I am planning to order a custom build for my first Mini (hardtop) and would welcome some advice on a few choices.

While the power of an S is seductive, I am planning to go with a justa in light of cost, mileage, reliability, no-spare/runflat issues, etc. I expect it will still be a big improvement over the underpowered crossover I’ve been driving for years. Am I making a mistake?

I definitely want manual transmission, cold weather package, no sunroof (gives me an extra inch or so of headroom, less weight, no heat, noise, or leakage problems).

Questions:

Standard 15" wheels or upgrade to 16 or 17? What are the pros/cons?

Regular seats or sport seats? If sport seats, cloth or leatherette (will probably get aftermarket seat covers in any event)?

Center Armrest? (I’ve always had one in my cars, although people complain about this one and maybe with stick shift I wouldn’t use it as much?)

Fog lights?

Chrome interior accents - do they really dress things up or do they look chintzy?

Anything else I will later regret not including?

 

I think the 16s and 17s automatically come with RFTs. I like the 15s myself anyway.

I wanted cloth seats, so I had to get the sport seats.

I hear enough complaints about the armrest that I wouldn't bother.

If I had it to do over, I would probably spring for the uprated headlights. Sometimes I feel like I'm driving my 70s-vintage car with six-point-one candlepower lights. (Oh, not really, but I would like more light.)

If the Bluetooth package isn't standard on the 13s, I would get that. It comes in very handy, and it's nice to have a USB port.

I'm quite happy with the manual climate control, the stock stereo, no foglights, and the non-dressed-up interior. I had thought about the English Oak trim but decided it didn't go with the rest of the car very well--and last I checked it wasn't offered any more anyway.

I'm glad I got the Sport Suspension option; the car feels really buttoned-down in part because of that. And I can live with the harsher ride.

I might have opted for body-colored roof and mirrors. Those would be much easier to wrap in white vinyl if I decided to change, instead of finding some Ice Blue vinyl which is what I'd have to find to change it now.

I'm only 18 months in, but so far I'm quite happy with the selections I made for my car.

 

if youre just commuting to work and around town, im not sure youll notice any performance difference between the sizes.......so it comes down to what you like aesthetically.

i would definitely go with sport seats......when i tried out the regular seats, it felt like i was sitting ON the seats.....but when i sat in the sport seats, it felt like i was sitting IN the seats.


one came in my car.....i dont use it, i find its not long enough to fully rest my arm on...it spends most of its time folded out of the way.

if you think you need them, sure, might as well.

personal preference, really....if you like chrome, go for it......

 

Coming from a couple of Miatas and a Ford Ranger 4 cylinder I'm perfectly happy with my Cooper. I've had S loaners and the extra power is nice, but I'm still not convinced it's worth the negatives you've listed.

I think 16" is the sweet spot, personally. The 15's just look a bit too small and the 17" OE wheels are way too heavy. My first one had 16's, my current one has 17's and I've been looking to "downsize" to another set of 16's.

I'd go with cloth sport seats. Sport seats get you the better bolstering and will allow you to purchase and install the lumbar supports (that are standard on the leather seats but not included on cloth/vinyl). Cloth seems like it would be the more comfortable option, temperature-wise.

I like my center armrest. Your opinion may differ. Sit in a car with one at the dealer and get the seat adjusted where you like it, then see how the armrest feels to you.

Yes, front and rear. Fills up the bank of switches on the dash and keeps you from having the odd-looking bit in place of the rear fog light on the back bumper. Possibly useful in fog as well...

Not my cup o' tea, but if you go for that sort of thing...

Anthracite headliner - back when the standard option was light grey it wasn't so bad, but now the default is beige which doesn't go with most interior schemes or exterior colors. Unless you're doing brown or parchment leather seats, which you're not. I didn't know they'd switched it for 2011 when I got my current car and I've hated the beige since the day I took delivery.

Auto climate control - much nicer to use than the manual counterpart.

HK stereo - it's impractical to install an aftermarket stereo in a new MINI... Get the best one you can since you're likely going to just live with it.

