[Sejanus]

I may be the only person who cares about this (in fact it would make my odds of getting a car better if I was), but in case anyone else wants the automatic model here is the info I discovered. After talking to three dealers in the Bay Area it turns out that the CVT option will not be sent over on any Coopers for about another 6 weeks. I guess those of us who prefer a slightly more relaxed style of driving will have to continue to obsess awhile longer. Anyone have any other info on this? Anyone else even planning on getting a CVT?

[CVT is for me!]

I'll be getting CVT too, but I'm going to wait till 2003.

[tsipple]

That's not true, but there aren't very many CVTs shipped in the first batch of cars. They're supposed to become more numerous, though, as time goes on.

[DavidB]

I have driven the CVT and would not recommend it, if really took the edge off the driving experience, all noise and no go, and definitely not worth the wait(or the money) If you have a left leg I would recommend the Manual. IMHO

Dave

[Sejanus]

Quote:

Originally posted by DavidB
I have driven the CVT and would not recommend it, if really took the edge off the driving experience, all noise and no go, and definitely not worth the wait(or the money) If you have a left leg I would recommend the Manual. IMHO

Dave

I drove one and liked it just fine. I used to log 500 miles a day as a shuttle driver often in some of California's worst traffic and the thought of driving in that with a standard transmission does not appeal. I would rather lose my left leg than have to drive a manual on San Francisco's hills or in its traffic on a regular basis. I've driven manuals and I've driven automatics and call me lazy, but I just prefer the convenience of an automatic. I have considered putting up with a manual for the added power of the "S" because I feared the Cooper might be underpowered, but after driving the CVT it was more than adequate for my needs. Heck, I've still got my Mustang if I really feel the need to thunder down a road.

[Bill S.]

We had our Copper and Cooper S test drives here in Southern California on March 22nd. "Awesome," is all I can say! We have both a Cooper -w- CVT and a Cooper S on order. For those of you who are tall, (I'm 6'8"), let me say that the Mini, (even -w- the sunroof), has more front head and leg room than my Porsche 911T or our Mercedes 300E. I sat in a Mini One last summer in London, and I was amazed at the efficient use of interior space.

As to the Copper -w- CVT, the dealer has not yet received his initial shipment. According to our dealer, he will receive just 2 CVT's in the middle of April: 1 will be his demo, the other will be our car.

The specs. on our Cooper CVT are: Liquid Yellow -w- white roof & mirrors, checkerboard roof graphics, black leatherette, sport package, leather steering wheel, chrome bumper inserts, 16" 5 star alloys, and xenon lights. (It was "take it or leave it" as to how the car was equipped ... and we obviously "took it.") Essentially, this will be my wife's car. The "S" will be my car, and delivery is expected sometime in June.

Bill S.

[Sejanus]

Quote:

Originally posted by Bill S.

The specs. on our Cooper CVT are: Liquid Yellow -w- white roof & mirrors, checkerboard roof graphics, black leatherette, sport package, leather steering wheel, chrome bumper inserts, 16" 5 star alloys, and xenon lights. (It was "take it or leave it" as to how the car was equipped ... and we obviously "took it.") Essentially, this will be my wife's car. The "S" will be my car, and delivery is expected sometime in June.

Bill S.

Cool, a two MINI family. I suspect that like you my CVT will be whatever they get in, though I will probably balk at a sunroof. My dealer said he was getting more alocated to him and I encouraged him to order at least one in either red/white or blue/white no sunroof and he said he would, so I am hopeful. Was the checkerboard roof a mandatory "extra" or did you choose to have that added?

[Bill S.]

"Was the checkerboard roof a mandatory "extra" or did you choose to have that added?"

Our dealer seems to be pretty cool about not "packing" the cars. The roof graphic was my wife's idea, (hay ... its a small price to pay to keep her happy!), and the cost is only $285.00. However, I have heard stories about some dealers adding Lojack units or expensive undercoating.

Bill S.

