That's precisely what I intend to do this week. Let the car do the talking.

Thanks for the replies and words of encouragement! You guys rock!

 

The S2000 is pretty hard to ignore, though limited on cargo room and seating.

Re: the MINI as a premium small car- what I would talk about is bang for buck. There are faster cars for about the same cost, but the ones which are more fun to drive are going to have 2 seats and usually cost double or more the price. With a MINI, you get an absolutely pure driving experience, and when you factor in looks, build quality, safety, fun and enough room for extra passengers and/or surprising amounts of cargo, there simply isn't another car available that can touch it. It's not the most expensive in its class, it's the best. That might be opinion, by the way.

 

Well played. People that don't get the MINI likely won't until you scare the bejeebus out of them on a drive (on a closed course, of course).

I've been surprised since word got out at work that I had a MINI on the way. Everyone has been super supportive about it and I haven't had one negative comment...at least not to my face, and it's not like they don't give me crap about other stuff.

To those that might tell you it's a chick's car, tell them that makes it that much easier to pick up the ladies...it's like taking a cute dog to the dog park.

 

Your friends are correct ... it is NOT a "premium" car. OTD costs mean nothing. Base cost means something. Anybody can add options and you can never add transportation costs or taxes.

Your "citation" is four years old and out of date

In fact, the average new car cost is about $27,800 ...

However, your assessment is correct. Its far from being a premium car. That does not mean its not fun!

 

So, if MINI came with all the options I got and listed for $32k, it would be a premium vehicle. But, since I ordered them separately, it isn't. Seems like it would be the same car to me.

 

I didn't mean "premium" in the same light as a Bimmer or a Lexus. I actually classified it as a premium "compact" or B-segment car.
Would you classify the MazdaSpeed3 as a premium car? I think not even though its base price is higher than an MCS.

 

It seems your link is even older! Did you get a chance to glance through that article? The editors bought a 14 month old MY2000 Galant. I'm sure no editor worth his salt would write this article after 5-odd years.

 

No, I'm not trying to say that. Maybe I should have been more clear. I guess it depends upon the definition of "premium". If you mean prices, then no, it would just be about average. And maybe it does include "options" but look around ... while many ppl buy "all 4 packages", many also buy them stripped.

I was assuming premium meant more like "luxary", perhaps a baby benz. A car with inherent quality and safety. That is not meant to disparage MINI but its quality ... in the past ... has been lacking. There is no track record for the R56 yet so we have to see. So far, its looking much better than the first gen cars.

No, not mazda by any means. I would assume "premium" as more luxary, more expensive, reliable ... Certain cars are the "premium brands" from a Car Maker

Toyota - Lexus
Nissan - Infiniti
Honda - Acura

and others inherently are viewed (IMO) as premium brands such as BMW, Cadillac, etc. You may disagree but I believe the masses ... the buying public ... would view it that way.

MINI is the entry level in to the BMW brand. I would imagine that one day BMW hopes MINI owners trade up to the BMW brand and move up the BMW ranks from 3 to 5 to 6/7 series cars. So I just can't all MINI a "premium" brand when its the entry level.

That said, Toyota also carries Scion which I would view as more downscale than Toyota.

American cars are no different. Cadillac has always been the premier GM brand followed by Olds and Buick. Chevy was the low end

Ford's upscale was the Mecury Brand ... etc.

YMMV

 

In 2006, for example, an estimated 44 million used cars will be sold as compared to an estimated 17 million new cars. While the average sale price of a used car is estimated at about $13,900, the average price of a new car is estimated at roughly $27,800.

If they are quoting the 2006, how can it be older than 2003?

Here you go http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/autos/newcar.shtm from the US government, April, 2006

"the average price of a new car sold in the United States is $28,400."

BTW, I'm just trying to bring some reality into this. There is just no way I could call a MINI "Premium" brand car. ... sorry

 

I think you aren't reading between the lines. Let me highlight the "key words" in the above paragraph:

In 2006, for example, an estimated 44 million used cars will be sold as compared to an estimated 17 million new cars. While the average sale price of a used car is estimated at about $13,900, the average price of a new car is estimated at roughly $27,800.

