Hi Guys,

I currently own an R56 Cooper S and a Renault Megane Coupe diesel. The Renault is used daily to and from work and the MINI is reserved for weekends and trips away but unfortunately hasn't been used for about 3 weeks now.

So I've decided to trade them both in for a MINI Cooper SD so I get to use it daily :) I haven't driven one yet so I hope it's as much fun as a Cooper S.

Here's the spec I'm going with, what do you think?

MINI Cooper SD
Spice Orange Metallic
Roof and Mirror Caps in Black
Black Bonnet Stripes
Alloy Wheels In Black
Chili Pack with Cloth/Leather Ray Carbon Black Interior
Interior Trim Piano Black
Chrome Line Interior
Chrome Line Exterior
Electric Glass Sunroof
Sun Protection Glass
Anthracite Roof Lining
Harman/Kardon Hi-Fi

Thanks,
Richard.

Very nice, but I'm not a fan of piano black because it always is either has fingerprints on or looks dusty.

I much prefer the striped aluminium interior - that's what I'll be ordering on my new clubman.

I presume you're not interested in rain sensors/autodim mirror etc?

I always found that the autodim mirror was essential as if you have to dip the mirror manually I had to lean forward in the seat (as the mirror is so high and forward relative to my seating position). This probably depends on how tall you are etc.

Visual Boost for radio maybe? Gets you ipod album artwork on the screen etc??

Also - not too keen on the chromeline interior when having everything in black - the black revcounter seems to work well

Very nice, but I'm not a fan of piano black because it always is either has fingerprints on or looks dusty.

I much prefer the striped aluminium interior - that's what I'll be ordering on my new clubman.

I presume you're not interested in rain sensors/autodim mirror etc?

I always found that the autodim mirror was essential as if you have to dip the mirror manually I had to lean forward in the seat (as the mirror is so high and forward relative to my seating position). This probably depends on how tall you are etc.

Visual Boost for radio maybe? Gets you ipod album artwork on the screen etc??

Also - not too keen on the chromeline interior when having everything in black - the black revcounter seems to work well

Thanks for your feedback :)

I'm not so keen on the matt silver look hence why I'm going for the piano black and chrome interior... I'd much rather have the real thing. My current MINI has the chrome interior and I really like it. The only thing is I'm not 100% sure on the chrome exterior, again I have it on the current one but as the bumpers have changed not sure if I prefer it with or without the chrome.

Not bothered about rain sensors, the Renault has them and they seem to come on for no reason and smear the screen... same as the automatic lights, they seem to come on whenever they feel like it so will just stick to manual operation.

I don't like the big screen in the middle of the speedo so visual boost is out for me.

All down to personal preference I suppose :)

thats the great thing about the mini isn't it!

I think the striped alloy dash is actual alloy foil - it's cold to touch...

Isn't the chromeline exterior included in the chilli pack anyway? - Actually, that might be the Cooper only, not the Cooper S...

btw - god love the anthracite headlining - it's ace isn't it!

Isn't the chromeline exterior included in the chilli pack anyway? - Actually, that might be the Cooper only, not the Cooper S...

No it's definitely not included in the chili pack, it's about £80 extra I think.

Have you thought about the sports pack? also Bluetooth phone option is very nice to have. Chrome line exterior is a no for me but also love the chrome line interior.

PS, love the colour combination though will look really good with the black wheels, roof, stripes and mirrors ;)

Have you thought about the sports pack? also Bluetooth phone option is very nice to have. Chrome line exterior is a no for me but also love the chrome line interior.

PS, love the colour combination though will look really good with the black wheels, roof, stripes and mirrors ;)

What is the sports pack, I can't find that on the configurator!!

And can you explain what the full bluetooth gives me over the basic bluetooth? In my Renault I can bluetooth my iPhone so I can make calls and play music from it. I know the basic bluetooth on the MINI can only make calls, does full bluetooth add the music functionality?

i desperately wish i had 2 cars to trade in, couldn't believe my luck when i went on mini website last night to discover this new model! i'm currently trying to sell my one to buy a cooper d, so maybe in a few years i could get my hands on the SD!

What is the sports pack, I can't find that on the configurator!!

And can you explain what the full bluetooth gives me over the basic bluetooth? In my Renault I can bluetooth my iPhone so I can make calls and play music from it. I know the basic bluetooth on the MINI can only make calls, does full bluetooth add the music functionality?

Just looked on the Mini website and it appears the sports pack is not available with some colours yours being one of them :confused:

I would suggest you test drive a Cooper SD before ordering. I test drove one and it is good but I did not feel it was much faster than my Cooper D.

I would suggest you test drive a Cooper SD before ordering. I test drove one and it is good but I did not feel it was much faster than my Cooper D.

May be a bit late for that :wink:

But to be honest my daily driver is a Renault Megane with 105bhp and a 0-60 time of 10.9 seconds... it's going to feel a lot faster than that I'm sure!!