[rabbitfeat]

Sejanus,

I want an automatic, too, for pretty much the same reasons as the ones you mentioned. I like the convenience of it. I also used to live in the Bay Area(and plan to move back eventually), so I know what you mean about the hills in the city.

I talked to a couple local dealers yesterday, and they told me they wouldn't have automatics for test drive for a couple of months.

They also said they wouldn't be taking customized orders for a couple months from now. Then it'll be 2-3 months to make and deliver the car, they said. So I guess I'll just sit tight, see how everyone likes the car, etc. then place my order in a couple months. But 5-6 months is a long time to wait to get my car!

[Sejanus]

Quote:

Originally posted by rabbitfeat


I also used to live in the Bay Area(and plan to move back eventually

Well who wouldn't want to?

Quote:

Originally posted by rabbitfeat


I talked to a couple local dealers yesterday, and they told me they wouldn't have automatics for test drive for a couple of months.

They also said they wouldn't be taking customized orders for a couple months from now. Then it'll be 2-3 months to make and deliver the car, they said. So I guess I'll just sit tight, see how everyone likes the car, etc. then place my order in a couple months. But 5-6 months is a long time to wait to get my car!

Unless you are absolutely dead set on a specific set of colors and options you might try encouraging them to ask for a few of your most wanted aspects in one of their first pre-specced CVT Coopers. Since you are likely to buy it and competition for the CVTs is probably much less than for the standards they might be willing. My dealer implied he'd be willing to take my tastes into account without actually ordering me a customized car. I can't swear he'll do it so we'll see. It might get you behind the wheel sooner. It is a good test of customer service if nothing else.

[lauracas]

Went to Long Beach and ordered my CVT Sunday, CVT untested and driven. I liked the manual *a lot* but couldn't see myself taking the manual out on the 405 during LA traffic. Ugh. Hope the CVT will not cut much on responsiveness.

The dealer said he's call me around Mid April to test drive the CVT. I should be getting mine around mid June, he said. Don't know if he is being optimistic, but they have been pretty upfront with me the whole time.

The car I ordered -- Indi Blue, White top, with Sports Package, Xenon lights, multifunction wheel and hardon karman speakers. No Sun Roof. (Tony, the saleman, said he had been getting a lot of requests from people to nix the sun roof -- apparently people want the whole roof for the graphics).

I figure even if I don't like the CVT on the test drive, I can change my mind and get my deposit back.

[PigLick]

Yah, I have a feeling the CVT will actually be fairly popular down here in the So cal region, manual is just a pain in the butt in traffic. I'm going for the CVT too (though the stick I test drove was extremely nice!). The dealer I went to, Assael in Monrovia, said they wouldn't be getting any CVTs until about June, which is the same time they're going to start taking orders. However, it seems other dealers are both getting CVTs sooner and taking orders sooner. Besides, considering the other things I've heard about Assael, I'll be avoiding that place from now on, even if it is the closest to me.

PigLick

[DavidB]

Quote:

Originally posted by lauracas
Ugh. Hope the CVT will not cut much on responsiveness.

Unfortunately that’s exactly what it does, unlike an automatic where you feel the gear change and the increase in torque the CVT (Crap Vague Transmission) increases the revs, pretends to change a gear (which it does not have) increases noise and that’s about it. Don’t misunderstand me I love The MINI and quite frankly can’t fail it but my advice particularly if you have not driven a CVT transmission before is wait and drive before you buy.

Dave

[Marsh]

Hi,
I have driven a CVT MINI for a 100 mile round trip. Having driven CVTs before, I was amazed at just how good it was. Certainly acceleration 30-50 seemed better than the manual. There was very little of the "branded heffer" whine you associate with CVTs. If anything, the CVT on its sports setting had a brilliant rorty sound.You can also manually over-ride the CVT with its spectronic type transmission.
I was really impressed.

We are currently holding off buying a MINI to give time for various design fixes and quality control measures to filter through. Once we are satisfied, we will buy. I have no doubt that we will get a CVT having been so impressed by what we have seen.

