Hi my girlfriend just ordered a Mini Hardtop S and I thought I would join the forum and look around and learn. I am looking forward to her getting this car, I think we will have fun taking it on road trips like we do mine. I drive a '13 Focus ST Nice to meet you all
Welcome to the Madness, you picked a good forum, there are other Mini forum choices but they are sub optimal
Thank you for the welcomes. I am interested to compare the mini and my ST but lets see how often I get to drive it haha I do have a question for you guys, are any of the warranties or maintenance packages that you can get when you buy the Mini worth it?
That depends, if the MINI is going to stay relatively stock with mostly cosmetic enhancements then yes. You will still want to perform oil changes between what MINI recommends. Keep receipts, buy only OEM Filters if doing yourself. Many of the M/A Sponsors offer package deals on 4 or more oil filters. The other thing to keep in mind is how long you intend to keep the car. If after 3 years you're looking elsewhere then it's not a great idea, you'll not get the money back out if it in a sale. You do have time, you do not have to purchase the extended maintenance or warranty at time of initial purchase.
We are planning on 7 to 10 years with the car, my family usually has them for 10+ years. That is good to know about the extended maintenance and warranties. I do most of the work my self but it might be nice to have them take the initial work load. Have you guys used the invisible car bra or the other protection they offer for the paint?
You can get the clear bra for just the bumper and front of the bonnet or the bumper and whole hood. IMO a clear bra is a must have for a MINI. They are prone to rock chips particularly on the front of the bonnet.
Picked up the mini Monday! I drove it a little, might get to try it again this weekend. Where should I post a comparison between the mini and my ST?