I am trying to build a mini, while keeping very conscious about packages and add-ons as I would like to keep the price to an absolute minimum (I am a poor graduate student). Now I realize I can build a base model with no features, etc for ~18k, but some features I definitely need are automatic transmission, and possibly the S cooper (not sure yet), arm rest (dont think i can live without this).

Now my question is this...which features are practically a must to add and which features could I pretty much blow off completely (there are so many its confusing)? For example is metallic paint worth the added cash? The cold weather/premium package is obvious in what it entails, but what about the sports package with its sports suspension? Is this something that I pretty much need to get for a sweet ride or can I do without it? Also Dynamic stability control sounds important...but is this something that is worth the extra cash and make driving much better?

Sorry for the long post...but again If anybody can answer what they think is a must add-on or tell me how they would build their mini with cost in mind, etc it would very much be appreciated.

Thank you.

The S was a must for me. All the cars have stability control, I think the DSC is probably a waste. Cold Weather package is awful nice in colder climates, I certainly could live without it. Everything else is really up to you. If you're trying to build a new Cooper on a budget, good luck. They are great cars, but are not cheap by any stretch.

Since your in NY def. get the cold weather package. Its worth every penny on a cold day.
Xenon lights are really nice, and alot brighter than the stock lights so I'd give that a thought.

Otherwise my daily driver only has Cold weather,Xenons, HK sound, LSD, and an armrest.

Out of curiousity, how much did you guys pay with your options, and interest rates?

Also, how does the mini cooper compare to the VW rabbit overall? The rabbit is cheaper, and has great interior, but not sure otherwise if it compares to the quality of the cooper...what do you all think?

The S was a must for me. All the cars have stability control, I think the DSC is probably a waste. Cold Weather package is awful nice in colder climates, I certainly could live without it. Everything else is really up to you. If you're trying to build a new Cooper on a budget, good luck. They are great cars, but are not cheap by any stretch.
+1 on all this....except the Cold Weather pkg. Here in NC, we need a HOT Weather pkg with cooling tubes run through the seats.....
One way to go would be to leave out a lot of the expensive options (Sport Susp., etc.), see if you really need them, and if you do, add them later after market, which are definitely cheaper and sometimes better. That way you can concentrate on the stuff you feel you really need and save some bucks.

The Rabbit has comparable power, but is ~300 pounds heavier, much slower to 60 (7.8s), and gets much worse gas mileage than the Cooper S (22/29 Rabbit, 24/36 Cooper S). VW's quality is also suspect. I like the looks of the Rabbit, but no way could I buy one.

One thing I'm curious about is the moonroof - if you don't select the dual moonroof do you get a single moonroof? Or do you not get any kind of moonroof at all?

No, it's a "dual-pane" moonroof, not two separate moonroofs. All or nothing deal; full roof or glass.