now i have an audi a4. I love it but im thinking about about trading it in. i was just wondering how practical the mini really is? how much fun they are? safety? and moddability? also how do they do on snow and ice because i live in colorado and ive been spoiled with the quatro for the last few winters. any info that might help ill be glad to read it

 

>> i was just wondering how practical the mini really is? how much fun they are? safety? and moddability? also how do they do on snow and ice
>>
The amount of fun you have may depend on your driving style and the courses you drive. The Mini drives like a go cart. Be prepared to answer a lot of questions everytime you leave your car unattended in a shopping area, etc. I live in Tennessee, and the car performed flawlessly in the snow and ice this year. The DSC will not allow the cars tires to spin. The smile factor of the car is a 10.0. In short, I've NEVER owned a car that I've been more satisied with. Best of luck with your choice.

Jim

 

I've seen it time and time again...people switching from a more exspensive car to get into a Mini and I think with good reason,the styling is wonderful inside and out and it doesn't look like a cheap econobox.It's also seems to be a lot more practical than one might first think.Even those with deep pockets and very discriminating tastes are smart enough to see the value of this car,I read in some car magazine that it would be impossible to find a more fun car to own and drive for under 50 grand...that makes them more desirable than a new vette or 350Z and I have recently driven both and am still ordering a Cooper S!

 

>>now i have an audi a4. I love it but im thinking about about trading it in. i was just wondering how practical the mini really is? how much fun they are? safety? and moddability? also how do they do on snow and ice because i live in colorado and ive been spoiled with the quatro for the last few winters. any info that might help ill be glad to read it
>>

Practicality: Shove down the rear seats and it makes a good cargo hauler. You're not going to throw a 10' ladder back there, but plenty of common household items will fit. And a car that you can park nearly anywhere will have its own
de facto practicality built right in.

Fun: Quite simply the best handling and most fun you can have in a front-wheel drive car. Every other car I've driven since buying my MCS feels dull-witted and unresponsive.

Safety: Four stars when tested for frontal crash protection. Six airbags are standard in North America too. Small size doesn't necessarily equate with poor safety.

Snow & Ice: Quattro is fine for gaining traction in the snow, but the minute you need to brake, all the 200ish lbs of extra transmission weight becomes your enemy, not your friend. I put a decent set of Michelin Alpins on my MCS and regularly drove through the worst winter we've had in 5 years. Granted, if you have a foot of standing snow, you're SOL - the car will bottom out. But snow is not a hindrance if you're dealing with a more modest buildup.

-CW

 

Here are offset frontal crash tests for the MINI and for your A4. Pretty similar ratings, although the MINI weighs over 1,000 pounds less! Personally, I feel safer in the MINI than I did in my Integra, Accord hatch, or Corolla. It's so much more maneuverable, first of all, and if you do end up in a collision you've got six airbags and a super-rigid passenger compartment protecting you. Yeah, I'd be SOL if I got creamed by a Suburban, but so would many other vehicles. Once you've made the decision to drive a small car, the MINI is about as safe as you can get.

As far as the fun factor goes, it's off the charts. Go test drive one. Enough said!

Practicality - you do get a decent amount of storage space with the seats down. Any hatchback is going to be 20 times more practical than a small two- or four-door car without folding seats. The MINI isn't as cavernous as a Saab 900 hatch, but it's decent. People have gotten some surprising items to fit - 35" TV, for example.

>>Snow & Ice: Quattro is fine for gaining traction in the snow, but the minute you need to brake, all the 200ish lbs of extra transmission weight becomes your enemy, not your friend.<<

By this rationale, I guess my Cooper is a safer winter driver than an S. I didn't have to drive in the snow at all this past winter, so I can't really comment here.

Good luck with your decision! I think your mind will be made up as soon as you go for a test drive.

Chris

_________________


Borla, Moss intake, Magnecor

 

>>now i have an audi a4. I love it but im thinking about about trading it in. i was just wondering how practical the mini really is? how much fun they are? safety? and moddability? also how do they do on snow and ice because i live in colorado and ive been spoiled with the quatro for the last few winters. any info that might help ill be glad to read it
>>

Welcome to MCO Ifcsean!

I used to have a 98 Subaru Outback Ltd (with AWD of course as all suby's), and now have an 03 MCS.

I am VERY happy with my decision:
:smile:
I've never had so much fun driving a car since my 73 MGB GT.

Practicality? There are several ways to look at that. In my old suby I was driving by myself or with 2 people most of the time, and rarely used all the space in the back. I payed for that rare convenience with a larger car, harder parking, worse mileage, less fun handling.

In the MINI I can throw a lot of stuff in the back when the seats are down. I can transport 4 people when needed, although for 4 adults space is tight, and I would not want to do it for a trip longer than about 1 hr. Parking is so easy, I get better mileage than in the suby, and it is soo much fun!

However, I have to say that in wet, snow, slush, the MINI is no Subaru. The traction of the MINI even with AST and DSC does not come even close to the suby, and I feel I have to be much more careful driving under such conditions in the MINI than the suby. I do see chrisnl's point though that this forces you to drive in a slower and more aware manner in wet, snow and sluch, in the MINI, and that might enhance safety for some. The MINI is still a safe car to drive under such conditions, but it does not have the amazing bad weather capabilities of a Subaru.

One final point, if you live in an area where a lot of gravel is used in winter time to reduce salt usage, you might want to check out the cracked / chipped windshield issue the MINI has. The MINI windshield is made of extremely soft glass, and pits very easily from even minor pieces of grit hitting it. In an area like that you should at the very least get a zero deductibel insurance on glass, since you will likely need one or more new windshields per year.

