[-Jonathan-]

Hello, I'm 17 years old and I live in Florida. I've been fortunate enough to save up enough money to buy a new Mini Cooper S, which will be my first car! I feel very privledged and honored to be able to get a new Mini as my first car. Although... there is still much work to be done to pay off the entire Mini. Plus insurance...and gas...but hey, it's a Mini, gas isn't too much of a problem.

We are going to order my Mini from the factory, so I'm trying to decide what I want on it, without going overboard. I'm kinda on a budget.

So far I've decided on,
Mini Cooper S 2006
Dark Silver with black top and mirror caps
Black/Gray "Two Tone" Leatherette
Interior Surface Anthracite
Manual Transmission
Premium Package
Sport Package
Harmon Kardon
Armrest
And that external audio jack, so I can plug in music from any digital audio player. Why get a 6 disc changer when you can store thousands of songs with harddrive digital media?

Anyway, we will be ordering the car in the next couple days, and I'm trying to decide "to stripe or not to stripe"? Does anyone have any opinions/suggestions on whether to stripe my dark silver Mini with black bonnet stripes or not? I've seen many similar combinations with the stripe and without, and I still can't choose.

If anyone has some good pictures of a dark silver Mini with or without the black bonnet stripes, please post the link to the pictures here.

By the way, I'm kinda already over "budget", but I'm wondering if you guys know of anything else that might be a "must have".

Thanks,
Jonathan

[doona]

It does not have a black roof... but it does have stripes... have also added a picture before I added the stripes

-Dan

[Pamster]

Stripes get my vote - especially with a black roof

[MarkW19]

Like Doonas, but with thicker Viper stripes

[dogpaddler]

I had magnetic stripes on my old 03 MCS. Put them on when I was in the "mood" for stripes. Took them off when I "wasn't in the mood". Worked great.

[-Jonathan-]

Quote: Originally Posted by dogpaddler

I had magnetic stripes on my old 03 MCS. Put them on when I was in the "mood" for stripes. Took them off when I "wasn't in the mood". Worked great.

Are they safe for the car (no scratches etc)? What do they look like? How much did they cost? Would they stay on when you did "go-kart turns"?

Sorry for the mass of questions. Trying to decide soon.

[dogpaddler]

Quote: Originally Posted by -Jonathan-

Are they safe for the car (no scratches etc)? What do they look like? How much did they cost? Would they stay on when you did "go-kart turns"?

Sorry for the mass of questions. Trying to decide soon.

I didn't get any scratches, but I also had a full bonnet invisi-shield. The stripes looks exactly the same as the ones available from the factory. They were about $40.00. They stayed on the car when I was going over 100, so I don't see that as being a problem. The thing is to make sure your car and the stripes are clean before you put them on, and take them off frequently so dirt doesn't get between the stripes and the car, potentially scratching the paint. I plan on getting the magnetic stripes for my cabrio when it arrives next month.

Hope that helps.

[Tigger, Eeyore & Roo]

If in doubt, just get them fitted. If you really don't like them (highly unlikely), you can always heat them up and peal them off.

Tigger.

PS What is this thing with armrests all of a sudden? This is a driver's car, not a fat slob executive car (like the Volvo that I use for work!) If you're having fun really driving the car, then an armrest should be of zero use
Discuss....

[-Jonathan-]

Thanks for all of your responses guys.

The car has been ordered, and I'm very happy right now. I can't see my car from the owners club page until Monday though. The database shows the wrong car, and the dealership let me know in advance that it would show the wrong car/info until Monday.

I'm going with the stripes first. If I don't like 'em, I'll simply take 'em off! MOTOR TIME! VROOM!

By the way, the dealer says my Mini should arrive by the end of March, mostly likely. Is that fast for an order, or about the normal time?

[-Jonathan-]

Any advice on manual shifting? The first time I ever used manual shifting was on my mom's PT Cruiser. She sold it before I became "natural" at it. Now I haven't touched a manual transmission for a year, and I'm hoping that I won't kill the Mini while I get my manual skills back.

So any tips on keeping my Mini's transmission, clutch, etc healthy?

Thanks,
Jonathan

[Wannabee]

Quote: Originally Posted by -Jonathan-

Any advice on manual shifting? The first time I ever used manual shifting was on my mom's PT Cruiser. She sold it before I became "natural" at it. Now I haven't touched a manual transmission for a year, and I'm hoping that I won't kill the Mini while I get my manual skills back.

So any tips on keeping my Mini's transmission, clutch, etc healthy?

Thanks,
Jonathan

Just remember to push the clutch in

Seriously you will be fine after 2 day's of driving stick. it will take you a little bit to get used to but it's like riding a bike!

PS: My car is the same as yours and i put Viper stripes on it (just felt it was a little more blokey) and i love em

PM if you would like some pics.

[goldcountrymini]

Well something to think about, the factory bonnet stripes are put onto white vinyl, which means that if you get any chips in the bonnet strips, it will show through white... I suggest some aftermarket strips that are printed on black vinyl... which is a little better quality than the factory ones. I hope this helps.

I'm also considering some bonnet stripes... I have a DS/B MCS... Take a look at cooperflags for some stripes for your MINI...

[Olly.]

Stripes definitely get my vote

Tigger - I have an armrest because i spend a lot of time commuting and it makes the drive more comfortable I don't get to see country lanes as much as I would like

[-Jonathan-]

Quote: Originally Posted by ollymale

Stripes definitely get my vote

Tigger - I have an armrest because i spend a lot of time commuting and it makes the drive more comfortable I don't get to see country lanes as much as I would like

Armrests are also good for when you want to sleep in your Mini...

More often though, I'd use it when I'm stuck in traffic, or waiting to pick someone up.

[Tony Craggs]

Both my previous Cooper and current S have been striped. It just finishes the look off! Mind you I now need to replace one because a stone recently hit my bonnet and actually ripped the stripe as well as denting the bonnet.

Perhaps I should slow down and not overtake?

[Spy Car]

Hey Jonathan,

I'd nix the stripes. Granted they may look alright in the short run. But they get shabby looking quickly.

And in the Florida sun do you really want to burn the stripe marks into the paint? I don't think so.

Go for "long-term" thinking

And congratulations!

[-Jonathan-]

Will the stripe marks really burn into the paint?

The car was ordered with the black bonnet stripes, but I can get them taken off, I guess, when the car arrives at the dealership...

[goldcountrymini]

Quote: Originally Posted by -Jonathan-

Will the stripe marks really burn into the paint?

The car was ordered with the black bonnet stripes, but I can get them taken off, I guess, when the car arrives at the dealership...

I wouldn't worry about discoloring of the paint from under the bonnet strips over along period of time... If you take care of your MINI and paint, you shouldn't have any problems. Just make sure you wax your MINI. The thing that I'd be concerned about is the fact that the factory bonnet stripes are printed on white vinyl. When chipped the white section will show through...

[-Jonathan-]

I guess when they finally get ugly I'll take 'em off.

[Porco Rosso]

Yeah, the stripes are free with the Sport Package so why not try them out? As you say, you can always pull them off if they start looking bad or you just get tired of them.