My lease is lamost up on my 06 330XI and am looking a the options - lease another or change vehicles altogether? Obvious I would be losing the comfort of a larger car and igher performance but gaining over double in fuel mileage if I went to cooper route. Would this be too much of an "ego buster" or perhaps the "economical option " with still great fun in another great vehicle? I would save almost $300 per month if I went with cooper s.

 

I went from a E46 coupe that I owned for 7 years and loved dearly. I thought I had it long enough and wanted something "different". My criteria for a new car: quick, economical, some technology (bluetooth, etc), and a driver's car.

I ordered and took delivery of a CR/CR MCSa with most everything except nav and leather. The car is all of the above, but it is not a BMW. The biggest nags to me are: torque steer, seats not adjustable enough, the controls are still not intuitive (even after 10 months), and the too cute factor (what ever that is...).

I am now looking. I will likely go with a 128 later this year. I think if you are going from a 3 series and considering the Mini spend alot of time behind the wheel. What ever you think "may" bother you, but you are willing to overlook because it is a new and different car, will end up bothering you as time goes on (James Healey from USA Today is fond of saying so as well).

I think the Mini is a great car. It is tossable, economical, and has a great following. I am still not sure that it is the car for me. So, again, spend some serious time before deciding.

 

I had an '02 BMW 325iT Auto RWD wagon.

Clubman advantages:

It's a lot more fun to drive.
Sport seats are much more comfortable.
It gets twice the mileage.
It cost about half the price of a new 328 wagon.

Clubman disadvantages:

A little slower
A lot noisier
Less cargo room

 

I've driven an automatic 08' 335 today. I have a manual 07' MCS with the JCW engine kit.

that 335 (almost no options) costs about 50% more than my MCS.

what I liked:

space, finish, smooth power, quiet

what I didn't like:

little feedback from the road, you feel too isolated

to have the same level of fun you probably have to drive the 335 30% faster than the MINI (which will get you a lot of tickets I guess)

average mpg was around 20 mpg, my MINI gets around 29 mpg driving the same way

 

I still have the 325iT E46 with manual tranny.

My wife and I "fight" over who gets to drive the MINI convertible day-to-day.

Having said that, we use the BMW for longer trips ('cause we need the extra space for the 3-year-old and all her gear).

Bottom line: MINI more fun to drive (faster and better handling . . . though the 325's isn't bad either) and it certainly gets a lot more attention and compliments, but less practical for us. . . and it'll be different for you in an R56, but with the R52 I actually get worse mpg than with our E46's V6 with 130k miles on it.

 

I traded a 3-Series convertible.
The cockpit is as roomy as the BMW.
The "get up and go" will make you forget about the BMW.

MPG is a big plus. The ride is more firm than BMW.

Get a stack of 30 ten dollar bills.
Every day, put one in your pocket. That represents what you're not paying on the BMW.

 

I've traded a 2006 BMW E90 325xi for a 2008 MCS. It's been a month now, and I don't have any regrets. The bimmer was more refined, a little bit more luxuous, four wheel drive, and quieter than the MCS.

However, the MCS is sportier, the ride is as comfortable as with the BMW, and Gas mileage is well... let's just say I prefer to fill up the Cooper! And I really like the "everything is well-fitted - the car is big enough for me - that huge sunroof is amazing - and that Turbo is impressive!" factor!

I would consider buying another BMW later in life, but for now, the mini makes the cut...

 

I have a 330i auto and modded 6 speed MCS. I can tell you that MCS is more fun to drive. I am planning to change rear differential to improve acceleartion, larger rear sway bar and install Sprint Booster on my 330i after my final mod to my MCS...RMW Tune, then it might be another story.
Keep them both!

 

I had a 99 322is totalled, that was in perfect condition (bought
slightly used w/80k miles). I wanted the mini (this would have
been first generation) more when I bought it, but, I got a great
deal on the bmw and it was significantly cheaper.
So basically I am the person that 'wanted' the mini, but
'settled' for the 3 series.

The 3 series is a better all around car looking at it objectively.
It's more comfortable, quieter, more power, not bad gas milage
(I got 26/33 in auto), has a useable trunk. The 323 was also
fully loaded and I got almost base with the mini. The 3 series is
just a super nice, well thought out, great handling....
truely the ultimate driving machine.

With all that said, if I were doing it again, I would have bought
the mini first off.

It's not a downgrade. It's just DIFFERENT.

 

My wife loves her '07 328xi -- the acceleration, speed, handling, styling. Tis black with a gray interior. A year ago when she was driving on the highway, the tailgate fell off a pick-up not that far ahead of her in her lane. Luckily no one was to the right, so she immediately and at speed changed lanes, and the 328xi performed magnificently.

I've driven her car and tis indeed an awesome machine.

But when I'm in my '07 MINI I'm just on an entirely different plane of motoring. From speed to handling to its quirky styling, there's just nothing like it. I've never felt this way about a car, and I'll never own anything else.

