As the MINI Cooper/Cooper S become more and more popular we are starting to see other car companies compare themselves to the MINI and try to match the success of the car and excitement of the brand. To me it seems there are two broad categories of competitors. First are current cars that are tweaked and modified to provide MINI-like handling and performance. These would include the Ford Focus, Mazda 3, Dodge Neon SRT-4 and so on. IMHO these cars are not true competitors to the MINI Cooper. They are existing economy cars that have been given a healthy dose of steroids. True, they can approximate or even beat the MINI's performance numbers (0-60, 1/4 mile, lateral cornering, slalom, braking...) but they don't and never will have the soul and history that the MINI Cooper has. The second class of cars are the new releases. These are being designed squarely with the MINI in mind. The Pontiac Solstice and Chevy Nomad come to mind. These cars will likely best the MINI's performance numbers when released but keep in mind the MINI is due for some big changes as well. Around the time the Nomad is released the MINI will have its new engines and most likely a few suspension refinements as well. While these cars may be more direct competition for the MINI, depending on your tastes, I still don't think anything will match the soul of the MINI. Don't get me wrong. I think competition is great. It will force MINI to improve the Cooper to keep up with current technology and performance and will provide MINI Cooper fans with a better and better product. However, I don't see any current car or project car out there that will be able to match that indefinable quality of MINI-ness that makes the Cooper unique. I say, bring on the competitors! They'll all make me love my MINI even more!

 

i totally agree! the MINI will always be the best IMO.

 

not to mention the Smart Car...

 

My "other" car is one of the competitors that you list (Mazda 3), and I never even thought of it as competition for the Mini. They are so totally different cars in every way. When it comes down to styling, performance and overall fun to drive, there is just no comparison to a Mini.

 

I see the Mazda 3, especially the new one, as a "hot hatch" similar to the MINI in size and how it is marketed. Cool, fun to drive with good power and handling. Also, in the same price class (under 25k). I do agree with you though that while all these other cars are good in their own right there is just no comparison to a MINI!

 

When I decided to sell my Miata and get a different car, I was looking for something fun, with a hatch and enough room to fit my dogs. I was very close to buying a Mazda3. I had briefly considered the MINI, but dismissed it as a whim. But I decided to test drive one anyway. I placed an order for my MINI the next day. :smile:
The Mazda3 was a great little car, but it just wasn't as engaging an experience as the MINI seemed to be. For me, I think it would be difficult for another car to capture what the MINI has.
Now if my MINI would only get here!

 

I didn't know that GM was actually going to build the Nomad. When will it be out?


R.E.

 

I think with GM's history these MINI like replicas they will produce (i.e., Pontiac Solstice and Chevy Nomad) may be reasonably fast, but will not have the handling or steering or braking of the MINI. They probably won't turn on a dime as the MINI does as most American cars have slow steering and a large turning circle. I don't like MINI seeing look-alikes, but there's nothing we can do about it. I think the Chrysler/Mercedes Smart car is more of an economy car if I recall. Won't that be embarrassing for MINI owners to have everyone else not be able to tell which cars are which but just know they are slow economy cars. That's just like Mercedes to do that to BMW. How awful that will be! I'm really angry about that.

 

>>not to mention the Smart Car...

"Smart" car!!

 

If anyone can put together a small car packed with such goodies and
fun factor and heritage, it will only be European.

I think the Mazda3 is a very capable car and it will most-likely be
the best small Japanese car that came into the US for 2004.

 

If someone took a similar approach to that of BMW in relation to the MINI, I might be persuaded to look at a 2CV. Doesn't have the racing heritage behind it but its plenty cheeky!!!

Otherwise, forget it...MINIs for me!

 

There are several things that set MINI apart from the competition

Excellent handling- MC and MCS alike share great handling in stock form. There is just no disputing it is fun to drive no matter how much power you have. A stock MINI beats any stock competitor in it's price range on a curvy road anyday.

CVT- Once you figure out how to use it. It has all other auto transmissions beat by a mile.

Retro design with flare- Just the other day I was at the dealer looking at the union jack mirror covers and sunroof vinyl and it looked really good on either a red or blue MINI. If you did that with almost any other car it would look like a disaster. It's really hard to find appearance combinations that don't work.

Options for mods- While the MC doesn't have quite as many choices as the MCS, both MINIs enjoy numerous mod options for suspension, wheels, appearance, audio and more.

History- there is a tremendous history behind the classic mini and now the development of the new MINI.

