bottom line, if you have to ask, get the accord.

 

rdd,
Just an FYI - if you get a flat, part of OEM 4yr/50k warranty is roadside assistance who will bring an OEM equivalent tire out and change it for you. (provided you've kept the OEM runflats) Many here on the forums have elected to go with non run flats for ride quality therefor carry the tire repair kits. Search the forums for runflat threads, the discussions are endless...

 

Sound like we have all pushed over the edge and you are soon to be part of the MINI family. Not sue if people who own accords consider themselves part of the Honda family, not exactly the same sense of belonging to a community with the accord vs the MINI. Looks like you have also spent a fair amount of time on the build feature of MINIuas.com messing around with the endless possibilities of CM you can put together. As far as options you seem to have a good grasp but I would highly recommend the double moon roof, having the glass roof really opens up the interior even if you never open it. The HK sound is totally worth it, cold weather pkg depending on where you live, as well as ALL4. (as I type that I am looking at my MINI buried under a 6ft snow drift). Now for the color combo let us know what your thinking so we can chime in on that as well. Good luck and motor on........

 

This is very much the same debate I'm having (mostly internal, as the wife is getting tired of hearing me talk about it): wants vs needs. Although I'm still a few months off from getting a new car (current: 06 Saturn Ion w/ 190k & and I'd like to wait and see if anything changes for the '14 CMS All4) I agonize about spending what will amount to almost $40k on a car, when I could make due with much less.

But, like other have said, you only live once (yada yada yada). Now I just need to figure out the options I want (and sort of hope the Saturn gives me a sign that the end is near).

 

The Base spec accord has more hp than a Cooper/Clubman s and the V6 is pushing 280hp. The MINI will out handle it any day of the week, but new honda's are very competent cars. Also the accord has led headlights!

 

Might as well get the JCW CM. To me the Accord is BORING. I did thought about it between my MINI, or the Mustang and Genesis coupe. Never looked back. You'll be happy you waited on a 14' CM All4.

 

Dgator, Where in Rhode Island are you? Just spoke to my sister who lives between Worcester and Springfield, and they have 30 inches and it's still snowing hard. Let us know how the awd works in 2 feet of snow

 

does not really matter where in RI you live we all got at least 20+ inches plus some drifts up to 5-6 ft. Took the all4 up and down my street like I was a kid trying out his new sneakers.lol. It worked great I can't believe how good this thing is in snow, not it's first go around in the snow but this was a real test. I have owned many 4x4 trucks and thie MINI is the most impressive, maybe because of it's size but it seems unstoppable. I had the wife video me driving it now if I only knew how to post vid..

 

Yeah, it's really fun in the snow because it handles so much better than any other SUV or crossover. I guess at some point you would be limited by ground clearance in really deep snow, but have fun.

 

I keep thinking about the JCW CM, but that number creeps further away from 40 and then it becomes a little ridiculous. I have no self control on the mini builder.

 

Rdd337- For the past 3 months I have tossed and turned with the same decision you are trying to make. The 2013 Accord sport is a sweet car and is old reliable and probably less expensive to maintain while the CM is fun, fun fun but more expensive.
I have stage 4 cancer and not quite sure how much time I have left- living life-- so my decision is to go for the fun of it and get the CM. I will probably be a tad nervous with the potential maintenance but as one person suggested ---these posts really make you feel as if the problems are much worse then actually them are or maybe. I have "interviewed" a few CM owners I meet on the street and they have been problem free and happy as heck with their CM's. In the end it boils down to exactly what you want out of the car- but I figured I want to say-----WEEEEEEE for a little while. Plan to buy in March and will let you know how I am rolling in it.

 

Just do it! I figured I'd be at about $40k with all the packages I want and all for it. I think what entices me is the all wheel drive aspect of the CM. But even in that JCW body kit, she looks so sexy.

IMO, anything that's MINI, I wouldn't have any control whatsoever! :-)

 

LOL! I definitely know what you mean. Every time I build a JCW it mush closer to $45k (or above) than $40k. Have you ever looked at the other builds people had saved online? I saw a JCW on there over $50k!!

 

Holy moly! If I'm that close to $50k on a countryman JCW, I'm just gonna pay an extra $10k for the Audi TT-RS! But if I didn't do that, I would buy the GP2!! But now that you said that, I'm gonna go take a look tonight lol.

 

I was deciding between the Prius and CM. CM won.

