MINI2

jmelrose · Feb 12th, 2007, 10:16 PM

LOL. I have a LB MCSauto on order, due to start production the first week of March. The cutoff date is this weekend for any changes, and as always happens to me, something happens at the last minute to make me rethink my choices regarding a major purchase. In this case, what "happened" is Dave at NAM posted those GREAT shots of the Sparkling Silver, and got me thinking. I'd dismissed Silver out-of-hand cuz I've always been a blue/green guy, and my current car is green. So, LB it is. Up until now. I'd been heming and hawing over a number of issues, but this is going from bad to worse... And my MA is going to hate me for wanting to change the order again.

My current order again is LB w/white stripes, roof, wheels. Gravity Tucsan interior, JCW aero kit. I live in Florida, so keeping the car interior a bit cooler with lighter options is something to consider. I am getting a sunroof and tinted windows.

So I'm thinking from the photos I've seen that the redwood is more orange-y than I like. I dunno. And Gabe at MF sent me this about the Beige (which is a large part of what headed me down this path):

"My reservations were simply this: the quality isn't near as good as
the lounge leather and the price isn't that different. So if it were
me I'd either spend $900 on the cloth/leather combo (much at actually
holding you in place ans staying cool) or go all out and get the
lounge leather."

So... that brings me to BLACK, the furthest from making sense from a heat perspective. I would love a black interior aside from heat, and I am not sure what the tinting will do to help. Plus there's the sunroof. On top of that, I really have taken a shine to the SS

So... I'm trying to decide between:
LB/W w/Gravity Tuscan (the current)
LB/W w/Carbon Black
SS/b w/Carbon Black
SS/B w/Redwood (if I can get a sense of if the color is truly so orange-y)

If anyone has any of these combos and can share photos and opinions of them, I'd be ALL ears, and very grateful!

Olly. · Feb 12th, 2007, 10:43 PM

I have an LB/W MCS myself and i'm really pleased with my choice, If you like blue cars I think you will like Lightning Blue. A couple of pics of it here - http://www.mini2.com/galleries/showgallery.php?cat=2201

As far as the interior goes I personally like the punch leather (which is the black version of the Tuscan seat) but I understand why people like the Lounge leather as it does give the interior a very premium feel to it

Over here its quite an expensive extra on top of the normal leather seats hence why there aren't all that many pics.

Sir Johnaraz has an LB/W with Carbon Black interior (and just about every other option possible

) which should be almost exactly the same as you have specced - http://www.mini2.com/galleries/showgallery.php/cat/2202

I can't really comment on how the dark interior will be in the heat because its bloody cold in the UK at the moment

The heated seats are good though

Paul · Feb 12th, 2007, 10:44 PM

LB being Laser Blue or Lightning Blue?

I can't offer much help here, purely because I don't really like the Sparkling Silver (or Metallic Beige as like to think of it), even though I know it's got a lot of fans. Since I first saw it "in person" back last July I was underwhelmed. It can look pretty nice with the right options/colours, but not for me!

The Sparkling Silver to me is a colour that works well with the red interior, black roof, more of a "classic" colour rather than a "sporty" or bold colour.

I'm not a fan of the beige interior either, it's OK, but again I'm not overly keen, especially the way the seat backs look with it, clash a bit.

I suppose redwood is a little "orangey", a little terracotta maybe. But it's pretty nice I think, I could see that working well with the Sparkling Silver (if you really like that colour).

Soooo...

Of the options you've listed, personally I'd plumb for either:

LB/W w/Carbon Black

OR

SS/B w/Redwood (if I can get a sense of if the color is truly so orange-y)

Regardless of which LB the LB is.

MINIAC · Feb 12th, 2007, 10:50 PM

Using the abbreviation LB for body color is NOT going to work for the MCS as both Laser Blue and Lightning Blue are offered.

