Choosing a mini cooper..some advice please...

[popester]

Hi all! I know you have probably heard this million times but I need a hand choosing spec for a new mini which is to be leased through Lombard (not my personal choice) as a company vehicle....the budget is tight and won't concern you but so far I have:

Colour: Pepper White...is it too plain? I haven't seen one, I like it but I can't really tell from the official website pictures....

Chili Pack

Remote Control Alarm: Worth getting or not?

A.S. Control: as above (depending on driving style I guess?)

Trip Computer (just a gimmick?)

6 CD Changer

Manual Air Con or sunroof?

would appreciate any thoughts to help my decision...

much obliged

popester

[KenL]

Colour: Pepper White...is it too plain? I haven't seen one, I like it but I can't really tell from the official website pictures....
I've seen one at the dealers and liked it. I've got silver which IMO looks fantastic. MINIs look good in all colours of course.

Chili Pack
I've got a ONE so no personal experience. Seems good value and the seats and wheels look really good.

Remote Control Alarm: Worth getting or not?
Probably depends on where you live. MINIs are probably very difficult to steal with their BMW immobiliser and deadlocks. I didn't bother.

A.S. Control: as above (depending on driving style I guess?)
Again I didn't bother more from a cost point of view. If you can afford it get it.

Trip Computer (just a gimmick?)
Not worth it IMO.

6 CD Changer
I got the single in dash one which sounds really good. Prefer the single rather than using up some of the boot space.

Manual Air Con or sunroof?
Although the sunroof looks smart you would get more benefit from the AC. My last car had a sunroof and I hardly used it due to the wind noise ir created above 40mph.

Good luck in your choices.

[dcfkan]

Pepper White with Black Roof and black bonnet stripes look really nice

Chili Pack is worth it

Alarm is very effective and worth it for my peace of mind

ASC + T was a bargain so I was told, and if you do not have it, you will have a missing toggle switch on the panel

Trip computer - I did not bother, a toy to me

6 CD Changer - it was Number 3 on my must have list after Climate Control and Full Leather upgrade - I am too lazy to change the CDs, and without glove box, I have nowhere to store the CDs

Air Con or Sunroof - sunroof does make the inside look more airy, but I opted for Climate Control instead. I would go for air con rather than sunroof everytime (I do not like driving with the windows open in case of flying bugs entering the car and distract me )

Hope this helps.

DK

[HarryHBMCC]

I didn't get an alarm -- don't know if they are available yet here. Don't really miss it.

CD changer -- didn't get it but we have glove boxes here and I have an MP3 player instead.

ASC+T is really good. For real fun in dry conditions it is nice to turn it off but in sloppy weather it helps keep the MINI under control. ABS/EBD/CBC are great but for control while giving the car gas, ASC+T is the ticket.

I'm not a sunroof person. I have the manual AC and it works well.

Harry

[KenL]

As for storing CDs. I bought one of those wallet thingies out of Halfords. It holds 32 and sits nicely on the shelf under the steering wheel.

[RYN]

i seen a pepper white mini at the BMW garage on the motor mile at perth. it had a black roof and s-spoke 17's and looked really smart, although i don't know if it would be everyones cup of tea.

Does anyone know if there are photos of any pepper white ones in the gallery?

[HarryHBMCC]

Use the search function!

I already did. See Varse' gallery, http://www.mini2.com/gallery/persona...?gallery=Varse

Interestingly, however, the one with bonnet stripes looks distinctly blue white while the one without them looks like the off-white beige I am told it really looks like. I've never seen one in the paint.

Harry

[Red & White Cooper 2]

Just my opinions but ..

Pepper White - wouldn't really be my choice, but hey - its your car.

Chili pack - good value. I didn't opt for it - worries over harsh ride and run-flat tyres, but the SS+ is no longer standard improving the ride and as a company car you won't have to worry about the cost of run-flats.

Alarm - decided against - worried about false alarms and my budget was tight.

ASC+T - my last car had traction problems in the wet so I went for this.

Trip computer - I've got better things to do!

6 CD changer - can't comment.

Aircon or sunroof - not a sunroof fan (I have had them before). I went for aircon - my first car with it. To be honest, I could easily live without it, but the summer has been poor to date!

I think we've all been through the mill choosing the options, but at the end of the day, the Mini isn't about equipment, its about driving fun.

[alexcroft]

Colour: Pepper White...not my personal choice, but each to their own. I think black with a white roof looks sharper than any other colour. Put some nice wheels on it, take a look at mine in my gallery

Chili Pack...definately!

Remote Control Alarm: Get it! Thatcham Cat 1, good choice.

A.S. Control...Some call it a gimmick, but if it's good enough for an M3, it'll do for my cooper! Very good in the wet.

Trip Computer (just a gimmick?) A gimmick, i didnt get it.

6 CD Changer - good choice, but not essential. Single cd will do fine for the moment no?

Manual Air Con or sunroof? SUNROOF!!! It's great! A MUST!!

So Popester, where in Hertfordshire are you from? Private message me mate.

let us know...

Alex.

[Solwood]

Well

Chilli - do it - we bought a Pepper packed car and we miss the sports seats. The 16" wheels will also increase your tyre choices in the future.

CD - the single CD is great - get the boosted cassette as well as the 6cd if you choose this - best standard fit system I have heard so far.

Alarm - your insurer will like it and you have peace of mind

Pepper White - Hmmm - we did not like the indi blue in the dealers but in th eflesh it looked so good !! Indi is my favourite colour in the Cooper now.

Manual Air Con we have this and it works - it can get bleedin cold - icicles could be possible! I am also not a sunroof fan - something else to leak/break and I like to minimise me bits that are exposed to the sun - top of the head is a bit too exposed!!!

ASC - the mini on the 15" has a lack of traction at take off - 16" are meant to be better - If were us now we'd take it

IMHO - avoid the stripes - they look tacky!!!

They are good fun you will enjoy owning a cooper

[SoggyCornFlakes]

Quote:

Colour: Pepper White...is it too plain? I haven't seen one, I like it but I can't really tell from the official website pictures....

Wollaston dealership in Northampton has a pepper white, black roof, Chili Cooper as demo car, plus a few bonus features on it

You're only in Herts so a quick zip up M1 at the weekend would be a worthwhile trip to see it first hand. I took it out for a run and got some interesting looks , mind you placed an order for red & white in the end, delivery due September 1 and can't wait

[Markie]

Don't know what is included in the chili pack since it's not offered here in the states but if it doesn't have the sports seats I would certainly add these. They are a real improvement over the standard seats.

[nam]

hey..
just something about the alarm...
the car has a standard immobiliser...
my dealer told me that it is a cat 1.. i.e. gives the most consessions for insurance and so on..
so adding an alarm wont give u any extra discounts...
may be worth it for peace of mind, deterant for incompetent car thieves and so on...

[Tommy Gunn]

My Pepper White

[Electrc109]

I have ordered a pepper white MINI, (which is due to be ready Saturday!) and have yet to see it in person