Full bluetooth with USB gets you album artwork displayed on the screen of the Visual Boost/Sat Nav.

An update on my new Cooper SD... I've changed the order. I got a bit nervous about the Spice Orange and was worried it just didn't look sporty enough. So I've changed it to Laser Blue/Black and added the Sport Pack :)

Here's the full spec:

MINI Cooper SD
Laser Blue Metallic
Roof and Mirror Caps in Black
Black Bonnet Stripes
Chili Pack with Cloth/Leather Ray Carbon Black Interior
Sport Pack
Chrome Line Interior
Electric Glass Sunroof
Harman/Kardon Hi-Fi

I'm still not 100% sure this will be the final spec, I may change the colour again. I'm struggling between blue and red but wanted to change the order before it dropped into build phase and I was stuck with the orange... don't mind being stuck with blue!!

Really looking forward to the JCW aero kit though, wanted one for ages, so the Sport Pack will stay.

Richard.

An update on my new Cooper SD... I've changed the order. I got a bit nervous about the Spice Orange and was worried it just didn't look sporty enough.

I too have an SD on order and nearly went Spice Orange on mine, but then decided to change to Eclipse Grey. Only 6 sleeps until I pick it...

I would suggest you test drive a Cooper SD before ordering. I test drove one and it is good but I did not feel it was much faster than my Cooper D.


Sorry, but that is way off course. The SD (Sooper Dooper) is much much much much much faster.

I have a Dooper, re-mapped by Evolve (to around 130bhp), and the SD is better. Admittedly my Dooper is a PSA-engined version, not the classier BMW lump. The BMW engine is far more refined.

I test drove an SD today and liked it so much I have decided to trade the Dooper for one the dealer had in stock.

Here's my SD see what you think
161564

very nice - love the colour combo

Sorry, but that is way off course. The SD (Sooper Dooper) is much much much much much faster.

I have a Dooper, re-mapped by Evolve (to around 130bhp), and the SD is better. Admittedly my Dooper is a PSA-engined version, not the classier BMW lump. The BMW engine is far more refined.

I test drove an SD today and liked it so much I have decided to trade the Dooper for one the dealer had in stock.


That might be your experience but it is not mine. I did a fairly controlled test drive on a Cooper SD. The route consisted of urban section, country lane section and finally a fast section (motorway standard triple carriageway). On the first drive, I was the passenger so that I could concentrate on aspects of the car other than driving. After this I drove the car on exactly the same route - this time concentrating on driving aspects such as roadholding, engine response etc. Immediately after this I got back into my Cooper D and drove the same route again. I agree that the Cooper SD is faster but the increased torque figures (305nm compared to 270nm on the BMW engined Cooper D) would not tend to suggest it is much much much much faster.

Hi guys,

Well, after doing the London To Brighton I've changed the colour of the car again... slightly.

Saw a lovely Laser Blue/White JCW and this decided for me. So the new spec is:

MINI Cooper SD
Laser Blue Metallic
Roof and Mirror Caps in White
White Bonnet Stripes
Chili Pack with Cloth/Leather Ray Carbon Black Interior
Sport Pack
Chrome Line Interior
Electric Glass Sunroof
Harman/Kardon Hi-Fi

Went to the dealers last night and changed the order for the third time... I'm happy now :) Can't wait for it to arrive, should be sometime in June.

Richard.

Very nice, but I'm not a fan of piano black because it always is either has fingerprints on or looks dusty.



you right about the piano black, finger prints AGGGH

nice spec

Sorry, but that is way off course. The SD (Sooper Dooper) is much much much much much faster.

I have a Dooper, re-mapped by Evolve (to around 130bhp), and the SD is better. Admittedly my Dooper is a PSA-engined version, not the classier BMW lump. The BMW engine is far more refined.

I test drove an SD today and liked it so much I have decided to trade the Dooper for one the dealer had in stock.


Fancy seeing you on here !
J

Here's my SD peeps

161751

Very nice.

Here's my SD peeps

161751

A Team or Japanese inspiration? :p:tongue:

A Team or Japanese inspiration? :p:tongue:
A team - of course I hadn't even dawned on me, I wondered why I have developed a taste for Snickers. - I ain't getting on no plane!

I too was really interested in the SD when I heard it was coming out. I've currently got a PSA Dooper which is great, but not QUITE fast enough: feels a bit flat sometimes. Before that I had a Fabia VRs (the old diesel one) which had fantastic acceleration (over a narrow band) but poor steering and quite roly-poly. So I thought the SD would have the best of both worlds....

Had a test drive, and yes, while it's certainly quicker it wasn't THAT much quicker. Not three grand quicker that's for sure.

I then tried a new BMW engine Dooper which felt somewhere in the middle, between the PSA Dooper and the SD, but closer to the PSA Dooper. So I've ordered one of them. Just couldn't justify the extra price for the performance gain on offer for the SD.... sorry MINI!

Can't wait to get it now. Gone for the HK Hi-Fi which I've been told is great.