I love to drive my car. The way I look at it - it is a sports car. If I wanted a lot of bells and whistles and luxury (windows going up and down at a touch of the key fob, etc.) I would have gotten a luxury car. It's small - that's one of the reasons I bought it. I would like to have a spare tire but if it had room for one it wouldn't be as small any more. As with any car (and to be philosophical - life) you put up with some things to get the other things you want.

 

+1

 

my floor mats migrate... then they get stuck under the pedals, kinda dangerous- but ill fix that with some ultra velcro!

so - as for the sunroof i have no complaints - how could i when my old car (1990 civic si hatch) had a leaky sunroof (it literally collected water during rain and then dumped up to a gallon on your head and down your back when you started moving) and i still loved that sunroof
so it sounds like the 07s dont have a one touch close for the roof... hmmm i thought that was a good idea...

but seriously - i love everything about my car! i could never have as many complaints as ive had for some of my older cars...

 

oh by the way- coopers have spares

 

I also was annoyed by my slipping floor mats until I noticed plastic screws velcroed to the bottom. After checking out these forums, I learned that you just screw the thing right into the floor. Problem fixed.

I wish my MA would have gone over this with me. At least they gave the floor mats for free.

 

The OEM armrest - I find it a complete waste and more irritating than it's worth.. But Mike likes it so I guess that's what counts since it's in his MINI.

Donna

 

Only thing that irks me...no European delivery.

 

about the double door pull to unlock it and get out: every car i have ever owned (i admit i only owned 7 cars) that had power door locks you had to unlock it with the lock switch. you could sit in the car forever pulling on the door handle and the door wouldn't open. so pulling the door handle twice to get out is a welcomed changed for me.

 

I like the way you think, Pam. Keep it simple. BIG THUMBS UP!

 

I rather like the double-pull handles. My family has now owned three cars with them, and its not too outrageous to try to open twice before panicking.

What actually irritates me? Satellite radio dropouts. Thats probably about it so far.
What would I improve? More gauges, and integrate the settings one can set from the radio interface with the settings one can set from the tach displays. We could do with those being less cryptic and easier to navigate.

 

Overall we're pleased with the car. It does have some "unique features" that do take some time getting used to. However, the one thing that really irks the Mrs. is the seatbelts.

The R56 does not let you adjust the height of the seatbelt on the B pillar (I believe this was available on the previous version). We tried the MINI seatbelt adjusters and they are worthless. Same thing with some of the aftermarket adjusters you get from AutoZone. I don't notice anything wrong with the seatbelts, but of course my wife is shaped differently...

 

I agree, id doesn't irk me really, but it is a waste. An armrest is $200, and unless you are tall and move your seat all they way back, you can't even use it.

 

where? I don't think mine has one, unless it is hidden very well

 

My MA told me about the screws, but advised against it so I haven't done it.

So do you have to unscrew them everytime you clean the mats, or do the mats velcro to the thing screwed into the floor?

 

I'm tall and have the seat all the way back and have no problems with the arm rest, but I guess I never figured anyone pushed the seat way up.

 

Same here. I never could figure out the beef with the arm rest. I'm 6 feet tall - with the seat all the way back - never thought about it not being a comfortable place if the seat should be up for shorter legs.

 

yep, i have no arm rest basically, if i move my seat back to use the armrest, I can reach the gas and steering wheel, but it's not a comfortable driving position.

I tend to rest my right hand on the gear shift, or in my lap.

 

Wow, you have the seat all the way back? Im 6ft also and i just couldnt drive like that. I have it close enough to have a little bend in my knees for a better response time. Your wrist is supposed to easily reach the steering wheel (without taking your back off the seat or stretching your shoulder) to get the most control out of your car. You must have arms like an orangutan.

 

I might have it up just a little. I have the steering wheel pulled all the way out and it's an automatic - I'm not clutching. Also, I think women have most of their height in their legs, men - torsos and I have long arms.

 

I'm definitely irked, annoyed, bothered, bugged, and irritated by the armrest. I'm a little over 6 ft. and I find it worse than useless. It gets in the way of shifting, and doesn't fold back far enough to get out of the way. I may end up paying the dealer to remove it if I can't figure out how to do it myself.

 

I think the automatic transmission makes the difference between the armrest being useful or an impediment. With the manual transmission, it gets in the way of shifting.

 

I can see where that might be the case. I still anguish over getting an automatic. Manual would be so much fun. Thought I would get tired of shifting gears in the Orlando traffic. After reading these threads it sounds like I'm not the only one who second guesses their choice of color, seats, etc., etc., etc.

 

I haven an automatic.. it's still useless even though if it's not in the way.

 

my MA used the screws when he installed mine, and here is how he installed them. he put them where they are supposed to be and punched the mats where the screws was so it would go in to the floor. my mats haven't moved since, that is unless i pull them out while cleaning the car out.

 

Didn't see any answer to this.

Anyway: Look under your boot... tucked away in front of the rear bumper. It's there.