Remember that the factory JCW is 6-sp Manual only...

 

MT clutch is pretty light - about like my BMW 3. I have driven my MINI in
20 deg weather and it was toasty inside. It is a small top and there is a plastic panel over about a foot long over your head. There is no wind or water leakage at all. Note how the door windows drop a bit when you open the door. The window locks into a c channel seal - tight seal!!

Good luck!!

 

I wish I could go with the JCW, but that one has to wait until we move in a couple of years or so out of the Great White North!

I will buy one when we get back to AZ for sure!

 

Sounds great. I hope I can convince her to try the manual. I will be the one who drives it mostly. I am SURE I can teach her how to shift fine.

I figured it should not be too bad in 20 degree weather. It is the occasional 0 and below temps in NH that will make me cold!

 

I have limited competition in my immediate area (2 dealerships) but I will see what they do for pricing. I have already gotten my trade-in value for my 2007 X3 and have the invoice price for the car with the options I want (it is approximately a 10% markup). So I know what my best net price should be, so I should be in good shape to negotiate the deal.

Has anyone tried any of the car buying services (Autobytel, etc). Any luck? Were you happy with the deal you got?

I was hoping Costco had a deal with MINI, but they do not.

 

What a tough decision. Still going back and forth on convertible or Coupe. Coupe is more practical for a main vehicle since I could put a ski rack on top while the convertible is more fun for the short smmer here. Also new (where I can get what I want option-wise and color-wise) versus used where I would have to not get quite what I want but it would be less.

 

Go to your local dealer. They are doing some pretty good finance rates for new cars right now. I have a daily driver cabrio and it's holding up quite well so far. It's parked outside year round and the top is holding up great. With snow tires on I haven't gotten stuck yet (and I've tried ) Heated seats are a must have I've never been cold in my car even when it is 10 degrees outside. The car warms up quick and gets nice and toasty inside

 

The compromise would be the Hardtop with Sunroof...

 

Yeah, I know. I am thinking of the Camden Special 50th Anniversary Model. I went through the building software and it looks pretty nice!

 

I'm biased - had convertibles for almost 30 years. Drive both convertible and hatchback. The noise difference between a hatchback and a convertible with the top up is not that great.

I love to drop the top and listen to the exhaust note of my S. You can't hear it nearly as well with a hatchback. I can hear the turbo spool up too.

All I know is if I've had a bad day dropping the top and hitting the twisties in the MINI is great medicine.

You have the rest of your life to be practical - drop the top and go for grins

 

Well, I just finished showing my wife my 2 choices: MINI Camden in Silver-White for the hardtop version versus MINI Cabrio in Interchange Yellow. It worked better than I thought. I showed her the Camden 1st. She liked it, nice color etc. Hates the "Mission Control" voices - too dorky. She said it probably would be more fun to drive as a manual (me inside - saying 'YES!" ). She asked the price - I said about $38k MSRP the way I had it optioned. Wow - so expensive she says. Why not look at a convertible instead?

So I show her the Interchange Yelow. I have one "built" that shows $42k MSRP. However, the convertible has the Premium package discount (take $1750 off at the start) bringing it close to $40k before negotiating. So a $2k difference between the 2. This is very optioned out, with JCW bits added on. With a manual of course!

So that is where we stand before we visit the dealer tomorrow. 2 different choices, close in price MSRP-wise. Better financing (by 1% per year) on the convertible too. We will drive a convertible and a hardtop (sorry - hatchback) with a manual and an AT and make our decision. Do we like it? Are we willing to part with our X3 for the MINI?

Then see what we can get to price-wise. I know there is a 10% mark-up, so I don't see any reason to not get 5% off bringing the Cabrio to $38k or so.

One last thing - 3rd option is JCW Cabrio. No aero kit. Around same price as S with all the goodies, but more hp and better brakes!

I will let you know!

 

Anyone know what hours/dollars are charged to install the JCW accessories? If it adds too much to the price, I will put it off for now and add later.

Looking at strut brace (which I could do), tuning kit, Aero kit and some other stuff.

 

What wheels and tires are you running up there in the winter if I might ask?

 

Well, I found a demo JCW I can test drive. If they make a good deal on it, I might go for it. I have to see how it looks.

 

Don't know if you have seen this thread :

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ly-driver.html

 

Thanks! That was a great read!

Well, I go for my 1st test drive tomorrow (if the rain holds off). Even if the rain does not hold off, hopefully I can sneak in some top down time for the demo ride!

 

I may be biased . . .

 

Question for anyone who could answer. If I went with a 2006 to 2008 used S instead, how does it compare to the 2009/2010? I know it has less hp, but my wife said today she REALLY does not want me to trade my X3. So without the residual as a down payment, I am afraid the new one is out (for now anyway). So, I am toying with getting a 2006 to 2008 convertible in the $15 - $25k range, low miles, still under factory warranty and maybe a CPO to add more warranty time.

What do you think? Would I still like it? I drove the 2010 S convertible and fell in love. Are there big handling differences?

 

The 2006 looked to me to be a well sorted car. The 2007 and early 2008s seemed to be still too much "works in progress" after the changeover to the Gen2 chassis. If you can find a late 08 or an 09 my impression is that you would be finding one that would be less of a project.

 

I thought the S convertible chassis was not changed over until 2009, along with the chage to the turbo motor?

 

I think you are correct on the Cabrio -- I forgot that part. Sorry.

So a 2005 to 2008 Cabrio probably would be a good choice.

 

No problem. I am still trying to learn the differences between the models.

I know the 2009 and 2010 have some much nicer features.

It was nice to see the supercharged motor can be taken to around 210 hp with the JCW engine kit. So it should accelerate nicely!

 

The 2005-2008 Cabrio (R52) is a nice car. There are plenty of mods available for them. An S model with a few mods done can get more power than a JCW model and for less $ If you want to maintain your warranty then go for JCW parts. There are some differences in ride and Handling between the R52 and R57 (2009+) the earlier models felt more connected to the road while the newer ones ride a bit smoother. Oh and the supercharger whine can be quite addicting especially with a pulley reduction

 

Hmmmm......Now you have me really thinking about it!

I found a VERY lightly used one with a JCW kit installed. The thing I don't like is the color (it is black). Reason being - both my current BMWs are black. They look GREAT all clean and shiny. My road is 1 mile of dirt which I use every day back and forth. So that shiny black turns dirty VERY fast!

I need a silver or tan color for best results I think. Even white would be better than the black!

 

You are correct - the R57 came out in March 2009. Until then the convertibles were based on first gen platform with the supercharger. The R57 turbo torque comes in at lower RPM and the engine has more low end grunt (opposite what you'd think with a supercharger vs. turbo). Generally speaking the later the year model the better the track record/reliability. That supercharger sound is cool, though.