Im about to get my first car and i want a 2007 mini cooper s.

my parents have set a budget of around 26-28000.

i have a lot of ideas in my head but wanted to know what options and packages are great to have on the car, for this kind of budget.

must haves are
- auto
- red or dark grey color (ext)
- JCW body kit


thanks for any suggestions

 

Play around on the website. Just remember with installation the body kit is going to run about $2500.

 

I built mine for $26,740, as I didn't want to exceed my own budget.

This included the Sport, Hypersport, and LSD.

 

where did u buy ur mini at, im going to buy mine from san antonio mini center.

 

Me? I'm heading up to Dallas next week to hang out with my parents and to test drive an MCS. If I like the way it drives, I'm ordering the one I built on the website.

 

Damn, whats up with all you rich kids getting fancy cars. You would die if you saw my first ride. (and the second, third, fourth,..............)

 

Werd.

 

I've not been impressed with the aero kits. The MCS looks pretty good as it is. So, it is hard to make much improvement, and I don't think the current kits succeed. You can save a large chunk of change by passing on the body kit.

DSC is an excellent feature, especially if you have a tendency towards spirited driving.

The Multi-function Steering Wheel is necessary for cruise control, and it has very handy radio controls on it.

Heated seats are really nice to have.

I'd recommend the HIFI upgrade.

Rear fog lamps look good and are useful in foggy areas.

I find the Parking Distance Control to be extremely useful.

 

No Kidding!!!!

When I was 16 I had to pay cash out of my own pocket for my first car and have enough left to be able to pay my 1st 6 months insurance! using my savings from the work I did on local farms afterschool since I was 12, I Layed down $3500 for a '78 Mustang II and it was the proudest moment of my life!!

 

So you want a car that looks fast but isn't??

Keep in mind Auto tranny's soak up about 1/3 your horsepower.

I'm with Robin, as far as the kit goes, but to each his own I guess. You're the one driving it, so build what you want, not what we want.

 

When I was 15 I went with my parents to a moving sale by a group of potters in Venice, CA who were moving to Oregon. They had all sorts of things for sale. I had a few hundred $ saved up and zeroed in on a Honda 50 motorcycle they were selling. My parents watched, horrified, as I wobbled down the block on it, turned and came back. They tried to convince me to wait until I was 16 and they would help me get a nice car, like this red Alfa Romeo Spyder. I didn't think there was any way they were going to buy me something like that, and said so.

In order to keep me off the motorcycle, we left with the Alfa. Well, it was 7 years old, but looked great, was very much fun to drive, and ran well (some of the time).

 

Don't be afraid to learn to drive manual transmission unless you commute in the rush hour traffic everyday. For me, teaching myself to drive stick shift was the best thing I did to myself since I taught myself how to do a cartwheel. I had to drive automatic forever because I had to share the car with my mother.

 

When I was 10 years old I worked 6 hours on a farm, then went to school for 8 hours, only to go back to work for another 12 hours.............


But for real now. I completely respect the fact that everybody worked really hard for their money and was only able to get a cheaper car; but you didn't work that hard so that your kids could do the same. It's interesting how times have changed, parents have money and would rather their kids work hard in school than work after school to make money they could easily provide. Granted I worked short term jobs in high school and college for spending money, I can't see myself having worked and saving up for my own car during high school and college. Sure I could get a cheap car, but if it ever needed repairs I would probably have to go to my parents anyways. My parents gave me a choice when I started college, get a car or dorm, since the costs ends up being around the same anyways. I choose the car and got my 05 MINI for under 20K before taxes. I started medical school this week and am very grateful for all my parents gave me; who knows if I would have made it if I was concerned throughout my schooling about money for transportation.

Back on topic though:
With 26-28000, it's quite a bit of money, but can be used up quickly if you go for things like the auto transmission and body kits. Don't be afraid of a manual car, I have limited experience with a manual car and I ordered a manual car, you save money and get extra HP.

As a suggestion, get things that will be really hard to get later, ie any of the factory installed options such as LSD, DSC, sunroof maybe, antracite headliner. You really need to give more information on what kind of cars you want (performance or luxury focused?). Good luck on your MCS, my budget was limited to 23,000 and I was able to get a pretty well specced MINI after throwing in some of my own money for extra options; with 28K you'll have a well equipped MINI.

