Well, now that I am convinced there are no major roof leaking problems (particularly in cold weather), I am about to take the plunge and order my MINI Cooper S Convertible early next week for March 06.
I have two further questions that hopefully my MINI2 colleagues can help me answer:
1) Should I go for the Works kit or not? If I don't add it on as a factory build, then I won't have it as an add on in the future. Is it worth the 40bhp upgrade? Also, does the MCSC need the uprated Works brakes?
2) Do I go for full leather or not (I'm already including heated seats based upon previous advice!)?
For interest, here is the spec so far:
- Dark Silver or Cool Blue (not decided yet, so feel free to offer opinion!);
- Chili Pack (with auto air-con);
- 6 cd changer;
- Mirror Pack;
- DSC;
- Cockpit Chrono pack;
- Heated seats;
- Multifunction S/W;
- Visibility Pack.
Its all personal choice at the end of the day. If it was me then i'd probably run the car in and give it 10,000miles to make certain that you really are happy before parting with the cash to make it faster. Then i'd take it down GTT and get something like the GTT230 which is easily worth the money being half the price of the JCW : http://www.gtt.uk.com/packages.asp
I decided against the JCW kit when I first got my MCSC. I've had it a year now and I'm seriously thinking about getting it or a GTT kit. As boyr4cer says, perhaps it might be worth doing something similar? You can always upgrade at a later date
As for the leather, I have full leather in mine but I didn't originally spec it like that. I couldn't really say one way or the other, it's purely a matter of personal taste/budget
Hi
I have had my MCSC for 17 months now, and am happy to share my knowledge/experience with you for the following reasons, from new my MCSC was reasonably highly speced with really only sat nav being the major option that I did not spec from new. Now 17 months later it has
18" alloys/yokohama rubber
Full Aerokit JCW filter/exhast JCW stut brace
GTT 235 kit
Whalen shift
Denison i pod intergration JCW brake kit
As I said it has taken me 17 months to have the spec that I have detailed above and I have enjoyed every minute of taking the time to decide what was best for me, and this has and is I beleive a major part of the joy in owning a Mini. I have spent many an hour on this site and at the runs discussing the pros and cons of the various choices with other Mini nut's.
As we all know you will never get back in money terms what you spend so you cannot look at it in this way, the justification to me is the fun that the investment gives.
As for your spec I would sugest half leather, as it does not get boling hot when you leave the roof down in the summer, or freezing cold to sit on from dstart in the winter. Heated seats a must, and I would recommend the wind deflector, for motorway and winter driving.
Is 210bhp more fun than 170bhp-yes!
Is it worth £3500 (only £1000 at trade in)? -a question only you can answer
A JCW air box, pulley and ECU upgrade might only cost £1200 or so-but would be a warranty issue
The JCW brakes look nice but if i'm honest do not seem to have made much of a difference
Planning upgrades is all well and good, but few people can take a day off to travel around for upgrades
In addition one day you will want to sell your car-how much will you get back to spend on the next?
THink yourself lucky - as an owner of an MOC (an exceptionally good looking one at that!) JCW will not touch my car so I can't even get a nice exhaust fitted let alone anything else!
MINI One Convertible Hot Orange, Full Aero Kit, Heated Sports Seats, X-Lites, etc
I just placed my order yesterday as it is due for production in February 2006. I had the same thoughts as you about JCW. In the long run, if I was to resell the car, I would not get enough back to warrant the extra cost. Thus, no JCW. But I will consider the Dinan kit or others if I want more power after I get the car.
Last edited by badburro; Dec 8th, 2005 at 11:58 AM.
i ordered a cool blue/full dark blue leather MCSC on the 13th, and had the pleasure of test driving a factory JCW immediately before. although the extra power was fun, it didn't add much to the twisties (which are my favorite) and the accelerating fun was over too quickly. also, i actually prefer the higher voice of the non-JCW S.
i was a bit conflicted before the test drive, but now await labor & delivery with much anticipation and no regrets.
I haven't ordered yet, but I will be placing my order on Wednesday when the salesman returns from a course he is on.
I have decided against the Works Kit in the end. The reason, while I don't doubt 210bhp is lots of fun, I can't justify the extra £3500, and the £400ish per year increase in insurance premium (£990 as opposed to £610). I also keep cars no longer than 2 years from new, and the fact I will lose most of the £3600, means it doesn't make economic sense for me.
Another factor I had to consider is that I am upgrading from a 115bhp Megane CC, and so the extra 55bhp of the standard Cooper S Convertible is going to seem like a huge difference anyway. I want the MINI for its handling more than anything, something that my Megane lacks.
For those who are interested following my other questions, I have decided on the following spec sheet for a March 06 delivery:
- Dark Silver,
- Black Leather,
- CHILI Pack,
- 6 cd changer,
- Cockpit Chrono Pack (when spending this amount of money, I just can't take the risk of not getting used to the central speedo!),
- DSC,
- Mirror Pack,
- Heated Seats,
- Visibility Pack,
- Multifunction Steering Wheel,
- Climate Control upgrade.
If anyone thinks I am missing anything essential, please let me know before Wednesday!
Oh, and the salesman has promised to throw in TLC and a full tank of fuel for free. Should I be pushing for more or, as I suspect, is that as good as it gets?
Interesting question this and I have now had my MCSC for just over 12 months. I use it daily for work although as a family man it is a second car.
I use it for track days also and in terms of brakes the std cooper S brakes are definately left wanting and will over heat very quickly out on the track. I have gone down the modest upgrade route which is Braided hoses performance discs and pads and high performance fluid. the effect I am very pleased with and suffered no fade at all on my last outing to Bedford autodrome.
If your using it for road use only the brakles will be fine. As for power, is 170bhp enough well of course it isn't! but at the same time of course it is!!! Is it worth spending anmother £3500 on upgrading no in my opinion on this car but yes on a hard top. The MCSC starts to get very expensive if you start speccing it up and you will lose a shed load on resale if you get to carried away. Consider the GTT 220 conversion if you are adicted to power. You don't need auto air con for instance the std ac is fine. Leather seats - well thats personal - I like mine.
The MCSC is about looking good and I would focus on those areas. If you want a racer I would go for the more hard core hard top or an elise. The weight and softer ride do detract although not in a major way and you can still embarrass much faster kit. Also think about your tyre choice and consider a light weight wheel ie the bullets with Toyo T1R rubber or even better a set of Team dynamics pro race 1's which a few of the lads that do track days tend to use.
Oh 6 cd is old hat - Buy yourself an Ipod and get a wiring kit from Mikey the mini.
Consider the HK speaker kit - gets mixed reviews on here But I like it particularly in the convertible which needs it.
MFSW - I didn't go for it and wish I had.
Body coloured dash looks ace in my hyper Blue car!
i'll echo REHW's comments on the HK, you definately need it roof down motoring with "choons", and roof up too, as there is less sound deadening due to the fabric roof.
My MCSC does 350 miles a week, and the HK is the best "upgrade" I specced over my MCS.
I didn't go over board in my comment above of the HK other than to say consider it. I would order it every day of the week in the convertible and its an upgrade I wouldn't be without. The beauty of it over after market upgrades is it is very discrete!
I agree the multi CD is a waste. It does now play MP3's but so does the boost head unit. An ipod link sounds much better and allows easier updates-and costs only slighly more (including ipod).
A loud stereo is useful if the roof is down and the HK is worth getting to do this.
I assume you're going to order the wind deflector?
Body coloured dash is cool (not sure if you can get it in dark silver)
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