I like the Auto AC in my new '07 MCS. It works great... just set it for comfort, not for a target temp. The Auto AC on the wife's '07 Toyota 4Runner works well if operated the same way. The heated seats - the seat plus the lower backrest (very cool) - are great!

As for cold-morning startups, one thing I did read in the manual was a comment that said to not start the car and let her warm up / idle for too long ... not sure how long is OK, but it's kind of a winter tradition here to warm up the cars before the AM commute.

 

To put it in perspective:
Lets pretend that you will actually get 37mpg on the highway with the MC and 34 on the MCS. Then at 100 miles per day, you would use 2.70 gal with the MC and 2.94 with the MCS. At $3.00 per gal that would be $00.715 cents per day difference x 22 days per month (work days/month) = $15.74 per month = $188.88 per year

Now at 32 mpg on the highway with the MC and 29 on the MCS. Then at 100 miles per day, you would use 3.125 gal with the MC and 3.49 with the MCS. At $3.00 per gal that would be $00.97 cents per day difference x 22 days per month = $21.34 per month = $256.08 per year.
How long do you think you will keep it?

 

You're already buying sport seats & fog lamps, get the MCS !
it's not much more to buy now & will be worth a lot more in the future.

Skip the Auto-AC, the Hi-Fi, and unless you really want everything in the Convenience, you might want to go a la carte. The comfort access was the only bit I really wanted from there.

Getting yourself an all-in-one like the Garmin Nuvi 360 will give you bluetooth handsfree, mp3, and a nav system for a fraction of the factory cost.

There haven't been many positive reviews of the Hi-fi system, it basically add's extra tweeters, upgrading the speakers with aftermarket/quality pieces should sound a lot better (and save some money).

There's also a few threads on gas mileage, while you can't use as much gas with the MC as you can with the MCS (if you have a heavy foot), if you're cruising on the highway, mileage should be very similar; Same weight, same aerodynamics, same rolling resistance, ...
Turbo motors tend to be very efficient

 

I don't know about most people, but I really like the Auto A/C in my 2007. My dad's MSC has the standard A/C in his 2004 and it works fine. The Auto A/C might seem confusing to some people, however my dads other car has it so I learned how to use it on that car, and the MINI's auto A/C is very similar. It promotes a very digital look for the interior. Once you get the hang of it, it's awesome. However, like I said not really necessary.

 

IMHO MINI USA should dump the MINI Cooper and offer the MINI ONE D for those concerned about mileage and the MCS for those who are concerned about performance.

 

Your acomplishing one thing by letting a car warm up at idle. Wasting gas. A car warms up much faster by driving it than idling it.

 

Not sure if I'd order auto AC alone, but it was part of the premium package and I find it both efficient and convenient

 

Or they can add it in addition to the MC and MCS.

 

VERY TRUE

 

Yes, of course... but I am married to the Princess Pea and she likes to move from the woodstove-toasty house to a pre-heated car in preparation for her morning commute in her urban assault vehicle. She drives like she's carrying nuns and orphans as payload so maybe that gives her some grace on the warmup fuel. And dare I challenge the epitome of femininity ... and the partner who said yes to a new MCS as the second toy car in the house?

 

That explains it.

 

Hi Dan, Is that an '07 in Oxygen Blue? Nice color!!!
We're Loon Mountain-bound for skiing tomorrow... hope that you got hammered with new snow!

 

I have an 2006 mcs automatic, with auto air. Live in Fl. and the auto air works fine.

 

Thanks for all the input guys...I live in Southern California by the way so the weather is nice here for the most part with a few hot days during the summer...I recently received my production number from my dealership. any advice on breaking in these little cars??? Anything else I should know???

 

My 08 mini Final specs...

-Cooper
-Chili Red/Black Top
-Black Bonnet Stripes
-Gray/Carbon Black Leatherette
-Convenience Package
-DSC
-15" Rotator Spoke Wheels
-Anti Theft Alarm System
-Sport Seats
-Foglights
-Xenon Headlamps
-HD Radio
-MINI HiFi Sound System
-White Turn Signals

I am thinking about getting the shift light indicator from JCW...What do you guys think about it? Also interested in the clear bra...anyone else have any experience with these?

 

If that were the case I would not own a Mini then. Diesel is too hard to come by around here.

Sorry, but that is very incorrect. No MCS, regardless of how it is driven, is going to get close to the same mileage, on the highway, as the MC. Let me ask you, how many times have you gotten over 41MPG (calculated, not the computer readout) on a trip in an MCS?

Daffodildeb, as you know I am in the D/FW are of Texas. We get plenty of heat, not quite as much humdity as the coast of Texas, but pleny of heat.

I figure the sun roof is probably more debilitating to the auto A/C system than anything else. I know Romi cools down very fast when the ambient is above 100F. I have been nothing but impressed with how fast she cools down. Beats the snot out of our Lexus.

Like someone else said. Ignore the digital readout for the temperature setting and just set it to where it keeps you comfortable.