Countryman Speccing Questions

[Rocco9999]

Long time no posts (currently have a JCW hatch).

I'm really struggling with the spec of my new car
Can someone assist!

So far its:

• Cooper S
• White with black roof & cooper stripes
• Surf Blue colour line bits
• Black "Composite" 18" wheels
• Big sun roof (Wife really keen on this)
• Harman Kardon + Visual Stereo and Connect (iphone app support)
• Basic Cooper S "ribbed" cloth seats (special on the S, blue stitching)
• Some interior bits (Chrome, antracite headlining)
• Other bits like Auto AC, MFSW, Vis Pack, arm rest, heated seats - all things I couldn't loose from my current JCW

But do I need 4wd? I really like the idea of going "off road" or at least on some grass. I also fancy powering out of roundabouts in the wet with the tail out

Also, I think £2500 for Chilli is a rip off! I can only make £1100 of value in it (For me of course). This is assuming I dont need the xenons and i've never had a mini without xenons so.....Will it look naff without them? they are £700!

Oh and this would be my first mini (of 3) without full black leather - but as I say you only sit on the seats!

So i've already gone over my budget - can I get away with cloth seats, no xenons and 2wd???

Thanks!

[MINICooperMurph]

If you are only planning to keep the car for 2-3 years I would think about the seat coverings maybe when it comes to resale. Half leather at least IMO and bluetooth to make it easier to sell on.

[Rocco9999]

Thanks, forgot to say bluetooth is standard.
I do quite like the standard S seats and normally I would trade-in but I take your point.
I think its £500 for half leather without Chilli pack....

[Rocco9999]

Quote: Originally Posted by Rocco9999 (original)

Thanks, forgot to say bluetooth is standard.
I do quite like the standard S seats and normally I would trade-in but I take your point.
I think its £500 for half leather without Chilli pack....

The "S" seats:

[Rocco9999]

interestingly the spec i've listed looks identical to the US launch/press car here:

2011 MINI Countryman – Cooper S – Interior View - New Car and Used Car Pictures on Lincah.Com



and with the same roof and black wheels spec:



Rear seats:



Front from top:

[Rocco9999]

Black is looking good too:


New Picture (6) by ashworth_rich, on Flickr

[Rocco9999]

anyone know about tinted glass yet??
cant find it which is odd...could be standard?

[Dee71]

I've just had exactly the same dilemma!

I didn't go for the chili pack in the end, even though the mini salesman said that he had only ever sold one cooper s without it, because:

1. I rather like the wheels that come as standard.
2. I didn't want leather seats - I always feel hypocritical having leather when I'm a vegetarian.
3. I was absolutely at my limit and it was a lot of money to pay for stuff that I didn't really want or need.

So, I added most of the chili pack stuff except - the seats and wheels (obviously), the xenon headlights (never had them) and some extra storage (?) but I did add in other extras that I personally wanted (can't remember off hand but could dig out details).

Didn't go for the All4 thing basically because of cost. I did read somewhere that it's not really an off-road car (one reviewer rather cuttingly said it was suitable only for a gravel drive). However, it is supposed to be great if that's not what you are looking for.

No idea about tinted glass. Don't think it's standard, certainly no-one mentioned it when I ordered the car.

It's a tough call. I've ordered an automatic so as far as resale is concerned, the chili pack matters less that the gearbox. It's quite a limited market and those of us looking for automatics have to be a little less fussy.

Good luck.

[Rocco9999]

thanks Dee, glad to hear its not just me!

I think "packs" are only appealing if you are getting something more thrown in for free. This certainly used to be the case with the chilli pack - now it just seems to be done with a calculator and a whole load of extras!

The prices have certainly gone up since 2008 when I got my JCW. Back then the Vis pack was about £350 not £470 as it is now! Leather was cheaper and HK stereo £350 not £800!

Mini are certainly pushing the boundaries of a small car, my wallet and my patience!

Still, I think i'll stay with the cooper s cloth/neoprene seats and have old skool lights and save myself £1500!

[Leedz]

[quote=Rocco9999;3775867]
I think "packs" are only appealing if you are getting something more thrown in for free. This certainly used to be the case with the chilli pack - now it just seems to be done with a calculator and a whole load of extras!/QUOTE]

I'm having the same dilemnas with speccing up a new hatch, there are too many different packs now, and they don't seem to offer particularly good value.
What really annoys me, though, is when two 'packs' overlap, and you end up paying for the same thing twice as MINI won't knock anything off!

[Blusox]

After playing with the configurator I've come to the conclusion that the Chilli pack is indeed a rip off

If you're going to take the Media package then also adding the Chilli package makes no sense. Adding the pepper pack would give you everything minus the bigger alloys, half leather and dark silver dash. Adding these seperatly would cost a further £1260, and considering the chilli pack is £1460 more expensive than the pepper that makes a saving of £200 for pretty much nothing!

Even comparing the Pepper and Chili packs you only save £5 by going with the Chilli pack over getting the Papper and adding the missing options. If there's even just one thing you're not too worried about in the Chilli pack then the Pepper pack it the better option.

[Rocco9999]

Quote: Originally Posted by Blusox (original)

After playing with the configurator I've come to the conclusion that the Chilli pack is indeed a rip off

Even comparing the Pepper and Chili packs you only save £5 by going with the Chilli pack over getting the Papper and adding the missing options. If there's even just one thing you're not too worried about in the Chilli pack then the Pepper pack it the better option.

That is a disappointment...I've always thought mini were pretty fair on pricing

[cappy]

Hi guys

The spec on my Cooper D will be as below, I went a bit overboard but hey what the hell!
Mini Cooper D in Light white
Leather Gravity carbon black
Chilli Pack
Vision pack
Alloys 17"5-star in black.
Rear spolier
Black Bonnet stripes
Chrome line interior
Roof and mirror caps in black
Sun protection glass
Rear view mirror auto dimming
Sport seats front
Anthracite roof lining
Colour line carbon black
Door elipse and downtubes dark silver
Sport button
Harman Kardon (most importantly of all)!!

I cannot wait for it to arrive!

We are also looking at some dealer fit options such as black spotlights, black jack side repeater trims etc.

[Rocco9999]

Did you not want the visual radio and connect?
For me, this is the biggest improvement in In-Car-Audio since MP3's
You can access all your information from your iphone including music with cover flow, videos, facebook integration, google local search and it will even speak your text messages

also, no MFSW or heated screen?

[cappy]

I had to stop due to money!!!

What's mfsw?

Didn't want the connect as don't have an I phone etc!
Heated screen is a pain as if you get a stone chip they won't repair it only replace!!!

I thought I had specced enough