me too, as far as fewer bling options, but the moonroof, leather, H-K (or whatever the upgraded stereo will be), nav and cruise do add to the car's resale value. Those are the options to focus on, not the superficial.

 

brgfan,
most options (if not all) are available a-la-carte. Check out
http://motoringfile.com/2006/11/01/o...ing-sheet-pdf/

for a list and prices.

 

This car gets expensive qiuck. For me though, I'm looking at the following opt's: ZSP + Anthracite headliner + Dark Silver + A/T = $25,250. Not bad at all, might, just might throw in the Panoramic sunroof which would come out to $26,100... either way I guess...

 

Who are you buying for??? Yourself or the next person??? A car is a depriciating asset, period. Regardless of how in demand a particular car may be, the next person isn't going to pay nearly as much as you did.

 

I'm with you. Be it my first showroom new car... I very much want it to have some personal touches to it that you won't see on every other car out there. It's gonna' cost, though. I've accepted that.

 

I need to learn how to drive stick, then I could really bring the cost down and get the S/R w/ out cringing at coughing up $28k.

 

Part of the 900 Car thing.. Dealers randomly will receive different types of coopers. There are 6 different types that will be going out doubt each dealer will get all 6.. But 3 different Cooper's with Auto's and 3 different Cooper S's with manuals.

Cooper - Pure Silver Black Roof/Cloth Checkered/Sport Package

Cooper - Chili Red with White Roof/Leatherette Carbon Black(Says this)/Premium, Convenience, Cold Weather packages

Cooper - Astro Black with White Roof/Leather Interior in Tuscan Beige/Sports Package

Cooper S - Mellow Yellow with Black Roof with Checkered Cloth (Black) and Sports package

Cooper S - (Cant read with White Roof), Leatherette in Carbon Black/Sports, Premium, and Cold Weather packages

Cooper S - Sparkling Silver with Black top, Black Leather (Piping too), Piano Black interrior/Sports and Premium Packages

Got this from my Mini Dealer yesterday but its really hard to read..

 

ooo..so the leatherette does come in black!

 

The options PDF says leatherette in black/grey combo only.

 

Quite true, except that certain options can help bolster resale value down the road, as opposed to a stripper. Look at NADA and things like moonroof, cruise, leather, and the H-K do help enhance the car's value. Plus, the MINI is one car whose depreciation, historically, is at a minimum, so certain options can help offset other factors like high mileage.

As far as your original question: i buy for me, but after working in car biz for 5 years, I know what to get just in case I wish to trade up. And with R56 on the horizon, looks like that time will come fairly soon--at least by the end of my 4/50K.

 

My MA just called me with an update. They have received their initial allocation information. They are getting 4 MCSs (don't know about MCs) 1 yellow, 2 blue and 1 sparkling silver. I imagine other dealerships have their info too so if you like the options that are coming on these cars you should be able to put a deposit down and start waiting. He still was not sure when custom ordering would begin.

 

my dealer will be receiving 12 MINIs in December

 

Are you for reals??? December??? That almost sounds too good to be true.

 

It's probably in late December. The dealer is also going to throw a release party for the R56s as well- can't wait.

 

I don't mean to rain on anybody's Mini parade, but I just spoke to a couple of MA's at eastbaymini.com where I have my deposit in, and they both said LATE January EARLY February is the best guess for the first run of the dealer allocated DEMO Minis to be on their lot. Those are the ones that are part of that first run factory designated options/etc bunch that's first out of the factory So it sounds like we'll be well into SPRING before I see that 07 in my garage. UGH!
I suppose we should all take all these dates we're hearing with a grain of salt and a lot of patience.
GOOD NEWS IS THIS: Their GM just came back from participating in the drive of the 07s in Italy, and she says the car drives and handles just great. She drives em all and she is very excited about this new model. YEAH BABY!

 

yea December does sound too good to be true, but who knows..

 

Thats inline with what Mountainview MINI said also. And also part of why I bought an '06. I am not that patient. It is hard enough waiting the two months for the one I ordered.

 

I understand. Just last night the lady of the house was bugging me a tiny bit about how I should go down and buy this nice USED MCS we'd seen, and then when the 07's are available, I could make the swap. I see too much $$$ flying away to make that move, so it's wait time. I am mildly mad at myself for selling my 62 Mini Cooper. I should have waited till the 07 was actually ordered and I had an ETA for it. Oh well.

 

Well, I'm sure many of us have our own thoughts on the sale of that '62 Cooper, but I won't compound the frustration already in exsistence. Just remember, good things come to those who wait.

 

Then skip the sunroof, s-lites and factory stripes in white, they ALL seem to have those on them...

 

Oh, no! I badly want a sun roof (as do the wife and kids).

Hood stripes are out (despite what my little photoshop pic suggests - I'm just not skilled enough to remove them from the pic I was working with).

No S-Lites (I don't like the new ones much w/ the covered lugs... but that's just me). I'll get web spokes from the factory... but I predict some type of 2-piece black 18" BBS wheel befoe the first year is up.

That and some type of 1-2" drop (a set of lower Eibach or H&R springs).

Somthing like this... but with a white roof and mirrors and black wheels instead of gold (to steal Daillestchop's work):

 

Still debating sunroof or not??? Part of me says I have to have one, another part is iffy on the subject. I don't know about the sunshade though, because on the current car it seems as if light is always coming through, no matter what. I'm not so sure I like that.

 

I debated that a bit, too. I was strongly leaning towards the white decal offered by MINI... makes it look like an all-white roof, but still allows for some ambient light to pass into the cabin.

I've been in a car with a roof graphic and with the sunshade in place it gets fairly dark when you want it to be. Down side is, you don't get to look at the pretty clouds and birds overhead. We'll see.

 

They should make a smaller sunroof as an option in addition to the panoramic version.

 

You could allways order without... and then find your local Webasto installer http://www.webasto.us/am/en/am_auto_sunroofs.html and have 'em put in the type and size you want. I priced out the panoramic one... took my breath away to get one in... but a standard small (non-inbuilt cartrige) moonroof goes in for about $500.