-Beecher

-Beecher

The bumper inserts cannot be offered since the design was changed for ’05.

Colors are always added and deleted… it’s the way of the automotive world and especially BMW.

Finally MINI has done an extraordinary job of keeping prices low despite the extremely weak dollar vs the UK Pound and the Euro. If you want evidence of that just take a look at the starting price for a Cooper S in the UK.”

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Gabe, I do understand that MINI changed the design of the bumper which according to MINI did not allow the use of bumper inserts. My questions is why change the desgin? Here in the SF Bay Area I would say 75% of the pre 2005 MINI’s purchased, people choose either the Chrome or black bumper inserts.

Next, I mentioned color elimination because so many people have posted here that they didn’t like the elimination of certain color choices. For me what I don’t care for is that MINI kept certain colors for the MCS only. MINI should offer all colors for either the MC or MCS regardless.

On price, yes the US Dollar is doing very poor against the Pound and only slightly better against the Euro, but MINI own promos in 03,04,& 05 is that its an very affordable car that handles great and doesn’t guzzle gas. If they keep raising prices of options or special packages they will limit or eliminate a sizable group of potential buyers. And while I enjoy the MINI, a base MINI without options would not be enjoyable.

Finally on another note from a previous post, As I’ve written before, “It’s about choices”. In the May issue of the UK magazine “GoMINI” the editor and some lucky readers got to visit the MINI factory.

Here is what she wrote: “What struck me the most about the visit was just how varied all the cars coming along the line were.” “Mini prides itself on the huge range of options available and on the fact that no two cars have to be the same.”

If this is true why does MINIUSA limit options or eliminate options in the US (ie. steering wheel, rims, etc)and give the rest of the world those options?

I know I harp on the Rims and Steering wheel but it’s kind of a sore spot for me. As she said “no two cars have to be the same”, that’s all I ask: Choices.

Gabe, Thanks for having such a great site. I enjoy it loads better then MINI2.com.

Your site is very clean, organized and structured. The others are so jumbled.

I enjoy this site alot.

In other words, the 2005 models with the two separate stripes are gone, and the only bonnet stripe option is the single “u-shaped” stripe?

No. MINI will offer both stripes.

geesh, that’s a bit harsh–I’m anxiously awaiting that info too, but let’s be realistic…I’ll bet Gabe is doing something stupid, like driving, getting groceries, working, spending time with his family, you know, frivolous things like that…

Hey thanks for getting my back cct1 :) Yes I had this nasty thing to take care of today called my day job ;-) You may notice there’s rarely a post from 8:30 am CST until late in the evening. This is what I like to call my life ;-) Believe it or not I really don’t devote that much time to this site other than to scan comments every so often (thankfully I’m not the only one doing that) and blast out a story now and again. Actually 90% of stories (or leads) on MF come from readers or other contributors. It just so happens that I had (and still have) several significant stories I had planned on releasing this week and I frankly couldn’t get to them all at once due to my schedule. So yes I had planned on getting that color story done today but just ran out of time lastnight.

But no worries… I know what it’s like to be anxious about info like this… ;-)

Interesting. Either way, this is my year for a mini! :)

Gabe, thanks for keeping us all in the loop on these things! James…

Motoringfile consistently has the latest Mini news first–I doubt you’ll see it anywhere else sooner; be patient, if not today, I’m sure it’ll be posted soon.

Well, where is it?

YES!!! I love the holeys and was hoping to get a set before they got rid of them and the price of them would increase a bit. This gives me some time to gather some holeys =)

Bang goes that then.

I’ll have more color info tomorrow.

Gabe – Do you know if the silver roof/mirror caps will be available with any color or only in these packages?

Also, “For instance the new 15″ wheels found on the Seven will be available as an option for the US.” Leaves me wondering what will be the standard 15″ rims since the holey wheels are supposedly ending. Will that be cleared up “in coming days?”

I just wish the options were available seperately, rather than as a package. I’d like to do Space Blue with a white roof, without those checker graphics, on the side, or those bonnet stripes, which just don’t do it for me…. Astro Black (Now that Jet black is gone) with a silver roof would be nice too, but I doubt we’ll see the silver roof on the “old” colors. Here’s to wishful thinking!

Please keep in mind that this is a special options package. That means that it can be ordered with any color and any other options available with the MINI. On the other hand Space Blue is like any other color and can be ordered with any options. In fact SB specifically can be ordered on any car and will be available across the range.

Also every photo of the new Recarro seats makes me hate them more and more. They look awfull!!! I think the US should count themselves lucky not to be lumbered with them!

Can’t wait for the 2006 options.