well said gokartride!!!! sometimes you don't know what you got till it's gone, even if only temporary, as in the case of a rental car, riding with someone else or driving your "other" vehicle.

 

Could be... I spend a lot of time around MINI's... my g/f has an '03 MCS and together we have an '07 MCc, but my daily-driver is a Jetta TDI wagon. Every time I drive the MINIs, it takes me awhile to get used to the shifter. Both cars feel "notchy" compared to the VW - especially in the S has it has a Helix SSK... Eventually, I get used to it, but hopping back in the TDI always feels like "home." Of course, driving the TDI for 140K+ miles in 4.5 years will embed a certain level a familiarity... I can heel-toe in the TDI reasonably well (still need practice), but can't do it worth crap in a MINI (get no practice)...

..and don't even get me started on the "Sport" seats in the MCS...

I have grown to like the cars when I drive them for awhile, but it does take awhile. Even the Jetta took awhile for me to get used to... the only car I instantly fell in love with the first time I drove it was my '91 Integra.

I will say this if something catastrophic happens to the TDI, a new R56 MCS is on top of the potential replacement list. I haven't driven one yet... by design...

 

The seats are greatly improved!!!

 

That much I do know from sitting in them at dealers...

...and one of the big reasons I haven't driven one yet...

 

You are wise!!!

 

That's debatable... more along the lines of: "the loan for TDI is almost paid off and I'd really like to be without a car payment for awhile..."

 

Yes, that, too!!!