sorry, it was a typo!

 

The A3 was a fun ride but I didn't feel as comfortable as I do in my Clubman. It's pretty amazing. I remember I tried to find another car that could match up with the appeal and qualities of a Clubman and none stacked up to the Clubman.

 

I always liked small sporty cars ,when the MINI came to the USA in 02 ,it was the smallest sportiest car around for mere mortals like me. I considered no other.

 

Mazda3 GT hatch with the 2.3 and 5spd. The manual transmission was beautiful in that car. God no other car i drove under 25K came close. Its competitive with a MCS but alot cheaper, more functional and nearly as fun to drive.

Didn't get it because it was fugly.

 

The only other car I considered. It was a very hard decision, because the RX8's interior was very nice, I liked the layout and the design. The car felt very under control because of the 50/50 weight distribution. The power was nearly the same as the MCS. It is a smooth ride, and the short shifter + transmission is a pleasure. But I stuck with the MCS at the end because I was always in love with the MINI. Also I can just steal my friend's RX8 when needed.

I do have my eyes on a 135i in the future...

 

Rx-8 never did it for me especially the 15mpg (premium) city out of it 1.3L engine.

 

i looked at the C30 also... and feel the same way. it was more luxurious, but i hate the front end. it didn't handle as well as the mini. it was really fast, but way too expensive when compared to the s.

 

Volvo C30 - Coolest car I considered by far. The problem is that the one I wanted was $33k, and it drove too much like my mom's S40 for that price. I could forgive one of those things, but not both. Still cool, though. Really, really cool.

Mazdaspeed 3 - Super fun from stoplight to stoplight and an amazing value. Handles rather well, too. It looks really good considering the design is a few years old now. The interior looked/felt cheap. It's fine for the price but it still made me hesitate.

VW GTI - Good all around performer. A very clean design. I preferred the manual to the DSG- which just feels like a really nice automatic unless you are on the track. Big problem for me was that the interior is very overrated. Materials were OK and design is a bit plain. Mood is a bit dark, I would have ordered the red plaid seats to brighten it up a bit. Exterior color choices are red or four shades of gray. I didn't feel as good about this car as I did about the Volvo or Mazda.

Lexus IS350 - Yeah I know, it doesn't really fit the theme I've set above. But it was hardly more expensive than the C30. It's a very handsome design inside and out, looks and feels expensive. It has 306 horsepower but still gets 30+ cruising at 70 mph. Cooled seats are amazing. I bought this.

Eight months later, I was bored with it. It was good for my commute, but useless otherwise. The things they did to try to make it sporty were instead very irritating (namely, throttle and brake response) and I missed having a manual gearbox. I decided I could sacrifice some everyday comfort to have more fun. That's when I ordered my Clubman S.

 

I've never considered anything other than a MINI. What's a boy to dream about when he finally gets the car of his dreams?

 

A hot chick in the passenger seat!

 

Check!

 

I traded in my 04 GTO to get something with better gas mileage yet still fun to drive, and on a target budget of $18k. Cars on my list that I checked out:

Used R53 MCS. Bought it!

New R56 (non turbo). Pleasant, but I knew I'd regret not having a quicker car.

Acura RSX-S. Used. No low end torque, bland interior, and didn't motivate me.

Scion TC. New. Good value for the price, I liked the inside and outside. No "soul", however, and it's mostly a "teenager's car" around here. And I see them everywhere...

VW GTI. Used, 2004 model. I liked it, but it also felt a bit "soft". I was also concerned about their reputation for being hit or miss in terms of reliability. I'd consider a new 2008, though.

Mazda3. Used. Nice car, but knew I'd be unsatisfied not having the MS3 version (which was out of my price range at the time)

Neon SRT-4. Used. Hard to find one used that you could trust wasn't ragged out.

Cobalt SS. Used. Looked too much like every other Cobalt, and I don't like the big wing. New ones with the turbo and more relaxed wing are intriguing, though.

Impreza. New. I had a 2002 WRX that was a great car. The base Impreza just didn't have the "oomph", and used WRX's scare me in terms of how the previous owner took care of the transmission. I'd consider a new one when it's time for a replacement for the Mini, though.

 

Used BMWs, Integras, and Miatas

 

1. R32 (saw up to $6000 off MSRP) Heavy
2. GTI | Not convinced about reliability, had a 1984 GTi, loved that car
3. WRX STi | Didn't really want to pay $40K for a $20K car, doors sounded like tin cans, kind of ugly
4. EVO MR | Didn't really want to pay $40K for a $20K car, worried about Mitsubishi long term as a company
5. 135i | Really fun, good engine, top contender, not as light as I would like
6. M3 | Hideous gas mileage of V8 engine
7. 335i | Would be a great, practical car, but getting heavy

 

I was VERY close to purchasing a VW Rabbit (or GTI), but more likely than not, a Rabbit. So much so, in fact, that I had already joined VW forums and discussed the cars at length and my desire to obtain one.