Please use the following abbreviations:

LB = Laser Blue
ZB = Lightning Blue (Z as in lightning bolt )

Paul · Feb 12th, 2007, 10:53 PM

Or write the whole thing, I doubt that'll tip you over the RSI edge.

You're not encouraging TXT SPK are you MINIAC?

I can see a lot of people having no idea what ZB is, even if it makes sense to more regular visitors.

MINIAC · Feb 12th, 2007, 10:59 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Paul Mullett (original)

You're not encouraging TXT SPK are you MINIAC?

Body Color Abbreviations:

Code:

Astro Black ................... AB    
Cosmos Black .................. CB
Solid Black ................... JB      (1)
Cool Blue ..................... KB      (2)
Electric Blue ................. EB
Hyper Blue .................... HB
Indi Blue ..................... IB
Laser Blue .................... LB
Lightning Blue ................ ZB      (3)
Oxygen Blue ................... OB
Space Blue .................... SB
Thunder Blue .................. TB
Solid Gold .................... 24K     (4)
British Racing Green .......... BRG
Silk Green .................... SG
Royal Grey .................... RG
Hot Orange .................... HO
Black-Eye Purple .............. BEP
Chili Red ..................... CR
Nightfire Red ................. NR
Solar Red ..................... SR
Velvet Red .................... VR
Dark Silver ................... DS
Pure Silver ................... PS
Sparkling Silver .............. SS
Pepper White .................. PW
Liquid Yellow ................. LY
Mellow Yellow ................. MY

NOTES:
 (1) "J" as in "Jet Black" the name used in the US
 (2) "K" as in "Kool and the Gang" or "Kool Cigarettes"
 (3) "Z" as in "Lightning Bolt"
 (4)

There's only 4 to memorize

jmelrose · Feb 13th, 2007, 02:30 AM

LB in JMelrosespeak = Lightning Blue.

jmelrose · Feb 13th, 2007, 02:33 AM

Olly,

What is your take on the quality of the punch leather seats? It seems like they should be similar to the Tuscan.

Can anyone who has sat in both types of seat (Tuscan (or Punch) vs. Lounge Leather) give a comparison between the two?

Even so, I'm not sure on the orange-y aspect. I've gotten a few meesages saying the orange can be pretty prevalent.

Scrogg · Feb 13th, 2007, 04:57 AM

Jeff,

Good to see that your questions aren't getting any easier!

Sparkling Silver/Black with Redwood Red Interior is one of 6 launch combinations on the R56 that every dealer in the UK was given, so there are literally hundreds around. The consensus with this combination is that you either love it or hate it, there is little or no middle ground, so I would recommend not choosing it unless you are 110% certain it is for you. Of the 4 options you've (finally!

) narrowed it down to, this is the one that you would most likely regret.

You already know my personal view of Sparkling Silver in general, but if I had to have it I would choose Carbon Black Lounge Leather as it is a 'classy' looking interior to match a more 'classy' looking car. The look would be finished with Piano Black and the Cream White Colour Line.

If you stick with Lightning Blue (which I am sure you will) you have far more to choose from. Your original combination, Tuscan Beige Lounge/Piano Black/Cream White will, again. look classy, as would the Carbon Black Lounge/Piano Black/Cream White combination so this is really a 50/50 based on personal preference.

If it was my money, and again if I had to have full leather, I would have Carbon Black Punch/Brushed Alloy/Dark Grey, as I believe this combination is the most 'sporty' looking and most suits the character of the Cooper S.

In answer to your Lounge versus Punch quality query, there ids little in it, but Punch will be a little more hard-wearing.

Dropping down to part leather is another good suggestion, and then opens up the Pacific Blue with matching colour line versus Carbon Black with Dark Grey Colour Line debate. My personal choice of these two would be the latter, but I would certainly stick with Brushed Alloy with either of these combinations.

Whichever way you go, just make sure I get a ride in it when I'm in Florida in 2008!

KenL · Feb 13th, 2007, 07:30 AM