New 2006 Options for the US Market

Ian Jul 18th, 2005 Link

Hooray for the Holeys :)

BBoy Jul 18th, 2005 Link

I wonder if dealers will let you add the new stripe pattern on pre-06 models? The body shape hasn’t changed, so it would seem to be possible…

vaper Jul 18th, 2005 Link

So essentially, the Sept. production MCS will be an ‘05 with the price increase,and without black, yellow and electric blue. Can anyone kindly explain why so many of the options won’t be available in the first month’s production. I can understand that it might take a little more time to gear up for the factory JCW install, but how hard is it to paint a roof silver and/or put on the silver stripes, etc.

lulu Jul 18th, 2005 Link

Gabe, will Space Blue be produced in 9/05? I know Space Red won’t be. That is the only ‘06 option I am interested in (thus far). 9/05 is my build month (dealer said)

Gabe Jul 18th, 2005 Link

I wonder if dealers will let you add the new stripe pattern on pre-06 models? The body shape hasn’t changed, so it would seem to be possible…

Yes.

Gabe, will Space Blue be produced in 9/05? I know Solar Red won’t be.

Space Blue should be available for 9/05 - Solar Red will be available by 10/05.

JFW Jul 18th, 2005 Link

Thanks for the update, Gabe! Do you happen to know if the new silver stripes will be decals like the black and white stripes or whether they will be painted on instead?

05DSMCS Jul 18th, 2005 Link

You don’t get too clear a picture of the 7 dash on the MINI site. Is it really that funky?

mini vanilli Jul 18th, 2005 Link

“So essentially, the Sept. production MCS will be an ‘05 with the price increase,and without black, yellow and electric blue.”

Gabe, was there any any word on a sept price increase? im not sure i heard this yet. any details if and when there will be one.

Tim Jul 18th, 2005 Link

Gabe,

Could you identify the 7 spoke wheels shown on the Dark Silver (or is that Royal Grey)in the third photo down? Size? Weight? U.S. Availability?

Thanks for all your work on this site. It is a tremendous resource for the MINI community. Hope your enjoying your ‘05.

Best Regards,

Tim

Gabe Jul 18th, 2005 Link

Gabe, was there any any word on a sept price increase? im not sure i heard this yet.
any details if and when there will be one.

No price increase has been verified for 2006.

Could you identify the 7 spoke wheels shown on the Dark Silver (or is that Royal Grey)in the third photo down? Size? Weight? U.S. Availability?

16″ Bridge Spokes. Royal Grey.

Steve Jul 18th, 2005 Link

Is the Blue shown in the checkmate photo the new solar blue? I thought the solar blue was a dark blue like the Indi blue?

Alan Jul 18th, 2005 Link

This is speculation, but MINIUSA history has shown price increases on cars delivered in January. So its not necessarily the case that cars produced (and likely delivered in October) in September will have any increased price, just the artifical anyway ‘06 designation that Americans place the most emphasis on.

Of course I could be proved wrong, but its not worth getting all worried about before any news appears.

Jason Jul 18th, 2005 Link

I was curious, I have seen several people post that they have already placed orders for their ‘06 MC, I called my dealer down here in Orlando and they will not accept any orders for ‘06 models until they are released in September. Is this just isolated to my local dealer or is there some special way I can get my order in early? (or am I possibly just misunderstanding the posts)

Brendan Jul 18th, 2005 Link

Gabe, Any word on official pricing of the options/option packages mentioned? I was thinking of ordering the checkmate package, and I wanted to know what the price will be here in the USA.

SpeedyV Jul 18th, 2005 Link

Gabe, I don’t know if you’ve covered this in a prior post, but are the ‘06 silver stripes only available in the new “U-shaped” pattern, or will the current striping pattern be available in silver as well? Thanks for the info!

gadgeTT Jul 18th, 2005 Link

The big unanswered questions for me are:

1. Will the fully-integrated Bluetooth option finally be available in the ‘06 models versus the dealer-installed blob?

2. Will they finally fix the supposed incompatibility of the Navigation system with the satellite radio option?

I’d kinda like to know the answers to the above before my order gets processed…

Ralph Jul 18th, 2005 Link

MINIUSA will continue to not offer the old style two-spoke steering in the US wheel despite some of the special edition press photos we might have seen lately.

