[spandya]

Hi All,
I'm brand new to the forum / site. I've made maybe a bold decision. The Porsche 911 (996) Convertible is going to be sold and replaced with a new Mini Cooper D. Petrol, congestion charge, tax, servicing (I could go on) but ultimately, could not justify the cost, considering I prefer driving into London than the trains. So, some input on my selection would be appreciated...

Mini Cooper D
Astro Black
Chili Pack
Aerodynamic kit
white indicators
white viper stripes
17" flame alloys
black and white cream line seats
WHite cream interior line
piano black dash
chrome line interior
DAB radio
HIFI system

Thoughts welcome!
Many thanks.

[Adit]

1. I would recommend getting the JCW aero kit which is a dealer option rather than the factory option aero kit.
2. If you can afford it get the factory sat nav as I believe it makes the interior look compete. (personal opinion)...

Hope this helps...

[spandya]

Thanks Adit. I have a think about the SatNav - not sure. Regarding the kit - I'll take a look around for pics of the two. Cheers again.

[BRG/Blk Cooper S]

I second the Sat Nav option (although mine is an R53 Cooper S).

Just seems like an essential component these days - so nice to get in and it's just there ready to be used.
Wouldn't ever want to go back to Tom Tom or no Sat Nav.........

Cheers, Geoff.

[billy.batson]

I wouldn't waste money on the Sat Nav just to make the dash look better! I think they are totally daft, get a 2008 AA Road Map for £2.99 instead. And I don't think you ever get any more residual value for a Sat Nav (which you do for example with Air-Con).

Otherwise your choice is near perfect, (except for the black paint which I hate but then that's a personal choice!) and you will get a lot more pleasure driving the Cooper than you ever did in the Porsche.

[Scrogg]

Why on earth would anyone want to spend four figures on something that is less accurate, less user-friendly and more difficult to update than a TomTom or Garmin?

Bugger the Nav and spend the money on something fun!

[MINI Poser]

If you are getting white stripes and a white roof, get the alloys in white! You'd have to be nuts to get silver!

Yeah they will take an extra 10 minutes to clean all of them properly, but if you didn't like cleaning then Im sure you wouldnt have decided on getting a black car!

[Lolance]

Second the JCW kit. and get a top of the range Tom Tom, not the super overpriced sat-nav!

[batou]

Quote: Originally Posted by MINI Poser (original)

If you are getting white stripes and a white roof, get the alloys in white! You'd have to be nuts to get silver!

Yeah they will take an extra 10 minutes to clean all of them properly, but if you didn't like cleaning then Im sure you wouldnt have decided on getting a black car!

Seconded, you be crazy to match that with silver alloys.

[FergusM]

Would dump the hi-fi upgrade and get the upgrade from Mikey.. NewMINIStuff.com

Would not pay the ££ for factory built system...but it does make dash look better.

Factory fit aero kit is awful..get the dealer fit JCW one and it will look much better.

Maybe worth spec'ing the sport button ?

[ChloeG]

I think it sounds really nice. Can I come for a drive! ? (Kidding)

[Jays 1976]

Quote: Originally Posted by spandya (original)

Hi All,
I'm brand new to the forum / site. I've made maybe a bold decision. The Porsche 911 (996) Convertible is going to be sold and replaced with a new Mini Cooper D. Petrol, congestion charge, tax, servicing (I could go on) but ultimately, could not justify the cost, considering I prefer driving into London than the trains. So, some input on my selection would be appreciated...

Mini Cooper D
Astro Black
Chili Pack
Aerodynamic kit
white indicators
white viper stripes
17" flame alloys
black and white cream line seats
WHite cream interior line
piano black dash
chrome line interior
DAB radio
HIFI system

Thoughts welcome!
Many thanks.

I'm new to the site too and am doing pretty much the same as you, although I'm selling an older 911/964. Very sorry to see the Porsche go, but I won't miss running 2 cars and the bills that go with Porsche ownership!

I spent a few hours at the Mini dealer yesterday and I think I'm going with a Cooper S, similar spec to what you've decided on but without the Chrome, all Piano black and with the anthracite headlining and LSD, black cloth with maybe the red leather seat bolsters, not decided on that yet. I drove one and I wasn't disappointed at all, thought it was a great car and a worthy replacement for the 911.

Good luck with selling yours and I hope it goes smoothly!

Jay

[Rakey]

Quote: Originally Posted by FergusM (original)

Would dump the hi-fi upgrade and get the upgrade from Mikey.. NewMINIStuff.com

Would not pay the ££ for factory built system...but it does make dash look better.

Factory fit aero kit is awful..get the dealer fit JCW one and it will look much better.

Maybe worth spec'ing the sport button ?

