hey all, i'm in a bit of a dilemma here...i just put a deposit down yesterday to get on the wait list for an 08 mini cooper S that will probably go into production late december, will receive the car in February. And as you've probably all heard, the 08's will come with a standard usb connector, and the up window. I had gone planning on making an 07 purchase, but the thought of having an 08 is enticing so i thought since i'm going to wait..either way... And it gives me a little more time to figure out if i want the blue or dark silver (yes, it's taken me wayyy too long to decide). The manager spoke w. my rep and he called me back saying that if the usb is the only thing i'm waiting for, then he would add the ipod interface for free for the 07 so i can get it now. It is nice to have the free ipod interface. But i am not even sure which color i want at this time. I am worried about the higher interest rate next year and the msrp might go up slightly because the usb is standard..so i called my dad, he surprised me by saying get it now, why wait? Interest isn't gonna go up by next Feb but if you know you want the car, get it. We (parents) can always lend you some money if you need.

This might not have a right or wrong answer but i'd like to hear what you would think in this situation, what you would do.....any thoughts appreciated!!

 

If the iPod interface in the R56s is anything like it is in the R53s, then wait for 08 and get the USB. My iPod interface sucks.

 

At this point I would wait. If you posted this in early summer I would go for the 07. Eitherway, your getting basically the same car which I guess is a good arguement for getting the car now. I see how this is a hard decision. I can't even make up my mind in this reply. The bottom line is that you can't live your life on waiting becuase life is to short. Okay, I just made up my mind. Get the 07 and see if you can get anything else for free. Good luck.

 

One thing that truly irks me about my 07 MCS is that the dealer wanted around five hundred dollars to give me a hookup for an ipod, in the glove box with a power hookup, even though I dropped 500 bucks on a stereo upgrade. So they'll give the hookup FREE now? They must have a big push on to move the rest of the 07's.
I'd say it's six of one half a dozen of the other for your situation. Just depends how soon you want it.

BTW, I love my Mini. This issue has more to do with dealers than Mini, although you'd THINK that with a $500 stereo upgrade, the addition of this item would be a given.

 

See if you can find out exactly what the USB connection gives you. It may not be the same as the iPod Integration.

In this thread, EUROKOKE says, "You can use the ipod with the USB but the USB only charges it. to listen to music you have to plug a male to male headphone jack into the AUX port. You cannot control the IPOD through the radio. YOu can use a thumb drive and can control it through the radio."

Also, it may be that the USB is part of the Bluetooth package, and not standard with the radio.

I think I would go for the iPod Integration. Be sure to get the Multi-function Steering Wheel to control it.

 

(as Robin already mentioned) According to EUROKOKE (the ONLY one who has the USB port in his MINI so far), the USB port does basically nothing for an iPod. All it does is simply charge it. You still have to use a Male to Male connector to hook the iPod up for music (and you get no MFSW control over it that way). The USB port does however give full control (like a CD) over USB thumb drives and you can use the MFSW controls with them. Also, just as an FYI, the iPod kit in the 2nd gen MINIs is a lot different (i.e. better) than the one in the 1st gen MINIs so that's not a factor.

So... If you are planning on using an iPod, then there's no real reason to wait for an 08 since the USB port won't do you much good and you'll still need to buy the iPod adapter anyway. Thus, I'd go for the 07 with the free iPod adapter deal your dealer offered you (that's at least a $500 savings!).

Also, no one is really sure what's going to happen with the pricing on the 08 models, but if it's anything like the convertibles (for which the 08 pricing has already been released), then the base MSRP will stay the same, but the options and packages are all going up by $50 to $100 EACH (with the wheels going up by $150). Thus, if you are getting a loaded up MINI, that could amount to a big price difference.

Lastly, it appears that the newest built 07 MINI's are starting to receive many of the 08 options (such as the digital cruise control speed display, new door sills, new tire pressure monitoring system, etc., etc.) and so AFAIK the 08's aren't going to be a huge change over the current 07 builds.

The ONLY thing I would consider waiting for an 08 for is the resale value. An 08 is still going to be worth more money on the used car market than an 07 even if they were only built a week apart from each other. Thus, if you are planning on re-selling your MINI is a few years time, then you'll likely get more for the 08 (that you waited a couple of extra months for) than for the 07. Then again, if you're planning on keeping your MINI for a lot of years, then you're just delaying the pleasure of driving a MINI for just that much longer.

Either way, you'll be happy with the car I'm sure.

 

I would go with Dark Silver if blue is your other choice.

