Hello all,

I'm looking to purchase a Mini for my mom, and have a few questions regarding purchasing one:

1. She currently drives a 95 ES300, will she be disappointed in the power output of the non-S? She doesn't really care too much about power, but she also doesn't want to drive a snail.
2. What are some of the common problems with non-S auto?
3. What is the typical wait period? I'm located in Southern California.
4. What is the typical price you can get for one of these? Is MSRP a fair price for this car?
5. What are some of the common accessories people like to get?

TIA

 

I drive a manual MINI (non-S) and can definitely tell you the spunkiness of the car is plenty for me. But to each his/her own and a test-drive would probably help your mom out a great deal.

I ordered my MINI in the first week of September and she was delivered to me in mid December. Right now, typical wait time is around four months.

The only two dealers in So Cal that sell for MSRP are Long Beach and South Bay MINI. The best you're going to get out of any dealer in the California is MSRP... I'm sure other members would be happy to tell you about purchasing a MINI from out of state with a shorter wait time.

Accessories?! Wow... I think you'll need a couple pages for that... I still haven't purchased one myself but a glovebox organizer is probably first on my list.

Good luck!

 

I have read several reviews about non-S Minis & the reviewers have said they have a surprising amount of pep. I have a manual S so I don't know 1st hand. Also a member of our local Mini group has a non-S automatic & from talking to him I don't think your mom will consider it slow at all.

I am in the East so I don't know much about So Cal but in Georgia the Minis go for MSRP + a few dealer prep/clerical fees which you can sometimes talk down or away. I have read posts from folks in your area who buy minis from other states because price & wait times are better. They then fly out to pick up their mini & drive it home.

By accessories I don't know if you mean after-market or factory. If you mean factory...I recommend getting almost all of the packages (I got Sport, Premium, & Cold weather package. I did not get chrono pacakge, I wanted it but if you get it the big retro-looking spedometer in the middle of the dash turns into a computer & I liked the look of the retro-speedo so I left that package out.) There are so many color combos & configurations for the Mini. The best thing to do is go to miniusa.com & click on configure one. It will show you what the car will look like right on your puter screen & give you the price.

Lastly, if you think the Mini is something your mom will like get it for her. She will love it. They are the best little cars in the world. I have met alot of new friends just because I own one. You can't go wrong with a Mini. Awww I feel all warm inside

 

Hi

 

About the Peppiness. I just came back from a MINI run with 9 other MINIs, mine binging the only non-S and I was keeping up with them just fine.

Premium package is a must. If you live in So-Cal you wont need cold weather. Sport package will tighten the car up and make it ride like an S, a little harsh at times, but will handle better. To me driving around town it handles just find and I like the softer ride.

If she plays the radio all the time, get the HK system. It's worth it.

Hope this helps a little.

 

1. Power shouldn't be an issue.
2. With over a 1/2 million sold there isn't really a common problem as it seems most problems are not generic to any large group of the newer models.
3. I waited 6 weeks
4. I paid MSRP and felt is was fair since no one I'd ever talked to got a new one for less.
5. Accessories are like food and we all like something a bit different. I got the sun roof and sport seats. All else seemed silly. Even getting the heated seats(and I live in Maine) wasn't necessary as the cloth doesn't get real cold, but I have a garage.

 

1. She currently drives a 95 ES300, will she be disappointed in the power output of the non-S? She doesn't really care too much about power, but she also doesn't want to drive a snail.

When I decided to get a Mini I went and actually drove both. I drove the MCS super charged version first, then I found a regular MC to drive, both of them manuals. Both felt good, but it did seem like I had to push the non-S version to higher RPM's to get enough power. I woudn't have any issues with the non-S version and I did like the mileage being a few MPG better.

But then I went back and drove the S again and realized just how much more power it offers at the lower end, so passing and getting on the freeway are actually enjoyable activities.

The other thing you should review VERY carefully is $ for $ comparison. If you take the non S and the S and equip them EXACTLY the same you find that the S is a good value. The reason is that the MCS already includes some optional MC features in the base model. Then when you add option packages (Premium, Sport) you start getting a few more items on the MCS that the MC has to add separately. This is a basic marketing strategy.

