[theminidreamer]

Im thinking about ordering a Mini One soon, just a basic spec to keep costs down. I was wandering if everyone thought air con was essential? I've got it in my current car but I hardly ever use it. Otherwise I'd probably just spec 15" alloys, asto black paint fog lamps, chrome line exterior and a leather steering wheel. Do people think this spec is too low? Thanks for any advice.

[claz]

It depends what you're used to I suppose, If you didnt use it in your last car then you might be ok, but it is a plus point when selling.

[James]

depends if you're a windows down person or not..

[Restyle]

Not really essential in the UK at all. Got it in mine as it came withe the Chilli pack, but it hardly gets used .. even in the heat of last Summer I preferred the Sunroof open & Windows down option.
Some people say .."it will help with the resale", but thats not someting I would really worry about.
How much is it as an option in the ONE ?

[AndyParker]

i havent gone with air con on my MCS i've ordered as i didnt have to worry about the resale value of it...
Windows down will do me

[mmalc]

Quote: Originally Posted by theminidreamer (original)

Im thinking about ordering a Mini One soon, just a basic spec to keep costs down. I was wandering if everyone thought air con was essential?

Not essential, but extremely useful and even a safety feature.
I had AC on two of the Kas I owned (the first didn't), and even though I didn't use it every day, on the days (especially during the summer) when I did it was a significant benefit in keeping me comfortable and alert. Certainly you can open the windows, but in a snarl up on the M25 when you're in stop-and-go traffic for an hour and it's 90 degrees outside, cool air and calming music are preferable to everyone else's exhaust and engine noise...

mmalc

[S33BBY]

When I got a part exchange price for my old MINI One, my dealer said it would have been worth more if I had air conditioning or a sunroof (obviously I had neither). That may or may not be true.

We don't get a great deal of good weather in this country, but I found it quite uncomfortable in the summer on my last MINI, and love having air con in my new one. Yes, it doesn't get used often, but I think it's worth having.

[KenL]

Quote: Originally Posted by S33BBY (original)

When I got a part exchange price for my old MINI One, my dealer said it would have been worth more if I had air conditioning or a sunroof (obviously I had neither). That may or may not be true.
.

Yes it would be worth more, but I doubt it would be worth the £600 or whatever it is to buy in the first place.

[Scrogg]

Quote: Originally Posted by theminidreamer (original)

I'd probably just spec 15" alloys, asto black paint fog lamps, chrome line exterior and a leather steering wheel. Do people think this spec is too low?

That spec will cost you £12,565, whereas having the PEPPER Pack (which includes all the items you have listed) will cost you £13,190.

The extra £625 will get you a 2nd Remote Key, Air Conditioning, Floor Mats, Interior Lights Pack, On-Board Computer, Passenger Seat Height Adjust and the Storage Compartment Pack, and will make a big difference to the value of the car come resale time.

Quote: Originally Posted by KenL (original)

Yes it would be worth more, but I doubt it would be worth the £600 or whatever it is to buy in the first place.

Air Conditioning alone, when added to the options you have listed, will have a less positive effect on the resale value than the PEPPER Pack. As it would cost you an additional £660 rather than £625 the PEPPER Pack is a no-brainer!

[theminidreamer]

I can't help thinking that the extra £1300 brings it up to the price of a Cooper. Surely a basic Cooper will be more desirable come resale time than a One with the pepper pack? Perhaps I'm just trying to persuade myself to get a Cooper!

[popey]

I think air con is a must, this fact is shown by it been standard on almost all new cars. I wouldn't dream of buying a car without it. I think its almost become as expected as electric windows and central locking.

[jon423]

Skip the metallic paint, the chrome line exterior and the leather steering wheel and you have the cost of the A/C and then some.

jon

[mister.t]

Id say that AC is a defo must. If it were me, a One with Pepper Pack would do me

[Mat-CooperS]

I'd agree, its a must have now. I've not had it on any car before the Mini and never thought I would need it, but like someone said above when your sat in traffic on a hot day the windows down option just isn't enough!

[Scrogg]

Quote: Originally Posted by theminidreamer (original)

I can't help thinking that the extra £1300 brings it up to the price of a Cooper.

A base Cooper in Astro Black will set you back £13,290 and will give you the 3 options you listed as standard, but is still less well equipped than a One with the PEPPER Pack for £100 less.

Quote: Originally Posted by theminidreamer (original)

Surely a basic Cooper will be more desirable come resale time than a One with the pepper pack?

From a dealer perspective, I would much rather have a One PEPPER to sell as a used car than a base Cooper, as there would be far more people interested in it.

Quote: Originally Posted by theminidreamer (original)

Perhaps I'm just trying to persuade myself to get a Cooper!

If that's what you really want then do it, but remember that the running costs (fuel & insurance) will be higher and you risk getting less back for it.

[Restyle]

Quote: Originally Posted by popey (original)

I think air con is a must, this fact is shown by it been standard on almost all new cars.

Which new cars would those be? maybe those in Hot Climates but certainly NOT over here !!
That sounds just the admans talk to try & sell more unnecessary units to increase Profits.

But lets have a check ...

A - Alfa - Optional on 147 / 159 models, Standard on £20K+ models

B - BMW - Standard on most models {Except MINIs}

C - Citroen - Optional on C1 / C2 / C3, Standard on C4

D - Daihatsu -Amazingly Standard even on the £6000 Charade

F - Ford -Optional on Ka / Fiesta, Standard on Focus & above

Ok, I wont go on, but with a few {mostly Japanese} exceptions, it seems Air Con is still mostly seen as an optional extra, in this country at least, unless your spending out a lot of money.
I just find Air con very wasteful, sapping a lot of its energy on smaller cars at least, for very little gain. It coming very low down on my priorities list when shopping for a car in this climate.
Does it really costs £1300 as an option to put it on a ONE ?.. how come its only a £500 extra on Citroen`s, Peugeot`s, & Renaults ?
{Other than being French}

[Scrogg]

Quote: Originally Posted by Restyle (original)

Does it really costs £1300 as an option to put it on a ONE ?

No, it's £660 as a stand-alone option and £1,300 as part of the PEPPER Pack.

[mmalc]

Quote: Originally Posted by Restyle (original)

F - Ford -Optional on Ka / Fiesta, Standard on Focus & above

Ok, I wont go on, but with a few {mostly Japanese} exceptions, it seems Air Con is still mostly seen as an optional extra, in this country at least, unless your spending out a lot of money.
I just find Air con very wasteful, sapping a lot of its energy on smaller cars at least, for very little gain.

And to reiterate an opposite perspective; as I mentioned above, I specced it on the second two KAs I owned (to make clear, in England). There were not that many occasions when I did feel the need to use it, but especially in the summer on the occasions I did use it I felt it worth every penny.

mmalc

[*Vikki*]

imo air con is a must! cannot live without it wouldent buy a car if it didnt have it.

[Scrogg]

Quote: Originally Posted by Restyle (original)

B - BMW - Standard on most models {Except MINIs}
Now standard on all BMWs (MINIs aren't BMWs! )

C - Citroen - Optional on C1 / C2 / C3, Standard on C4
Standard on some C2/C3 models.

F - Ford -Optional on Ka / Fiesta, Standard on Focus & above
Standard on some Ka/Fiesta models, optional on base-model Focus.

But I see the point you are making, it's not, as suggested by popey, standard on almost all new cars.

The way the market for used cars has been going over the last 10 years though, I can see it being standard fit sooner rather than later on all but the most basic entry-level cars.