Lotus Exige/Elise

 

What's so good about Minis's?

You answered your own question.

I've owned probably three dozen cars in my life, several costing 2-3x what the MINI cost me and I've got to say, this car excites me like my first car did. I used to buy cars that I thought would impress other people, but now I'm too old to care about such nonsense. I bought this car because it impresses me and I absolutely love it. Best part of my day is tossing the Mini around.

Sounds like you have a bit of buyer's remorse. Maybe you liked the idea of the car more than the car itself -- hoping you'd "get it" eventually. I don't hold much hope for you, though. I think you either get it or you don't. Doesn't make you a bad person. Just sounds like you bought the wrong car (for you).

 

Sorry, incorrect, think cheaper. Muuuuuuuuuch cheaper.

 

Is your objective to be more Gung-Ho? or Less so?

I feel like NAM is rather egalitarian, there seems to be a place for players, fans, as well as complainers.

If you don't feel good about the choice that you made you have a number of options.

 

If you dont mind buying used and an older model you can have an Elise for 23K$ to 30K$ easily. Its a super reliable car! Most are low mileage not your typical DD...lol!

 

Agree

 

My MCS is in for service right now so I'm driving a loaner 3 series. Man, I know why I love my Mini. The 3 series is a good car but I feel so disconnected from the road and the car. I miss my cooper, it's only been 6 hours :(

 

Perhaps, but the late-80s or early-90s vintage Mister Two can be had for an order of magnitude less pretty easily. Not sure I'd want one that was that cheap, but they are out there!

A friend had one, it was evidently quite a pain in the butt to work on. Makes sense with the whole drivetrain being in the middle of the car.


...Back on topic: Hopefully the OP's car grows on him. I don't think I was looking for the same sort of things out of a car as he was, but my Justa fits the bill pretty nicely. And at $23K out the door for a brand-new car (including taxes and all the hoo-haw you can't avoid) I'm happy with him.

He corners well, feels good driving, has just about the perfect amount of space, has adequate power, and gets good mileage. Not sure what else I could really want from a car!

 

It does everything well, except carry cargo; there are rental trucks for that.

No other car has its combination of solidity, stable and quick handling, power, fuel economy, and unique design. I can enter and exit the car without hurting. I can zip around town and feel like a kid, averaging 34 mpg. I can accelerate up mountains, fun-ride around curves, and roll my eyes at every look-alike out there with its swept-back headlights. After three MINIs and five years of Motoring, it's still fun, and I'm still looking for opportunities to go for a drive. That's why.

 

Well the Lotus are fairly new and have reliable engine and tranny enough to be even supercharged with no problems; they have light curb weight (1900lbs to 2050lbs) and are fairly good on mpg. plus they accelrate fairly fast depending on what model you get 0-60 is anywhere between 3.6 to 4.5 and 1/4 are in the low 12 to mid 13s and that just stock and of course their is much aftermarket support.

 

+1 to that, and maybe more. It's the first car I will let friends drive so they can see what I'm so crazy about. I swap with a 3-series driver and a tuned S4 driver and we all agree that my Mini might not be the best drive of the three, but it's by far the most fun.

 

Agreed with Kirby11 and d@g! I bought my MINI because during the test drive I had the biggest smile I've had with any of the other vehicles that were in consideration. Why not enjoy it more and not have the fastest 0-60 time! The MINI is quick and aggressive, but not the fastest kid on the block that is for sure.

 

Also not the slowest kid on the block either by far. I drive my 07 civic then jump in my MCS with JCW tune and good lord..........

 

It's not slow but it's not even close to being "fast."

 

I didn't say cheap for a Lotus, just cheap. I bought my MR2 for $1500, kept it for several years only changing oil, and then sold it for $1500. THAT...is cheap fun!

 

Most fun car I think I've ever owned or driven. Interior to me is super stylish, exterior is unique, gets lots of compliments, and handles twisties with ease. What more could you want??? Bought mine used but just happened to love the color and interior (I have found either people love or hate the redwood lounge color). To me it's really different then the normal black, tan, grey. It has enough options on it that I'm a happy camper.

 

What do you call fast then?

From what I've read, a stock Cooper S will go 135 mph.

Dave

 

I think My JCW is plenty fast. Stock I verified the 146 top speed. You can tell it is electronically limited because it gets up there really quick. I annihilated a muscle car the other day. Big bad El Camino with a cam, headers, big mufflers (about all I could see without a post race teardown). Pulled him 1-2 cars in each gear. I don't usually drag race because corners are my thing and that is where this car really shines. There are faster cars for sure but not many can get away from you on a twisty road at any price. And for the mileage I am still on that tank of gas with the El Camino race and I am getting 33.9 MPG. I love that about Mini and BMW, how you can put your foot in the tank but it still gets great mileage while you are going nuts. Seems like everything else you have to baby it to get the good mileage that is on the sticker. This car I can easily exceed the sticker with the tricks I've learned on the other cars.


Well that's what I like about mine. Hope you find your way with yours.

 

MINIUSA.com used to say the MCS could do 142 and the JCW could do 147, stock. It's not the top speed, it's how longgggg it takes to get there.

 

Learned to drive on a '72 Cuda. What a blast! Had some others cars. Got an 88 Honda Accord Lxi Hatchback. Fun to zip around in but....not the Cuda. Had some other cars...last drive a 2002 Tundra which I still have and like a lot but, its a truck. Got my MCS a month ago. What a blast! It's kind if a cross between the Cuda and the Accord...of course, not as much muscle but power enough. I'm loving the fun of the handling and the get up and go. Feel like a kid again driving it. And the unique design makes me smile.

 

new2minicoop - maybe check out THESE and then see how you feel. My kids like the MTTP 2 more than MTTP 3 but I like them both. Just give ‘em a chance to load...

And, yeah - I built a website because of this little car.

 

Something don't sound right to me. I have a 2012 JCW Coupe that is pretty quick and I also have a 2005 GTO that is fast. I can tell you that I would be looking at my JCW in the rearview mirror. While 208 HP is pretty good in a small light car it still cannot compete with 400. The exception would be on twisties or a road course. But even then in the straights the JCW would be in the rear view mirror. So I can only assume that this big bad El Camino was not that bad just maybe big.

Top end speed is much different than quickness. While my JCW is limited to 149 MPH, (I think that is the spec) my GTO is limited at less than that however if chipped it will exceed that. 100 MPH top speed in third gear with a 6 speed tells me that easily.

The GTO is very quick stop light to stop light. In the curves it cannot keep up with the Mini's. I've tried it and it does not work. But once again I see them in the rear view mirror once the road straightens up.

I don't recommend racing on any street. Nothing good can come of it.

 

Have you tried the Sport button If that doesn't put a smile on your face, nothing will.

They are a rock solid car that rides well, handles great, gets really good gas milage, is resonably fast, looks unigue, has room for most everything I want to take, can track-it or autocross-it without having to do anything to it, have fun driving it on the highway or a 2 lane twisty...and the list goes on.

As for the head lights, I aimed mine down a little and each a little further outboard and the lighting improved greatly.

Out running an El Camino...sure I believe it. They were so light in the back end they can't get power down. I have out run a '69 Boss 302 mustang on the track in a drag race down a straight (yes, it was fully restored and he seemed to be trying). That was bitter/sweet as I always wanted one of those cars.

 

I sold my 335i to get my MCS and it was a great trade! My payment is cut almost in half and the driving fun has doubled.

 

Where else can I find an affordable car which can be both a daily driver and also generate in excess of 1.1 G of lateral acceleration on street tires?

(disclaimer: with a bit of chassis tuning mind you...)

Cheers,

Charlie