What I found is that for the options I wanted (like Xenons and 17" rims for example) by the time I eqiupped an MC with the same exact features as the MCS, the price difference was less than $2,000. So for that tiny amount I would much rather have the more powerful engine.

2. What are some of the common problems with non-S auto?

Search around this board and you should find issues people have had. I don't think the Mini is any better or worse than other car models in this category. I have heard a few folks say they really enjoy the MCS automatic though.

3. What is the typical wait period? I'm located in Southern California.

It depends. If you order locally in SoCal my guess would be about 8 weeks. I was impatient so I bought mine in Cleveland and drive it home (to NorCal) so that I only had to wait 3 weeks from order to pickup ('cuz it was already being loaded on the ship!)

4. What is the typical price you can get for one of these? Is MSRP a fair price for this car?

MSRP is the best you can do. At year end some dealers sold them for $500 just to move inventory, but that's probably over by now. Not sure about your local area, but I did have fun running Blue Book value on my Mini when I got it home and learned it was worth more than I paid for retail value.

5. What are some of the common accessories people like to get?

Premium Package and Sport Package are both very nice, I highly recommend them both because you really get a lot of car when you add those packages. Cold Weather is nice because it clears fog from the side view mirrors (useful for those of us in CA who don't ever see snow). If she likes luxury you might want to add leather too. I have the leatherette, and prefer it since I tend to spill things in my car.

If she likes the smooth comfy ride of the ES300, the Mini tires in the sport package (the 17" run flats) may ride to stiff. I like them, many folks don't because they are very firm tires. She should definitely drive a couple Mini to get a feel for them as they are a very different car from the ES.

 

Thank you all for the comments. I feel very welcomed to this forum.

Novemberist, you mentioned that only 2 dealers in socal sell at MSRP, how come others sell more? Assael Mini is closest to me, is it a reputable dealer?

bamatt, I wouldn't think my mom would appreciate sport or even premium package since she's a very basic person when it comes to cars. She doesn't even listen to radio half the time, so I figured to purchase a base model with a few cool and convenient accessories for her. She's a type of person who's happy with just power windows and locks. I did go to the Mini website and found it to be complicated since there are so many options to choose from, that's why I asked what are some of the popular accessories (must haves).

ihearttsb, hi to you to.

cajun, yeah she doesn't need sport pkg or HK.

fred3, thanks for your response.

hoopi, what's the process of getting the car from out of state? Will the dealer register it for you in CA? I doubt it. So did you have to go to AAA or DMV yourself to register an out of state vehicle? Was there any other process? Will an out of state dealer ship the car to you instead of you picking it up?

 

I'm assuming that dealers charge more because they can. I too live closer to Assael but haven't heard very good things about them (no personal experience though). I bought my MINI from South Bay (a 30 min. drive away) and had a very pleasant experience. Honestly, charging $2k or more over MSRP when you can buy at Long Beach or South Bay was justification enough not to go to Assael.

I personally love the On-Board Computer that lets you know how many more miles until you need to fill up, mpg, the temperature, and all that jazz. The auto AC is also convenient since you can just set a unique temperature, and it will keep that temperature inside.

 

Try Classic Mini in Mentor Ohio and ask for Julie. We bought our first Mini out of state from her and it was a great experience. They will ship to you, and I think they sometimes have deals on shipping. It is really a simple process. They will give you a Ohio temp tag so you can drive the car until you get it registered in CA. It was no problem registering our car in WA. Our 2nd Mini we bought across the river in Oregon, and I don't expect and trouble registering it in WA either.

 

I love the MC CVT. She is peppy and really responsive. Plus when you are in the mood, you can drive in manual mode.

I do not think your mom would be dissappointed. my dad was in mine while they were visiting and he would have gotten a mini if my mom could get in and out of it easier. (she has 2 horrible knees - and it was a bit low for her).

I paid MSRP and have never been happier with a car!

