I tried posting my entire list and keep getting a rejection error, I scored 60.5 but the limit is 30...whatever the heck that means. So I'm guesstimating it was too big so I'm piecemealing my post. And away we go.

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Thanks all for the welcomes (my original newbie post: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...354-post1.html). I only have a 1 mile commute to work, but I've made a couple of +50 mile P&D runs as an excuse to drive. Overall I love my new buggy (uhhh, like, who doesn't love their MINI?!?), and I'm still trying to find time to get past the first couple of pages of the manual, but after only 5-days here are a couple of questions/observations/gripes (no special order, I'm just typing as things come to mind):

The cup holder! I'm terribly surprised at the...basicness of it. The four rubber/foam things are pretty much identical to the car I transitioned from, an '02 Subaru Outback. So I know from experience that they're not the best in dealing with a wide range of sized cups, and in a short while those things will bend and break off. Also (for me) when I put my Venti-size Sbux in there it blocks the window switch, so in going through the drive-thru I have to put my window up before I can put my coffee down, and pull my cup out to roll the window up/down. In searching I found this http://www.minifini.com/ShopDetail.aspx?id=44 but with a baby less than 7-days old I'm admittedly quite hesitant to drilling holes in her, especially if I end up not liking the cup holder and want to remove it. Anybody have this cup holder? Any opinion/feedback about it? I wish their picture was of the driver's side mount. You don't buy a MINI for the convenience of others, so why show the cup holder for the passenger side?!?

 

Trunk light. The very first item I put in my cargo bay covered it. I'd put my box in there in direct daylight and didn't even realize he light was there (and only one) until the eve when I was unloading and couldn't see a dang thing! I know the MINI is streamlined/compact, but would it have made that much of a difference to put a light on both sides? Do you know of any uncomplicated mods to add more? I initially thought I could put something into the power port, but that isn't always on. I'm envisioning a kit that does what MINI should have done, same boot-light set up on the opposite side. I found this thread https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ent-light.html and although that isn't exactly what I was thinking of it may be the solution.

Reverse light. Again, I know this vehicle is MINImized but I live in a very large urban metro area with a w-i-d-e variety of drivers/pedestrians. The last thing I would want/expect from a car with such a small footprint and low profile is a single reverse light. In fact, I originally thought the lightbar at the rear top rim was a 3rd reverse light to add visibility. Apparently not. EDIT: while typing I thought to search (duh!) Found my solution and sharing: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...se-lights.html

 

Tow Hitch. Although I'm no longer playing chauffeur to the horde (translation: four kids) and hauling all of their volleyball, basketball, football, gymnastics, etc gear, I still personally have gear: snowboarding, biking, hiking, running, rock-climbing, kayaking, etc. And to fit their gear in with mine I had a roof cargo box and a tow hitch on my Outback (and all of my previous vehicles as well). I don't care for MINI Fini's sport-link http://www.minifini.com/ShopDetail.aspx?id=19 as the accessories are proprietary and I already have a couple of things to go into a standard hitch. The only one I found was this http://www.minidomore.com/pdf/2008%2...structions.pdf which requires drilling a hole in my baby! AGAIN, I'm temporarily wimpy in this area as my baby is only 6 days old come sunrise. I'd mod the heck out of my Outback, but I bought it to be a workhorse and do anything I thought it could do (which excluding zooming). Do any of you have a tow hitch and did you DIY or pay a mech to install it for you?

Rally Lights. I want them!! http://www.shopminiusa.com/PRODUCT/6...DRIVING-LIGHTS I think they add (positively) to the personality of my buggy. But a) it appears cost-prohibitive for a cosmetic add-on and b) it looks rather involved on the install (I'm not an electrician. I can install my own tow hitch, I've done so on other vehicles...albeit other vehicles simply needed to be raised off the ground...but I digress) and further cost-prohibitive to pay a mech to do it. Again, anybody have? DIY or pay-for-install?

 

Alarm. I was initially wracking my brain trying to figure out why I wasn't getting the chirp-chirp when I power-locked the car. It finally came down to the most basic answer. For all of the bells & whistles the original owner paid to install, can you believe a friggin alarm was NOT one of them. So, am I getting the stock alarm (http://www.shopminiusa.com/PRODUCT/5...I-ALARM-SYSTEM) which I presume will have to be installed by the dealer at dealer prices (ugh!) or am I getting any off the shelf alarm and have the kids at e.g. CarToys touch my baby? I'm even considering a Low-Jack (hey, I knew no one was going to steal my previous vehicle http://www.subarucolors.info/wp-cont...ed-Wagon-1.jpg even if I left the doors unlocked and the keys in it, but it did have an alarm, and I wouldn't have it any other way).

Boot Cover. This (http://www.shopminiusa.com/PRODUCT/4...CHECKERED-FLAG) looks nice (and pricey), but primarily for keeping the wet and muddy from sharing itself. I still need something to cover/hide anything I have laying in here. The rear has it's wee cover but what about the front section? Is there an after-market item similar to the rear boot shade that would simply pull forward and cover where the seats have been laid flat?

 

Key/Fob. So, it's nice that the fob recharges, and (from what I've read) a profile can be programmed into they key and all. But it's a bit challenging to me that I have to make sure to rotate the fobs to keep them working. My missus keeps one of my spares and I hers, and it's quite infrequent that either of us have to use the second key. So how long can I go before I have to rotate keys (I'll need to set it as a recurring even on my calendar)? And I'm going to need a 3rd spare key. I get the impression this is a dealer-only item. How expensive is another key fob? Somewhat rhetorical as I've already scheduled a service visit at my local dealer and will inquire then how much.


That's all for now (ain't that enough after only 5-days of ownership ?). I'm sure I'll be back again with another round come next weekend. I am attending my local MINI's club meet & greet next month, so hopefully I can start participating with answers instead of only questions.

Cheers!