 

wow, thanks everybody for all your great thoughts, insights...
MLWagner, sorry about your ipod interface...
Amazonracer...haha! you are so funny!! can't make up your mind!
Surfblue..I am not sure why, maybe they are afraid of losing a customer so they are offering it.
RobinCasady , i am just afraid it's a rumour, does the guy REALLy have it?
OfficeMaven, you are so on the money about the resale value..That was my thought too. I don't believe i will be selling the car anytime soon but who knows. I just called my MA and he said he will find out on Wednesday from the factory what this USB really does. I will be getting the bluetooth so maybe it will come standard? No idea.. But i do appreciate everyone's thoughts and comments here.

Decisions ,Decisions!!

 

The way of the MINI is that no one really knows what a feature does until cars start appearing with that feature. The dealers (especially MAs) seem to find out long after everyone on NAM knows about it. My MCS was in the first group to arrive with the NAV. My MA was surprised to learn that it had (or was supposed to have) voice actuation. It wasn't that he was negligent, he had specifically requested NAV training from MINI, but none was forthcoming.

Since the USB seems to be part of Bluetooth, my bet would be that iPod integration is not part of it. It takes special software to talk to an iPod.

 

pandy, I totally feel your confusion as I was recently (as in just a little over 2 weeks ago) faced with the exact same dilemma. I ended up ordering an '07 however as for the features that the 08's are getting the additional four month wait just did not seem at all worth it. Especially now that, as TheOfficeMaven mentioned, 2007's are getting a good bit of the 2008 features, I'd buy NOW.
Best of luck either way!

 

Wow, Msteadman, sounds like a countdown is called for here!! Congrats. how exciting!!

 

Thanks, certainly is! My baby should be on it's way over from England as we speak, so I'm hoping for delivery the week of the 17th. It's scheduled to arrive in New York on the 10th and I figure it'll spend at least 3-4 days at the VDC; add in another day to truck it over to my dealer in Westchester, PA; and one final full day for the dealer to prep it for pickup... SO SOON

 

PANDY!!! Listen to meh... better get over to that dealer and order while Dad's willing to help. No telling what his mood could be in 6 months... He might want one himself by then. (hee hee)...

 

The new ipod interface is quite a bit nicer than before. song/artist/folder info is displayed on your head unit now.

 

its basically the same car, get the MINI now. anything can change between now and then (in your own personal life). if you want one now, get it. USB and auto up windows are not worth waiting a half a year for, thats for sure.

 

R56 - so funny!!
flav, yah, you're right!!

 

I think you should wait until 2028. There will probably be some cool features then.

 

If you're going to get the nav system and have an ipod, get the 07 w/ipod adapter. It works quite well. Keeps the ipod charged, and hidden away from prying eyes (even a thiief would have trouble fining it in the 'secret' compartment). And the sound is superior to using the AUX port.

It cost some people $700 or more for the option. Is the value of an 08 going to be that much greater? You might end up getting the ipod adapter anyway. I don't know what the USB port will do but it definitely won't have the functions of the adapter. I'd guess it'll do as much with an ipod as a PC USB port, which won't be much.

Myself, I couldn't wait till February to get something I could have in a few months, especially since they're not bringing over the new features the Euro cars are getting in the 08s.

And if the dealer is willing to give you a $$$ option to sell you an 07, what else might he be willing to do?

Pick a color

 

I'd wait for the '09, they are going to be SWEEEET!!!!

 

Birdman - are you sure its not the '10 model..
Pandy - GET THE CAR.. DRIVE THE CAR.. LOVE LIFE.

 

Not really. Mileage and condition are the keys factor in resale in models like this where there are no significant changes year to year. In three years, an early 2008 will have 'high' mileage, while a late 2007 will have 'low' mileage, and the cars will be worth about the same.

 

LOL.. i am most likely getting the 07 soon. I am just narrowing down my specs...too many options!!

 

Pandy, I had the same question a month ago. I ended up buying now because there aren't any major changes coming to the US Mini in '08. Since there aren't any major changes, I don't feel like paying a higher price for the same car since there will be a price hike for 08's. Alan makes a great point, low miles on an 07 or high miles on an 08 is about the same resale.

 

Same here--I pulled the trigger as soon as I was satisified there wasn't anything worthwhile waiting for next year.

Just do it!

 

I asked the exact same question 3 weeks ago. Worst is that there's a wait of of around 6 weeks before my order can be queued in production. So a late Nov delivery for '07 vs Feb delivery for '08.

I still opted for '07, I have doubts here and there. I really like the USB and the window auto up. But I also want the car ASAP and paying the higher price wasn't that attractive either.