Agree, hifi is not worth the money

You don't need sat nav, its not user friendly enough for the money, far too expensive.

But can't believe no-one has said that you must get MFSW, an essential item to have.

Anthracite headlining would look good on it too

[Rakey]

Quote: Originally Posted by MINI Poser (original)

If you are getting white stripes and a white roof, get the alloys in white! You'd have to be nuts to get silver!

Yeah they will take an extra 10 minutes to clean all of them properly, but if you didn't like cleaning then Im sure you wouldnt have decided on getting a black car!

Didn't see any mention of a white roof, just black with vipers?

But disagree on the silver wheels with black and white roof, worked on my first one, white wheels can cheapen the look of the car IMO

[FergusM]

Quote: Originally Posted by Rakey (original)

Agree, hifi is not worth the money

You don't need sat nav, its not user friendly enough for the money, far too expensive.

But can't believe no-one has said that you must get MFSW, an essential item to have.

Anthracite headlining would look good on it too

Forgot about the MFSW...I love it.

Visibility pack I love...no scraping cars in the winter

...list could go on and on.... and the price goes up and up...

[spandya]

Hey - thanks all for your thoughts and opinions. Having so many option choices can be a good and bad thing I suppose and at the end of the day, it's all down to personal choice. Anyway, I've made up my mind....some will agree and others won't, but here goes....

1. Colour: I'm gonna stick with astro black (all round) with the viper stripes.
2. Bodykit: gotta be the JCW as opposed to the factory fitted aero kit. Thanks for your opinions!
3. SatNav: I'm leaving it out and will stick with the Tom Tom.
4. Wheels: I'm going to stay with silver alloy. I think white makes it look a little cheaper IMO. Call me crazy, but I've seen a few cars with this black/white/silver combo and it looks pretty good IMO.

Will call the dealer on Tue - he mentioned a delivery of around mid/late June. Anyone wanna buy a Porsche 996? :-)

Thanks again.

[Rakey]

Quote: Originally Posted by FergusM (original)

Forgot about the MFSW...I love it.

Visibility pack I love...no scraping cars in the winter

...list could go on and on.... and the price goes up and up...

Oh yeah, visibility pack, we have that and I'd have that again, its a good option to have

Quote: Originally Posted by spandya (original)

Hey - thanks all for your thoughts and opinions. Having so many option choices can be a good and bad thing I suppose and at the end of the day, it's all down to personal choice. Anyway, I've made up my mind....some will agree and others won't, but here goes....

1. Colour: I'm gonna stick with astro black (all round) with the viper stripes.
2. Bodykit: gotta be the JCW as opposed to the factory fitted aero kit. Thanks for your opinions!
3. SatNav: I'm leaving it out and will stick with the Tom Tom.
4. Wheels: I'm going to stay with silver alloy. I think white makes it look a little cheaper IMO. Call me crazy, but I've seen a few cars with this black/white/silver combo and it looks pretty good IMO.

Will call the dealer on Tue - he mentioned a delivery of around mid/late June. Anyone wanna buy a Porsche 996? :-)

Thanks again.

Think you've got a good looking MINI there with that colour and the JCW aero kit and vipers, silver Vipers might look good on there Totally agree on the wheels thing

Seriously consider dropping the hifi, as the NewMINIStuff.com option is better and cheaper and can be done when ever you want, so you could spend that money on options that can't be added in later like the visibilty kit and the MFSW

[jordangpboy]

Hey I had a Astro Black & White Cooper D a while back(Loan car) it had the JCW aero kit which really looked the part.

[MINI Poser]

Quote: Originally Posted by Rakey (original)

But disagree on the silver wheels with black and white roof, worked on my first one, white wheels can cheapen the look of the car IMO

Yeah but the difference is IMO, is that well...Im classy!

And I know what combo's look good.......coz Im the Poser!

[NeuroBeaker]

Quote: Originally Posted by MINI Poser (original)

If you are getting white stripes and a white roof, get the alloys in white! You'd have to be nuts to get silver!

Quote: Originally Posted by Rakey (original)

But disagree on the silver wheels with black and white roof, worked on my first one, white wheels can cheapen the look of the car IMO

Quote: Originally Posted by MINI Poser (original)

Yeah but the difference is IMO, is that well...Im classy!

And I know what combo's look good.......coz Im the Poser!

If he does say so himself...

I'm afraid I have to agree with Rakey on this one. In my opinion: white wheels do look good, but they make the car look a bit like a scaled up toy. If that's the look you're going for then, great (nothing wrong with it), go for white.

If you'd like the car to err on the side of sophistication rather than as a fun play thing, then I think silver wheels are the better option.

All the best,
Andrew.