 

Things I love about my 2013 MCS:
-It's an S. I love the extra power. Much better than my 91 Miata.
-Heated seats.
-Sunroof
-HK stereo system

Things I wish I had opted for:
-Comfort access.
-Rear fog light. I hate the empty switch spot, but might put an "eject" switch there for fun.
-climate control system

But I'm still pretty damn happy!

 

I really like the chrome accents, not chintzy to me at all.

And anthracite headliner really looks great also, as it includes dark A pillars.

 

For myself, xenon headlights are a must. We did not have them in the first mini and absolutely love them in the current mini. The halogens on the first mini were way to dim.

Auto climate control. We had it in the first mini and miss it in the current mini. The AC with the auto climate control seemed colder. That could be my imagination. I just do not like the location of the unit and the controls so the less I have to touch it the better.

 

I ordered my 2012 MCS with the "sport package" (17" wheels, xenons, white turn signal lenses, DTC) cloth seats, and no other options except for the armrest. I recently had a Justa for a loaner that was optioned out the wazoo, chrome interior, H/K stereo, etc. etc. etc. Driving that car, I realized that I had made all the right decisions and had ordered perfectly - for my needs and wants, anyway.

Think about what you want and need in a car, and make sure you get it that way. For me, it is about the driving experience and keeping it simple. Less stuff to break, and I can spend the money I saved on mods for stuff I care about.

Nav system - I've got GPS and Google maps on my cellphone for no extra cost.
Fancy Stereo - I adjusted the controls on the stock stereo and it sounds great, I save my audiophile expectations for the stereo at home.
Bluetooth - I've got a headset already, I don't need my phone connected to my car.
Manual climate control - very simple and straightforward, I get the temp I want where I want it, not what some computer thinks I should get.
Cloth seats - they're not cold in the winter, and not hot in the summer like leather or the fake leather. I added the lumbar support and am happy.
Xenons - love them, Highly recommended.
17" wheels - I love the look and the performance.
Best of all - the response of the S engine. In my opinion, that is the most important option of all. Go for the S, even if it means skipping other options that you really think you want.

 

Having owned most flavours of MINI, I could be quite happy with just a JustaCooper, it just feels right. (However, the extra power of an S is fun in its own way.)There is no wrong choice.

I can't say I've noticed much difference in the ride or handling between the 15, 16 or 17" wheels. I like the tires available in 16", though I have to go to an alternative size.

Definitely sport seats. The regular seats are just flat, and uncomfortable once you're sat in sport seats. I like cloth, we've been getting cloth/leather recently, they have lumbar adjustment and fit me better.

The center armrest just gets in the way whenever I've had to deal with one.

I think rear fog lights are a must, its a safety item. The fronts mainly fill in a hole and a toggle switch.

Chrome, and other interior options are a matter of opinion, I've never liked the chrome myself.

The one option I wouldn't want to do with out is the auto A/C. I've driven MINIs without it, the standard is annoying and requires constant fiddling.

 

I like my Justa, so, I don't think skipping the S is a mistake.
The 15" wheels that came with it (didn't order, bought it off the lot BTW - too impatient to wait) work just fine for me.
Definitely, most definitely get the cloth seats. I've got the standard (not sport) seats in leatherette (AKA vinyl, plastic, ...) and my butt and back sweat just thinking about them.
I don't have any of the other things you mentioned, so I really can't comment.
I thought I'd miss the center armrest, but I got used to it.

 

I experienced an auto/runflat, non-s loaner for a couple of days and was able to do a direct comparison. I found the ride harsh, jarring and rattle inducing over any imperfections on my regular route. Go with your instincts and get the manual and regular tires.

The sport seats have a firm grip and lumbar support.

My gallery has a couple of shots of the chrome line interior, if you'd like to see for yourself. In my subjective opinion, it doesn't look chintzy in person.

 

I am glad I picked the Justa over the S. I tend to worry about mechanical issues as well. I enjoy spirited driving - and believe that the Justa has enough pep to satisfy. I've driven an S as well as the Justa - and I don't find that the difference in power detracts from the overall experience. Hey better gas mileage is a plus of the Justa - I can't seem to get less than 35MPG indicated even if I try. Taking it a little easier nets roughly 38 39 MPG indicated.