Glad I decided to test drive the MINI, naturally. I was sold. I didn't stand a chance. Nor did the Rabbit for that matter!

 

Before even driving it I knew it was a mini, the only things I considered enough to be maybes were

Porsche Boxster - Loved it but I thought the Mini was that much cooler
Toyota MR2 spyder - All the salespeople were dicks
and oddly enough a Honda Element - I still cant believe this made the list.

As I look back NONE of those would have been as much fun or fit what I needed.

 

We only need (actually we really dont need a car...we live in Manhattan) that said the cars we considered were:
Audi: A4, A3 both with full sport options, leather, fully loaded.
BMW: 135, 335 both loaded.
BMW Z4
Price was not really an issue but in the end, we considered gas consumption (not for cost but for environmental reasons) and even choosing the JCW 09 there was no match. I find the car to be lots of fun, decent looking (we chose Astro Black) and although this is a 42K car after all the taxes and bells and whistles, it still looks modest and we really like that.
We felt that going with a flashier ride, it tends to feel like we want to show off and thats a no for us.
Can't wait to get it...mid October should be here!

 

C-30- they said there was a wait and the back end looks weird
VW R42(new)- no manual only auto
VW GTI-Almost got it. have friends with them and say if you need parts it can take awhile
Audi A3-Cheap interior
WRX STI-great car just didn't want the all wheel drive
Caliber SRT-4-test drove one and went back the next day and it was gone
Mazdaspeed3-Steering felt loose
Civic Si- Teenagers wetdream
MCS-Everything was great from the minute i walked into the show room

I didn't want to just jump into a car. I have to look at as many as possible. I wanted the perfect car and the MCS is that. Although the r32 and gti were very close as well

 

Ditto!

 

I had a rather loaded, BMW 335xi coupe. Best car ive ever owned. Ever. However, money was becoming a bit tight, and with the way the economy was and fuel prices, i decided i wanted to get something more affordable and fuel efficient.

I looked at, rather tried to look at an 2008 VW GTI. However apparently none of the salesman wanted to help, and i walked around the showroom and lot for 15 minutes before i decided, i wasnt giving them a penny.

Right down the road was the Mini dealer. Test drive. Loved the car so much i bought one. They even had one on the lot that was extremely close to the one i had builded on the website. Put the deposit, and finished deal next day and took it home.

 

You're lucky, E36 M3! Many of us here on NAM had to wait for custom-built MINIs to arrive. Glad you found something on the lot that had what you were looking for.

 

Yea, i had done that with my 335. The wait was agonizing, and i was extremely happy i didnt have to go through it again.

 

Originally was looking for a mid-sized sedan for my commute (and nice wife & me car) - Accord, Camry & Passat. Then saw the TDI Jetta diesel (40+mpg) and decided that economy was the way to go. Was thinking about pulling the trigger on one, until VW told me they stopped taking orders b/c production capacity for 2009 was full. So went back to the drawing board.

Jokingly told my wife that we should look at a Mini (not knowing that I'd actually fit in one), and stopped into the Mini dealer not knowing anything about them. Suprising amount of room, then took a test drive of an MCS and knew right then I wanted one. Went back to the showroom and saw the Clubman and it was all over... Will be happy when this wait is over!

 

I was originally set on a convertible, but went for a hardtop because I'd get it sooner and the sunroof is great. I had a Mustang convertible previously, and I don't miss the open top.
I'd considered a new Mustang GT convertible but was irked that the interior was cheaper than my '93, and the only improvement in the ancient design was a transmission that might not explode in overdrive. I test drove a 6-banger and liked it, but not for the price.
I also considered a Miata and a Sky, but decided I wanted either 4 seats or a trunk of decent size. They have neither.
The 350Z convertible is pricey and looks horrible with the top up.
The RX-8 looks great but the rotary gets terrible mileage.
The 135i's looks bore me, the 328i is boring to drive and the 335 is too expensive for me. Great cars just not what makes me happy.
Used Boxster S would be a hard drive in the winter.
And last but not least, the R32... I think it's a great sporty hatch and wanted to try it out, but when I test drove the MCS I was sold, and never bothered to test drive one.

 

just can't sit my 6" fat *** in it.