[yazinsky]

Hello -

Tomorrow - I am going to order my MCS. I have figured out this much - I want and need

1 black body and top MCS
with Premium Package
with Cold Weather

For the interior, I am thinking the black faux leather and dark grey interior looks best from the configure tool at mini. My only fear at that it is too dark, and perhaps too safe a choice.

I defidently don't like the light gray dash, but other than that most of the interiors look great. I hope there will be enough examples on the floor to decide. Any recomendations are appreciated.

I have two actual questions,

Is the Sport package necessary?

I like the idea of most of the extras but are they worth it. Its hard to judge. 1250 is alot of money for most things but compared to the cost of the car it seems small enough to spend so as not regret not having a feature.

The features

DSC -- Is this really much better than the ASC?
I never went to a track, not that I won't, but I wonder if I'll get to use it.

17' Tires -- I live on the east coast - with all manner of weather, so I would have to get the all season tires -- but to be honest I think I like the rims for the 16' V rims better that or at least as much as the 17' rims. Again I have never been to a track, so will the 17' be much better than the 16s for normal use?

Xenon lights - I never had these on any car. I think with an all black car and features that are "flashy" are good. But is there a visible difference between the Xenon and regular lights. I read all the pasionate posts about these lights and would like them. I could see on a country road at night, having massive amounts of lights will improve safety.

Fog lights - never had these but as with the Xenon, they seem worth it.

So it seems like, unless I can think of a reason to get DSC or Tires - I would be better off getting the lights seperate at 640 and spending the difference on

rubber mats
tires locks (sympathy to the guy in Seattle)
boot net
license plate frames
Gas

My second question for those who are still with me --

Is should you buy or lease a mini

I was thinking of getting as much as possible together, as a down payment and paying it off to own.

Then I spoke to a friend and he had a story where he bought a car -- it was wrecked, while parked, 6 months later and the insurance company didn't give him what he paid or the original price but what it was worth then. So now he swears by putting as little down as possible and leases the car, should you want to buy it, at the end of the term, you can and the monthly payments are much lower. Also if it is damaged while under the lease, you are not as heavily invested. Which sounds good to me, so I am wondering why I wanted to buy a car, and why when my brother wanted to lease a car, I persuaded him to buy it instead.

Can anyone shed light on, buying and leasing, experiences and recommendations?


Thank you very much for any advice. I can't imagine how people had to buy cars before without the internet and the advice of friends, I am glad I don't have to.

Take care.

[NEMINI]

If you drive alot of miles (which is typical for MINI owners as we love to drive our cars) a lease can get very expensive if you have to buy extra miles.

Personally I don't like leasing, you never actally own anything, kinda like renting an apartment, you always have to ask someone else if you can do what you want to do to it.

All cars lose some value once they are driven off the lot, however, MINI's have by far the highest residuals of any car currently sold.

Living in NY where we do get snow and ice I never considered not getting DSC, to me $500 is a small price to pay for increased safety, plus it certainly can't hurt any future resale value if I were to ever part with it.

17" tires give a bit stiffer ride and I agree with you I like the 5 star 16" rims the most. But to me its an asthetic point which will vary for each person.