R57 Advice on purchasing a MCS Convertable
5th Gear
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 651
Likes: 9
From: Chicago
First and foremost, buy a 6 speed manual. Your wife can learn to drive it. Mine did. Much more fun than any automatic.
Also, buy the S. The significant extra performance never goes out of style!
Mini options are expensive, so be careful and consider lots of combinations. The build your own feature on Mini USA's site is your friend. Also, make a point of touring dealer lots to check out various options "as installed".
My "must have" most bang for the buck list is: stripes, non-metallic paint (no extra cost), carbon black seats (no extra cost and look good), xenon lights, limited slip, auto air, arm rest, multi-function steering wheel, and upgraded stereo.
The JCW steering wheel and JCW shifter are worth a hard look. You use them all the time, and they're much nicer to touch and use than stock stuff. Pricey, but worth it.
Also, buy the S. The significant extra performance never goes out of style!
Mini options are expensive, so be careful and consider lots of combinations. The build your own feature on Mini USA's site is your friend. Also, make a point of touring dealer lots to check out various options "as installed".
My "must have" most bang for the buck list is: stripes, non-metallic paint (no extra cost), carbon black seats (no extra cost and look good), xenon lights, limited slip, auto air, arm rest, multi-function steering wheel, and upgraded stereo.
The JCW steering wheel and JCW shifter are worth a hard look. You use them all the time, and they're much nicer to touch and use than stock stuff. Pricey, but worth it.
4th Gear
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 353
Likes: 0
From: Central VA
My "must have" most bang for the buck list is: stripes, non-metallic paint (no extra cost), carbon black seats (no extra cost and look good), xenon lights, limited slip, auto air, arm rest, multi-function steering wheel, and upgraded stereo.
6th Gear
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,963
Likes: 392
From: In the here and now, for now.
...and in the summer, just hit the seat forward lever to keep the sun off of them. They get really heated after just a few minutes.
Thread Starter
|
Neutral
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
So I went to the dealership this weekend and test drove a MINI. The place was crazy busy, and a bunch of trafic was around, so not a lot to report. I did like the car a great deal. Wish I could have gotten it up to freeway speeds (when we did get on the freeway, it was 40mph due to traffic.
The dealership is very close to the Mall of America, and the had "The Biggest Loser" tryouts, a major event for Pokemon, and a Tibetan new years thing going on at the mall. A few extra hundred thousand in the area didn't help.
Anyway, I liked the car. I am going to call this week, and find about about taking the next step. We are for sure going to need to order one, so it will be a few months before I own one
Good to wait that long anyway, we are about 80% sure we are moving to New Hampshire in the next month or two, and I definitely want to wait until I live there before I buy, if indeed we move.
The dealership is very close to the Mall of America, and the had "The Biggest Loser" tryouts, a major event for Pokemon, and a Tibetan new years thing going on at the mall. A few extra hundred thousand in the area didn't help.
Anyway, I liked the car. I am going to call this week, and find about about taking the next step. We are for sure going to need to order one, so it will be a few months before I own one
Good to wait that long anyway, we are about 80% sure we are moving to New Hampshire in the next month or two, and I definitely want to wait until I live there before I buy, if indeed we move.
3rd Gear
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 158
Likes: 0
From: Southern NH
FWIW, MINI of Bedford NH should be opening this summer.
2nd Gear
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
[QUOTE=
You forgot one REALLY important "must have" ... heated seats!! If you're going to enjoy the top down all year, these are a must!!
[/QUOTE]
An absolute must! You will drive with the top down (while being VERY comfy) 50% more!
Also, I have a different opinion on black seats. Unless you like to "grill" your butt when the car is parked in the sun, avoid at all costs!
You forgot one REALLY important "must have" ... heated seats!! If you're going to enjoy the top down all year, these are a must!!
[/QUOTE] An absolute must! You will drive with the top down (while being VERY comfy) 50% more!Also, I have a different opinion on black seats. Unless you like to "grill" your butt when the car is parked in the sun, avoid at all costs!
4th Gear
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 353
Likes: 0
From: Central VA
One other thing that's not quite a "must have" but is surely a "really want" is a wind deflector. Sure, it means you can't have anyone sit in the back seats, but it keeps everything from blowing around and makes the ride significantly quieter.
