So, I'm laid up for a few days and Road and Track arrives. They did an article on "The top 12 most fun cars to drive"
Not based on best of breed, size, speed or anything... Just the fun factor.
Here is their list:

Mini Cooper S
Scion xB
Ford Mustang GT
Lotus Elise
Subaru WRX STi
Dodge SRT-4
BMW M3
Corvette
Porsche Boxter S
Dodge Viper SRT-10
MB E55 AMG
Porsche Carrera S

So the MCS is among some fine company.... Was surprised to see the xB there actually... I own one and it really is fun to drive...

 

ooops nevermind

 

yes.. above

 

Some quoted highlights on the MCS:

"low short car with relatively fat tires, quick steering and a potent whippy overachiever of an engine. Essentially, it's the classic go-Kart formula for good times"

"6-speed manual gearbox and engine thrust that simply pulses the car thru the gears like a big fast heartbeat and never fails to make you smile"

My favorite quote:

"It stands out in a sea of the cautiously designed and inoffensively bland.... Other mini drivers blink their lights, children wave and total strangers say hello at gas stations"

They rated it as 0-60 in 6.9 sec

 

Sweet! I noticed that the MCS didn't show up in the running this year in Autoweek's polls, which was disappointing. But it did win the comparo test with the Eclipse, V6 Mustang, and Acura RSX Type S!

 

They would be crazy NOT to include the Cooper. What a blast to drive.


Glad to see one of my other cars on the list also. I don't agree with the M3 though as I like the wife's 330i with Sport Package better...but they never asked for my opinion.

 

I'll have to get me a copy of that one.

hope you feeling better

are you gonna make the charlotte chapter M2C2 at Smokey Bones on the 24th?

 

Thanks! Not sure yet... it's one day at a time for right now.... will be in touch..

 

hummmm...where did the Evo8 go?

 

yes but the MCS is the article's ''lead" car. to me that's a R/T editorial decision that speaks volumes. we be big fun!! IMO of course I'd keep all except sub the xB with RX8 (sorry Mikem) and the Neon with V8 Magnum wagon. i've driven both and they're fun and distinctive.

Nice to be in some heady company tho Jimbo

 

I luv this thread! R&T article amounts to "written documentation" to support the word-of-mouth about fun, which some of us continue to discover .

The poster about the COOPER was right on too, I suspect. But then, a mere "mention" of the MC in the article, may have seemed "patronizing". Don't worry we KNOW MC holds up (lasts)/kicks major butt funwise, and as one other NAM member likes to say "goes like snot" .

Don't cell and drive,
Tatt

 

Just a coincidence (sort of...). The 12 were placed in order of MSRP. The MCS happens to be the least expensive of the 12.

 

Well, that's not true as the Xb is substantially cheaper than an S...

 

Although I don't have the issue in front of me right now, I seem to remember the "as tested" price being cheaper for the MCS: bare-bones base of $20,900 vs. about $25K for the xB (with a bunch of options, I assume).... It struck me as odd too...

 

Actually the xB was optioned out at $15.6K. It is $14.2K in stock form.
They only had minimal interior options such as lighted cup holders... and mats, etc...

 

Ahh... must have read it wrong... read it when I got home Sat night at 2am...

 

xB? That thing is nothing but a Toyota Echo with a squared off body. If they add the xB, they might as well include the Echo and xA (Both echo derivatives as the xB). What happened to the top of the line tC?

Anyway, their omission of the Cooper model is unexcusable!

But glad to read the MINI, in general, is highly regarded in an ocean of copycats and cheesy Japanese cars.

 

It has the underpinnings of the echo, but its personality is much different. The xB is actually fun to drive. It's also far more useful than the echo or the xA. This is what makes a seemingly very square odd looking useful box fun to drive. It has a low COG so it really handles corners well. That and the stiff springs make for a sporty feel... I bought it to use as a beater car when I had my Z06. It makes home depot runs almost enjoyable... try it before you knock it.. its also inexpensive, reliable, lowest maint in its class. well worth the asking price.

 

The xB is a big car inside, but can't get over the looks.

 

I agree, I am disappointed that the Cooper is not mentioned, but I guess the Cooper S was bound to get the mention for MINI. So I'm not too angry...

 

If you look closely, each of the cars has a write-up from a different R&T staffer. The author of the MINI blurb is Peter Egan, who also owns an '05 MCS. He's written about it a few times in his monthly "Side Glances" column, which, by the way, is fantastic.

The MINI was in fact the second-least expensive car listed. All the prices are base MSRP, so the MCS was a little over $20K and the xB was about $15K.

You can't really blame them for only having an MCS and not an MC. If a magazine only has one slot for a MINI, they're going to pick the S, since it's more representative of their demographic (i.e., their readers are more likely to buy an S than an MC on the whole).

It did seem a little strange that there was a Subaru WRX and no EVO. Matter of taste I guess.

 

Some people just don't know how to have fun in a MC
4500RPM is just soooooooooooo much fun
Over all lighter, with lighter wheels, very nimble
And ,THEY GO LIKE SNOT

 

If they're looking strictly at fun, yeah, I can see the Xb in this category...not the other Scion offerings though. The Xb does have a fun vibe going for it, based on the ones I see around me. The other models are just boring.

 

There, see? I TOL' Ya!

 

Re the inclusion of the Sti and not the EVO....having driven both, I completely understand.

The EVO is a great track car and very fast but a bear to drive everyday....hard suspension, peaky, cheap interior, etc.

The Sti (for all practical purposes) is the speed equal of the EVO, rides much better, nicer interior...and in silver, not quite as much a "boy racer" as the EVO.

The VW R32 is better than both in my opinion, beautifully finished, great exhaust note, more power than needed, and they only made 5000 of them.

I think the R32 is like a cross between a MCs and an Audi.

Still gotta have my MCs though.

Cheers