[shiredweller]

Went to the dealer last month and ordered an 03 Cooper without extras. Got a half mile from the dealer and realized that the radio in my 02 Golf was better than the one in the Cooper so I went back and ordered the HK upgrade. This is the only extra I have on this car. Has anyone else made it away, or wanted to make it away from a dealer without extras.

Sincerely,
Plain Jane Cooper

[mikkol]

Sorry I don't have a plain Cooper but just thinking if you were getting HK just coz you wanted a better stereo system then the aftermarket ones might be a better "option" for the similar or less amount you pay for HK. I heard that the HK system is very hard to get it upgraded. So if sooner or later you are still not satisfied w/ the HK's quality, you'll have more work to do.

Just my 2 cents

[shiredweller]

mikkol,

Gee, wish you'd been there when we purchased our Mini and selected the HK system, that an aftermarket one would have been better.

Jane is at port in England as we type, so the die is cast.

Please send your actual 2 cents so we can start saving up for a better stereo system.

Sincerely, Plain Jane

[adgrimes]

I have to say that the HK system is very good...
Lets face it, all systems that are standard, are a bit crap...
To retrofit the same kit that the HK has, would cost (apparently) ~£3500...
In the UK the HK upgrade costs £350, and for that price you arent EVER going to find an aftermarket system thats matches it for that price...
If you after head pounding bass that will bounce you down the street and an incredible amount of volume, then I say go after market, but if its quality (without spending thousands), the HK is superb...

Edited - I also have to say that I spent in the region of about £3000 on extras... And the HK was one of the best ones I got... Will definately be ordering it in my next Mini...

[bobnobski]

Im suprized the dealer did'nt try and sell you the chili pack also

[shiredweller]

That is good news (Mr./Ms. Grimes) about you finding the HK system to be of quality, thank you for sharing that positive note. Alway nice to hear something positive about what you've purchased.

We have no interest in extreme loudness or booming bass, so looks like we should be happy with the HK. I usually turn the bass down in the VW in order to "hear" my music better. Love the highs, and for me, the bass should only compliment the highs or blend with, not dominate. A good test for me is how Alan Parson's Project sounds on a system or Joni Mitchell. There are so many instruments just periodically used and "hidden" in Joni Mitchell's music, that unless you listen on a good system, you can't even hear them. We've rediscovered her in the VW.

The mini dealer tried to offer a few packages to us, but graciously got the message and left the pressure out of the situation when he realized those packages wouldn't fit out needs. I don't know what the chilli pack is, but I am sure my hubby does.

Thanks again!

Shiredweller

[cooper4us]

Our '02 Cooper CVT is also a member of the Plain Jane club....omly options we have is the CVT transmission and the MFSW with cruise control.

MINI's are best enjoyed plain.

[adgrimes]

I test my stuff with Madonnas album - Ray of Light... Also checkout Ozric Tentacles - Pungent Effulgent for great sounds and highs...
Also I like using the best of Emmerson Lake and Palmer album... Love being able to hear them actually plucking the strings of the guitar... really shows off a decent system...

[yeti]

We added the automatic air on the order we put in yesterday. Apart from that and the CVT, it is base. The auto air is on my car, so my wife knows that she'll enjoy having it. Since the base comes with such good features and options included, there is no need to add on a whole lot to make it a great car!

[shiredweller]

Thanks for the idea of Emerson, Lake & Palmer, perfect music, I can hear that synthesizer(sp)now......Oooooooooooooo what lucky people we are, Mini Cooper!

[goin440]

My Cooper is from the Copy/Paste club. I got a few little things, but no packages.

[politcat]

i bought my car off the lot. all i have is cvt and mfsw, indie blue/black. (i added xm radio, awesome!) not a day passes that someone doesn't ask me about it. unreal!

a car is simply not a good environment for listening to music. i love listening to music while driving, but i can't understand why people spend so much on car audio systems.

that said, madonna's "ray of light" is a great pop album for judging a system's quality. the synths cover the whole range.

on the other end, a recording of stravinsky's "rite of spring" on deutsche grammophone (any conductor will do) is perfect too.

[mikkol]

Quote:

Originally posted by shiredweller
mikkol,

Gee, wish you'd been there when we purchased our Mini and selected the HK system, that an aftermarket one would have been better.

Jane is at port in England as we type, so the die is cast.

Please send your actual 2 cents so we can start saving up for a better stereo system.

Sincerely, Plain Jane

Sorry to kinda mislead the information, I mean, the HK system is good, but my ears always tend to behave better after a few yrs and by that time I know I have to look for a better system So to me, the aftermarket system is better suited to my taste. But I am sure you will enjoy your HK system too. Don't worry

[shiredweller]

Not too worried, my ears are quite mature, behave well, and, being ears, knew what to listen for.

Sincerely, Jane

[monica]

yeah add me to the plain jane club. I'm regretting it. I mean I was in a rush so I didn't bother with every little niggley option like "leather wrapped steering wheel", I figured that since I got the leatherette the steering wheel would be wrapped in SOMETHING! Nope it looks and feels horrible and it bugs me everytime I get in the car. I mean it was only $150 it wass'nt like I couldn't afford it I was just in a rush. I haven't seen a car with a steering wheel like that since the mid to late 80's!

[shiredweller]

Other than your regret over the steering wheel cover, what else do you wish you had ordered?

[jimskater]

Sorta plain Jane here--

I got floor mats & the MFSW steering wheel on my Cooper.

As to what I would add--bonnet stripes (at least); spoiler; the soon to be available front/rear fog kit; and 16" wheels, in a 5 spoke pattern

Money no object, I'd go full boat Cooper (not S) 6 CD/every add on storage bit/aero kit/stay with 16" wheels/Sports Plus Package/sunroof, etc. then do the JCW package. Of course, the JCW Cooper package would have to be available in the US. Are you listening MINI?