So as I posted in the Cream/Ray Cloth/Leather interior thread, my dear darling husband has decided that he suddenly HATES the cloth/leather combo that it took me weeks to settle on. So now we are thinking either the Punch Leather or the Lounge Leather. I want the Lounge, he wants the Punch (more for cost than aesthetic reasons) so I am looking at what other options I could sacrifice to justify the upgrade to the Lounge and I am thinking of dropping the HiFi Stereo based on the numerous complaints about it here. If I drop the HiFi will I be able to easily upgrade it after-market to a really nice audio system or is it easier to stick with the HiFi and just replace the speakers (as is often suggested)...Any words of wisdom? Anyone have the Punch Leather and not like it?

I can't believe I am back to configuring when I thought we were all done!

 

My suggestion... Save up your $ for another month and get the Lounge and keep the HiFi. You'll have to wait for the car anyway so just use a little extra time and save up for the options you want.

 

Well I don't see much on your car I would drop except for exterior chrome line.

I assume you live in a cold climate and want the heated seats.

Just save your money. Lease or buy, that $1,000 from Punch to Lounge is what $20 a month?

 

Actually the difference between the Punch and Lounge is only $500, so about $10 a month in the payment, so not that big a deal I guess. I think I'll stick to my guns, get the Lounge and the HiFi and do what I need to do to convince my husband that I am worth the extra $$ (hee hee). Anyway, he is the one who doesn't like the cloth/leather combo, so if I have to switch, I should get the final say (it is my car after all).

 

If the difference in what you want is $10 a month, I mean gee whiz no brainer. If $10 kills the deal, you can't afford the car in the first place, know what I mean? Gas could more than triple that if it goes back up.

Find something one of you buys, Starbucks or whatever and tell him to cut it out.

 

I totally agree wampa, it isn't a huge deal in the grand scheme of things and certainly not a deal breaker once I thought more about it, but it is $1000 more than we originally configures, and a grand is a grand. Overall, I drive my cars for a fairly long time, so I want to be really happy with it. There are other options I would have liked, but if you add them all....well those "only $10 more a month" all add up. I would have loved the confort access, but $500 for the convenience of not having to dig my key out of my purse?? Ultimately a decent sacrifice, but the interior is a big deal.

Thanks for helping me think it through. I am still wondering if the HiFi is worth the money though. I have read a lot of negatives about it.

 

Jumbo,

I think you get more speakers with the HiFi.

For that reason, it might be better to hold on to that option, and then change out the factory speakers?

 

I personally would toss the sunroof in exchange for the lounge leather. Wait, that's exactly what I did . I have a sunroof now in my Mazda3 and I almost never even slide the blackout liner back. All it is to me is extra weight, reduced headroom, added mechanical complexity, and possible sunburn on my thin spot Actually, in Oregon, a very real possibility is soggy seats in the morning if I forget to close it.

But the sunroof is very nice style-wise (I like the look of it from a design standpoint, honestly, even if it isn't practical for me personally) so I think you're on the right track to forge ahead and get the interior you really want. I felt the decision was leatherette vs leather - once the decision was leather it was LL all the way.

 

I did too. Auto A/C is a waste, I never used a sunroof, and then I added back the HIFI. The premium pack is not my cup o tea.

 

I have had cars with and without sunroofs, and I totally prefer having one. My current car is one without and my husband's car has one. Whenever I drive his car I often pop the sunroof open just to the tilt position, even in the winter because I love the fresh air. Having the MINI dual pane roof that tilts in 2 places, well that totallt hooked me.

This is the blessing and the curse of the configurator! You can get exactly what floats your boat and eventually it all comes down to budget. I love that about the MINI, but it means a lot of decisions to make. Maybe that is why people get so rabid waiting for their cars....it truly is "yours" well before it arrives!

 

Just get everything you want and don't settle because you won't be as happy. This will be your creation and you will have to live with it. I don't like the auto A/C or sunroof but others do. The standard stereo and the Hi FI aren't even close to audiophile level but with my overused ears, the HD radio option sounds pretty good. Oh, I especially didn't want the sunroof because I wanted structural rigidity, no problems with leaking or malfunctioning, and I wouldn't open it very much anyway. Get what you want!

 

Only? The way I looked at it, I'd have been paying $500 for different stitching and a pinstripe (over CP leather)! No thanks.

I went to the dealer planning on ordering Carbon Punch and no HiFi and walked out having ordered the HiFi and..cloth! I sat in cars with all the seat materials and really couldn't justify the money for the leather. I was really pleased with the cloth as well.

Anyways, it's your money and obviously your decision. Good luck.

 

HIFI system has an AMP as well as a two more drivers.

Personally I'd go stock system and add the amp/speakers later. I've heard the HIFI stereo has some sort of resistor in it requiring it to be in place instead of a different amp for the HIFI stereo. Not 100% on that one but you can add $500 on your own Kappa speakers from Infinity for $100 front and another $100 rear and another $300 on a nice amp and a $50 wiring kit with some $5 LOCs and pretty much blow the HIFI out of the water. If you want to go more bump bump, toss $1200 at the system and you get all that plus bump bump with two amps a nice 8 or 10" driver...

Honestly, always go aftermarket if you are concerned.

Leather holds up better to normal wear a tear provided you keep it conditioned and clean. If you have animals and/or kids and they leave you a present on the seat it's easier to clean it up, they don't attract hair as much either.

I'm 6'5 and the headroom is fine with sunroof in my mazda3 and the clubbie and being concerned with structional integrity is a bit weird since the structure is handled at the pillars not through the roof side to side, there is no roll cage if you don't order the sunroof, also the added weight theory, figure it adds 20-30lbs of glass and 10lbs of motor, and removes 15lbs of car, should be a wash with 10lbs of added weight maybe 30...and the auto AC is pretty standard on most vehicles now days...my wife's CRV has it...keeps the AC running to keep the cabin air conditioned, not running cool, just running to keep the air conditioned.

Research your questions through the forum and you can make a pretty good decision on your own...also making trips to the dealership will help...sit in the car with all the options and see if you want/need them.

Motor!