Reading all the excitement here over ordering new MINI's, and they are wonderful of course, and all the extra's you can load on them, I thought I would take an unlimited credit card to 'build your own 2007 MCS'. Didn't choose all the options, but most of the "wouldn't it be fun", "mine is better than yours" and "why the hell not", I ran the price up over $42,960!!!!!! Can you imagine and this is without any engine work and and with out the $1,500 body kit.

An easy 45k for a MINI!!

 

With available options only I can spec a £37,503 MCS here.

 

When the R56 JCW MCS is released, that car is going to easily hit mid $30K's price range, on a car with not that many options.

 

i spent £21k with a exchange rate of $1.95 to £ 1 i didnt go for nav or blue tooth tv

 

There are several ppl who have posted in the past they have close to $50K MINIs last year. Nothing new. Add JCW and thats insane.

 

shoot, for the fun of it I speced an 07 MC the way I would want....and it was more than my loaded MCS was in 03.... The R53 is a BARGAIN compared to the R56.....in 03 the rain sensing wipes and auto dim mirror were part of the premium not an extra $400, the xenons were part of the sport not an extra $500.....according to the configurator heated mirrors are no longer in the winter pkg, only seats and washer jets....and leather has went from $1200 to $1900 not to mention other price increases

 

And sport PLUS suspension is no longer standard either. You have to pay $500 standalone to get it on a new R56 MCS

 

I paid for my 05 MCS 2 years ago (New) $22.9K, only one package "Convenience", plus exterior chrome pack, HK stereo, Trip Computer, MFSW, front and rear fogs, leatherette, ipod adaptor, 6-speed manual, 16" R84 rims... that's about it.

Today I configured a similary equipped '07 R56 MCS and the car came out to $25.5K MSRP! (Hi-Fi stereo, Convinience pack, exterior chrome, rear fogs, SS+ suspension, 16"rims/tires, leatherette combo, checkered dash, MFSW.

So before taxes and fees, the new car will set me back at least $3K over 2005 prices. After all is said and done, plus depriciation on the '05, it would cost me $6K out of pocket to move from my '05 to a new similar '07. Assuming the a factory JCW R56 retails for another $6K, you'll be easily pushing $32K on a lightly optioned '07.

 

All the more reason for leasing when people want to trade in every 24-36 months.

I'm not against the R56. I've played with the configurator and love the myriad choices, but as C4 points out, you can easily pump an extra $3k into inflation.