[Red Dwarf]

Hi everybody,

Well, I been reading the forums avidly here for the last week, and decided I should say Hi and seek sage words from some very informed people... you lot!

Believe it or not, I'm about to go from a 4 litre V8 Jaguar S-type to a Cooper. I'm due to place my order on Saturday after having a test of an MC vs MCS last weekend. After much soul searching I decided not to go S as I really wated the red/black interior, and IMHO, I also prefer the nose of the cooper over the S.

I very nearly brought one last Jan, but opted for the Jag as I do some long distance's. Howvever, after a year of luxury driving, I'm starting to begrude the money it costs to run (last service was £770), and I remembered how much I enjoyed the test drive last year. (It didn't help that I had to help a mate of mine get a classic for his misses at Christmas too)

Anyhow, I was going to ask people's thoughts on whether I should go for Xeons, SS+, Silver or Anthracite interiors, but you know, it's just dawned on me that I'm enjoying making these decisions, and as this is the first brand new car I've ever purchased (I'm 36) I'll put what I'm going for now and let you know over the weekend if I stick to it!!!!

CR/W
Chilli pack
Red/Black/ Briliant silver interior
Xeons
17" S Spokes (I'll get used to ride, it looks so cool...)
Single CD
Vis. Pack
ASC+T
MFSW
Heated mirrors / washer jets
Manual air con
(My limit was 15K, but just crept over due to Xeons)

There ...done it. Anybody what to bet it changes before Saturday? Anybody what to try to sway my decisions anyhow...?

God this is going to be fun. (Shouldn't be such a pain to fit in the garage either!) Can hardly wait.

[NEMINI]

If its cold where you are I'd suggest heated seats .....mmmmmmm so nice, they are even useful in warm weather, just turn them on when your back is sore and the heat helps relax it

Otherwise good luck and welcome to MINI2

[AidenL]

Congrats and welcome............

Speccin' is half the fun of owning a MINI !

[NEMINI]

and if your name is Aiden it takes several years

[dansmini]

Sounds like a great spec, congrats! I agree with you on the interior (check my gallery)!And it is also refreshing to find someone else who opted for the Cooper instead of the S!

[Mini Montoya]

Yes, nice spec, same as mine with the exception that I went for the 6 disc CD changer, 5 spoke alloys and no vis pack.

I have standard SS, not the SS+, and I have to say that the ride is still a bit too firm for my liking with the runflats. There are many threads on this, and suffice to say that I will be changing to 'normal' tyres before the start of summer for maximum summer driving fun.

I 'downsized' from a Ford Cougar V6 to a Cooper and find the Coop much more fun to drive. I too could have had an 'S' if I wanted, but although the S was great to drive, I preferred the fun of the turbo-like kick at 4k revs (S power delivery was much more linear and having had that already with the Cougar I was after a different driving experience) and the look of the Coop's nose finalised the decision, along with the benefits of cheaper insurance and better fuel economy.

I'm still learning after 5 months how best to drive the Coop, after initially taking it easy during engine break-in (and having been used to power being available at pretty much any revs in the Cougar and my cars before that) and finding that the mid-range punch was obviously lacking, but that is easily solved by keeping the revs up - I was tending to change up through the gears too early.

So, keep it on the boil and you'll have a great drive. Good luck - the speccing and waiting period is a great part of the MINI-owning experience, made even better when delivery day arrives.

[Intrepid]

Just sold my lovely Cooper.... Think your spec is BRILLIANT!!! I like the patina interior... Also cd boost is pretty good. Depends what your priorities are... As for CR/W - perfection!

[Red Dwarf]

Quote: Originally Posted by Intrepidmini

Just sold my lovely Cooper.... Think your spec is BRILLIANT!!! I like the patina interior... Also cd boost is pretty good. Depends what your priorities are... As for CR/W - perfection!

How did your patina interior wear?

[Intrepid]

Quote: Originally Posted by rjm67

How did your patina interior wear?

Well it didn't really.. looked as good when sold as it did when I got her. To me I thought the patina looked a bit better quality than the other options... have gone for it in my new Mini too, with no regrets...

[SoggyCornFlakes]

Sounds like a great spec - and welcome to MINI2 Watch for a the nutty chinky lady out your way, she drives a green/red Cooper around Thetford

[Martin L]

Welcome to MINI2

Looks like a mighty fine spec to me

[Red Dwarf]

Done it..

Ordered my Cooper today, I only changed one thing in the end from my spec in the first post, I went anthracite for the interior as I thought the chrome door handles on the inside contrasted better. (I'm going to put the chrome dial edges on once I get it I think)

I'll find out on Monday when delivery day is, but it can't come too soon. At last I can feel as though I'm becoming a proper mini owner.

[Deadliner]

Quote: Originally Posted by rjm67

Done it..

Ordered my Cooper today, I only changed one thing in the end from my spec in the first post, I went anthracite for the interior as I thought the chrome door handles on the inside contrasted better. (I'm going to put the chrome dial edges on once I get it I think)

I'll find out on Monday when delivery day is, but it can't come too soon. At last I can feel as though I'm becoming a proper mini owner.

What's about chrome dial edges? Do you order them from your dealer? Can you install it by yourself or take it over there? Some insight on the price?

Thanks! And welcome to the stressful waiting period! I'm also in the same position

[Red Dwarf]

Quote: Originally Posted by Deadliner

What's about chrome dial edges? Do you order them from your dealer? Can you install it by yourself or take it over there? Some insight on the price?

Thanks! And welcome to the stressful waiting period! I'm also in the same position

They are aftermarket products for the speedo and other dials. I think there are around 12 or 13 in total, but the cost is in excess of £200 for all of them. Fortunately you can buy them seperately (pairs)

Two months... I'll go mental...

[Deadliner]

Quote: Originally Posted by rjm67

They are aftermarket products for the speedo and other dials. I think there are around 12 or 13 in total, but the cost is in excess of £200 for all of them. Fortunately you can buy them seperately (pairs)

Two months... I'll go mental...

Thanks for the info!

Have you seen "Vanilla sky"? You can probably go to such a corporation where they freeze your body, and instruct them to un-freeze you and bring you back to life in 2 months when you're Mini will be delivered

Otherwise you can just wait! I have half a month ahead and seems soooo long. (But I don't have a car till then!). Well, we both must practice our skills in... patience!

[Xanthia]

Sounds just like what I ordered (no vis pack, though - and I'm adding aftermarket audio). Oh yeah, and I had to have bonnet stripes.

And I too changed from Silver to Anthricite at the last minute. Felt less multicolour with the black/red interior. Now I just have to wait until April.

Congrats on the excelent spec!!!