A friend of mine is picking up his Cooper tomorrow after the agony of debating, ordering, and waiting. Thinking about his process has got me relfecting on my own… If I could go back and reorder my car what would I change? What am I very happy with? And what might I drop? Of course this doesn't include any aftermarket mods that you might have done – I'm talking about straight from the factory.
Actually I managed to snag on of the pre-spec Coopers that was speced & built before the dealer system was launched. But that being said I ended with pretty much getting my dream car. So while it wasn't truly ordered to my spec it could be considered what I would have gotten if given the chance.
Things I wish I had:
- Sports Suspension Plus – I never would have imagined it made a difference, but it does)
- Cold Weather Package – this wasn't available when we got our car but to me it would have been worth it for the heated mirrors alone. There were countless times this past winter they were useless from to being iced over
Things I wish I didn't have or could do without:
- While I enjoy my multi-function computer, if I had to make a cut that would be it
Things I'm really happy I got:
- Xenon lights – you really can't spend enough money on lights when it gets dark at 4pm during the winter months.
- Sport Seats (with the Sport Package) – from my experience if you want an MC and don't want to slide around during heavy cornering either get the Sport Seats or wear some cords!
- A white top!
- Chrome Line – this car has taken my love for well designed chrome accents to a new level
- Heated seats – guys, if you have a special someone in your life they're highly recommended.
- That Blessed Sunroof! (with the Premium Package) – even if it means I have to battle the occasional squeak on a cold morning I absolutely love how it turns the cabin into a very bright and airy enviroment.
I get asked this sort of question all the time so I thought a post like this might help someone out there on the fence about some options. Feel free to add feedback disagreeing or ageeing with anything I said. One of the great things about MINI owners is that we all seem to have opinions and we're not afraid to share them 🙂
<p>The only options on my MC were Sunroof, Sport Suspension Plus, and DSC. If I had tried heated seats (and if it was cold when I tried it) I probably would have gone for them..</p>
<p>Well chosen options I must say.</p>
<p>I regret of not getting the Sunroof & DSC.
Gabe,I am curious on the
Sports Suspension Plus–can you share your experience on the ride difference.Thanks.</p>
<p>The easiest way to explain is: In the standard Cooper there is a small amount of body roll in tight cornering that further shifts the weight of the car and gives you slightly less stability. With the Sports Plus there is pretty much no decernable body roll. It's not a huge difference but for those who enjoy pushing their MINI in turns it's a must IMHO. If I were to get another Cooper it would definately be on the option list.</p>
<p>Thanks Gabe.
Now I understand–when I swing the car on tight corner I feel the car weight shifting.I guess I must add it to my “regret” list.</p>
<p>My only regret is that while I have an MCS, financially I should have gotten an MC or just plain waited. While I love all the options I have (MCS with everything except leather, back-up assistance and nav) and would have enjoyed having leather, the monthly payment really hurts. That's my only regret in truth.</p>
<p>I took a pre-spec that had leather, heated seats, etc; things that I would probably would not have ordered…but having them now I know I would have regretted it if I had not gotten them!
