I love my Mini. It's the best car I have had. But I'm questioning long term. I have had it in the shop now about 5 times (different things). But more importantly I only have 38,000 miles on it and it rattles in different areas alot.

So I'm looking at maybe the all new 2006 Civic Si. I know, you are saying a Civic but this one has 200 HP, lots of options and the Honda long term factor.

I need feedback. Smart move or stupid move.

Or does anyone have a good book on how to stop the rattles. The dealer has tried 3 times now. It's much better...then again, I have new ones almost every time the touch it.

 

The Slate magazine auto writer has a test about this. He calls it something like the "Parking Lot Scale of Automotive Satisfaction"

Basically, you got the keys and your heading to your car, you look up the row of cars and see yours ... now how happy are you knowing that is your car to drive home (on a scale of 1 - 10?)

Honda? You rate it

 

Honda makes great cars... there is no disputing their engineering and reliability. That being said, they are like appliances.. dependable yet boring in many ways. They look generic and there just isn't much personality.
Didn't the Civic do away with the multi-link suspensions?
We own a 04 Accord V6. Great car for long trips and is very comfortable and dependable. 5 star saftey rating and all the features... but I couldn't drive it everyday... I enjoy driving and need something to stimulate the senses...
IMHO

 

I'd say to get whatever makes you happier, but fyi "Honda long term factor" doesn't exsist anymore and hasn't since the early 90's IMO.

Good luck.

 

Its all moot until you drive it, no?

 

Drive what makes you happy... MINI, MINI, MINI, MINI, MINI.....:smile:

Donna
02' CR/W MCS (gone to MINI heaven - burned up)
05' Cool Blue MCSC "Ariel"
05' HB/W MCS "Gizmo"

 

I think long term reliability is pretty common in all car makers now-a-days...engine/transmission wise. So your hood ornament falls off in 10 years, oh well, that's not reliability.

 

why not both - you already know that nothing will make you happier than a mini so i'd keep it and get the honda too! unless of course money is the issue and then i'd certainly stick with the mini - silly!

 

The two favorite cars I've owned are my current Mini and my '89 CRX which is long gone. CRX was a blast. Fast, nimble, great handling, etc. But I don't think I ever got a compliment on it from anyone.

In the Mini it's a different story. Not a day goes by that I don't get a , or a "love the car" from some stranger. The latest one came from one of the VP's at my work. He saw me pull into work in the morning and went out of his way to come over and talk about the car. Apparently he did not realize who the Mini belonged to until today. The flattering part about it is the fact that the guy drives a convertible Porsche Turbo.

 

look at it this way. the thousands of $$$ you will loose trading the mini and getting into a new car will pay far and beyond any "reliabilty" expenses you "might" have with the mini. so if the mini breaks down a few times (which i highly doubt) and it costs you $1000 - $2000 total to keep fixing, you will still be spending less money than you would trading the mini and getting a new honda. put in simple terms, no matter how unreliable the mini might be you will still be losing more $$$ getting the honda. KEEP THE MINI.

 

There is some really good advice here.
I can't stress how much I love the Mini. And EVERY day I go into parking lot, I say, "damn I love this car".

Someone at work also said the Honda had it in the 80 but lost it's edge in the 90's as in reliability. But that said, that was to Toyota and Lexus and so on. Not really ever to German cars or even American cars.

I also 100% argee, that Honda looks kinda boring. I also think that is why Toyota is going with the Scion TC (not to bad looking..edit..for a Honda).

The new 2006 Honda Civic SI though looks pretty good (lot like the Scion TC).
See Here

Bad colors though. Then again, there are very few cars that even come close the Mini in looks. That's not my problem. And I love the logic of trading in and loosing a few thousands dollars which in the long haul, pays for any repairs and I get to keep it.

1 sec, wife calling from shower... must go.

But anyone have the RATTLES. Do they drive you nuts too?

Really, I would buy a PDF from anyone here that puts a PDF together on how to open the doors, where to pad it, same as sunroof, the famous dash rattle and so on. I would easily spend the time and by all the padding to get the rattles to stop.