I would really like to know why? Why won’t MINIUSA offer the two-spoke steering in the US? If it’s offered everywhere else in the world then why not here? It’s not like they have to make it special for the US.

I would really like to know from MINIUSA why? I know some people didn’t like the placement of the horn buttons but I love it. Great Safety feature. With one’s hands at the 3 and 9 o’clock position there was no need to move the hand(s) away from the wheel to hit the center section (horn) (where the air bag is located.)

All you had to do was slightly move your thumb and touch the horn button. GREAT. I’ve had to do it a few times. But overall I like the 2-spoke steering much more then the 3-spoke. At least they should offer the choice, like it was back in ‘04.

Gabe is there any possible way to find out from MINIUSA why they won’t offer the 2-spoke steering in the US.

Thanks.

Ralph Jul 18th, 2005 Link

Opps sorry about the bold. I dont’ know how that happen. I did not mean to have bold. Sorry.

Seth L Jul 18th, 2005 Link

Jason. I have an order in for an 06 MCSa. I wanted an ‘05 (for Electric Blue), but was told that by the time my car was produced, it would be an 06.

The contract I signed when ordering states that there may be price increases/variable options. I’m not sure if that contract is specific to my dealer, or what.

Wraith Jul 18th, 2005 Link

jason, according to what i was told by classic MINI in cleveland, they cannot take orders until they have the official options list from MINIUSA. i can’t imagine your local dealer refusing orders until september, and if they do, i think you need to start looking at alternative dealerships

CS Font Jul 18th, 2005 Link

While I’m glad the holey wheels aren’t going away, I wish they were available for the S. I just like the friendly “look” of them — maybe I’ve a penchant for roundness (like the round-headlamp Impreza look, or the DB5 look).

vaper Jul 18th, 2005 Link

Gabe:
Is the royal gray metalic or non-metalic?

Kevin Jul 18th, 2005 Link

3 15″ wheel choices for the MC? Sweet! I wonder which ones (if any) will be extra-cost options? I really dig the 5-Star Rockets from the MCC.

brian Jul 19th, 2005 Link

Are those the same 16″ Bridge Spoke wheels (from the European JCW kit) that will be able to clear the JCW Sport Brake calipers? I plan to order the factory install but I want to mount the 16 in. wheels for winter use. If none of the US spec rims smaller than 17″ can fit over the upgraded brakes then I might have to go a different route.

Gabe Jul 19th, 2005 Link

Okay where to start. First off it looks like a few of the questions can be answered by either re-reading the above article or reading one of two others posted last week. So with that said I’ll try to tackle the harder ones:

Are those the same 16″ Bridge Spoke wheels (from the European JCW kit) that will be able to clear the JCW Sport Brake calipers?

A: Yes - those are the one and only Bridge Spoke.

Why won’t MINIUSA offer the two-spoke steering in the US? If it’s offered everywhere else in the world then why not here? It’s not like they have to make it special for the US.

A: Well that’s a pretty good question. In fact it’s so good that I might pull that out and answer it on the front page later this week. It’s really question could pertain to a handful of options that aren’t offered in the US.

Will the fully-integrated Bluetooth option finally be available in the ‘06 models versus the dealer-installed blob?

A: I genuinely hope so!

Will they finally fix the supposed incompatibility of the Navigation system with the satellite radio option?

A: I seriously doubt it. With an entirely new car coming in 12 months I just can’t see MINI doing any further tweaking that would allow this. I hope I’m wrong.

Gabe, I don’t know if you’ve covered this in a prior post, but are the ‘06 silver stripes only available in the new “U-shaped” pattern?

A: Yes.

Gabe, Any word on official pricing of the options/option packages mentioned?

A: US market pricing has not been released (that I know of).

Is the Blue shown in the checkmate photo the new solar blue? I thought the solar blue was a dark blue like the Indi blue?

A: Like Indi blue, it would seem Space Blue changes dramatically based on the lighting environment. At times it can appear almost black yet in bright sun can look much more blue. I would take a look at all SB photos and guess in real life it’ll be somewhere in the middle of all of them.

I wonder if dealers will let you add the new stripe pattern on pre-06 models? The body shape hasn’t changed, so it would seem to be possible…

A: Yes.

Thanks for the update, Gabe! Do you happen to know if the new silver stripes will be decals like the black and white stripes or whether they will be painted on instead?

