This is my first post, though I have been lurking and trying to learn as much as I can from all of you. I took two drives with the dealer in an MCS today. One driving, and one in the back seat with my wife driving. here are a couple of things I noticed;

-the engine is great, powerful, smooth, and all I really need.
-this car had 17" wheels and no sport suspension and the ride was as stiff as I would want it for everyday driving. No more thoughts of the sports suspension or JCW kit. I am hoping that switching to non-run flats will improve this a bit.
-The shifter was OK, but not nearly as precise as my '91 Miata.
-I was surprised at the amount of room in the back seat. With my wife driving my son (6') and I were comfortable sitting in the back.
-The things that i didn't think I needed but now want; Navigation, sunroof, xenon's, anthracite headliner, and auto climate control.

I am coming from an X5 and the '91 Miata, and I am hoping the Miata gives me the everyday drivability of the X5 with the fun of the Miata. I have also been considering a VW R32, though when my wife saw that she thought it was just a small minivan

Thanks for all of the insights you have given me,
rickdm

 

Good luck on your choice!

 

Ka-ching!!!!! The goodies add up, but it's worth it to get the MINI you want. I do most of my you-ification from the factory so when my MINI arrives I'm pretty much good-to-go.

 

get the anthracite headliner, xenons and the LSD for sure!!

Of course from the factory you can get a lot of you-ifications but i think the most you-ification comes from the mods that you do aftermarket since its possible to spec out the same MINI as someone, but when you start wrenching on your own, it really becomes yours! Have fun with it!

 

Thanks, it's just a challenge trying to keep this thing under 30k, I feel like I am getting nicked for every little item.

rickdm

 

If you order it expect to pay MSRP. However if you take one from the dealer inventory you may get a discount and they may throw in some extras.

 

Since you are thinking about switching wheels anyway, order the cheapest ones you can get, go 16" and sell them later.

You're one of the rare few then, most people can only fit small children back there. I'm only 5'10" and the back of the front seat almost touches the backseat when I drive.

Might as well get the premium package then as it includes the sunroof and auto AC in addition you get the HiFi stereo. Good choice on the Xenon's. If your not wanting the NAV for the techyness or you already have a portable GPS you can save some $$ by skipping the NAV. You might want to consider getting DSC as well.

This isn't the first time I've heard this.

Sounds good, keep us posted on what you plan to do. Now that I have mine I can actually enjoy the buying process (so long as it's someone else of course).

 

What's so great about the anthracite headliner? I'm just wondering because I've never seen one.

 

I got it with mine just because I liked the way the darker color matched the rest of the black/dark colored interior. It does darken the car up a lot. I probably wouldn't get it without the sunroof.

 

Nothing!

(To my eyes, that is, as I hate dark interiors. But many do so I suggest you make every effort to see it for real before you decide one way or the other.)

 

Good suggestion. I don't care for the dark interior either. MINI needs an option to lighten up the interior.

 

Run Flats definitely stiffen up the ride.

 

Generally, runflats have a harsher ride than non-runflats, and 17" wheels will have a harsher ride on a MINI than 16" wheels. The tire O.D. is the same for either, so the sidewall is taller on the 16" wheels. I have a set 16x7, and 17x7 wheels prefer the 16" for daily driving. I've put 205 non-runflats on both. The 17" have a lower profile look and a somewhat quicker turn-in than the 16". However, the 16" wheels are lighter. There is a fair amount of debate as to which is better for racing.

I think the best bet is to get the cheapest factory wheels and get third party wheels afterwards. You can use the factory wheels for snow tires, or sell them on the NAM marketplace. I sold my 17" Crown Spokes and runflat tires there.

It is typical for a FWD car to have a less precise shifter than a RWD.

I didn't think I needed the NAV, but am very happy I got it.

I don't have a sunroof and wouldn't want one.

Before you go for the Xenons, read this:
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...dvantages.html
I have them and don't like them for driving dark country roads that have oncoming traffic. The low beams are too bright in the area close to the car, and have a very sharp cutoff. So, I find it more difficult to see past their range. Makes me feel like I'm driving into a void.

The high beams are nice, but there aren't a lot of times when I'm on a deserted country road at night.

The only reason I can see for having Xenons for city driving is to impress others and/or blind oncoming cars with the high beams. They certainly get people's attention when you flash them for having their high beams on.

Another disadvantage is that they are not really good for flashing at people during the day, unless you already have them on. The igniters are too slow to fire up, and it shortens their life. Xenons are very expensive to replace.

