Beautiful MINI! My 2¢...+1 for the green mirror caps. It really sets your MINI apart and makes it more "special". I for one hope MINI does something with their color offering in the near future (like before I get new car fever). IMHO it's really tired and needs some color infusion in a big way.

 

This coming from someone driving a black-on-white MINI...

(Sorry! Couldn't resist the irony of your statement...! )

 

Digging the green

 

Interestingly enough, this is the first time that I've seen any reference to anyone owning a Rally Edition. Love the color scheme, wouldn't change it for anything!

 

That's one of my favorite 'limited edition' setups because it has a functional aspect, with the lights and the pre-installed rack. You're saving on labor if you were to have added those later. Very sharp black out. We went with another pepper white for our clubman but I had proposed black this time because I had some thoughs about blackout. My wife feared the hearse effect. Hahahaha. Oh well! Looks fabulous to me!

 

Hehe, my wife craved the hearse effect! I mean she did name the car Gimly Fiendish.

 

hahahha as Napoleon would say: LUCCCKY!

I mean, I've been into the off white / cream since I had that custom mixed for my old Karmann Ghia, so there was very much a legacy push for the same color. I really like the none-more-black look, especially on a Clubman. I could have been quite happy with that result. But hey, win-win!

 

I recently found one used at a Nissan dealer 2500 miles on the clock, it had been there for 4 months, they did not know what it was..just a black clubman!!
i drove 3k miles round trip to pick it up ..i love it...

 

Apparently there are a few still lurking around out there. Here's a used one at a MINI dealer in the DC area:

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...standard=false

Apparently they do know what they've got, and claim in their description that only 72 were produced...? Is that accurate...?

Not sure if this is one in Cincinnati, or whether it's just a Rally-Edition-wannabe:

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...standard=false

I kind-of think the latter; it's missing the lime green mirror caps and Union Jack scuttles for certain.

And here's one in Houston:

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...standard=false

 

the prices are crazy.....my roof rack was gone when i got mine....no big deal since i would have taken it off anyay...and my green trim is the trunk/boot and i have replaced green with black jack decals and black mirror caps since i hate Green...but love black.... there was a rumor at one point that there was a plaque saying it was rally edition..did this ever happen..if so where is it?

 

In the case of the vehicles I noted in DC and Cincinnati, I fully agree. I didn't even pay nearly that much for my used JCW Clubman over a year ago... And from what I've heard/read, the '09 JCW's are fairly scarce too...

'Course, I found mine at a local Dodge dealer, so it may have been the same situation as yours (they didn't really know what they had)...

 

The Rally Edition was only produced in a limited number. I think thy number stated above sounds about right. It was supposedly one per dealer. Some dealers didn't want them and that's how Prestige ended up with 6 or so. They just called and asked other dealers if they didn't mind transferring them. This edition is really just a very specific custom set up so nothing on it besides the green scuttles and mirror caps are special. Although as I have discovered anyone who wants the green caps can order them from there local dealer for about $200. I learned also that the they are green plastic and not a standard grey primered and painted green item.

 

Interesting. Well, unless it has something more than lime green accents, rally lights, black rims, and a roof rack to distinguish the 72 or so true factory-produced Rally Editions from a standard black Clubman S, I can't see where a Rally Edition would command such a huge premium in price like these dealers in DC and Cincinnati seem to want -- despite there being less than a hundred true factory-produced units.

I mean, the implication is that, without a plaque or unique VIN (like the factory JCW vehicles), anybody can easily replace the standard mirror caps and side scuttles with those intended for a Rally Edition; add rally lights, black rims, and a roof rack; and seemingly turn a "plain" black Clubman S into a pseudo-Rally-Edition Clubman S... How would one know if they had a genuine Rally Edition Clubman S unless they purchased it new, or obtained the original sticker when purchasing used...? Can a MINI dealer run the VIN and tell you from that if it was a factory-produced Rally Edition...?

 

The original pricing on the Rally's was the exact same as adding all of the packages like a custom designed car. If some dealers are now selling them at a higher price then that is a dirty trick to try and sell a car to someone based on the fact that it was a limited edition. I didn't buy the car because it was a LE. My wife and I bought it because it had all of the options we wanted with a little flair of the green as a bonus.

As far as I know there is nothing marking the car as a Rally edition besides seeing the original sticker. I mean one could make an exact replica. I wonder if those dealers are charging a premium because the '11s can't be built the exact same way. I don't know if the side scuttles are available aftermarket but I imagine if someone asked the right questions they could obtain some.

 

Hmmm. Well, I guess it's not particularly "limited" when anyone can dress up a black Clubman S to look just like a Rally Edition. Don't get me wrong: they're cool-looking and all; but I think we're in agreement that they shouldn't command any price premium over a standard Clubman S.

The vehicle does have flair, though, I'll agree with you there!

I would think MINI would have to keep some in the parts chain, in case one had to be replaced (lost, damaged in an accident, etc.).

 

Sorry fellas, after re-reading my post, it sounds childish and petty - please accept my apologies. I really do love the look of that car!! Except, of course, for the lime green mirror accents. I really do love the look of that splitter up front, very Formula 1-ish.

Ya done good, son, and please do accept my apology, it's never appropriate to rain on someone's parade - especially when that parade is being led by a car that looks as good as yours!!

Best Wishes,

-RW-

 

rlw: thanks for the apology but as far as I'm concerned this is an Internet forum and people are allowed there own opinions. So while it was nice of you, it isn't entirely necessary.

It was on the first page too, I had forgotten what you had even said! :p