MINIUSA has launched the 2006 model year edition of it’s always popular online configurator today. The updated edition features all the new 2006 options and colors that have been on MotoringFile for a few months, but in that familiar Flash interface. Kudos to MINIUSA and the creative team behind MINIUSA.com for getting this out earlier than last year. Now, have at it:
[ 2006 Cooper ] [ 2006 Cooper S ]
<p>WOW! I like the Solar Red!</p>
<p>But whats with no black or white roof for it?</p>
<p>I’d just like to say Mini really messed up on the color selection on the Cooper S, it ‘s very dull and dark.</p>
<p>Where is the order button!! $36,900 that is not to much is it :-)</p>
<p>Whoao! space blue looks great!!!!!!!!! wish it came with a black top. but hey, silver looks nice too.</p>
<p>Well, that’s just great. There goes the rest of <em>my</em> day… :-)</p>
<p>Website has a bug, can’t select the Works package without the Checkmate Package.</p>
<p>You have to select either the checkmate or the sports package to select the JCW package.</p>
<p>At the cheapest this is 28.5K car. This is more than I was wanting to spend. Once you option the thing your at 30K or higher.</p>
<p>I guess I’ll have to settle for the 2001 BMW M Coupe I’ll be picking up on Monday! It only has 8k orig. miles and is far faster for the same money.</p>
<p>Mini made this car to expensive for me. For the money there are better and faster new cars and used cars to choose from.</p>
<p>All I have to say about the colors is…</p>
<p>The colors never look the same on the site. I had never seen the Cool Blue in person before I ordered my Cabrio. And it’s much more purple in person then the blue on the site. Just my 2 cents…</p>
<p>I really wish you could get the orange on the non convertible S!!</p>
<p>great. I guess I won’t be getting any work done today….</p>
<p>I would have really liked to see the English Leather on the MCSc. Overall, my impression is that the color selection for the MCS are too dark. I’ll probably stick with my ’03 MCS and just tune the heck out of it.</p>
<p>hrm… 31k as configured. an expensive MINI but i think i can handle it.</p>
<p>What!!! No white roof for the space blue!! Looks like BRG then. I’m P!ssed. I was looking at a 06</p>
<p>new colors don’t look like photos or that stuff on the web. They never caught even the flat colors on their site. nature of the beast the light this world gives us, the pigments they choose use.</p>
<p>[quote] I had never seen the Cool Blue in person before I ordered my Cabrio. And it’s much more purple in person then the blue on the site. Just my 2 cents…[/quote]</p>
<p>I think you might be confusing Cool Blue with Purple Haze. Cool Blue is a very light blue…no trace of purple. Purple Haze is more like blueberry…a very very deep blue.</p>
<p>Whered the horseshoes go? (Not the web spoke.)</p>
<p>[quote]I think you might be confusing Cool Blue with Purple Haze. Cool Blue is a very light blue…no trace of purple. Purple Haze is more like blueberry…a very very deep blue.[/quote]</p>
<p>Not saying the Cool Blue is purple but it’s more periwinkle then light blue. I own the Cool Blue and it’s got more of a purple tone to it, then what it shows on the site.</p>
<p>I want to see Royal Grey in person before I pass judgement. But on the configurator it looks awful. Didn’t brown go away in the 70s?</p>
<p>They are really taking the fun out of the MCS. Why do they need three shades of grey and three shades of blue??????</p>
<p>The only fun color left is Chili Red. They must have got a good deal on left over paints from Volvo!</p>
<p>Those checkers on the fenders of the Checkmate package or awful too.</p>
<p>It seems the auto climate control becoming part of premium package. Also, the manufacturer includes more items in the convenient package as well.</p>
<p>Whoa…$39k for a Convertible with vinyl seats!?! OK, so it would have JCW, but still…that’s a LOT of money. Heck, I can’t get a coupe with JCW for under $33k, unless I give up stuff I need. I have to say, these are fantastic cars, but they need to improve the quality substantially before they charge $30k for them…(an improvement in service quality would be nice, too…my dealer damaged my car AGAIN this last trip, that’s the 4th time!).
I also wish I could get the Space Blue on the ‘vert…with a dark blue roof, that would be SWEET!