 

Whichever is all good! Do the her a favor and get the Bluetooth installed and her a compatible (any bluetooth) phone. She can leave the phone in her purse and Motor much more safely. Works just great!

 

Great feature, unfortunately, she doesn't use cell phones all that much.

 

Thanks, how long was the wait period for your out of state purchase? How long did the freight transit take? Did you have a experience having the vehicle delivered to you instead of driving it off the lot?

 

I see, have you experienced with the service at Assael?

 

About 8 weeks from the order date.

I didn't have mine shipped, but it depends on truck availability and distance. Anywhere from a few day to a few weeks.

No.

 

wimpwgn,
As you've seen, these cars come well-equipped with no options selected at all - power windows/locks, A/C, ABS, CD player. Your mom sounds like she'd be happy with a bare-bones car, which means you could be out the door for under $20k. If I was only allowed one option on my car, I'd take the sport seats (standard on the S). The non-sport seats on the Cooper are much less comfortable to me, although there are, of course, those who prefer them. The on-board computer is also a nice touch, and I simply can't imagine my car without the sunroof, but that's all just icing on the cake.

I drive a non-S Cooper, and it has plenty of power, but I don't have experience with the CVT transmission. From what I've read here, there's a little bit of a learning curve with it to get the best power out of it, but people seem very happy with it.

Good luck!
Chris

 

Thanks for the reply.

I'm wondering how reliable is the CVT compared to the trandition automatic that comes in the S? I understand this is BMW's first production CVT.

Additionally, what's more preferable? Cloth or leatherette?

 

She needs to drive both to make an informed decision. It really depends on how she drives and what she expects.

I can't speak for the cars without manual transmissions, but we drove a MINI Cooper and an MCS back to back and there was absolutely NO question in our minds that we would not be satisfied unless we got the S. When it comes to "ooomph" the base Cooper just doesn't have it. Our decision ended up being whether to buy an MCS or not buy a MINI at all, there was no longer a decision about buying one or the other.

However, if she is not a driving enthusiast, the S might just be a waste of money.

 

Absolutely. But I'm afraid if we got the S, I'll be tempted to drive it more and more and desert my own car, especially the S auto comes with paddle shifter. Although incomparable to traditional manual, still more fun than CVT IMHO.

 

I have leatherette & they are great. Easy to clean just wipe em off. My dog has ridden to work with me every day his seat still looks new

 

35K miles, 3 1/2 years old, 2002 Cooper CVT, ZERO problems!

Leatherette is the way to go IMHO! Excellent durability, ease of cleaining and great looks.

I have owned 3 MINIs (1 CVT and 2 MCS). Feel free to ask any questions.

 

Drive the CVT before you drive the Cooper S Auto. The CVT is the most fun automatic car I have ever driven. It takes skill to enjoy the steptronic mode to its fullest, but it is well worth it and gives the car great performance and sporty attitude. Haven't had any problems with ours since taking delivery over 3 and a half years ago. Ours is a hard working daily driver

The CVT Cooper will surprise you in more ways than one. Try it!

 

Thanks!

Regarding test drive, does the dealer usually have demos you can drive as you walk in? Or do you have to schedule an appointment with them?

 

It all depends on your local dealer's inventory. Your ability to test drive certain models and options vary greatly from store to store. It is best to call your dealer and ask if they have a particular model/trim level you are interested in test driving. If they do, then make an appt with the Motoring Advisor (Sales person) and take it from there.

Since MINI affords 1.6 million possible configurations, it is best to head over to the dealer and test drive the different models to see which one best suits your needs/wants and budget.

If you can afford to wait, I highly recommend placing a factory order over taking an existing car in dealer inventory. Not only you get a car manufactured to your exact requests, but the waiting period is a crucial part of the ownership that I feel no MINI owner should be left without.

Just to give you an interesting tidbit: The likehood of someone ordering a new MINI elsewhere in the world exactly to yours is 1:100,000!

The possibility of you getting struck by lighting is: 1:125,000

Enjoy!