A: They’re just plain ‘ole stickers.

MINIAC Jul 19th, 2005 Link

Gabe,

How are you including those highlighted snipets from previous posts in your replies?

BTW, isn’t the new blue called SPACE Blue?

gmini Jul 19th, 2005 Link

MINIAC you’re such a perfectionist. :P

Gabe Jul 19th, 2005 Link

How are you including those highlighted snipets from previous posts in your replies?

You can quote in html by wraping content within html blockquote tags. Or you can make use of Mark-down - an easier set of commands for most to understand. For instance in Mark-down all you have to do to quote something is use the greater than symbol “>” before the sentence and then give it a few lines after the quote..

Rollin Jul 19th, 2005 Link

Any German readers know what the 16″ Bridge Spokes weigh since I saw they are part of the German JCW package?

MINIAC Jul 20th, 2005 Link

You can quote in html by wraping content within html blockquote tags.

Thanks Gabe!

SF Jul 20th, 2005 Link

A: Well that’s a pretty good question. In fact it’s so good that I might pull that out and answer it on the front page later this week. It’s really question could pertain to a handful of options that aren’t offered in the US.

I’d like to see them offer the all-black cloth/leather sports seats available in Europe. While you’re at it, please ask what is holding up the USA release of JCW front strut braces for so many months. Someone said it was because printed instructions were not available, but it wasn’t a problem for the UK. On Mini2, they’ve already held a UK group buy event!

Avitor Jul 20th, 2005 Link

It may also be worth mentioning that if you’re looking at the new silver roof option, know that you won’t be able to order traditional black or white stripes from the factory.
What? Seriously? No bonnet stripes from the factory? I’ve got to say I hate the sound of that. I definately don’t want the new stripes if I trade up, they make the S look like it shot milk out of its hood scoop. If I’m trading up I want a car outwardly identical to my ‘05 Hyper Blue with White roof, mirrors, stripes. Are you saying no traditional black & white stripes at all or no black & white stripes w/ silver roof?

blalor Jul 20th, 2005 Link

You can quote in html by wraping content within html blockquote tags. Or you can make use of Markup - an easier set of commands for most to understand.

And by “markup” you presumably mean Markdown? :-)

Avitor Jul 20th, 2005 Link

Yup, that’s witty. I actually used block quote, but I must have misspelled it. Thank you for pointing out to me what a dolt I was.

It may also be worth mentioning that if you’re looking at the new silver roof option, know that you won’t be able to order traditional black or white stripes from the factory.

What? Seriously? No bonnet stripes from the factory? I’ve got to say I hate the sound of that. I definately don’t want the new stripes if I trade up, they make the S look like it shot milk out of its hood scoop. If I’m trading up I want a car outwardly identical to my ‘05 Hyper Blue with White roof/mirrors/stripes. Are you saying no traditional black/white stripes at all or no black/white stripes w/ silver roof?

MINIAC Jul 20th, 2005 Link

[blockquote]
Are you saying no traditional black/white stripes at all or no black/white stripes w/ silver roof?
[/blockquote]
The factory will not fit traditional black or white stripes to a MINI with a Silver roof.

MINIAC Jul 20th, 2005 Link

Oops … mixing vB Code with HTML!

Are you saying no traditional black/white stripes at all or no black/white stripes w/ silver roof?

The factory will not fit traditional black or white stripes to a MINI with a Silver roof.

chuck Jul 20th, 2005 Link

Gabe any major changes in store for the
06 MCSc i have test driven the 05 and loved it,now just waiting on a build date.

Siddhartha Jul 22nd, 2005 Link

I’m pleased to see that the “changes” for the ‘06 model are confined to clothes and jewelry. That means my ‘05 spec incorporates the last engineering upgrades before the new (French) model release in ‘07.

cjupin Aug 2nd, 2005 Link

Hey! Newbie here- long time reader, first time poster (love this site!). I planned on ordering my first MCSC the weekend of August 26 here in atlanta (global imports mini).

With the timeline as it is, does this mean i’ll make the cut-off for the ‘05 production or must I be forced to receive an ‘06 model sometime in january?(!) I didn’t want anything that was only pertaining to the ‘06 models…Anyone have any suggestions/advice on my timing and what to expect? Thanks in advance!