Thought this question might be useful to someone who has that for a budget.

 

pretty easy, but it depends what ur looking for.

 

My 2009 MINI Cooper S

Base MSRP*$21,950
Destination & Handling$650
Chili Red Body Color $0
White Roof/Mirrors $0
Cold Weather Package $500
Xenon Headlamps w/Power Wash $500
Dynamic Traction Control $500
Bluetooth and USB/iPod Adapter $500
Leather Sport Wheel w/Multifunction $250 T
TOTAL MSRP AS CONFIGURED*$24,850

Matt

My how things have changed...

In 2002 I bought an S
Chili Red/White
Panther Leather
Xenons
Cold Weather Package
Factory Nav
Maybe a couple other cheap options...
$25k

I also did an 09 JCW S... Came out a hair above $31k.... JCW Clubbie, almost $34k...

 

This is harder than I thought.

Base MSRP* $21,950
Destination & Handling $650

PAINT IT
White Roof/Mirrors $0
Mellow Yellow Body Color $0

PACKAGES
No selections in this category

PERFORMANCE
Sport Suspension $500
Dynamic Stability Control STD
Front Fog Lamps STD
Xenon Headlamps w/Power Wash $500
Limited Slip Differential $500
6-Speed Getrag Manual STD
16" S-Winders (Perf. Run Flats) STD

COCKPIT
Bluetooth and USB/iPod Adapter $500
Sport Seats STD
On-Board Computer STD
6-spkr AM/FM CD Player STD
Center Arm Rest $250
Leatherette: Black/Grey STD
Interior Surface Checkered Silver STD
Leather Sport Wheel w/Multifunction $250

TOTAL MSRP AS CONFIGURED* $25,100

 

The basic idea is to take a base MCS without packages, avoid the leather, nav, sunroof, carbon fiber, high-end stereo and other poor-value bling items that generally add weight, and add a few function-oriented things like LSD, Xenons, lighter wheels, sport suspension, etc. You'll have a great car for $25K. My thought has always been that the Cooper is a great economy car or a great sporty runabout, but it is an absolutely lousy luxury and gadget-laden car. If you want luxury and gadgets, you can do a lot better with the Japanese.

- Mark

 

The build you see in my signature totaled $25,300.

Base: $21,950
Dest. & Hand: $650
Astro Black paint: $500
Limited Slip Differential: $500
Sport Suspension: $500
Hi-Fi stereo: $500
Bonnet stripes: $98
Rear fog lamps: $100
Center arm rest: $250
MFSW: $250

Total: $25298

Looking back now, I would really want the following additions:
Xenon lights: $500
Heated mirrors and washer jets: $250
For another $250, could add the Cold Weather Package with heated seats, heated mirrors, and heated washer jets.

But, to make it under $25k with something close to my build, I'd drop the sport suspension (not sure about the effect), add the Xenons (the stockers are not bright at all), and drop the stripes and arm rest.

That's my idea.

 

That's about as much as Tristan cost us:

Base: 18,500
Destination: 650
Lightning Blue: 500
White Mirrors/Roof: 0
Sports Package: 1500
-No bonnet stripes
-Bridgespokes (see if I can get them in white)
Sport Suspension: 500
Rear Fog lamp: 100
Auto dimming mirror: 250
Cloth/Leather Pacific Blue: 1000
-Dark grey colour line: 0
-Fluid Silver interior: 0
Auto A/C: 500
Garage Door Opener: 250
Bluetooth prep with USB: 500

Total: 24,300

If you wanted a Cooper-S, I could drop a few options off Shawns build, like:
Base: 21,950
Destination: 650
Pepper white: 0
Black Mirrors/Roof: 0
Sport Suspension: 500
Bridgespokes: 0
Rear Fog lamp: 100
Cloth/Leather Rooster Red: 1000
-Dark grey colour line: 0
-Fluid Silver interior: 0
Auto A/C: 500
Bluetooth prep with USB: 500

Total 25,200

(Shawn has DS Metalic paint, Limited slip diff and the fancy mirror. These days I'd be tempted by DTS, all these would blow $25k.)

 

We had the same question, because the configurator doesn't actually give that option when you select the sport package (unless you pick the $750 white Bridgespokes on top of the ones you already have).

The dealer was able to change our BridgeSpokes to white w/o issue to our Sport Package '09 MC.

 

How would I build one for $25,000?

I'd start by leaving the base price of an MCS out of the calculation. That makes fitting everything into $25,000 easy.

 

Depends... on what my primary usage would be.

For me, at $25k, I'm looking for a decent used one, maybe an '05 or '06, but they're slower. If I had to config a new one for that, it'd be pretty basic, LSD added, with 4 nods to comfort (cold weather, cruise, color line and hifi stereo):

MCS w/ Dest: 21,950 + 650
LSD $500
Cold weather (need heated seats!) $500
Cloth upholstery (lighter, more comfortable & grippy on long track days)
MFSW $250 (cruise for getting to and from track days)
LSD $500 (abso-lutely, great on track and snow)

Red color line (because the interior kinda needed some bling) $250

I'd skip the Xenons at $500 and upgrade the stock bulbs by using relays, and perhaps later add a set of removable driving lamps. It's lighter.

I'd also skip the sports suspension - and either go aftermarket once the OE stuff gets tired, or pick up a sports suspension slightly used when someone upgrades.

 

BASE MCS & AC

and then after-market MODS as you go along.

 

I think I'm basically with you except for things that can't easily be added later (LSD is a relative bargain, cruise/MFSW, sunroof, or heated seats).

 

Dixon's got the right idea. Just make sure that you select the options that would otherwise be costly if you miss it on initial order-rear fogs, MFSW, cold weather pkg., LSD, anthracite headliner.

 

I'd get a base S, a MFSW (really helps w/ R56 stereo controls) and maybe rear fogs. Forget the rest. Under $23K.

 

Going bare bones with an S, the Sport Package and LSD puts you $100 over budget.

But then, I'm having trouble working up an order under $40k.

 

The Perfect Clubbie for a Mom-on-the-Go (My mom and I have it all picked out for her, if only either one of us had $25k to buy it for her - price is $25,300 but if you had to stick with $25k that's just the foglights)

Base MSRP* $20,200
Destination & Handling $650
Chili Red Body Color $0
Black Roof/Mirrors $0
White Turn Signals $100
Cold Weather Package $500
Dynamic Traction Control $500
6-Speed Auto w/Agitronic Mode $1,250
All Season Tires $0
Front Fog Lamps $250
Rear Fog Lamp $100
Sport Seats $250
Center Arm Rest $250
Leather/Cloth: Rooster Red $1,000
Leather Sport Wheel w/Multifunction $250

TOTAL MSRP AS CONFIGURED*$25,300

 

Config for the "Go Fast" budget minded, weight minded AutoX'r

Base MCS
- Metallic paint (Not necessary, but a must for me)
- Sport Suspension (NOT Sport Package, and a must have for AutoX stock class)
- LSD (Cheap "Go Fast" item, expensive aftermarket and a must have for AutoX stock class)
- DTC w/EDLC (Cheap "Go Fast" item, most likely un-upgradeble in the future and a must have for AutoX stock class)
- MFSW (Cruise control and stereo operation convenience all in one)
- HI-FI (Makes speaker upgrades much easier in the future because all the cutouts and wiring are in place)

Final cost= $25,350 w/Metallic, $24,850 without

This is not the configuration "I would do", it is the configuration "I DID do" while targeting $25K price...

Car docks in California on 1/5/2009 and should be home at latest 1/17/2009