On that note, I love my Mini. I did think about the Borla Exhaust which is louder just to drown out the rattles

 

[QUOTE=ToeKneeC67]The new 2006 Honda Civic SI though looks pretty good (lot like the Scion TC).
See Here
eeeew! just kiddin - it's ok but where's his happy face? it just doesn't smile like the mini!

 

I might replace my Mini with a new 2006 VW R36 AWD when it comes late 2006. But Honda? No way

 

Just took a look at the link for the Civic. That is not bad. I would even accept a CRX badging on that one.

 

trading a mini for THAT? nononono keep the mini!!

 

IMHO it kinda looks like what we youth call ricers. That's when you have a perfectly fine civic or whatever and make it look like $h!t. Whatever you want to go with though, I am sure is going to be fine. You just have to remember you probably won't have as good of cornering, and probably will be in my opinion, have no where near as fun as in a MINI. May I suggest a 2005 or 2006 MINI Cooper S, for pretty much I'm estimating the same price you can get a car that you are sure you love, plus with the gearing changes made you'll find that it feels like a more powerful car, and then later maybe you'll mod it??


Good Luck, I'm sure you'll pick the best car for you!
Mikey

 

I've had an '02 Civic EX for my daily driver for the last 3.5 years -- and I can't WAIT to get out of it when I FINALLY get my MINI in 4 months or so.

Yes it gives me the feeling it will continue to be reliable, but it is so boring. I don't care how much money I'd save keeping it. I don't care what I'd save if I bought another Honda or Toyota product (I considered the new Lexus IS) I just don't want another mainstream/boring car. After 65K+ miles the car definitely has some rattles. (I think anything with a sunroof is going to make some noise after several thousand miles) Also, even though you are thinking of the Si model, Honda makes massive amounts of cars for the mainstream and they are made with that in mind. I think my hard cornering habits have caused something to wear out in my suspension -- it makes some strange noises.

It's still a Civic. Great car, great mpg, but you will see one on every corner! The MINI is something special. You might just have a case of new car fever and need a new MINI.

 

GOOD GRIEF NOT ANOTHER HONDA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MINIMAX 1

 

OK, this is good. And I do have to remember that the Civic (even the SI) is made for the "younger" crowd. I also know that if I get out of the Civic people will just look at my sorry 37 year *** and say....can't he get a car more his age

I do think this Civic SI (200 HP and lots of options, not to mention the 20th aniversery edtion). well me special. Fast, handling great, and so on. But still a Honda. But as someone above put....drive it first.

It's also good to see other's, in other cars, have rattles too. My last car was an Audi A4, now my wife's. 1996, like new. No rattles.

 

hey! I was there when they unveiled it





Sounds nice... really didn't look that bad.. but it's still a Honda. My MINI reaplaced a Civic EX... I hated having that car. So common, so plain. I would walk into a parking lot and have to look twice to be sure I was walking to my car because there were others EXACTLY like it.

But it's your money and you have to drive it.... do what feels right.

 

Automakers lost the script a long time ago. MINI's rock!!!

 

We have a 99 CRV with 95K miles that has been super reliable. My last CAR before the MINI was an 01 Civic LX. Hondas are like refrigerators, an appliance.

The MINI has a soul, and I still love seeing it in the parking lot at the end of the day. Maybe for you it's guns or boats or airplanes, which is great. Only you can tell if you want an appliance or a quirky, fun ride . . . I'd suggest you make a "pros and cons" list (and I'll bet we'd love to see it). It's a good way to think through this kind of choice.

 

Just turn the radio up, then you dont hear the rattles.

 

Also that was the show car I am sure they will tone it down a bit. That front end is right next to the B4 Tribeca for uggliest nose on a car (I think they are both worse than the Aztek.)

 

The Pres. of American Honda is the guy up on the stage in the pics... he said something to the effect of "this car is a concept, but about 95% accurate to the production model"

haven't seen anything yet though....