Hello all!
This is my first post, and I am writing with hopes of learning some tips from the great people of this site
I am looking to buy new, with an automatic (needed so my wife can drive it as well). I would like to know what the best "cost/benefit" options are for performance and ride.
I used to have a 2001 Porsche 911 convertible, that I bought used in 2006. In 2008 its 60,000 mile service was up, and it had a few mechanical issues. The bill was going to be $12,000, so I traded it in to the dealer. That kind of money is outside of my budget.
Needless to say, I loved the car. What I am looking for, is as close to that experience driving as I can get. The Mini's seem to be that. Any recommendations for options that truly add to the driving experience, and are not just marketing hype would be well appreciated.
I am also looking for a car that doesn't get me the looks the Porsche did. Before the Porsche, I drove a Toyota MR2 Spyder. It looked affordable enough that people would come up to me in parking lots to talk about the car. In the Porsche, everyone seemed to think I was a jerk. I think the Mini would better fit my personality, then say, a used M3 convertible. I think the M3 would still put me in the "you must be a jerk" category. How often does your MINI turn into a conversation piece?
So, to sum up. What options should I get to best improve the driving excitement, and what should I avoid as an expense with little return? And, do you often find people looking at you and smiling, or looking and you and smirking? (I asume it's smiling, I would just like to hear personal accounts!)
Take care, and thanks in advance!
This is my first post, and I am writing with hopes of learning some tips from the great people of this site
I am looking to buy new, with an automatic (needed so my wife can drive it as well). I would like to know what the best "cost/benefit" options are for performance and ride.
I used to have a 2001 Porsche 911 convertible, that I bought used in 2006. In 2008 its 60,000 mile service was up, and it had a few mechanical issues. The bill was going to be $12,000, so I traded it in to the dealer. That kind of money is outside of my budget.
Needless to say, I loved the car. What I am looking for, is as close to that experience driving as I can get. The Mini's seem to be that. Any recommendations for options that truly add to the driving experience, and are not just marketing hype would be well appreciated.
I am also looking for a car that doesn't get me the looks the Porsche did. Before the Porsche, I drove a Toyota MR2 Spyder. It looked affordable enough that people would come up to me in parking lots to talk about the car. In the Porsche, everyone seemed to think I was a jerk. I think the Mini would better fit my personality, then say, a used M3 convertible. I think the M3 would still put me in the "you must be a jerk" category. How often does your MINI turn into a conversation piece?
So, to sum up. What options should I get to best improve the driving excitement, and what should I avoid as an expense with little return? And, do you often find people looking at you and smiling, or looking and you and smirking? (I asume it's smiling, I would just like to hear personal accounts!
)Take care, and thanks in advance!
From the limited time I've gotten to drive behind the wheel of an MSC Convertible, I'd say the wind-deflector is a huge benefit. It does a lot to keep the wind-noise to a lower decible. But overall, I'd suggest heated seats, xenons and the harmon-kardon stereo at the least.
Best of luck and hope you get your car soon!
6th Gear
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,212
Likes: 0
From: Cherry Log, Georgia USA
If this is going to be your wife's daily driver, then I wouldn't waste the funds on the JCW. I had an '06 MCS that I took to the track. I could only manage about once a year, so never really became a track rat or came close to maxing out the potential in El Kabong. When he was totaled and I had to get an '11 I almost went with a JCW but decided since I never went all out with my '06 I would surely not need even more power on the '11.
I would absolutely urge your wife to learn to drive a stick, she will probably be surprised how easy it is and how much more fun she will have.
As to the convertible, make sure she drives one with the top up. I have gotten a cabrio a couple of times as a loaner and I do not love the visibility.
Annette
I would absolutely urge your wife to learn to drive a stick, she will probably be surprised how easy it is and how much more fun she will have.
As to the convertible, make sure she drives one with the top up. I have gotten a cabrio a couple of times as a loaner and I do not love the visibility.
Annette
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
2011cooperSconvertible
R57 :: Cabrio Talk (2009+)
13
Apr 1, 2019 06:03 AM
dyeLucky
MINI Parts for Sale
3
Aug 7, 2015 07:10 AM
