parents buying me a new cooper

[alkalineToto]

so my parents are going to buy me a new 2007 MINI cooper. I see how everyone seems to really loves the mcs, but is it not worth getting the regular mini cooper? my dad really doesn't want to buy the S because he says 120 HP is way more then enough HP for such a small car and im going to go out and kill myself if he buys the S.

right now the estimate of the mini cooper they are going to buy me is 25k ish, soooo should i try to convince my parents to buy me a completely basic S, or get the regular cooper with the sports package, premium package, leather seats, ect

oh btw im 17 and this is going to be my first manual car.

[fm.illuminatus]

Given your age and that is it your first manual car, just be happy with the regular Cooper. You'll save a huge amount on gas, it's still lots of fun, and it's not all that slow. My first car was an '02 Mini Cooper.

[NCMINIGUY]

the base cooper will be a great car for you. it is also a VERY competitive autocross car.

for 25k, I'd configure it with these options:
sport suspension
navigation
premium package
sport package
metallic paint
rear fog light
and your choice of color line interior

I'd spend the money on NAV over leather if it comes down to it.

[Bears]

Standard Mini Coop for first car is a good idea. You can kill yourself with something more powerful later :D

Post pics when you get it. :)

[alkalineToto]

alright, thanks guys :)

and ill be sure to post pics :)
and i think ill be buying a separate nav system from costco.
its harder to add in leather seats later

[turbospool]

i dunno i say s, since you cant add that later lol

[condor27596]

honestly i think the regular is fine but then me myself and I
dont really have the need to go 200 mph.

by fine i mean plenty fast and sporty.

i have the 2007 with auto +sport package.

the sport package gives the fog lights now.

it will be MORE than plenty fast for a first car with manual.

for $25k i'd go with the sport, premium, and leather, and
cold weather package as the minimum.

anything else you can get on it would be a plus plus.

[Shivan000]

I've got a 2003 base Cooper, and as long as you get the man tran, it's going to be pretty zippy. Not as fast as the S, but I've never really had any problems.

Technically it's the wife's, but she's still learning. For the past year and a half. Believe me, I haven't minded.

[sprp85]

Get a S cuz u will regret it..

[kamaqazi]

I got a regular mini cooper for my first car i got it in 2006. it was an 06 mc 5spd. it went fast enough for me to lose my lisence for 6 months ahahah. well anyways i sold it 2 months ago and got a 328i. but its deff a sick car i loved it with a few things liek intake exhuast and springs it make driving a lot more fun. Also you will regret not getting an s. i really wanted to get an s after abotu 6 monhts i got bored wasnt fast enough.

[99Civic4690]

id say stick with the Base model...

honestly bad things happen when you mix turbo + low driving experience.

Im 17 myself and have been driving my Manual '99 civic that has 104hp for a year and its fine for me... getting a Turbo Mini youl end of either
-recking it
-crashing it minorly
-tickets tickets tickets
- hitting a guard rail on the highway

I had too many close calls(of all the listed above) with my Chevy s-10 that was supercharged, my daddy-o took his chevy back and i bought my Honda.

anywho just be happy with the Base...be grateful that you are financially good enough for a 25k car and do you (and your parents) a favor by not recking it and embarrassing your parents

wait a couple years before you go below a 13lb per HP rating

[hecuter]

For a first car, I'd get the S, but it depends on how long you're going to keep it for. If you plan on keeping this car for 5+ years, get the s, because once your skills and confidence improves, you'll get bored of the basic version. But if this is just a stepping-stone car, go for the basic version, because it'll be more forgiving.

I started off with a 100hp MKII Jetta, and after I got used to it, I was ripping around with her in parking lots and snow drifting. But she got boring quick, so I swapped to my current car after 2 years. It's all relative to your ownership time frame.

ps: you have nice parents! show them you appreciate the car by driving safely when you get it.

[alkalineToto]

:) thanks so much everyone

my dad planning to drive the car till i graduate for college and then give it to me... so have to wait quite a while till i can call the car mine. while it is technically my dad's car, he will teach me how to drive stick and i should be 100% confident in my manual driving skills.

what we ordered:
2008 dark silver mini cooper S w/ black top and black bonnet stripes
sunroof
white turn signals
auto AC
10 spkr sound system
front/rear fog lamps
16" bridge spoke wheels
comfort access

coming end of January, cant wait

[gjhsu]

Awesome! DS/B looks really nice in person. I see y'all went with the 'S'. Torquey little car, with a good bit of torque steer, so watch it if you romp on the gas in a lower gear. Good luck with the wait, it's a killer, haha.