Os.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>It seems the auto climate control becoming part of premium package. Also, the manufacturer includes more items in the convenient package as well.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Actually nothing has changed in either package.</p>
<p>Like the fact that you can configure the MC with sport seats and/or sport suspension plus as stand-alone items.
Here in Canada if you want the SSP you have to order the sport package also for a sum of $2300CAN, and I don’t care for the run-flats or the heavy 16″ 5-spokes.
Also looks like the JCW Sound Kit for the Cooper is available @ $1100US, that’s not too bad – on the MINI.CA site it’s listed as “coming soon”.</p>
<p>I agree, these are getting a little expensive for MINIs.</p>
<p>I configured mine, which I haven’t done in a while…$37,500. Ouch. That should help me stay immune to the order a newer mini disease. :)</p>
<p>Yaay!! I wanted an new 06′ Jet Black Mini Cooper S. But it looks like, even though jet black has been discontinued, they are now offering AstroBlack on the S. Has anyone seen AstroBlack in person?? Looks pretty nice.</p>
<p>No, the Works won’t let you select Sports package, only the Checkmate. If you deselect Checkmate, it removes the Works package too.</p>
<p>I knew the color range was muted, but seeing all those bland colors in a row really drives that point home.</p>
<p>I wonder if anyone from MINIUSA looked at all of them together before now?</p>
<p>I don’t see R81 holeys under the wheels option – step 5 – Once they were reported NLA, then available – does this confirm the first report?</p>
<p>I have a 2005 S convertible in the o so trendy hot orange, and the color on the configurator is far more muted that how it looks in real life – I’d expect all the new colors are like that..</p>
<p>I’ve had NO problem configuring a Cooper S with JCW and Sport Pack. </p>
<p>Checkmate not a problem either.</p>
<p>7-Hole wheels are the first wheel in step THREE.</p>
<p>The configurator still seems to say it’s for an ’05. Is that an oversight or has it not really be updated yet? This is as of 2:30pm CDT today….</p>
<p>I preordered an ’06 (build-date not yet set) and I’ve been waiting for the online configurator to see what changed between my ’05 configuration which was ordered as an ’06 model, and what the ’06 configurator has.</p>
<p>I assume you can still get the JCW upgrade done by the dealership – so the complaints of being forced to have the sports package are not really valid.</p>
<p>Stop complaining. Sounds like a nursery in this place with all these babies crying about how cheap they are.</p>
<p>I was able to configure a $46,000 car!</p>
<p>best idea bmw can do</p>
<p>bring back the austin mini</p>
<p>put that on the configurmeter</p>
<p>have austin mini 850</p>
<p>austin mini 1000</p>
<p>and the mother of all austins
the austin mini 1275 john cooper</p>
<p>no cooper works
just john cooper</p>
<p>the way it was
the way it should be</p>
<p>Bluetooth?</p>
<p>I was hoping to see a bluetooth kit that actually used the steering wheel buttons, but still no. And the bluetooth kit in the configurator is mutually exclusive with the ipod kit. I know the ipod kit uses the CD changer interface, but why does the bluetooth kit? </p>
<p>So close to perfect…. and perfect is turning out to be expensive.</p>
<p>the colors are as dismall as london weather and don’t get me started about the number of redsm greys and blues. i don’t care about the two-spoke steering wheel or that i can’t get a parcel shelf here in the US but i don’t understand why they want to take all the personality out of the ‘S’? this is not a freakin’ cadillac… come on people. i’m putting my 06 order on indefinite hold. HELLO, MINI USA!</p>
<p>I don’t understand the price complaints. The only car they raised the base price on is the “S” and that was only by $200!! Also the only option price changes are $50 on the premium and sport and $30 on metallic paint.</p>
<p>Those changes are nothing considering the exchange rate.</p>
<p>Don’t forget adding a charge for a painted dash… $200 I think?</p>
<p>How come the English Panther Black leather looks different from MINI.com and the MINIusa.com? Like the stitching looks totally different.</p>
<p>“I’ve had NO problem configuring a Cooper S with JCW and Sport Pack.”</p>
<p>Really? I can’t – if I select the Works package, it says “selection of this item requires adding the following:</p>
<p>Checkmate package</p>
