[djmcs]

I am specing my Cooper S and finalizing the order this week. I am considering dropping the DSC, because I still get ASC+T, and possibly adding the NAV System.

Is the DSC System helpful or necessary? I will be using the car in the winter here in the midwest.

Is the NAV System really helpful? I am not a traveling salesman or anything, but I figure that it would be nice to have when you need it. Or is it really just a novelty that is unnecessary?

The other problem with getting the NAV is losing the speedo in the center (not sure if this is really a problem, just heritage), and also loosing the coolant gauge.

For those with NAV is it worth the money and do you really enjoy it?

For those with DSC is it really worth $500?

Any opinions?

Thanks in advance. I appreciate the help.

djmcs

[Martin L]

DSC is really worth it IMO. Lateral stability is amazing and since it's more of a safety feature, it's worth having
As for the Sat Nav I agree with you about the speedo and the ugliness of the unit. That's why I didn't get it. A much better solution is an Ipaq Nav system which I'll probably be getting.

[minimarkcs]

I had the same problem with speccing mine a coupla months ago. I eventually went for all the safety features and dropped the Nav system. I originally wanted the Nav. purely for aethetic reasons as the big 'frying pan' speedo didn't appeal to me. My wife talked me out of it though, (she knows how I'm gonna be driving this car) and wanted Airbags ect. I don't regret it, the frying pan has grown on me and now that I know what DSC does I'm more than glad its gonna be in there with me !! 11 days to go............

[ice]

I have both. I love gadgetry. I personally like the looks of the nav system over the giant speedo but I realize that may be a minority vote.

Regarding usefullness, I have been using a very simple handheld GPS unit for 4 years. It has no maps so it only tells me range and bearing to a selected waypoint. It is more toy than tool but I love having the info available.

[minimarkcs]

Another thing about Nav. is - Do I really need it ?
A travelling salesman/ company rep. may feel the benefits although the ones I know are glad to get off the road for a coupla mins. to ask the way at a garage.
If you know where you are going then you don't really need to be told where to go (literally?).
It may have a bearing on resale price as Nav. is at the mo. very trendy and a car without it is worth much less to a lot of peeps than a car with. (Just another rambling thought)

[Fullupo]

Think I must be on teh last few days before my minis production, and im thinking about re-adding the nav to my spec, simply for the look of it, and also you can now apparently get the tv tuner thingy for £280. Im very rarely going to use it so its completely irrational, but think it looks great myself, especially when u get in the car and the mini logo comes up. In reality I suppose i could spend the money on a plasma tv at home or something, but i dont wanna be in the situation where everytime i get in my mini i look and wish it was there. Im in the opinion that if im going to buy something it may as well be exactly what i wanted, for an extrra £20 odd a month or wahtever. errr, i dunno, specing your cars a nightmere! I change it every 2 minutes, mini salesman must hate me!

[minimarkcs]

There's also the thing, however you spec your car you'll always end up wishing that you did something different... Hooray for the Aftermarket.

[mrhollio]

Didn't get the NAV cuz the speedo looks too cool (IMO). I really thought the iPaq-NAV solution would be the best of both worlds (speedo and NAV).

But... if you are not looking for different addresses every day then its just pretty pictures moving across the dash. I got the iPaq NAV solution but don't really use it that often.

I originally thought the DSC was questionable but I really like it now.

[EBMCS03]

NO! forget nav... keep the DCS... nav is useless IMO i mean unless u goto a unknown place everyday... use maps.. hehe yahoo maps work great!

[Spy Car]

I figure if I only need the DSC to "save me" once during the life of the car it will be worth having.

I've already read enough posts by previously dubious DSC owners who were saved to not regret having it in my car.

[chiph]

If you have a need to drive to parts of the country/state/town where you've never been before -- get the Nav -- otherwise $5 paper maps work fine.

You should get the DSC in any case - one little near "oopsie" and it'll have paid for itself.

Chip H.

[GNDMini]

We very glad that we got the SatNav. Obviously is terrific when you are not sure of the route but even when driving known routes is great to see where you are and be told when & where to turn at junctions (the voice is pleasant to listen to!). Also, when driving windy roads it will tell you (big arrow on the screen) the tightness of the approaching bend, which is very useful (even better with a co-driver)! In addition the small speedo next to the tacho is much more convenient when driving. A little talked abouit use is in learning to speak french ... I am now fluent with "turn right in 100m", "move across to the left lane", "take the 3rd exit at the roundabout" ... etc. :-)

[goobot]

I ordered my MCS a few weeks ago, expecting July delivery. Waiting, waiting waiting...

I debated on the DSC, eventually decided that if I ever lost control in rain/ice/snow (I live in the midwest too), and I hadn't spent the $500 for DSC, I'd never forgive myself.

If it's a choice between the nav and DSC + $700 for other options, I'd choose the latter. Nav is cool but not worth $1200 IMHO.

Good luck!

-gb

[mikehome1]

Order the sport package with all weather tires.The 17 runflats are harsh and the DSC isn't for racing,but the DSC is a must for snow,rain,and gravel and salt.The DSC can be a lifesaver.

[spinner]

For the extra money, forget the NAV system. It's a headach to program a destination to begin with and forget changes on the fly; you have to stop and type/scroll each letter in............... terrible input system. Once in they can be recalled though. But my biggest complaint are the maps, Only one half of my town is listed, the other half is blank !! Most of my destinations have also been incomplete. I called the company to see if I could get updates and asked why the incompletes......... the answer was "it takes a long time to program all of that information in " Now what is that? My CD covers from central PA to New England. If I want to go west, to Chicago for example, I have to order a second CD. Each CD cost $125.00. Even though I have the system I still use "Streets and Trips".

[Fullupo]

It should be on dvd now tho, which i believe covers the whole of the US

[ice]

I want to add that my girlfriend loves the nav system. It really keeps her mind off the fact that I never let her drive.

[birmingham_smiths]

I don't have DSC and having never previously had any drivers aids (other than ABS) - I don't miss it at all. I have the ASC+T and it is just annoying and so I usually turn it off.

It's funny that when I first started switching off ASC+T I noticed that the finnesse had just disappeared from my driving. When I first turned it off I just couldn't drive properly anymore. Over doing the throttle being all over the place on slippery roads.

It didn't take me long to learn to drive properly again - I now control the car instead of the systems. DSC would be more of the same problem....

As for SatNav I was worried I was wasting my money, but its been the best part of the car. I love the high tech centre console and the speedo in front of me. No more arguments with my wife (not over navigation anyway!!).

I now know where I am, the names of rivers and canals, short cuts I had never spotted and how far I am from my destination, wherever I am. I also have lots of very jealous friends.

Go for the SatNav and keep your driving skills up to scratch.

[ashley adam]

I would agree go for the Sat Nav, I selected Sat Nav after driving 2 MCS and one with and the other without Sat Nav and could not get use to a speedo telling the whole world how fast i am driving. The Sat Nav is all BMW and works a dream -

[Bigtwistee]

I chose no on both. Of course ive never been lost in an ice storm.
To me neither were sports car accessories. While I admit that the nav system is not without a certain geek appeal, I did not like how DSC felt under my right foot during my test drive(s). I toggled it on and off and to my preference and way of driving I got better jump and bite off the line with it off. Salesdude insisted that mine was a minority opinion. Am I the only one who doesnt mind spinning both tires?