I do wish I had the foglights, and maybe heated mirrors too. Sport seats were not an option with the leather, they would be nice too.</p>
<p>I really wish that I put my foot down when my wife insisted that we get a CVT! Except for the grief of my friends give me about being “shiftless”, the CVT is fun in it's own way, once I played with the sport mode! In a autocross, most folks might be quicker with the CVT!</p>
<p>My car is probably one of the only CVT's with a Sport Suspension Plus. </p>
<p>I love the tight handling on the SS+ and am very glad that I have that option. People are amazed at the handling of this car.</p>
<p>When the paddle shifter are available for the CVT models, I will have them retrofitted to mine and will actually quit pouting about my wife railroading me into getting an automatic!</p>
<p>I wish I got xenon. I rode in a MINI with it and was quite amazed. </p>
<p>The sport seats are the best seats I have ever had in a car. If my next car is not a MINI, I'm taking the seats with me. </p>
<p>The H/K stereo is the best factory system I have ever had in a car too. But, with the way the MINI drives, who pays attention to music?</p>
<p>We have a 2002 MINI Cooper CVT. We ordered at the end of June 2002 and Took delivery in early September. The carhas 6,600+ troublefree miles.</p>
<p>Our Cooper only has 2 options:</p>
<p>1) CVT transmission (Excellent transmission choice)</p>
<p>2) MFSW</p>
<p>That's it. the rest is bone to the core stock Cooper, but this car even in “Plain Jane” form is nothing short of fantastic. This car still looks expensive to the eye (Many people think I paid upwards $30K for it) and we are thrilled by the solid Pepper White finish with the contrasting black top.</p>
<p>The MINI is a car best enjoyed in near bone stock form. The true charm of the MINI does not lie in its expensive add ons and options.</p>
<p>Only item we wish we had gotten were the sport seats, a $240 standalone option, but we didn't pay attention to this at time of ordering. Still the standard Panther Black leatherette seats offer excellent support in city driving but can be a bit tiresome in 5 to 6 hour roadtrips.</p>
<p>As far as my '04 MCS is concerned, I have ordered the car as follows:</p>
<ul>
<li>Harmon Kardon stereo</li>
<li>Automatic wipers</li>
<li>Fog lights</li>
<li>Self dimming rearview mirror</li>
<li>Trip Computer</li>
<li>ASC</li>
<li>16″ Silver V-spoke wheels</li>
<li>Magnesium door panels with alloy patina trim.</li>
<li>MFSW</li>
<li>Sport pedals and steering wheel (Stock)
*Manual A/C</li>
</ul>
<p>That's it. However, lately I have been debating whether to upgrade to the full fledged “Premium Package” and add the panoramic sunroof and the auto A/C. Should I bother with these 2 options? I live in hot Florida and the lack of a true solid sunshade kinda bothers me. My car is still scheduled for an October delivery, so I still have plenty of time to decide before the order is submitted to Oxford by the middle of the summer.</p>
<p>Taughts?</p>
<p>There are strong opinions either way, but I think that the sunroof is really great in this car.. it makes the inside feel much larger, and I enjoy it open for speeds under 50. Can't comment on heat since I got my car last August, and have a garage at home and covered parking at work. Cooperflags now has perforated Union Jack and Old Glory flags that are a direct fit over the sunroof.. This should cut down some heat..</p>
<p>While Chicago is certainly not Florida when it comes to summer heat we do fairly warm up here in July and August. And certainly there have been times where it's in the 90's all week and 90%+ humdity. During those times I've never once felt the interior was too hot due to the sunroof. It would seem to be that the standard shades have been adequate to keep the interior fairly comfortable. In general you really can't overestimate how nice that sunroof is – I'd certainly recommend it. BTW sorry about not being able to format in posts. Hopefully we can get that taken care of soon.</p>
<p>We got our CVT '02 Cooper last June, a pre-specced car, and have 22,000 miles on her. I'm tall, so the sunroof is real plus! – even closed it makes the cabin feel larger and I like the feeling of open-ness. I drove the Sport suspension, and would have ordered it, but my wife is with me most of the time, and the stiffer ride would have killed her back. We love our car.</p>
<p>My son, however, saved up for a year and a half so he could make the down on a fully loaded 'S'. It's got everything but the mirror thingy, and it goes like stink! On the very, very, very, few occaisons he lets me drive it, I enjoy driving a stick and get the most outta the Sport Suspension. BTW, He refused to even test drive a MINI, including mine, before he picked up his 'S', so he could have that first drive in HIS MINI!</p>
<pre><code> BCNU,
Rob in Dago
</code></pre>
<p>My MINI dropped in my lap after two others backed out.
I wasn't going to get Nav and Leather but I'm glad this one came with it. I really thought I wanted red with the white top (to match my 70' Toyota Land Cruiser) but the one that came available had the black roof. Now I'm really glad I got the black and can't imagine having anything else.</p>
<p>This may be the most asked question in Mini-dom, but MC or MCS? We're thinking about getting one, but the choice is between getting a loaded MC or getting a spare MCS. I can't deny I like speed, but I also don't want to spend more money for speed I will use occasionally. Test Drives haven't answered the question for me…</p>
<p>By the way Gabe – Great site. Keep it up.</p>