..And inside, you find $50,000!! SCORE! You make a decision to keep it all, but instead of putting it into savings, you have the urge to spend it on a new car!
So it's time to make a choice, would you..

A.) Buy a new MINI
B.) Buy a different car


Pick one of the above, and explain your decision. The point of this is to gauge just how happy you are with MINI. Look at it like a second chance if you will, a second chance to make the decision you should have made.

If you picked A, how much more money would you want in order to have you consider another car that you prefer over the MINI?

As for me, I would buy a new MINI. A JCW to be specific. My Cooper is an unbelievably fun commuter car that gets ridunkulous gas mileage, but it just doesn't have the oomph that I need.

 

I'll bite.

I would buy a different car. I love the MINI, but sometimes I really, really miss having the space of a sedan. And I miss having a trunk! 4 doors are very nice to have, there is just something about it! With $50k, I'd get a BMW 335I hands down! 2009, cuz that was the last year of the twin turbo. That car is so F****** sick, and it would still be fun to drive. With my extra money I would get a good sized front mount, subtle exhaust(My MINI is LOUD!), modest tune(with a CR of 10:1 i would be scared to run too much boost) and maybe some BBS. And I would delete the cats for sure. The only downfall is the gas mileage and insurance, but if the car was paid off, that wouldn't matter to me one bit!

 

To put it into perspective, I went for a ride in my buddies brand new 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RS. The car was $157K. And when I got out I said to myself I would rather have my MINI. The probem with high dollar sports cars is that it is like using a sledge hammer to kill a fly. Without a racetrack they are hard to enjoy. My Corvette z06 had 505hp. It was a great car but if I wasn't doubling the speed limit or blowing the doors off another car it wasn't that fun. With my MCS Cab I have a blast just zipping through some twisty roads with the top down.

 

Michael- So you would change cars for the practicality yes? That's understandable, but you still love the mini right? RIGHT?!!@#@

greentimemachine - That's a very valid point. At first I wanted to say $500k, but I thought I would keep it more realistic. Makes the discussion more down to earth.

 

Can I buy two cars with it? I'd buy a classic leyland mini (or similar) with part of it and a new Cooper S with the rest. Then i'd keep my justa for commuting.

 

I would buy a used pickup and bank the rest.

I will soon have all the Mini's I can handle. But I need a used PU to go the dump, haul my generator/lawnmower etc in to get tuned up.

Pat

 

One thing I love about the MINI is that it did not cost a fortune. There is no need to obsess about the car. If it gets scratched it's not really a big deal. And there is no guilt with owning one. Meaning there is no buyers remorse. One big reason I don't buy a new 911 is that I know I will question the purchase afterwards.

 

Korben- I do absolutely adore my MINI, yes. I dunno I guess I just miss the space. You're right.

Green- I see exactly what you're saying. The MINI is a blast to drive for sure on the streets. Legally, you can only have so much fun with horsepower on the streets and its infinite fun in the MINI.

 

amberback - A true MINIAC! :D

PatM - Three MINIs in the garage! I applaud you good sir.

 

I would buy a MINI Countryman for my wife, and use the rest of the money to make some mods on my MCS.

 

I can't take all the accolades. My Mini is being used as trade bait for the Coupe. I wish I could keep it but finances just won't allow. But thanks for the props anyway. :-)

 

I would get a new MINI JCW (as loaded as money can buy)!

 

That's pretty much what happened to me, in my case it was stock options paying off rather than a dufflebag full of money. I bought the second MINI, an R53. With a lot more money I've always fancied a Ferrari, maybe a 458 ($225,000 msrp), we remodeled the house instead of doing something that extravagant.

We have several world class race tracks around here to enjoy the cars on (just got back from Laguna Seca yesterday). I know a guy at work who did buy the Ferrari, and regularly tracks it.

 

I'd buy a used one and build it into a race MINI for the track.

Dave

 

I would pay off the loan on my existing Mini, which would take about half of that, then buy myself a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, which would take the other half. I would be one happy camper!

 

I would pay cash for the 2012 BMW 1 Series M.. Man those are gonna be nice

 

If a different car is a 2006 JCW GP then yes I'd buy a different car. If it had to be a new one I'd buy a JCW mini coupe. and then rest of the money would be to turn my current mini into a pure track car.

Actually, if there was no such thing as dealer mark up I would HANDS DOWN get the new BMW 1 series M. Ive read nothing but excpetional reviews about it. Not only would I take one over a new M3, I would take that car over any new car out right now period.

 

1) "A" ( JCW R58 )

2) $30K more for a Lotus Elise.

 

I'd probably pay off my car loan and use some more to go nuts on it. Headers, coilovers, JCW head, cam, weight strip it (CF hood and hatch.) etc. If I still wanted to go faster I'd buy a used GP with the rest, hah.
.

 

I just really want to know where this duffel bag is, and if anyone can kick it my way. My ongoing multi-year quest to buy a mini is still, well, ongoing, and i could use it :p

But i agree with the point about rather having the MINI than a porsche. When my friend recently got his r56 justa, we came to the conclusion that the MINI opens eyes in that "fast" should always take a backseat to "fun," and so many car guys lose sight of that.

 

I've put a deposit down for a 2012 JCW hatch so I guess that answers that.

 

I would buy two MINIs First a CM and for my beautiful weather driving Mini Next Cabrio (probably a 2009) $50,000 would cover it. We are taking delivery next month of a CM and I promised myself (and my wife) that within two years we will be getting the cabrio.

 

That's exactly what I did when I found my duffel bag!

 

I'd re-buy my MINI in a heartbeat. In fact I specced out mine the way I did because given the choice between a pretty loaded MINI or an entry level BMW 3-series, there's really no choice. The "luxury" cars in the same price range, such as the 3 series are a dime-a-dozen around here. This might sound negative, which I don't really intend, but entry-level BMWs give off the vibe that the driver just couldn't afford better. So to me, a well-specced cheaper car seems the better option than a stripped entry level, but higher base-priced car.

I'm not really the typical car guy, and honestly the MINI was the only car I have ever really cared about owning. If the MINI didn't exist, I'd probably be fine driving a $2000 Civic from a tote-the-note lot.

So, yea, MINI for me!
j

 

Could I just use the $50K on the MINI I already have?

If not I would look into an old R50 to build, or I might just get a Countryman.