I had a set of runflats on mine for 5K miles - didn't like the rougher road feel. Went back to my 15" stockers. Wish I had the sport suspension though - but the base suspension is certainly adequate for spirited driving.

As far as options - the only option I think I really wish I had that I don't is the upgraded audio. I have the Premium and Cold Weather packages which were a must for me when choosing a car. Love the sunroof - auto climate is okay - LOVE the heated seats. I didn't care enough to have the fog lights - I think the base running lights look good enough there.

I think the center armrest clutters an already small car - I've never minded being without it.

 

You can definitely skip the HK stereo. If you really love music you can update the system with the Integral Audio soundstage at anytime in the future. It puts the cars audio system up there with the factory high end stuff of much more expensive cars.

Also go for the rear fogs, Xenon headlights, auto climate control. Anything that you think you really might want in the future, but would be too expensive to add after the fact.

 

For me, musts are:
HK (way to must work and money to upgrade aftermarket, I like IA stuff, but too spendy for me)
Xenon headlights
Front and rear fogs (fills out switch bank)
Auto Climate

I know this diverts from the OP's questions, but just adding to them.

I think 15s are too small and 16s or 17s look better.

Sport seats are a yes, you choose the material...I like the leatherette because it is durable.

Chromeline interior, I hate chrome but it does class up the inside a bit.

Skip the armrest with the stick, if you find you want it after the fact, get the euro armrest, it flips up but it wont slide open like the factory one will.

Anthracite headliner looks so much better.

Speaking of head...why no sunroof? Is headroom really that much of an issue? I am 6'-6" and have head room in both w/ and w/o sunroof hard tops (have had them both, '02 R50 w/o, '09 R56 w/, and current '10 R55 w/)

 

My 2c. I have a 2012MCS 6MT, with heated leatherette seats, alarm, Xenons, IA Soundstage, and the rest that comes with the MCS.

QUOTE:

While the power of an S is seductive, Am I making a mistake?

---The power is a blast, BUT you/others are entirely right about the reliability - I can testify! As a mechanically inclined person, I will C/O many repairs on my own to save a few pennies - are you willing to do the same?---

Standard 15" wheels or upgrade to 16 or 17? What are the pros/cons?

---I use both 17s for summer and 16s for winter; I see very little change in handling, but COMFORT changes signifigantly for the better on the 16s - both sets are RFTs. I have 1 season left in the summers, and I plan to go to regular 17" tires - I expect a big improvement in ride quality. I also have the Sport Suspension, and I am very mixed on that decision - I was drooling over a set of Konis a few minutes ago, and my car only has 30,000KM on it!---

Regular seats or sport seats? If sport seats, cloth or leatherette (will probably get aftermarket seat covers in any event)?

---The leatherette seats that came with my MCS are excellent for me - 6'4" - but my wife HATES them - 5'8". She complains that she slides around in the seats a lot - I honestly find them supportive and VERY comfortable...---

Center Armrest?

---Had one in my Integra - I REALLY miss it in my MCS - both were/are manuals.---

Fog lights?

---They came with my MCS, and I DO use them regularly. I particularly like the rear fogs as they really do add to my visibility in rain and fog. The fronts seem damn near useless save for filling holes in the bumper and switch position...---

Chrome interior accents - do they really dress things up or do they look chintzy?

---Dunno - that's a very personal decision - you should see the lengths some folks go to, to black out chrome... I kinda like it myself! ---

Anything else I will later regret not including?[/QUOTE]

---I WISHWISHWISH I had found the cash for:

Comfort Access
A USB port

I have to agree with a previous post regarding Navi and BT.

A waste of money - I use a Garmin GPS with the EcoRoute module - it lets me display extra gauges (boost, battery volts, coolant temp, intake temp... and a few others) in stead of a map when I'm not lost. The coolant temp is a nice one, and boost is just fun! Add to that, as technology changes, I can upgrade the GPS cheaply as compared to ANY BMW/Mini upgrades (AKA replace car).

