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[Island maser]

I can not say how nice it is to have an exciting car to run around in. We had a couple of Mazda 3's with a stick which were ok. Economical, kind of sporty with the stick but truely lacking a soul. We have a 09 Jetta TDI stick which is the mileage work horse. Great mileage, lots of torq and rides good for road trips. My fun car is a 05 Maserati Coupe 6 manual with a Larini exhaust. I picked it up late spring and have truely enjoyed driving this car every nice day I had a chance. This is a car with a soul and a pure joy to drive. I found on rainy weekends I was depressed when we could go for a little spin to town and shake up the country side witht he exhaust wail. I hated driving our other cars. Boring and unspirited. Friday we picked up the MINI S. She wanted a Bug at first and I was dragging my feet in the search. I didn't want to be seen in it let alone drive it. Then I brought up a MINI. She was excited.
Fun and different. She has barely got to drive it so far. I am more then content to drive it to work or just out running around or a costco run. Getting 30 MPG by the computer getting down to end of the first tank. Lots of hard acceleration and some highway trying to get mileage. Hard not to press Jack too hard but he sure loves to go. Love zipping around in the rain.
So agile and tossable. The Maserati you have to work through the twisties, transfering the weight and keeping her balanced. Jack just attacks the twisties and eats them up. Way to much fun for a driver. I will be driving it a lot I think. Good second choice when the Maser is in for foul weather. Commuting it just seems to flow through traffic effortlessly. Glad we didn't get the brite color she wanted. Blends and hides well in traffic but easy to
pass and get by others. People seem not to mind the MINI going by like they do other cars. They do not even try to squeeze you or slow you up and you just zip by and let you. Plenty of power with the S. I might have purchased the non S for thge wife as it would have been more then enough for her. Hard to keep it slowed down for me. Could be trouble in the long run. Over all I am totally impressed with the ride, handling, power and how solid the car is.
I want to rent one when we are in Europe next year on our trip. He might need a little more front end grip. 195's are doing a lot of spinning upon corner exits with Sport on and the traction control off. Needs a bit more bite but do not want to scrafice the quick turn it. Tires are newand its an issue so I know it will get much worse when those run flats get hard and slick with wear. I would drive it daily for work but I think the company would think it is
to small for clients. I hardly take anyone to lunch anymore anyway. MINI's Rule!!!!!!!!