 

We were in the market for a new car as well for the gf. The new accord is nice with tons of bells and whistles, and drove nice. I convinced her to test the CM. For someone who doesn't get excited about driving or over any cars...within two minutes of the test drive she said 'oh I love it' and smiled! Smiled!!!! Dealer had one on the boat very close to what she would have custom ordered, so she signed the papers. Ship is docking this week. She has been stalking the ship locator for two weeks. This will be our 3rd Mini--her 1st. While the accord is a practical, easy choice....there is something to be said for the fun factor of a Mini.

 

MoonShadow said it best. If that does not help you make the obvious choice than nothing will. Accord is practical, stylish, dependable, blah, blah, blah...... but there is something about the MINI brand that makes it worth it and make sense for your needs.

 

Funny you should post this comparison up. I have a friend currently cross shopping these somewhat VERY different cars:

2013 Honda Accord Sport with 2.4L/CVT Auto - $24,980.

2013 Mini Cooper Countryman with 1.6L/6spd Auto - $24,450.

2013 Hyundai Sonata SE with 2.4L/6spd Auto is $24,140.

2013 Toyota Camry SE with 2.5L/ECVT Auto - $23,400.

2013 Hyundai Elantra Limited with 1.8L/6spd Auto - $21,910.

2013 Dodge Dart Limited with 2.0L/6spd Auto - $21,140.


He has a limited budget. Needs a vehicle that will carry four adults comfortably (elderly parents and three grown daughters with one grandchild on the way).

Originally I wouldn't have thought the Countryman would be on his list, but when you think about it's practicallity and fun factor I can see why. Initially he thought the Countryman was out of his price range, but...

What I noticed about his list was the engine size differences. The Accord and Camry can be had with V6's, albeit at a higher price than listed. That's a huge plus in my book when hauling four adults. The current 1.6L in the Countryman is a limiting factor for many normal drivers that don't want a turbo engine at all.

I recommended he hold out until the 2014 2.0L Countryman arrives. I can see a base 2.0L engined Countryman eating into the mainstream buyer segment; making it so much more appealing to the average buyer. It will be interesting to see what he ends up with and why he made his choice...

I'm affarid he is going to go "cheap" with a heavily discounted Dodge Dart Hope not!

 

I haven't seen anything that confirms that engine will be used in the 2014 R60; everything I've read seemed to be a little ambiguous as to when it would be implemented.

Link?

 

There's a link I read last night about the 2.0 engines coming this late fall in the F56 and will be applied to other models in the MINI family. Sorry forgot which thread I read.

 

As the owner of a less than 2 month old 2013 Cosmic Blue R60 S All 4 I ( app 5500k miles so far) I say GO MINI! I traded in my 2004 (bought new) VW Passat GLX 4 Motion for the R60. It had 286k miles on it. I live in WMass and even with the 18" summer shoes it's been doing well-even with the 20+" of snow we got this weekend. I can only imagine how good it will do once I can save up for some winter wheels & tires. No problems so far and tons of motoring fun.

 

Is the Dart that bad? It looks really cool on the commercials. We are really loving the mini. It's our weekend trip driver, every weekend.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by etidd01

I haven't seen anything that confirms that engine will be used in the 2014 R60; everything I've read seemed to be a little ambiguous as to when it would be implemented. Link?

This is the only article that I personally read. Its’ title sounds pretty specific to 2014.

2014 MINI Previewed: Engines & Transmissions
http://www.motoringfile.com/2013/02/...and+Podcast%29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chili4

Is the Dart that bad? It looks really cool on the commercials. We are really loving the mini. It's our weekend trip driver, every weekend.

Don’t know if the Dart will prove good or bad long-term, it’s new.

Unfortunately the first thing that comes to mind when I hear the name Dodge Dart is Al Bundy’s POS on Married with Children.

Funny, I never think of Mr. Bean when I hear the Mini name anymore (now part of BMW ). I think BMW Mini! And a test drive always confirms that thought.

No worries here with what he selects (it will be HIS car), but I know he has wanted a Countryman since its' release.

 

Yeah, I read that article too..although I took it to involve everything but the R60 and R61. If you read just under the heading, you'll see this:

Sections: F54 Clubman | F55 Five Door Hatch | F56 Hatch | F57 Convertible Feb 7th, 2013

No mention of the R60. I hope you're right though. It would definitely make the wait worth while.

 

I see your point (no F60 listed), but I can't imagine the Countryman not being included (?). If BMW/Mini has any brains at all the Countryman will be the first to get the 2.0L, as it is the heaviest model and needs the greater torque and cubic inches more than any other model they make.

Hope you're listening BMW/Mini!