I'm not familiar with the VW R32, and I've never driven a Miata. Before ordering the MCS, I did test drive a VW GTI, Honda S2000, and an Acura RX (similar to the Honda Si, I believe). In spite of taking them all on great twisty roads, the all lost out to he MCS in the fun-to-drive category. However, there was something nice about an open roadster that is in stark contrast to the closed-in feeling of the MINI. The high-waist design, and steep windshield makes me think of looking through the slit of a tank, but that seems to be the style of cars these days.

 

I didn't thnik I wanted one, but it did seem to expand and lighten up the interior. I am worried about the potential rattles.

I know this is going to sound totally vain, but I want the Xenons because of the way they look during the day. It just seems like a better looking headlamp. I have driven my wife's Prius with Xenons, and they did not seem that special to me.

It is a GTI on steriods. Firmer suspension, 4 wheel drive, 3.2 litre V6 and DSG. The quality of the interior would put a BMW to shame. Very fast, great handling, cool transmission, but more of a GT vs. the sports car feel of the Mini. It is a cult car among the VW fanatics.

Thanks rickdm

 

Not even about to start a flame war here but I can't say that I've experienced the same. In the link you posted he basically comes off as saying that HID's can be done badly, that all the hype surrounding them doesn't really point out why they should be seen as automatically better, and that there hasn't been enough research done on headlights in general.

I've been in cars with Xenons before my mini and it was a (pardon the pun) night and day difference over the halogens in my Rodeo. I can't really compare apples to apples as I haven't seen the halogens in a mini though. I was impressed enough to order my mini with them though and can say that for once I can actually see at night and especially during the rain at night. I also like the fact that I can be seen in such a small car in these situations.

I've never really bothered by oncoming xenons either. It's hard to describe as they do look brighter but aren't painful as halogens can be. I can look right at and oncoming HID and not really be affected by it as I would a Halogen. Part of this may be an aiming issue I know but for me it has made a big difference in my driving.

The cutoff hasn't been an issue either. I know where it is and try not to outrun my lights. A benefit of the rather abrupt cutoff is that I now know where my headlights actually end. In the Rodeo they would just fade out and I would strain to see things distracting me from my surroundings.

I do predominately freeway driving with a smattering of city and back roads. Needless to say, I never use the high beams so having better vision without needing to blind others with my high beams just so I can see is a good thing.

I don't flash people either. I've never understood it in the daytime as it usually just enrages people and at night the only thing you accomplish is blinding the person coming at you making for two blind people coming right at each other.

Like I said I'm not trying to flame anyone or even start a big argument. I just want the OP to hear both sides and to actually see them for himself, unless the X5 already has them of course and then he's probably already made up his mind.

 

I won't waste space quoting the parts of geekswrath's post above that I agree with, because I think he's so right! (I have xenons and think they are the best decision I made in my spec!)

I'll just add that the xenon decision MUST be made at the speccing stage as there's no practicable and legal aftermarket fit for all the auto-levelling and other bits that are inherent.

I've never seen any other criticism of them for short range on dip beam so perhaps the real issue here is poor alignment?

But, as ever, try demo cars with and without!

 

i would pass on the nav when you trade in the car it goes with it and you do not get much resale on it. get a good garmin or tomtom and take it from car to car.

 

I thought Xenons were a good thing until I actually spent time driving the MINI at night on Carmel Valley Road where it is dark (I can see the Milky Way clearly from my house) and there is usually some oncoming traffic. So, it is mainly a low-beam on a dark road experience. Deer are plentiful here, so watching for them is important.

Some of the comments in that article that match my experience are:

 

The anthracite's great, really makes the car look much higher end, it's really something you have to check out in person, just gives the interior a nice cockpit feel.
It'll also hide fingerprints


16's & sport suspension here, it rides really well, however I'm looking forward to wearing out the tires & getting some regular/non-runflat 205/50/r16's to replace the originals.

The Xenons are apparently a debate issue, but I love them for regular driving, they illuminate street markers & signs as if they were backlit or neon, for our poor rainy weather, they're awesome.
If you get out of the city onto a really dark road, the bi-xenon highbeams are wicked bright.

The R32 is a really different car, it's much heavier and not all that quick, if you wanted to go the VW route, the GTi is a lot more bang for the buck with lots of potential...

 

I would wait until the cold start tractor rattle issue is resolved.

 

is the anthracite headliner the same material but just in darker color, or is it a nicer material, eg suede or alcantara..??

 

Rickdm, what part of the country do you live in?

 

I am in Dallas, Texas and have been dealing with Mini of Dallas.

rickdm

 

So cold weather probably won't be a problem for you then.