[peteymedic]

bump

[hecuter]

bump

why the bump? :confused

[PG123]

Go for the S...You wll have so much more fun with it.

[hahaLIFE]

I've driven the S and I loved it. If your parents are buying it for you, why not try to persuade them to get you all the goodies as well?

[Donedirect Phil]

Base is still a ton o'fun.

[Bmuurr325is]

get the base with bi xenons...thats what i got...leatherette too...not that cloth...

[odascoo]

dang you should have considered a MKV GTI...my parents bought me that, and i was 17 also..got it for 23500 out the door..its a great car..just my two cents please dont hate on me

[bfdbatt2]

i'm 17 and my daddy is buying me a mini.........barf.

:rolleyes

[SilverBeam]

i'm 17 and my daddy is buying me a mini.........barf.

:rolleyes

You don't have anything positive to add, then don't post in the thread :rolleyes

Congrats on your new car, make sure you sign up for this, it will help you immensely on the open road:

http://www.ggcbmwcca.org/?page=calendar&id=292

[ohnoes]

Wait, so your dad is actually buying the MINI for himself and you won't even get to drive it till you graduate from COLLEGE (4-5 years) but yet you claimed he was buying "you" a new MINI? Wtfban.

[tblue3cibm]

noice

[alkalineToto]

Wait, so your dad is actually buying the MINI for himself and you won't even get to drive it till you graduate from COLLEGE (4-5 years) but yet you claimed he was buying "you" a new MINI? Wtfban.

O_o? im going to college next year

[SilverBeam]

Don't worry about what other people say

[ohnoes]

O_o? im going to college next year

O_o, how does that contradict or disprove what I was saying? It doesn't matter if you're going to college tomorrow, you won't get the car for four years. You made it seem like he was buying you a new MINI now. You can approach things differently if he's buying it for him versus for you.

[alkalineToto]

O_o, how does that contradict or disprove what I was saying? It doesn't matter if you're going to college tomorrow, you won't get the car for four years. You made it seem like he was buying you a new MINI now. You can approach things differently if he's buying it for him versus for you.maybe reread my other post
I didn't say graduate FROM college i said graduate FOR college.

[alkalineToto]

Oh, and I wasn't trying to brag or anything, we when I first made this post we weren't even 100% positive we were going to purchase a mini. I came here for genuine advice on S vs non-S.

[SilverBeam]

Seriously ohnoes, give it a rest. At least he's going to college! I'm so sick of people giving young members issues on this board. I'm pretty close to start rallying for bans for people who can't give them a break.

[ohnoes]

maybe reread my other post
I didn't say graduate FROM college i said graduate FOR college.

Oh, my bad. So you're a junior or senior in HS? So it's either seven months or a year and seven months before you get the car. Not too bad. Enjoy the car.

[pbraun]

:) thanks so much everyone

my dad planning to drive the car till i graduate for college and then give it to me... so have to wait quite a while till i can call the car mine. while it is technically my dad's car, he will teach me how to drive stick and i should be 100% confident in my manual driving skills.

what we ordered:
2008 dark silver mini cooper S w/ black top and black bonnet stripes
sunroof
white turn signals
auto AC
10 spkr sound system
front/rear fog lamps
16" bridge spoke wheels
comfort access

coming end of January, cant wait

That's a wonderful configuration! Nice car! you'll love it. (And I sell them for a living, right now! )

[Zimmy330]

Seriously ohnoes, give it a rest. At least he's going to college! I'm so sick of people giving young members issues on this board. I'm pretty close to start rallying for bans for people who can't give them a break.

Oh crap...she's even on the MINI forums!!

[JuankEvo]

I would get the S or none!
Like all of them said before, you are goingt to get bored that the car isn't fast enough!
Anyways, it's your first car so, enjoy it! :ok:

[JuankEvo]

nevermind, but, you're going to get the S when you graduate from college????
Damnnnnnnn! :

[burtonchild05]

i wish my parents wouldve bought my car, woulda saved me a ton

[hypetrain]

mmmmm S's