All in all, this is a very practical and amazingly fun to drive car!
Cheers,
Markus

 

forgot to add:
safety I think is top notch, both passive and active. I feel very safe in the MINI.
Moddability: excellent, just look at the performance forums, and check out some of the sponsor links for aftermarket items for teh MINI. Plenty out there.

 

>>Yeah, I'd be SOL if I got creamed by a Suburban, but so would many other vehicles. Once you've made the decision to drive a small car, the MINI is about as safe as you can get.

And just think, with the quickness of a MINI, you can probally avoid getting hit in the first place, so you don't need to worry.. That's the way I think of it, I can avoid a lot more than the average folk, and that's much safer then using an airbag anyday...

And as for what you can haul in a MINI, 2 weekends ago I had a cedar chest that was appx. 47"x22"x18", and you won't fit something that big in your average sedan...

Rocketboy_X

 

I love AWD (we've had a Previa AWD, Range Rover, Subaru Outback, Acura MDX, and a BMW 330xi). We live in California and have a condo at Kirkwood in the Sierras. The problem in the Sierras is not so much traction in the snow as it is California's chain control laws when it does snow. AWD excuses you from chains for all but the worst conditions (when the highway will more likely be closed anyway). Mini claims that chains cannot be fitted to the MCS with 16 or 17 inch wheels (there is some debate about this, however), so I think we'll be going with Spikes-Spiders next winter when we take the MCS into the mountains. Easy on and off and no clearance problems.

As to practicality - very roomy front passenger compartments, and good hauling capability with rear seats down. When I sat in an A4 a few years back, the rear seat seemed pretty tight for 6 footers; the MCS is probably a bit tighter than that in the rear, although I can set the front seat so that it's just drivable for me, and then still sit in the rear seat facing forward (I'm 6' 3&quot. Wouldn't want to do that for 5 hours, though. MCS has plenty of power to accelerate up grades even at altitude (9000 - 11000 feet when I was driving back through the Rockies). Great highway car (with the exception of poor road services, like old concrete highways where the sections have settled and joints are uneven). We got the Mini roofrack and fitted Thule VeloVise bike carriers to it. The Mini rack is very solid and actually pretty quiet at highway speeds (quieter than the rack on the 330xi). I find the sports seats are extremely comfortable, even during a 12 hour driving day.

 

>>>>Yeah, I'd be SOL if I got creamed by a Suburban, but so would many other vehicles. Once you've made the decision to drive a small car, the MINI is about as safe as you can get.
>>
>>And just think, with the quickness of a MINI, you can probally avoid getting hit in the first place, so you don't need to worry.. That's the way I think of it, I can avoid a lot more than the average folk, and that's much safer then using an airbag anyday...
>>Rocketboy_X

Yup thats what I think too. The small size and manuverablity of the MINI will allow you to dodge accidents that other cars could not. Its like in a motorcycle if you are stopped at a stop light. You look behind you and see a car about to hit you instead of just standing there and getting hit you jump out of the way.

 

let me respond this way: I realized recently that I will have to replace the EMMA someday (it happens to all cars eventually) and had a flash of insight that there is nothing on the market today that will not seem like a major step down. Maybe by then something cooler will come out, but not now!!

 

I find it o be more fun then my corvette used to be. It's a great everyday car, and I love it! I'd say just go ahead and get it.

 

One aspect not mentioned: you'll end up having a relationship w/ this car. I've never before felt so personally attached to a vehicle as I am my MINI. There's just something about the car which invites this. No practical application here, but be ready for it if you make the decision to buy one.

 

Why are you thinking of replacing the Audi A4?
The mini has much to offer. Thinking of a Cooper or a Cooper S?
They are very different besides the cost difference of $3000.
Both are very fun but in different ways. The Base cooper is lighter and tends to have lighter wheels and a softer suspension with less power. Overall it does very well. Interior on both cars is similar or you can order options that will bring a cooper on par with a Cooper S (sports seats). Gas mileage is better with a cooper in 5 speed then a CVT. But the Cooper S still can get about 28 mpg overall and up to 35 on the highway if you drive slow or at the speed limit.

Utility- space wise it does very well due to the hatchback. For daily use I almost never run out of space. If you mostly drive with one or two people then it is fine for them and some gear. If you have to take four people then you might get low on extra space.

Visibility- just great- few or minimal blindspots- this adds to safety and gives you a great view out. Even better with the sunroof (heavy and rattles for some -but there is a fix at the dealer)

Audio- The Harmon Kardon audio upgrade for $550 is excellent and worth a serious look if you like stereo. I would buy the car just for the stereo- Bring your favorite CD and stand back.

Handling- 10 out of 10 even with the base model and 15" wheels with CVT- very balanced and drives great. To drive faster you have to work a little harder with the base cooper but it can keep up with the Cooper S at speeds less than 50 mph and it might be a tad quicker off the line (lighter weight- lighter wheels).

Overall this has been my best car- absolutely the most fun. Think of it as an extremely sporty economy car.

 

>>Overall this has been my best car- absolutely the most fun. Think of it as an extremely sporty economy car. :smile:

_________________

Izzy is an '03 MCS, with PP, CWP. It's BRG on BRG. I know, BFD.

 

GO for a test drive...and you'll be hooked!!!!!!

 

thanks for all your help i'm going to look at them tomorrow. the reason im even considering replacing the a4 is that it has a lot of miles and i havent been having any luck with it at all. it seems every time i get it back from the shop its back in less than a month. plus im going to college and i would like something that is cheaper to mantain and hopefully buy. speaking of that how hard is it to find a used cooper s in colorado? if anyone knows thank again

 

Ahh- realiability. I see