I've been obsessing over minis for the past month, so I'm thrilled about tomorrow's test drive of a MCS hardtop! It's either mini or GTI for me, so I hope I can negotiate a good price with the dealer after I customize.

I want to try a manual transmission since I haven't driven one since I was 16, and that was 14 years ago! I'm nervous but thrilled, because I heard that small cars with powerful engines are what's best to learn (or re-learn) manuals.

I'm a tall guy, 6'4", and I heard that minis have ample room for tall people, so thats a nice plus. Wish me luck!

 

Carerful, you're gonna buy one

I'm 6'4 225 and our MCS fits me just fine.

 

That's good to hear!

 

That's awesome! Hope you're prepared to buy the funnest car you will ever own! also, I'm 6'2 200lbs and I never driven a roomier car. My dad is 6'4 245lbs and he loves driving my car because of the room

 

Good luck. I sold my BMW 3 series convertible and bought my MCS convertible 3 yrs ago. This is the most fun car I have ever owned. I am 6'1" with plenty of room. These cars are so responsive and willing to play. It took me several test drives to convince myself it wasn't a passing fad...it WASN'T! Enjoy your drive....

 

GTI Vs the MINI (actually I was looking at the R32, but have extensively driven an APR tuned GTI MKV), here is what I will tell you. The MINI corners better, rides a little bit rougher, handles better, and gets better gas mileage then the GTI. The GTI will give you more room overall, a larger trunk when the rear seat is up, a more torquey and more powerful motor and less gas mileage. I think the GTI has better seats in it personally and for the price, if you option them the same, you will probably get the GTI slightly less expensive because of discounts MINI will not offer.

Just my $0.02, but I would buy the MINI all day long over the GTI.

 

Rocktagon, did you give a Countryman a spin? It can go toe-to-toe with the GTI in the practicality department, plus I have a very tall family and we felt like we were in my old FJ or my wife's X5.

 

I agree with all of this. I extensively test drove a couple of GTI's (2011 and 2009) over the past few weeks. I have only spent a little time behind the wheel of an R56S, but compared to my first gen Cooper, the GTI had too little feedback at the steering wheel for my taste. However the transmission shifted beautifully (manual.) and it was a joy to row through the gears. The GTI is a little more refined but in exchange you give up a little bit of the hooligan personality that makes the MINI so fun to toss around.

Good luck, enjoy your new MINI!

 

Have you gone for a testdrive, yet? What did you think?

(I'm still smiling from my spin of yesterday!)

 

I'm in the same position but am comparing the wrx vs the mini cooper s . My wife liked the cooper over the wrx and I am starting to like the cooper more and more . Besides the cooper Is way better gas mileage.

 

Berardi, I come from a Subaru family and they are solid machines. I think the biggest difference with a MINI is the perceived build-quality. It's such a arbitrary distinction, but when you close the door of a WRX it just feels so flimsy and the interior design and materials are disappointing. But for sheer performance, they are close to impossible to beat. Mileage is also tough to swallow.

 

I was looking at the alternatives listed and not even considering the MCS. Until I drove one. And then I bought it on the spot!

Here is why in my case - I really liked the GTI, but the lease deals on the sunroof model were not quite good enough which put the WRX 5-door about the same cost on a 3 year lease. So I was leaning towards the WRX because of AWD, since I don't really like FWD cars all that much.

As an aside I was also considering getting a used E46 3 series - 330ci or 325ci with sport package or maybe even 330ci perf pkg.

R32 was interesting, but they all seemed too overpriced in the used market so I gave up on that idea very quickly.

So on Saturday I drove the WRX and it was nice, but I was really not digging the steering feel - very lifeless and far too light with little to no feedback. Not as good as the Audi B6 S4 Avant I used to have, and even that was a bit light for my tastes. The benchmark for me for steering feel is the E36 M3 or the Porsche Boxster / Cayman btw. So then I went to the Mini dealer just to check them out and give it a fair shake since this was supposed to be a shared car between me, my wife and teenage daughter and the Mini is her dream car. So I didn't want to like it. It seemed like a girls car to me, having come from muscle cars, BMWs and Corvettes. I don't even like FWD cars. But damn if it didn't win me over! The car is a hoot to drive. I liked the handling, the tossability, the steering and brake feel, the shifting, the motor is a real gem with strong boost throughout the rev range, and I liked the seats and ergonomics and I am 6', 210lbs with wide shoulders / back / chest.

So I was sold. Bought a 08 MCS.

I would not want one as my primary driver btw - for me right now that is filled by a E39 M5 (2003). But for a shared car that I would still enjoy driving and could see enjoying some seat time on the autox course this really fit the bill perfectly!

Build quality is higher than the WRX too, and I was comparing a 08 vs. a new WRX. But it was that lifeless steering that really killed the car for me. I had a 06 Evo and that car had really lovely steering and brake feel, but the new WRX is certainly lacking in both those elements for my tastes.

 

After I got into the car I was so cramped that I didn't even drive it :( I had to move the driver's seat so far back that it was resting against the back seat! I guess i just went car crazy. I'll just stick with my honda element and save up for a condo/house i suppose.