Greetings!

Seriously considering making the switch from my RX-8 to an MCS.

I love the way my RX-8 drives, but hate the way it drinks. If it had Corvette-type power, it might be worth it, but I'm growing wary of the compromise for its handling dynamics alone.

Anyone else come from an RX-8 to an MCS and have any insight as to the experience? I'm especially interested in how annoying going to FWD will be, with all the accompanying torque steer and other issues, after being in RWD vehicles for awhile now. (I had a BMW E46 330 -- which I loved -- for many years before my RX-8).

 

I suggest you go to your local Mini dealers and test drive the MCS.

 

Yes, obviously I intend to do just that. But the difference between impressions gathered from a test drive for a couple of miles and from living with a car on a daily basis are significant.

I didn't think there was any harm in asking the question.

 

No harm at all. I have not driven an RX-8, but had a friend with an RX-7 many years ago. I have found the handling in the Mini to be incredible, but my last ride was an suv. One of the guys in our club says that he can do faster track laps in his rear drive toyota than in his Mini, but we doubt his stories some times. Have fun with the process!

 

I am not a big fan of FWD and when I test drove the MINI I liked it. Here is my recent past: '03 Jaguar X-type, '02 Thunderbird, '97 Taurus SHO, '94 F-150, '93 Mustang.

 

i had an RX-7 (FD, '93) before the mini, and i've driven many RX-8's; i wanted one really really badly for a long time. you have to be rotary guy to really appreciate those cars, 'cuz either they're quirky or high-maintenance or something else. my FD was pretty much bone stock but WILD. i had the R1, too, which was the track model. twin turbo and rode like a tank, likes to shake its tail out easily. i LOVED it and i still miss it sometime. and now i have an mcs, and i LOVE it! maybe even more than the RX-7 =P the mcs is fantastic. it's small and light and it really handles amazingly. fwd is NOT incompatible w/ handling. coming from an RX-8 tho, only you can tell if you like it; the RX-8 is a very well sorted sports car in terms of suspension setup and handling. the mini is not a pure rwd sports car, so you won't be able to drift in it. and there is torque steer. nonetheless, it's very *fun* to drive, whereas the RX-8 is more of a precise traditional sports car. sounds like you don't enjoy the franticness of the rotary engine; if you get an r56, it's a plenty torquey engine in a light car. you should get quite a kick out of it

 

Thanks all... I really like my RX-8 in all respects except it's ridiculous fuel consumption... as mentioned, it really is a well balanced machine, and the rotary makes great music.

I'm just thinking an MCS could provide better miles per gallon while still providing the same or more smiles per gallon.

I've heard from several other former RWD snobs who say similar things to what I'm reading here and in other threads... yes, the MCS is FWD, and yes, that kinda sucks sometimes, but the overall experience is fun enough in other respects that it outweighs the suckiness inherent in a FWD machine.

I'm looking forward to test driving, and may in fact try and find someplace that will rent me a MINI for a few days, to see if I can live with it cordially.

Thanks again... keep em coming!