You Build It: The Cheapest MINI You’d Buy
Yesterday we asked the question; how high can you go in building a US spec MINI. Today we’re asking the what is almost the opposite. How little could you put on a MINI from the factory and be happy. Obviously the easy answer for some would be nothing or something aftermarket. But let’s keep it from the factory for arguments sake – the aftermarket question will come next week.
Personally I’m at $24,600 with the MCS above. But we want to hear what the specific option(s) that you can’t live without. How would a bare bones MINI look if you ordered one? What would you option in? What would you leave out? Let’s hear it below.
<p>Skip all the packages….buy better wheels in the aftermarket….vinyl interiors are more durable than the leather or just choose the cloth option at no charge……The base Cooper S is just fine.</p>
<p>I know I am going to sound absolutely insane, but I really have a problem with US spec MINIs not having the rear fog light. Not only because on most coopers (Clubman aside), you are left with random black plastic mesh inserts, but also because you are missing a toggle switch!</p>
<p>That switch is the single, dominant reason I had to actually order my current MCS Convertible and also wait a few months for my Clubman S (should be here any day now). Out of the 100+ little beasts Alexander Imports had on their lot (I felt like a kid in a candy store walking around), I could count on one hand the amount of Clubmans with the rear fog light – people there thought I was insane.</p>
<p>Aside from that little essential item, I am only drawn to chunky 5-spoke alloys meaning the standard Cooper wheels, or Blaster 16s, and Billet or Pace 17s on MCSs. Xenon lights and front fog lights are also essential for the same reasons stated in the beginning and because I am extremely partial to the xenon’s brilliant spread of light over the halogens rather weak beam.</p>
<p>I would find it odd to be in a car with out a sunroof, which nearly constitutes the Premium pack regardless of car (Convertible aside). Bluetooth by law, iPod hookup by essential need, carbon cloth as opposed to the leatherette, and the arm rest should be a standard item.</p>
<p>Couldn’t get the Mini out the door for less than $22,550, but for that money I would at least get a Cooper Clubman, mismatched-Black all over for $24,450.</p>
<p>I’ve always much preferred the drive of a Cooper and I steer away from packages. That said, it’s pretty easy for me to be happy maybe spending maybe $1K – $2K over MSRP. My current Cooper was $21K something. I get the lighter 15″ wheels, prefer cloth seats, an manual, of course. I do add sport seats, maybe a MFSW, maybe some fogs….that’s it.</p>
<p>My Clubman S (’08) was $26.2K last year……</p>
<p>Hot Cocoa paint
Leatherette seats
Gotham Grey Interior
Checkered Dash trim
Manual A/C
Rear Fog lights
16″ BridgeSpoke wheels
Standard stereo
MFSW
AISIN 6 spd autobox
iPod adaptor</p>
<p>That’s it. Less is more…</p>
<p>My 2005 R53 S:</p>
<p>Chili Red/White
Exterior Chrome Pack
Convenience Pack (Homelink, Auto rearview mirror, auto wipers, auto headlights)
Front and rear fog lights
Anthracite Interior
Leatherette seats
6 spd manual
Trip Computer
ASC+T
16″ V-spokes (Since replaced by S-Winders)
Harmon Kardon stereo
MFSW
iPod Adaptor</p>
<p>Total was $22.5K <—-Awesome value</p>
<p>I can live without leather seats, sunroof, NAV, fancy wheels, Xenons, etc, etc.</p>
<p>The cheapest R56 Cooper I could build was:</p>
<p>Chili Red/Chili Red
MFSW</p>
<p>Total $19,450 including $650 destination charge.</p>
<p>My first MINI, a 2002 MC R50 only had 2 options:</p>
<p>CVT
MFSW</p>
<p>MSRP was $18.5K back then. Should work out to $20,700 in 2009 Dollars…</p>
<p>I ordered my 2008 Clubman S with a LSD, but if I had to do it over again I think I would skip it. Mine came in at $26,700 but I could have saved $500 by skipping the LSD. The car comes standard with anti-slip regulation for the snow and the LSD just isn’t necessary for everyday driving.</p>
<p>20,800</p>
<p>mfsw 25</p>
<p>auto- trannie 1250</p>
<p>white bonnett stripes 100</p>
<p>I actually did this with my 2004 MCS and it worked out to $21,700 with an OBC, HK audio and (regrettably) bonnet stripes.</p>
<p>If for some reason I needed an inexpensive–yet brand new–Mini, I’d go for an MC with $500 sport suspension and $250 sport seats $19,300.</p>
<p>More realistically, I’d go for an MC with:
$500 black paint
$100 white turn signals
$500 sport suspension
$750 16″ wheels
$250 front fogs
$100 rear fog
$250 sport seats
$0 cloth
$250 anthracite headliner
$250 fluid silver or alloy interior
$250 multi-function steering
$22,400 total</p>
<p>If the game didn’t exclude aftermarket parts, I would not get the suspension and wheels since I could find OE parts for sale from other owners who upgraded, or I would go aftermarket.</p>