BT/phones are another gripe - driving and talking on a phone has been demonstrated to be VERY dangerous. I'm surprised the automakers still offer cell phone integration - hands free or otherwise...

Just my 2c though.

Good luck!
E

 

While I really enjoyed reading everyone's replies it really comes down to what you want. If you follow all the advise from these replies you will not have a car that is truly yours. So maybe make decisions on what feels the best, looks the best and provides the best financial decision.

Like so many others I have provided my opinion too. If I were to do it all over I would have done it a bit different, and I will note that below:

-Power is a must for me so the 'S' was a no brainer. Drive both and decide then.
-Agreed manual trans; Agreed cold weather pack; Agreed no sunroof, I dislike mine
-Smaller the wheel less money for tires, esthetically not too pleasing (I have 18's now)
-I like how the sport seats hold the occupant. I have the leather/cloth and doesn't make cleaning easy, would rather have leather too.
-Yes on center arm rest despite the easily worn out lid that slides back all to easy once worn
-Yes to front and rear fog lights, I use mine everyday (fronts) and I enjoy the better lighting.
-I am not one for bling so I would not order the chrome kit on my car.
-The HK stereo is a must!
-I would love to have the Mini Connect w/ Nav
-Heated seats

Again these are my opinions, but asking those who have made these decisions can allow you to avoid a bad decision. Ultimately you should view, sit in, drive, experience a Mini with with and without these options so you can decide whether these things are what you truly want to do.

 

I have a 2013 hardtop:

Manual tranny/normally aspirated
Red body and top.
Sport cloth seats
15" star spoke wheels ( ride quality is good. Run flats are too stiff for my taste)
Nav with mini connected (the nav system is excellent. I drive a lot for work and a reliable nav system is a must. The traffic system and redirection has saved me many times)
HK audio ( not the best, muddy mid bass but at speed it smooths out pretty well)
Xenon/adaptive headlights (worth their weight in gold)
Auto headlights/auto wipers ( they work great)
Arm rest.
Home link garage door opener in rear-view mirror ( opens my garage halfway up the block! Awesome)

I will purchase the snap-in adapter for iPhone 5 as soon as it becomes availeable.

I had windows tinted and clear bra installed by dealer. Beautiful work by their vendors but somewhat overpriced even after vigorous negotiation. It was convenient.

If I was given a do over, I would have ordered the car with punch leather and anthracite interior.

Hope this helps.

 

Good choice in going with a straight Cooper. I had the pleasure of having both. I enjoyed the straight Cooper because of gas mileage and fun factor of cornering. It was pretty reliable but had its own share of issues compared to an "S". I have not had any issues with my MCS, at least not bad things about going to explode and whatnot. I have already put too much modding down into this car since I will track it once or twice a year in the summer. So I think it is safe to say, if you're not going to go crazy for the extra power and other cool aspects of a MCS, the straight Cooper is still awesome!

I recommend,
-Panoramic Sunroof
-Rear Fog Lights
-Sport suspension(unless you plan to upgrade to the Koni Yellows/NM springs)
-xenon headlights w/black housing(if your doing chrome accents it'll look great)
-heated seats(if your in a cold area)
-bluetooth(if you tend to talk on your phone a lot)
-Upgrade your stereo for sure!!!

Other than that, your good to go! Good luck in your adventure

 

Bluetooth / USB are standard on 2013's, so not an option he has to consider. Sirius radio is no longer standard. For $250 I'd probably opt for that... It's nice on trips and more or less mandatory in Houston as our radio stations are all garbage.

 

Could not agree more about the HK stereo!

 

I forgot 1 option: rear fog light. ( I turn it on anytime the lights are on works great and people have remarked how much it makes the car more visible to drivers behind me)

 

One thing to note about the cloth seats: Static electricity.

When the weather is cool and dry, I run about a 50/50 chance of getting a small shock when I get out of the car and touch the metal of the door.

If you're the type of person who starts to fill their gas tank, then sits in their car while it fills, then gets out again when it's done, do not get the cloth seats. Spark + fuel vapor == BOOM!

I'm not sure if cloth+leather has this same problem. My seats are just the cloth ones.