I'd place my bets on this article being written somewhere in '03/'04.

 

OK, go read the US government link above. The $28K average is not going to change

 

By that measure, either MotorTrend or the government is lying flat out. Here's the link to an excel sheet that lists the average price of a new car from 1970 through 2003.
It seems the average price of a new car sold in the U.S. during '03 was $21,298...which contradicts the stats posted on rustyboy's MT link. ($28k in '03?)

 

you will have to ask Rusty about his link. I quoted a US governmet link.

I know you dont want to hear it and you were seeking validation here but ... sorry, MINI is the BMW entry level vehicle.

 

about some idiots suggesting the MINI is a 'girlie' car, I believe George Foreman has one....I would suggest your friends not get too close to ol' George when they tell him he has a 'girlie' car... or Shaq, or Dirk Nowitzki, or Hulk Hogan. Also, you would be in fine company with Neil Young, Sting, Bono, Roger Dalttry, Jay Leno and Kevin Spacey. Also, Ozzie Osbourne has one....but he probably doesn't realize it.

 

When did I say it wasn't? If you read my original post, I said the MINI was a "premium B-seg car" which I still maintain. Show me one B-seg car that's in an upper premium league.
It seems you're getting confused between the concept of a premium car in terms of brand name/identity (such as BMW, Lexus) and a premium car in the sub-compact segment.

 

I never heard the phrase B-seg but I do understand what "premium" brands mean. OK, maybe its semantics

Best of luck!

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B-segment

 

Why didn't you say subcompact to begin with!

OK, MINI is premium in that range although Yaris may have better quality but that remains to be seen. OK ... I agree

 

LOL, I did! Okay, my bad, I should've stuck with 'sub-compact' instead of jumping between the two terms.

Glad you finally agreed!

Let's get back to that price discrepancy.

 

Off-topic a bit, but Mercedes quality is widely viewed as a bit of an oxymoron currently...annecdotal stories abound and having 8 models tagged "least reliable" in Consumer Reports' 2006 rankings isn't encouraging.

http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/10/d...sumer-reports/

 

Sorry to sound like Dr. Phil, but can you be a bit more specific about your *personal* factor comment? I am on my 6th day of owning/driving my Mini, and I can say that the wait was SO worth it. My wait didn't just include the time I ordered to the time I picked up. I've been driving a 1999 Jeep Wrangler for close to 8 years. Three of those years I've not had a car payment, and I was saving up to get my next car.

The reason I wanted a Mini, is very much a vanity issue. I'm a CMB (Child in Man's Body). Everything of mine is a toy, has to be fun, slightly impractical and overall contribute to my general goofy child-like personality. The Mini is simply a fun to drive car. It's fun to look at; it's eye-catching, and it's full of pleasant little surprises. It's infinitely more customizable than all the vehicles you mentioned combined. Is that the "personal" factor you're talking about?

 

I tend to agree with this. If I order everything available on a MINI, that is one sweet car. If I order everything available on my previous car, a Chevy Cavalier...it's still a POS. There is nothing you can do to that car to make it look or feel luxurious like you can with a MINI. Even a stripped-down MINI feels a heck of a not nicer than a fully loaded Cavalier.

You can order a pretty stripped-down Cadillac CTS for much less than a really loaded MCS. Is the Cadillac still more "premium" than the MCS because of its brand? Cuz my neighbor's CTS rides like crap and doesn't feel nearly as solid as my MC.

And as far as reliability being a factor in a "premium" car, give me a break.

Jaguar.
BMW.
Mercedes.

I don't equate ANY of those brands with "reliable", but I would consider them "premium".

 

Get the MINI. You'll get NEW friends and probably keep your old ones to boot! Hell, my next door neighbor who's never spoken to me in 3 years gave me a smile and a nod when I drove in the other day!!