 

i've seen parents buy their kids nice cars and they drive total crap.

 

New cars give peace-of-mind, which parents are looking for when their kid starts driving. New cars have better safety and are a lot less likely to break down on the side of the road.

Back to the topic: I'd recommend getting a manual transmission too. My test drive was the 3rd time I'd ever driven a stick and I stalled out 7 or 8 times. But when I was moving and cornering, it was the greatest car I'd driven and I put a down payment that night. 2 weeks later I was skilled at driving in most situations, including stop-and-go on hills in a city. If you drive it daily, you'll learn really fast.

DSC for safety. MFSW, iPod adapter, stereo upgrade together are great choices for music listening. LSD is good for performance. Stripes for character, the sunroof is great if you like sunroofs. If you like the JCW Body Kit, go for it. It's expensive, but if you like it, it's your car.

Bluetooth isn't that great, but if you want/need to talk on the phone while driving, get it. From the age that I'm assuming you are, you don't need the extra distraction of holding a phone while driving.

 

I would disagree, apparently you haven't seen the videos (links have been posted on NAM) of the automatics having better (not much, but still a hair lower) 1/4 mile times than the manual tranny. It was the same person driving both vehicles and they had been to a driving school in the past (they knew how to drive a manual transmission vehicle correctly). They do get slightly less MPG but they have the same amount of power as a manual.

EDIT: 1/3 less HP, by that estimation you are saying that a MCSa has the equivalent HP as a MC. I bet any MCSa owner in your area would be happy to disprove that notion for you on any track .

 

Someone sounds bitter

Seriously, though, while my personal views may think $26k-28k may be a bit much for a first car, you and I are not his parents. My first car was a hand me down (albeit, a nice one, since my sister wanted a newer car when she went to college).

As for the manual transmission, I learned to drive it on my WRX (ugh, it's a helluva car to learn stick on.... in a semi-bad way. Clutch chatter, drivetrain drag, etc). I got used to it in a couple weeks. But, if those are the terms for getting a new Mini (pay for it yourself, so the parents CAN'T say no )

What was the topic again?

 

The Mythbusters did some tests at a police driving grounds. They compared talking on a cel phone while driving to driving while legally drunk. If one has to think about what one is talking about, the result was that cel phone use was very close to being drunk.

It isn't just the holding of the phone, it is that your mind can't really do two things at the same time. Using Bluetooth for phone calls while driving isn't safe for experienced drivers. For a teen or college student with just a few years experience, it is a complete disaster.

Get a phone call while driving? Pull over and talk, or become road kill.

 

when i wrote the post on the forum, i was high balling the price limit because i didnt know how much it will take to get a nice car. Now i know 28000 is a high price mini s and am not going to spend that much.

i am now re thinking the idea of having a manual ttrany instead of auto.

ill prob end up spending around 24000

thanks again!!

 

For learning to use a manual transmission, find a deserted parking lot, or quiet back road and spend a lot of time just starting from a stop. Do it over and over until it is second nature. Then try shifting into second, etc.

 

thanks for the tip, and the tips for the car

Cameron

 

Great advice!! That is how I taught my wife to drive a manual transmission.

 

24000 is about where I am at. But is it 24 before or after taxes? Did they give you a limit or do you just sort of tell them how much it is. My parents wouldn't give me a limit, they just said get what you need; so I got what I "needed" on their money and used my own money for the not needed stuff. 24 after taxes you might find yourself wanting more.

 

IMO, MCS will be a very good car to learn to drive stick on because of its good low end torque. You let the clutch out slooooooowly and the car takes off even without gas.

My old car has so little torque it lugs and tries to give up. Then I have to encourage it to live and not give up by giving it more gas.

You will not regret it. It's like riding a bicycle.

 

That's because an automatic can shift faster than a human that's why dragsters are automatics. However there is less horse power at the wheels in an automatic, torque converter/hydrolics/cooling rob horse power. As well as whatever power is left can't be applied properly when going around a track (not in a straight line).

EDIT: And a manual is waaaaayyyyyy more fun!!!