<p>If I add Sport Package, then JCW, it removes the sport package.</p>
<p>Sure you don’t mean the JCW accessory?</p>
<p>I’m a little disappointed the Checkmate is all or nothing, I wanted the leather and cloth but not the decals and wheels.</p>
<p>Is there a difference between ‘steptronic’ and agitronic for the automatic tranny ? I have an ’05 MCSa in production now (yea, I know)…starting to wonder if agitronic is cooler than steptronic [because if it is, I’m changing my order! 😉 ]</p>
<p>Any thoughts??</p>
<p>Still disappointed that they dropped Liquid Yellow from the MCS lineup… Not sure I understand why…</p>
<p>Not a complaint here just a surprise….they removed the black roof/mirror options for quite a few colors including the color I have, Purple Haze. PH with black looks super fine and they removed it. Weird.</p>
<p>Space blue on the site really bites… That’s not blue, it’s teal!</p>
<p>Might have to go all black.. Although on the site, I sort of dig the royal grey.. errrr……..</p>
<p>Fact of the matter is, you really need to see the colors in person. Pictures, 1-inch swatches, etc., really don’t show it.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Space blue on the site really bites… That’s not blue, it’s teal!</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Yes the Space Blue is way off on the MINIUSA configurator – We’ve got a couple of real life SB pics on MF… just use the search feature at the top of the page.</p>
<p>Well I put it together and came up with a price of 38,000 man that is alot of money, granted it is decked out JCW etc. I think I will hold off until I can see the new colors up close and personal</p>
<p>I was thinking the RG with silver top but do not the way it looks on the site, DS with silver top is another choice I was thinking about</p>
<p>Jack</p>
<p>I wonder how the color choices for the MCS were selected. I find them dull and disappointing. Were Electric Blue and Liquid Yellow really that unpopular? It’s not as if dealers in the East have had the slightest trouble selling every one they got. I can’t think of any other manufacturer who now has a weaker set of available colors than Mini. How could this happen?</p>
<p>odd that the new color choices don’t really have black roof option. I honestly think the black roofs look best. </p>
<p>the cooper i configured came out to only: 19,019. cheaper than the one I currently have. Reason: took out the CVT. Why: it’s limiting.</p>
<p>I don’t recall hearing about how pepper white would be available on the convertible- cool!</p>
<p>did anyone else notice that the english leather sport seats on the configurator, do not look like the parklane seats?</p>
<blockquote>
<p>I don’t recall hearing about how pepper white would be available on the convertible- cool!</p>
</blockquote>
<p>[ <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.motoringfile.com/2005/07/15/2006_us_market_color_availability">2006 US Market Color Availability</a> ] MotoringFile</p>
<blockquote>
<p>did anyone else notice that the english leather sport seats on the configurator, do not look like the parklane seats?</p>
</blockquote>
<p>[ <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.motoringfile.com/2005/07/13/the_us_checkmate_specials_options_package">Parklane Seats Offered in the US as ‘English Leather’</a> ] MotoringFile</p>
<p>(last parapragh)</p>
<p>…does anyone know anything about the Black Piano Dash??? It looks like it changes the door inserts and some other stuff when selected even though it is only noted as a dash option…</p>
<p>“…does anyone know anything about the Black Piano Dash??? It looks like it changes the door inserts and some other stuff when selected even though it is only noted as a dash option…”</p>
<p>I am sure it does change the door inserts…All the other dash options also change the door inserts.</p>
<p>It’s kinda cheeky to only offer two free colors, Chili Red and Pepper White. It’s almost like charging extra for paint. Why not add $450 to the base price and include any color paint? </p>
<p>Offering two standard colors is a bit of a joke.</p>
<p>So excited to configure my mini as I ordered it (est. build date, January 06).</p>
<p>Of course, besides the auto, there’s nothing on the car that couldn’t have been ordered from year 1 I beleive.
(Chili red, white roof, wheels, stripes, Blark leather/red cloth, red dash,doors).</p>
<p>agitronic and steptronic in the mcsa are the same thing.</p>
<ul>
<li>drew</li>
</ul>
<p>checkmate package only offers Space Blue Dash, wheal and seats??