<p>I know I am going to sound absolutely insane, but I really have a problem with US spec MINIs not having the rear fog light. Not only because on most coopers (Clubman aside), you are left with random black plastic mesh inserts, but also because you are missing a toggle switch!</p>
<p>You can add the fog light(s). I think they are under the “Visibility” section in the configurator. I don’t think they are functional but at least you wont have the ugly black insert.</p>
<p>… and (regrettably) bonnet stripes.</p>
<p>Bee100, just peel them off.</p>
<p>My minimum build would be either a Chili Red Cooper S with Bridge Spokes, Sport Suspension, Leather Multi-Function Steering wheel, rear foglight, and LSD. Total price is $23,950.</p>
<p>For the same money, I could get a Chili Red Cooper with Premium Package, Sport Package, Sport Suspension, and Red Cloth Leather Interior with the brushed aluminum interior surface for $23,450.</p>
<p>Wow. You can sure get a lot more car for the same price in a Cooper.</p>
<p>@txdesign – I peeled them off many moons ago. The regret was that I spent $100 on them I didn’t need to!</p>
<p>My biggest regret is not getting the MFSW. I rarely used cruise control in past cars, but the Mini’s seats are not comfortable for me for more than about 90 minutes. Cruise definitely would be appreciated.</p>
<p>Is Gabe buying a new MINI?</p>
<p>My cheapest MINI came out to be a Justacooper that costs $22,900.</p>
<p>BRG/B
Sport package, sport suspension, HIDs, rear fog lamp, Anthracite headliner, and the brushed aluminum trim.</p>
<p>I buy mine used. Got my ’04 MCS with all the good stuff including heated seats… with only 3000 miles on it…. $19,500.00.. that included state tax.</p>
<p>Mine came in at $23,850.
Mellow Yellow/Black Cooper S
Sports suspension +$500
LSD +$500
No charge black 16″ Bridge Spokes
Leather MF steering wheel +$250
No charge checkered carbon cloth interior
Carpet floor mats +$105</p>
<p>And the sports suspension is still a maybe.
If something were to happen to my 03 MCS, that would be my order.</p>
<p>but if I’m going to spend that little I’m going to get a Kia. /sarcasm</p>
<p>;)</p>
<p>It is nice to order whatever you want but… I’d rather put it in my pocket… ;-)</p>
<p>Might be odd but I would go for a Cooper, although my total price came in at $28,200.</p>
<p>For this I have a car that exemplifies what Mini is all about in my world view. A decently fast car, with a very good suspension (JCW, and breaks (JCW 4-pot). Along with the JCW aero just for kicks though could be deleted I would have a very sharp looking Cooper.</p>
<p>Nightfire Red Cooper with a white roof</p>
<p>I just built the same car I have now. Mini is an ’06 with no packages, 3M chip guard, sill plates, ipod, arm rest, rear bumper guard, bonnet stripes. Its came out to about the same as my Mini when she was new. $21,5xx.xx. I was kind of surprised, I thought the prices had gone up more.
Since I got mine it has a whole load of new stuff however.</p>
<p>My current 2007 MC was 21,900. There were some things I could have done without. My two must have options were DSC and MFSW (cruise). Mini has since made DSC standard. I’ve always said if they made MSFSW standard, I could just go pick one of the lot and not order, which is I guess why they don’t make mfsw standard so to suck you into the configurator. The configurator is not your friend…</p>
<p>This is the situation I’m in right now, since I’m ordering my first R56 later this year. I figure: Cooper S, Pure Silver, black roof & bonnet stripes, with Sport Package & 17″ Crown Spoke wheels, LSD, and hi-fi sound system. I want the Media Connection, but, in Canada, we have to order the Convenience Package (auto wipers & headlights, and heated front window). I’m not a big fan of those options, but, alas.</p>
<p>What does everyone think of this trim?</p>
<p>The HI-FI stereo in the R56 has had some very mixed reviews… You may want to re-visit that option or at least spend some quality time with the system in a demo car to see if the added expense is justifiable.</p>
<p>17″ wheels look good but not necessary…..</p>
<p>Rest sounds very nice.</p>
<p>Yeah Gabe….what ARE you gonna get? Hmmmmmm?</p>
<p>Well, the 17″ wheels come included with the Canadian Sport Package (I really want the sport suspension), and I’d prefer the look of the bigger wheels anyways.</p>
<p>And, yeah, I’ve been reading both positive and negative on the hi-fi sound system. I like my music, which is why I’d be inclined towards that option; however, I’m not one to put any money into a huge stereo system from aftermarket, simply because I don’t have money coming out of my rear.</p>
