with white or oxy blue or mellow yellow or white. then you already have 500.00 toward the 2000. it is never a good idea for two people who share their lives together to be adamant about winning all on an issue. in the end you both most feel satisfied or the decision is doomed to fail.

 

sport suspension is no longer standard on the S. It is a $500 option.

but the 17" wheels and tires, while they look great, are more expensive to replace and ride a bit rougher.

 

Good one! I'll be sure to tell him this. Not to mention that we live in Minnesota where potholes are common.

 

You're interior looks awesome and so do you!

 

Nope, no Ginger here. But I sure can bet that there's a lot of couples with the same argument.