I want a Solar Red MC, but not sure if the Red exterior would go with the blue interior. Anybody knows?</p>
<p>They should not have dropped Electric Blue AND Liquid Yellow at the same time … nor go without replacing them in some fashion.</p>
<p>It’s now the “dark days” of MINI imho =(</p>
<p>Maybe Mini is hoping to appeal to Funeral Directors. The colors are appropriate for use as a hearse.</p>
<p>Hmm… The dream may be over.</p>
<p>Funky color limitations… Lovly Piano dash & “English Leather” seats. But the seats belong with a proper 2-spoke.
[I’m being daft. The 3-spoke isn’t so bad,- I just sincerely prefer the 2-spoke. ;D] </p>
<p>Sticky-decals & lucky horseshoes don’t cut it. A facade to gently mask the dying light of our early angels. A factory JCW would be superb though! [I am full of contradictions.]</p>
<p>I’ll likely hold out for an 07/08. Maybe I’ll hop into fine convertible fun until the next gen arrives.</p>
<p>Gabe,</p>
<p>Are the “English Leather” seats being offered in the U.S. different than the ones shown on MotoringFile? The little you can see on MINIusa look like the regular Leather with only the end “rolled” which is not even close to the ones on MotorlingFile.</p>
<p>The ones on the MINIusa site appear to be totally different. I was going to order these but not if the pattern has been changed. Can you please check the powers-that-be and see which version of the “English Leather” seats are coming to the USA?</p>
<p>Jesus christ people. At least the company lets you order your car the way you want it. And you still bitch about it. </p>
<p>“A facade to gently mask the dying light of our early angels” give it a rest. Car designs change and evolve throughout the models lifetime. It’s a fact. </p>
<p>Sometimes you need to step back a bit to get a different perspective of what’s going on. </p>
<p>Car companies are in the business of making them money. Not making their “enthusiasts,” which make up a very very small majority of the buying public, happy.</p>
<p>I just noticed the Piano Black Dash. Looks cool. It have silver and red circles on it. Anyone know what the whole thing looks like? Any pictures that are better then on the conf. site.</p>
<p>Excellent question, Floyd. I was thinking and wondering the same. Gabe, do you have any additional information on the styling of the Park Lane/English Leather seats being offered in the USA?</p>
<p>The Sports Package on Cooper S does not allow for the new silver Bonnet Stripes. The available options are White, Black or None. Even if you select the Silver Roof and Silver stripes in “Details” under Step 1, and then select the Sport Package – the stripes will be removed. </p>
<p>Is this a bug on the site?</p>
<p>I lost interest in the English Leather when I found out it’s the same leather as Panther, just a different design. $1700 for the mediocre Panther leather is ridiculous.</p>
<p>I could be wrong but the seat sensors may have struck again. It looks like MINI may have had to modify the shape of the base of the park lane seat to accommodate the occupancy sensors. This would seem to result in a flat portion on the base of the seat toward the back. But I’ll wait to see the seat in person before passing judgment.</p>
<p>Royal Grey with the Silver roof and mirrors and silver swoop bonnet stripe looks so hot! I don’t think I have ever configured a mini that topped my pepper white w/ black roof, but damn!</p>
<p>To everyone who thinks the royal grey looks brown: I’m guessing in real life that this will look like a very faded dark grey, almost dark pewter like. It’s going to be beautiful.</p>
<p>I have to say it does seem like the English Leathers are simply a different pattern on the usual seats. Not an actual different seat.</p>
<p>Back to Space Gray cloth for me.</p>
<p>The English Leather on the MINIUSA website isn’t the same as the photo I saw from an internal MINIUSA document. I wouldn’t judge what you see currently on MINIUSA as the actual seats.</p>
<p>Thanks Gabe.</p>
<p>Hmm. . . I wonder how long until one will wander in to a local dealer. Local being 2 hours out. . .</p>
<p>I mean the photos you’ve posted certainly make them tempting since they look to have comparable bolstering to the sport but with that vintage feel.</p>
<p>Tough to narrow down what I want. Space cloth makes more sense for auto-x/HPDE but with a Schroth. . . who cares. . .</p>
<p>It’s nice to have these sorts of things to worry about.</p>