The MINI community- we have a great bunch of MINI owners and national web presence (thanks to Mark, Gabe and others), with some great mini tuners all over the country and we are making our presence known in the autocross circuit.

 

I love my MINI, but I think one of the great things that has happened is that the bar has been raised. MINI has shown that a small upmarket car has a viable market in the US. I have always been a fan of smaller cars. I would like to see more of them in the US. It's starting to happen. The SVT Focus, the SRT-4 Neon, the WRX, are al great cars. I'm glad they are here and I hope more come out. I LOVE the Solstice. It is the one car that I might trade the MINI on if it is like the concept car that is traveling the shows.

 

I maybe wrong but isn't the Mazda3 the Protege of past years but with a new catchy name? We helped my 77 year old Mom look for a new car last year & she ended up with the Protege. It's a hot little car but IMO not even close to being compared to the MINI. And they don't even get a second glance out on the streets from me. I think the MINI will always stand out because it is so unusual just like the VW Bug & the Miata.

Lois

 

we had a Protege 5 before buying the Mini. I think Mazda is selling the 3 side by side with the P5. If not, the Protege is out, and the 3 is Mazda's new small car.

The P5 was a great car with really good handling. Some of the best of any front wheel drive car I've driven. The fit and finish were very good, and from what I've seen the 3 is even better. My biggest problem with the P5 was that it's too slow. The Mini seems to be a better car in every way except price and cargo room.

 

>>If someone took a similar approach to that of BMW in relation to the MINI, I might be persuaded to look at a 2CV. Doesn't have the racing heritage behind it but its plenty cheeky!!!
>>
>>Otherwise, forget it...MINIs for me!

They have been racing 2CVs in Europe for "donkey's years".....they even have a 24 Hour Race for them at Mondello Park, just outside of Dublin........ so it is not that they lack racing heritage or that they are cheeky.....they are just a piece of c..p.....

 

having just seen two of 'em in person at the Louisville auto show, I must say MINIs biggest competitors as far as style, execution, and packaging are the Scoion Xa and Xb.

The Xa, particularly, is a 4-door , ultra-modern interpretation of a MINI Cooper (not the 's', obviously).

I'd be very interested to drive one to compare it with my MC.

 

The Mazda 3 is nothing like the Protege or the P5. Both handling and power are significantly better. The base engine on the 5-door is 160 hp, and the handling is very, very good. Still, it is not nearly as fun to drive as my MCS. The one thing I have to worry about is after driving my MCS for a few days, and then get in the Mazda 3, I often forget about the difference in handling characteristics. Not long ago I approached a fast corner in my Mazda 3 which I had just the day before negotiated in my MCS... whoops, almost totalled the Mazda 3! I like the Mazda 3, but I LOVE the MCS. One is transportation, one is an experience!!

 

>>I didn't know that GM was actually going to build the Nomad. When will it be out?
>>
>>
>>R.E.

I read an article the other day (if I remember right) and I think I saw it on-line somewhere on the internet that said that if GM builds the Nomad it will be out in late 2005 or early 2006. So, I don't think they have made up their minds yet. There was a picture and it looked small like the MINI but had a really low roof so that the windows were not very tall, and the wheels were out to the corners of the car. Definitely not like the old 1957 Chevy Nomad stationwagon of the past. So, if built it won't have that resemblance to the past as the MINI does.

 

>>I didn't know that GM was actually going to build the Nomad. When will it be out?
>>
>>
>>R.E.


Someday soon I hope

_________________

 

>>having just seen two of 'em in person at the Louisville auto show, I must say MINIs biggest competitors as far as style, execution, and packaging are the Scoion Xa and Xb.
>>
>>The Xa, particularly, is a 4-door , ultra-modern interpretation of a MINI Cooper (not the 's', obviously).
>>
>>I'd be very interested to drive one to compare it with my MC.

I'm copying and pasting this from another thread; the one where I'm trying to decide what, if anything, to replace my MINI with.

Keep in mind that not everyone is buying the MINI because it's a hot little sports car, and comparing against Miata, TT, WRX, etc. Plenty of people, like me, bought it because it was an affordable and practical hatchback that just happens to be the coolest car on the planet. In that respect, its main competitors are the Scions, Mazda 3, Golf, and Focus.

The Scions definitely have distinctive love-it-or-hate-it style to them. The xA struck me as cheap and insubstantial (but probably reliable), and the xB struck me as solid, well-built, stylish - until I saw the dash - horrors!!! Toyota really screwed it up. Cheesy and ugly.