Buy Now or Wait for 2024

For my 2021 SE, I'm glad I chose the Iconic model. I really like the quality of the leather used for the seats (mine are Satellite Grey) in my Moonwalk Grey/black top SE accented with the Energetic Yellow blade and mirrors. Back in 2020/21, only the Iconic model came with the larger 8-inch center touch-screen, too.

The Head-up display and the parking sensors (I make more use of the front ones than the rear ones) make a big difference to me. Someday, I hope to become comfortable with the Parking Assist, but I found it scary the one time I tried it. You may also benefit from MINI working harder to get the Iconic models built and out the door than the lower-level models.

What color(s) top and mirrors will frame your beautiful Island Blue gem?

 

Looks great! I was really torn between Island Blue and British Racing Green myself. Ultimately chose BRG since I already have a blue car (my Mach-E) in the garage.

I'm generally a bigger fan of black wheels, but I must admit those look great on the Island Blue!

 

It's so terrible when wives are practical! Because you're loathe to trade any of your cars for your SE I'm curious about your stable and which vehicles will be candidates for replacement. I can't remember if you already have one or more EVs. After your SE arrives I'll be interested to read your report explaining when you leave the house which vehicle you choose to drive and why.

I predict that if you keep visiting this forum, you'll become more resentful about any delays in the delivery of your SE.

Your rendering looks great--I love the Island Blue with ALL the black trim. The only thing I would change would be to switch to MINI's Sport Aerial. I bought my Sport Aerial nearly a year before my SE arrived just so I could have a part of my future car.

 

Honda/Acura showed they had lost their soul when they dropped the 8,000-rpm RSX and the 70-mpg gen-1 Insight in 2006. A couple of very different cars, but both without peer.

Because you have an appliance when you need to passengerize, I agree with your wife that the SE can replace the rare and pleasurable manual-shift Accord.

Some might miss the third pedal when they go EV, but not me. I drove manual-transmission cars since my Dad's mid-60s Fiat 1500 Cabriolet--the last was my 2006 gen-1 Insight--but the stepless acceleration of my SE now makes me feel like a stick is surpefluous.

A stick in a 911, however, not superfluous.

 

We have a similar dilemma. A car with little value but a manual. I dont want to get rid of my 1 series, and dont want it to sit outside. The 987 must stay inside so outside the 1 will go, next to the volvo sedan that with 135K has little monetary value but perfect for my kid for the next few years then she will "inherit" the 1 unless she steals my Mini. The difference is my kid learned on a manual, and she likes it!

 

BackPack, what dealership did you end up going with? I'm in San Diego, too

 

I'm kind of weird myself - I'm not a fan of buying chinese products especially a car. I just can't do the support the communist thing but I don't judge others who do. I understand it's a global market and avoiding Chinese products is really difficult but I hope the people in Oxford England do not lose their jobs so BMW can make a car for less. (I'd also worry about quality control issues..). In my opinion the current SE model is very attractive and a good performing vehicle from what I can tell.

But anyway I'm torn.. I wasn't going to open a new thread for my situation but - I was sold on the Nissan Leaf Plus SL, sat in one and got brochures and like the size of it.. and came close to buying but I kept thinking do I really need 200+ miles? And then the real biggest issue is the fact that the battery is only air cooled and the bigger battery does not have a battery warmer (the smaller one does). I have read some Leaf owners after 7 years have lost 30% of their batteries..

Yet the Mini Cooper SE has a thermal management system which would help for the 100F Utah days. My only worry would be driving in Utah snow with less ground clearance...and wishing I had Android Auto lol.. I might be going the mini direction though not sure how much time I have left before they make the change to the Chinese version though. To the OP: Hope you enjoy the car!

 

1st gen Leaf used lithium manganese oxide (LMO) but I believe 2018+ models switched to NCM 523 but still air cooled to keep the prices low.

 

Yeah it's hard to do research (thanks for that info I know I didn't know the exact name of the different battery chemistry thank you) - honestly the mini looks to me better..tight on range though of course.... our market doesn't have one to test drive but I'll have to test drive a ICE one to see how it is. The Leaf Autopilot seems nice but.. the Mini's cruise control seems to do the same minus the steering.

 

For many of us with multi-vehicle households, the range in the Cooper SE is a non-issue. I would equate the range to 1/4 tank of gas in most ICE vehicles (excluding hybrid and PHEV).

 

Reality is everything from your phone to your clothes to your car is "Made in China, Assembled in _________." Assembling it in China saves shipping. Instead of shipping the parts from China to England and then to the US, they are cutting out the middle man, and probably using more computers so the tolerances, and quality will be better.

 

I live in Orange County, but bought mine from Escondido b/c they had one test drive (last summer). When I received it (Nov), they told me they hoped I was going to back out b/c they were selling them for $4k over MSRP (I paid MSRP).

 

I haven't heard anyone complain about their BMW 3 series or 2 series coupe coming out of San Luis Potosí, Mexico.

Many of the higher end Sino-foreign joint venture products from China are brilliant, but that is limited to the special economic zones.