Just signed up, caught the mini bug a year or so ago.

I've got this car issue tearing me in two completely different directions. Won't be looking to buy a car for two or three years, but I'm already thinking.
One half of me begs for American Muscle, big roaring V8 and all that.
The other half, though, is just hung up on Minis. Having ridden in a friend's, it's definiately a thrilling expierence.

Just looking for some general advice/knowledge. My biggest concern is practicality, especially for an almost college student.

Cooper S is my preference, as one can never have too much speed

 

Welcome to NAM! I'm pretty new here myself - planning on ordering an MCS in the next two months.

My suggestion - take your time and figure out the type of car you want. Do you like to drive, do you like tight, twisty roads or roaring down the highway? How much room do you need? How much will your budget be for gas, insurance, etc?

If practicality is your concern, here are a few things to chew on:

• Gas. A Mini gets 25-32 MPG...and I'm guessing that will improve with the 2007+ models. A big American V-8 will get in the teens.
• Insurance. Depends on which domestic you have in mind, but something like a Mustang will cost you quite a bit more.
• Parking. I don't know where you are going to college, but if it is like any campus I've ever been on, parking is a nightmare. A big American muscle car will be just that...big. Parking would be much less of a pain with a Mini.
• Social. My wife has one of the new Mustangs. Yeah, it's a 2+2, but only if the passengers in the back seat are parapalegics. Seriously, the legroom is about four inches. It is actually easier to fit four people into a Mini, in my experience.
• Hauling. The Mini has a hatch, and can swallow a surprisingly large amount of stuff. I'd be curious to see a cargo space comparison between a Mini and a Mustang...but with a Mustang you'll have to contend with the narrow trunk opening, etc.

Of course, all of this is assuming that you have your eye on a Mustang or similar. If you're looking at an Impala or Magnum or something, the arguments change....

 

Hi mini_muscle!

Just a quick thing...

mini = old mini

MINI = New MINI.

Just a friendly FYI

 

I would think the Mustang and the MINI would be about the same as far as backseat space. I know that people talk about hauling 4 people in their MINI all the time, so maybe I got some special factory defect and mine's smaller or something because I just would not ask anybody to ride back there very long, unless they were under 12 years old and the front seat passenger was under 5'10". For regular hauling of passengers I think of both cars as 2 seaters.


For me the Mustang debate comes down to exclusivity--I like the fact that MINIs are limited. Everybody is buying the Mustang, they're all over the place. Your MINI will be relatively rare no matter where you are.

Now if you're talking about a Charger or 300C, go for it, get some dubs on it, and enjoy.

 

My dream car is a 67' Fastback Mustang, Eleanor to be exact. I love old muscle cars, and was looking at Mustangs, but couldn't find a 67' Fastback that I could afford. Just think of how cool the cars are....but also how much WORK they require.

My dad simply put it to me like this:

Old muscle cars - You have to work on them all of the time, and not realiable for daily driving. There more of the "weekend" type cars.

New cars - Deffinitly not as cool as the old ones, but you have warrenties, etc. and are good for daily driving. Plus, you can't beat the twisties in a MINI. They are just FUN.

-Cody

 

I guess that the issue about them being reliable is all about how you build it and what you put in. You can upgrade the suspension and the drivetrain to make it as solid as a modern car. Unique Performance has done this and the car is $95000.00 - $115000.00. Sure, everyone wants a '67 mustang, I mean that was a good movie. No, you can't afford one, or find one because Unique Performance has every single one worth buying. The owners of the cars also know how much they are worth so you are never going to pick up a cheap one.

Sure hotrods and customs are weekend cars, you put that kind of time and money into a car you don't want to beat the hell out of it. My 1950 Studebaker is driven on the weekend because I am not going to drive it to work during the week, where would I park it... Guess what, my MINI is very much the same. I drive it when I want to have fun. Weekday traffic jams are NOT fun for me so I don't drive it to work. I will drive it around town and on the weekends.

 

I had the mustang vs MINI debate myself before we ordered our 2006 MC PW/B. I am sooooo glad that we chose MINI over Mustang. You dont see a MINI everywhere you go, parking is awesome, gas mileage is 3 times what I was getting in my truck, interior space is way more than I could imagine...yep! The MINI has more than exceded my expectations and we could not be happier! Do the research and be educated about your choice. Good luck in your decision and hope you choose your MINI wisely