<p>Just took delivery of my PW Cooper w/ sport seats and sport suspension–$19,950.</p>
<p>If I had to get a new one today, I’d still get exactly the same stuff I got on my current 2002 Cooper (sunroof, sport suspension, DTC) plus I’d add the cold weather package.</p>
<p>$21,700 on the configurator</p>
<p>“It depends.” Start with the Cooper. I’d add sport seats (and go with cloth) and the rubber floor mats (perhaps aftermarket on those). If I lived in an area with lots of stop-and-go traffic I’d add automatic transmission (sadly). If I lived in an area with some open highway driving I’d add the multi-function steering wheel. If I lived in an area with more than a trivial amount of snow and ice I’d add the cold weather package. Chili red is fine. That is all.</p>
<p>That is the problem, I had an 03 Cooper, w/ upgrades, and I can’t afford a new one no matter what. A 500 or used MR2, for under 10 grand, will work nicely.</p>
<p>MCS, pepper white with body color roof, LSD option
$23,100, or if I really wanted to treat myself I could easily live with an otherwised un-optioned JCW car.</p>
<p>I know guy who bought an ’05 Cooper and only added auto – it came to around $19k or so, and although most regulars here seem to loathe people who don’t get loaded, manual S'(and pre-’07’s), he loves it today as a much as he did when he got it.</p>
<p>@<a href="#comment-251972" rel="nofollow">Kurt</a>: I think it’s more the auto and less the no options that people loathe.</p>
<p>I would go with a Cooper S, Horizon Blue, cloth seats, anthracite headliner, piano black trim, xenons, multi-function wheel, black bridge spokes and cold weather pack(it gets cold here in CT). Total of $24850 which is almost exactly the same price as my ’06 with almost identical features.</p>
<p>We bought an 08 Clubman for $22.6k in Sept….</p>
<p>Matt</p>
<p>I think this is one of the best things about the Mini community on Motoringfile and elsewhere is the simple inclusion of the most bare bone Cooper to the most detailed JCW Clubman. While many people including myself are not fans of automatic gearboxes I don’t really care if the Mini next to me has a auto gearbox or not, I am still happy to see it.</p>
<p>From my entry above I would have to say though I would never actually buy this car with this build directly from Mini. I would buy the Nightfire Cooper, get the JCW aero kit on it, JCW steering wheel and gear shift. Then I would go aftermarket for the brakes, suspension, wheels, performance mod, and exhaust. All for about the same price although a car that would accelerate nicely, out brake the JCW and out turn it also, so I would end up with a less powerful but more sports oriented car than the JCW.</p>
<p>I’ve done this exercise many times & I always end up around 23,500. I have to have cruise, LSD, bonnet stripes (vanity), the cold package (weird, huh?), and very little else.</p>
<p>I loved the sunroof on my last one, and leather, but hated the auto-air and traction control. The xeon headlights were annoying (stupid headlight washer fluid was always running out), and for the suspension I’d buy stock & go aftermarket. The roads are bad around here & a little compliance never hurt anyway.</p>
<p>I’ve also specced out the dream mini, and there are just too many other options at the high end, I’m afraid.</p>
<p>My current 09 Cooper was 22,950. Conv. Pack (Auto-dimming rear-view mirror, auto headlights, Bluetooth/iPod, comfort access), MSFW, Pacific Blue Color Line, Piano Black interior.</p>
<p>I would go with PW/B cooper, white signals, sport seats, mfsw, anthracite, piano black, and maybe the fancy black wheels.</p>
<p>Just ordered 09 MCS for $24600
Sport pack+multi steering+Headliner</p>
<p>chili red cooper. stripes, cold weather, anthracite headliner, rooster red sport seats, chrome gas cap.</p>
<p>$21,444</p>
<p>For me it would depend on what I was buyign the car for. Daily driver or w/e toy:</p>
<p>Daily Driver spec:
CR/W
CWP
LSD
Rear Fog
Auto dimming mirror
Rooster Red
Anthricite headliner
MFSW
HiFi w/ HD radio
$26,450</p>
<p>Toy/track day spec:
CR/W
LSD
MFSW
$23,350</p>
<p>Other than the LSD, none of the standard performance upgrades would be done as I’d do that myself (I have too much money invested in tools to pay someone to upgrade my cars).</p>
<p>I’m at $25,850. Black/black MCS with sport package (black crown spokes), sport suspension, iPod/bluetooth, and multi-function steering wheel.</p>
<p>Its the complete opposite of my current 07 astro black/astro black MCS and it has everything I want/need for basic spirited motoring!</p>
<p>MC CR/BLK, cold weather, xenons, rear fog and (no stone throwing!) auto transmission=$21,550 If I didn’t NEED the auto, I’d be very happy and use the extra cash to stimulate the economy, elsewhere. ;-)</p>