Cheers
Marsh

[rabbitfeat]

Lauracas, that's weird, I'm pretty sure Long Beach told me they wouldn've be taking customized orders for another couple months. Maybe I'm further down on the interest list than you?...

Just out of curiosity, how much did they require you to put down as a deposit for your order?(if you don't mind saying)

[Mini1380 two]

I just specced out my CVT with the dealer yesterday. I got to specify all of my options exactly to what I wanted. I think that I was able to do this because there was already a slot for Chili Red Cooper CVT for the dealership. I signed up in the Lounge on MINIUSA and the proposed build date is April 26th, with a dealer estimated delivery date of late June or early July.

If I really wanted to go spirited driving, I would get the S, but since I already have a Mini, 1275, right hand drive, that is what I will drive for the spirited weekend trips, etc... The new MINI is for the second car and I didn't want to just get an econobox.

[lauracas]

Quote:

Originally posted by rabbitfeat
Lauracas, that's weird, I'm pretty sure Long Beach told me they wouldn've be taking customized orders for another couple months. Maybe I'm further down on the interest list than you?...

Just out of curiosity, how much did they require you to put down as a deposit for your order?(if you don't mind saying)

Hi, rabbitfeat.

I'm among the top 40 folks listed at the dealership -- I checked in every few months during the last year to make sure they remembered me. I fell in love with the car when I saw a picture of it at the Paris Car Show.

I'm thinking my dealer is going to look through the manifest for the minis coming in first, then talk about custom order. When the CVTs are coming in June, I think he'll get something with the options I want -- I'm getting the sports package with some pretty easy add ins, like the speakers and the chrome bumpers.

I won't say how much I put down but it was a fixed deposit and refundable.

[Bill S.]

I just returned from my dealer here in Southern California. The dealer had originally indicated that those of us who were high on the list, (I've been on the list since last July), could spec. our S's for the June delivery. WRONG! Apparently, the word has come down from factory in Oxford that the production of May cars, (due in the States in mid June), will all be pre-spec.'d by the factory. I actually saw the inventory list of S's for the dealer's June delivery. (You wouldn't believe some of the options that the factory included or omitted ... like a whole bunch of cars -w- leatherette and no premium package ... and believe it or not .... quite a few without sport packages??) Anyhow, to make a long story short, my S will be Dark Silver -w- white roof and mirrors, lapis blue/black leather, and premium & sport packages (only one of a few cars to have both packages). Nonetheless, I am very happy to get what I got!

Actually, we will be a 2 Mini family. My wife's Liquid yellow Cooper CVT is due in mid April. I just hope that she lets me drive it!

Liquid Yellow Cooper CVT -w- white roof & mirrors and leatherette; and,
Dark Silver Cooper S -w- white roof & mirrors, premium & sport packages and lapis blue/leather.

Bill S.

[rabbitfeat]

Quote:

Originally posted by lauracas

Hi, rabbitfeat.

I'm among the top 40 folks listed at the dealership -- I checked in every few months during the last year to make sure they remembered me. I fell in love with the car when I saw a picture of it at the Paris Car Show.

I'm thinking my dealer is going to look through the manifest for the minis coming in first, then talk about custom order. When the CVTs are coming in June, I think he'll get something with the options I want -- I'm getting the sports package with some pretty easy add ins, like the speakers and the chrome bumpers.

I won't say how much I put down but it was a fixed deposit and refundable.

Thanks. Yeah, they wouldn't tell me what number I was, but I think from what they did say that I'm within the top 100(or around there).

I'm pretty particular as to what I want and don't what, especially because of my budget, so I'll just wait until I can order those things. I think the old beater I'm drivin' now can hold out 'til at least late summer/fall.

[Bill Sz.]

Good news! I just received word from my dealer that our Cooper CVT is at the port at Port Hueneme, California. According to the owners' lounge, the ETA was April 13th., but now it looks like it might be a day or two sooner.

Bill Sz. Liquid Yellow Cooper CVT -w- white roof & mirrors, sport package, leather wheel, chrome bumper inserts, xenon lights and 16" V-spokes.