Chilli Packs etc etc Why...

[FlashmanChop]

Not a rant as such....But..

all mini delaers, buyers sellers, always tell you that you need a pack you need this...

My view (and very personal view..) well, im not bothering.

Sold my fairly well spec'd cooper s, and yes, it did make a big differnec come sale time, but it was my car and not on finance (were getting there..... be patient) dealer offered me what i wanted, as they were really struggling for stock.

Now looking at a one/cooper d/cooper s as a company car, and having discussed aspects with the business manager the gfv is not affected in the slightest by having packs etc, so i am 99% certain i will be going for a better spec'd car (equipment wise) then a car with a "pack" - they seem to incklude chrome. hey ho.

Multi func st wheel
sports steering wheel
climate
heated washer jets
heated seats
standard 15" star wheels
auto wipers lights
piano black trim
on board computer

all in £18,320. seemed better value then a car with a pack. infact, i was so tempted to see this poor salesman cry I was going to order a completely standard car...

[ian_c_uk]

I prefer things that are useful rather than pretty, so my (very plain) cooper has no stripes, 15" wheels, no interior pack, no chrome rings, orange indicators. I can imagine the discussion in the factory now - "bob, what does a *standard* door trim look like?"

The 10 plate courtesy Mini I have this week has metallic paint, stripes, big wheels, piano black dash, chrome rings on *everything*, and my kids love it.

First corner, it leans lots, ah, no sports suspension.

Nice day, open the, ah, no panoramic roof.

What's that blank button, oh, no heated windscreen.

<thumbs the wheel face> No stereo controls... no cruise... no sports wheel.

Still, it's a mini, so it's fun to drive, goes for sports button, ah, that's not there either.

Horses for courses, I know many Mini owners won't understand my "plain" Mini, but I wouldn't give up my toys for all the condiments on the table.

[KennyGT]

Some of the packs and specs are silly! I have a Cooper S and its quite low spec only having visual upgrades such as roof, stripes, Upgraded wheels, IPOD and thats it really, non on this chrome pack stuff, or entry pack, or any other daft pack! At the end of the day its a car not a bloody Comet branch!

Looking in the classifieds it is possible to get a near identical S to mine and pay like £2-3k more just because it has leather, Xenons and aircon. Three things that IMO dont really make the car any better to drive or look at.

As for chilli pack.... well Iv seen many people say they have chilli pack but dont actually know what it is, and many sellers say they have it when they dont!

[Leicesterdave]

I've always had fairly low spec cars but I think I do fancy a few more toys when it comes to selling my current MINI. I do agree they do take the piss with charging over £100 for chrome rings but lots of options are quite cool and make the car feel that little but more special.

[9mm]

I experienced the options list when ordering a car recently. I actually found it quite easy to resist most items and certainly the various packs didn't look great value to me. I ended up ticking the box for heated mirrors and washers and heated seats, the latter being something that would differentiate the car from other 'non-pack' and 'pack-equipped' cars come sale time.
It looked really easy to tick enough boxes to take you comfortably into the next model up, where many of those extras are standard. That just seemed daft to me and a good reason to exercise some restraint. £300 for a quick clear windscreen (I have a garaage for that), £240 for rear parking sensors (I have eyes and neck that swivels for that), £250 for 'climate control' on top of a/c (in a tiny car?) and £100 odd for electric folding mirrors (what are arms for?).
Good luck to BMW if they can get away with it.