2003 Cooper "S" Changes

Sylvia ???

uhmmmmm..Sylvia ?? Who is Sylvia ???

And when you say 2003 model year....any idea if you are talking about a September 2002 intro in the States ?

Since I am further down on the waitlist and don't expect to receive my car until the end of this year or first quarter of '03, I guess I'll be getting these features

Lexus in the US did the same thing with the IS300 where they left out the armrest in the car during the 1st year the car was available, sort of a dumb design decision to have left it out in the first place. In regards to the cupholders, I don't think I'll using those much as I plan to take advantage of the MINI's go-kart like cornering abilities during my drives

If you get stock seats in full leather, the armrests will be a most useful feature..........

Grrrrrrrrrrrrr! Now they decide to add an arm rest!

Hopefully I'll be able to get one retro-fitted at the dealership.

Re: Sylvia ???

rj said:

And when you say 2003 model year....any idea if you are talking about a September 2002 intro in the States ?

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BMW's model year is not like most other marques...it's calendar year rather than September-August. So, I wouldn't expect to see any '03 MINIs until '03, not this September. This is probably why the MINIs are '02s -- it would be quite a rip-off to get an '02 Cooper S in May/June if the new models were coming 3 months later.

As far as the '03 changes mentioned here: armrest and cupholders? Puhleez...oh, oh, where do I line up...No thanks!

Shawn

kshapiro said:

For what it's worth, Sylvia told me yesterday that an armrest will be part of the interior in 2003, and the cupholder situation will change because right now you can only fit a sida can there because of the toggle switches. Pretty soon you'll be able to take your 'Big Gulp" with you I guess. Also, she said they'd be adding a few colors.

I believe this goes for the Cooper as well.

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sida?

Re: Re: 2003 Cooper "S" Changes

Kinster said:

sida?

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I think that it is a typo for "soda" meaning a 12 oz. can of Coke, Pepsi, etc.

(or Lilt if you are in the UK )

I thought armrests belonged on repmobiles?!!! Very un-MINI.

BMW model year

BMW's model year is not like most other marques...it's calendar year rather than September-August. So, I wouldn't expect to see any '03 MINIs until '03, not this September.

I have to disagree with you there re: BMW's model year, at least in the US of A. We ordered my wife's E46 on Memorial Day 1999, and took delivery of the MY2000 3 series in August, 1999.

Re: BMW model year

rj said:

I have to disagree with you there re: BMW's model year, at least in the US of A. We ordered my wife's E46 on Memorial Day 1999, and took delivery of the MY2000 3 series in August, 1999.

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Ah, yes, but you're highlighting a special occurance, which is the crossover from the E36 to the E46. At this time, E36 stock was waning heavily. There will always be special circumstances--but generally if you look at history the new models arrive in the new year. I have the special priviledge of living right near BMW Canada, so I have a unique opportunity to see what comes when. All the newly designed E46s (the '02s with the softer front ends) just started arriving in December.

Shawn ('95 E36 owner)

You lot are getting excited over armrests and cup-holders ?

Blimey, I didn't know there were so many snior citizens round here! You'll be wanting automatic sanatogen dispensers and electronic lap blankets next!

Re: Re: Re: 2003 Cooper "S" Changes

BruceK said:

I think that it is a typo for "soda" meaning a 12 oz. can of Coke, Pepsi, etc.

(or Lilt if you are in the UK )

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or does he mean Cider?

I was kind of wondering about that myself. I am probably not due to get my car until December. It doesn't make much sense to get a car that will be a year old, from a year model point of view, when you drive it out of the showroom. It would make more sense to wait a month and get the new year model. This could make a big difference in the trade-in/resale value down the road.

Stan

Viscount Charles said:

You lot are getting excited over armrests and cup-holders ?

Blimey, I didn't know there were so many snior citizens round here! You'll be wanting automatic sanatogen dispensers and electronic lap blankets next!

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How will they be upholstered, do you have pics of them in spacecloth? How is the quality of the stitching?

stanMINI said:

I was kind of wondering about that myself. I am probably not due to get my car until December. It doesn't make much sense to get a car that will be a year old, from a year model point of view, when you drive it out of the showroom. It would make more sense to wait a month and get the new year model. This could make a big difference in the trade-in/resale value down the road.

Stan

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Stan;

Given that logic, you'd wait for the 2005 or 2006 model. Besides, I'm willing to bet the prices go up pretty soon, as the Cooper, and especially the "S", seem underpriced to me. And if it's true that the 2002 allocated "S"s are already called for...well, MINI can start to up the anty a little, can't they?

Ken,

I agree about the possibility of a price hike. That is almost a given because I think it is normal to try and hold the price down for a new car introduction. But I can't agree what you said about waiting. When you trade a car in the book value is always based on the model year. This is one reason dealers usually reduce the price or offer incentives to get people to buy cars late in the year when the new cars are just around the corner.

Stan

I must say im dissapointed because I own a 2000 infiniti G20 and the dashboard slopes right over the cupholder almost identical to the mini and everytime I grab a burger or something I have to do some balancing trick to keep the cup between my legs it's anoying oh well the car is still my chioce maybe I might just hold out if it's bad enough as I want a mini cooper "S" anyway .I waited this long I can wait a couple more months.

I can't believe you drive a car holding a burger with a cup between your legs - how on earth do you keep hold of the cell phone?

You wedge the 'phone between shoulder and the side of your chin. Ash can still be flicked off your cigarette by tilting your head towards the open window and tapping the cigarette on the top of the slightly open glass as you hold it between your teeth. However, you have to take your eyes off the map you were reading .....