 

I was driving a E90 330i (now it's wife's car) and switch to the Clubman S last month. The Clubman is definitely more fun to drive but the Bimmer is quieter and more comfortable. Both are good cars You just have more fun in a MINI then BMW (in my case)

 

Going from a 2006 M3 -> 08 MCS

Wife still has an 05 330i

Similar discussion here:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=142372

 

I had a 2003 330I/ZHP new, 7 months later I was trading for the E46 M3 that I wanted in the first place, had that one almost 3 years. Had a 2006 MCS for a bit over a year, then made an impulse purchase of a Porsche Cayman S and the MINI had to go. Just last week I was able to rejoin the MINI ranks with a new '08 MCS to join the Cayman. The older I get, the more I appreciate smaller, more efficient, LIGHTER cars. If the MINI meets your requirements room-wise (and it really does for most people), I don't think you will miss your 3 series at all. Your comment of "ego buster" really cracked me up as I'm sure lots of people in the world take great stock in that.

 

I had an E46 M3 cabriolet and went from that to a MCSc. Two totally different cars but I had more fun everyday in the Mini. The M3 had a greater performance envelope, but the mini's performance was more "accessable" The M3 had to be going at a pretty good clip to appreciate its virtues where the Mini was fun even at a walking pace. Just looking around from the drivers seat- the M3 had a very stern serious feel and the Mini with it's lightheartedness (Just look at the cupholder!) was able to put me in a better mood before I even turned the key. Just my .02

 

I kinda went sideways from a 3-series to my Mini (I actually came out of a Porsche 996 C2 Cabrio). My wife had a 330Ci and when her lease was up, she got a 5-series and I got my MCSc on the same day (South Bay BMW loves us!).

I agree with what ashirji said about the more accessible performance envelope of the Mini vs the BMW. It ain't the 996, but I honestly have more fun in the Mini and I can take both kids along for a ride as well. Plus, some of the performance mods I've done have started to make me stop regretting dumping the 996. And I don't miss the 330Ci at all. I'm very happy with my choice.

 

99 e36-M3 to new MCS ...I''ll never look back ... They were/are both mucho FUN!!!!...P.S. They both feed like Bimmers...

 

Still waiting for the MCa to arrive mid-July, and my current car is a 2001 330i auto. I think people are spot on about the MINI being a) more fun to drive at lower speeds, and b) overall more economical. The most fun vehicle I've had up until now was a 1969 Austin Healey Sprite before my daughter was born. I'm looking forward to the rollerskate cornering and the looks from people again. Oh and the waves too!

 

Couldn't you take both the kids in the 911 Carrera? Or are the 911 back seats just too tight to fit child safety seats in? I'm trying to find the perfect sporty four seater than can also accomodate my 2 young children on occasion. Thanks for any comments.

 

Being a 2+2, it isn't really a 4-seater. But the biggest problem was that the rear seat backs are essentially bolt-upright vertical almost to the point of being forward-leaning. They are very uncomfortable and it's nearly impossible to properly install a car seat back there. And even if the kids weren't in car seats, I would never subject them to that.

If I didn't care about having a vert and still planned on taking the kids along for a ride in relative comfort, I'd probably do either the M3/335, Audi S4/RS4, CTS-V or maybe a tin-top MCS. If the 997 is on your scope but you need room for kids, I'd take a good look at that RS4.

 

Thanks Cooper8168 - I appreciate the insight. I've had an e36 M3, e39 M5, and of course, a bunch of SUVs.

Would love to have a sporty four seater that has two doors. I'll take a closer look at the RS4, I've always been curious about Audi's, but the pricing on the performance models has always been a turn off.

I recently drove the e92 M3 sedan, which sounds perfect, but it's a bit too heavy for my liking. And the mileage from the V8 isn't too encouraging. I've never cared much about gas mileage as the measure of a vehicle, but these days it's important.

 

I'm really having a tough time deciding if I should turn my E90 335I in at lease end or purchase it...I really love it, but the MCS is a TON of fun!! I think I will get the Mini..but the buyout is about $4k more than the Mini..not a huge gap. We'll see..

 

I drove the 135i today. Awesome! Priced kind of high. But the local Mini dealer wants $5K over MSRP for the Clubman. Crazy! I won't pay over MSRP for anything.

 

I still have my 2005 325Ci and a 2007 MCS, I use the BMW for long trips or when my mom is with me (she doesn't like the Mini ) and the MCS for my daily driver. Both cars have their place in my life, it used to be that I would always have a BMW and another car, be it Toyota, Honda or whatever. Now I'm at, I'll always have a BMW and a Mini.

 

I am planning to get a low mileage R53 Mini Cooper S shortly. Actual car has been identified and we are working through the deal now.

As mentioned, I previously had a '01 e39 M5, and '97 e36 M3, so it will be interesting to see how it compares to those older BMW's. I'm excited. I plan to use the Mini S as my daily.

Luv325ci-MiniCoopS

What is it that your mom doesn't like in particular about the Mini?

 

I have a 07 328i Coupe that has 1.5 years left on the lease...I love the car but I can't wait to get my hands on a MINI. My only gripe is that I've been driving auto's for the last 10 years because I commute in traffic and its not like FL has any curves. And I think I have to go with stick with the MC or MCS. As far as the comments I get from from my friends about the idea...screw them. I don't need a car to prove my manhood....