Hello,

We are getting ready to order a S Hardtop for my daughter as a graduation present.

Trying to decide what options to order, here is what we are thinking about so far:

Auto
Head Front Seats
H&K Sound System
Bluetooth /USB/Ipod Adapter

Thinking about the sport package but my daughter is not a "driver", is it worth it for the traction control? She will be driving the Florida rain.

Any must options??

Are there any packages that would give us this at a better price then ordering them separately?

Thanks,

Tom

 

Heated front seats in Florida?

 

Bluetooth is standard now for all 2013 MINIs so that won't cost you anything. However, you will still need to order the iPod adapter cable to plug it in to the car.

I think the xenon headlights are worth the extra money, the regular halogens are okay but at night you can really see the difference.

DSC is standard, DTC is optional. If she is just driving her car from point A to point B, I wouldn't get the DTC. DSC will be enough for rain and other weather conditions. DTC is when you want to drive aggressively.

Automatic AC is a nice option as well.

 

I second the vote for Xenons. I'm also a huge fan of my cloth seats. The leatherette is brutal in the heat. Trust me on this, leatherette, skirts/shorts, and the heat do not mix well. Save your daughter the agony and get the cloth! Up until last week, I had lived my entire life in Texas so the heat is something I am very accustomed to.

 

Good point on the cloth seats. Nothing worse than a sweaty back when driving...

 

hi,please do the xenon just for saftey! thats your little girl!

 

Cloth seats and Xenons for sure. Lived in Florida so can't quite understand the need for heated seats. If your daughter is not a "driver", then why a Cooper S? I'm not wanting to tell your how to parent but if I had a daughter just out of HS, I would not give her that much horse power!

 

x2. Not to mention, if I'm not mistaken, the base wouldn't require premium. Just another item she could be saving on while in college, not having to go for premium.

 

Hey now, don't hate on the youngin's! I can handle the horsepower. However, other MINI drivers showed me how to properly drive a MINI

 

I heartily second this. Way too much power for a rookie driver, male or female. A standard MINI Cooper has all of the handling and fun without the danger of the extra power.

A Cooper S is no car for a recent HS graduate.

I'll second the cloth seats, much cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. The DSC (dynamic stability control) is another must have option. It can do things that even the most experienced driver can not do when it comes to preventing a spin-out on a wet highway. Xenon headlights are fantastic and another must have option.

Not sure I would recommend the "sport" package as it usually includes 17" wheels that just make the ride harsher and tire replacement more expensive. Just select the options a la carte.

Don't bother with the sun roof either. It is huge and there is no way to block light from coming in from the roof, the retractable shades provided are pretty pathetic. Nothing like the excellent ones in an Audi. It will turn your car into a "green house" even on a cloudy day. The amount of heat buildup that you will experience in FL will be unimaginable. Do yourself and your daughter a favor and get a white or silver roof. Great way to reduce the heat. Not that it will completely prevent the interior from getting hot because there is still a lot of glass around the car. Glass tinting would help.

 

Justa with xenons.

 

Rear fog lights fill out the toggle panel and are another safety feature. You might as well get the matching front fogs as well (which are optioned on the Justa Cooper if you listen to the others' advice here, otherwise they're standard). DTC wouldn't be necessary, based on your post.

As for S vs. regular Cooper, I see a perfect solution in getting her a Justa convertible. She might not need a turbo, however I can see her really loving a drop top. Getting a Justa Cooper makes up for the price a bit. Plus think of the gas savings and reliability of the Justa compared to the S. Perfect for FL weather too I would imagine.

I imagine giving a MINI as a gift in general would be tough only because of all the different color combinations and you-ification possibilities. Hopefully you have a good idea what color MINI she would like. Good luck!