Have driven Cooper S several times and just returned from driving new 350Z and i know there may be a few others making this comparison and i thought i would share my thoughts on both.As far as handling both are awsome but mini feels more connected to the road and slightly quicker steering with better feedback.Engine power obviously goe to the Z as it has plenty and tons of torque and pulls very well from anywhere in rev range,however the gearbox left something to be desired and definatley not the slick shifting getrag type and i personally feel this is what give you a sense of being connected to a car and although the Z was impressive and fun to drive I feel it would wear off rather quickly and visibility was poor looking out the back in my opinion.In contrast I enjoyed looking out of the mini and felt safer being able to see over my shoulder very well although the rear view mirror is'nt much help in either car.The interior on the Z has plenty of neat gizmos especially on the touring package,look nice enough but some of the surfaces looked like they would be diffacult to clean and fit n' finish could have been better with plenty of molding flash attached to various plastic pieces,however the real aluminum accent pieces where a very nice touch.Trunk space is surprisingly small in the Z since it does have a rear tower brace factory installed and the Mini easily wins here for real world accessability even with it's limited space,and of course theres plenty with the seats folded down.My biggest problem with the Z was the gearbox and the Mini is the availible power..they both have great styling but i think they went a little overboard on the rear lights on the Z extending too far forward although some may like it,I dont.I honestly thought the Z might change my mind about getting the Mini and it did till I drove it...the Z is a great car and I'm not trying to take anything from it but it's not nearly the same fun driving experience as the Mini,I'm glad I drove the Z and you should too but i learned quickly that power is'nt everything and I'm still planning to order a Mini S with John Cooper works package which puts it in the same price range as the Z and that's why I thought I would drive one thinking I was getting much more car for the money with the Nissan but bottom line is the Z is japanese and it shows..Make mine a Mini!

 

The Z was on my shopping list too. Ultimately, it was the lack of a rear seat and the sub-par interior quality that pushed me away from the Z. Both the MINI and 350Z are great cars, but I think they're for different lifestyles.

$0.02,
Ryan

 

"Power isn't everything" is the key to your analysis ! I only have a Cooper and believe me it doesn't matter, the fun of this car is the handling, and once you learn the power curve and remember to keep your revs up, this car is a blast to drive. I've had mine 9 months and a grin still creeps across my face every time I hit the curves. You also can't beat the practicality of the car compared to a sports type car, I had an Eagle Talon b4 the MINI and I find the interior space much more practable in the MINI than the Talon, and much better fuel economy is an added plus. I don't miss the additional "horses" on bit !

 

have driven the Z, my business partner had one of the first while I had one of the first MCS...the Z is a terrific car, totally different than the MCS....incredibly quick straight line, tremendous torque, especially low end where all the minis are dismal. I was quite surprised with the handling of the Z, very responsive through the twisties but definitely a car an inexperienced driver could get into trouble with compared to the MCS which I think is much more driver friendly for less experienced drivers, especially with the DCS engaged. For driving around town which I mainly do I think the MCS is more fun than the Z....it has to be driven harder because of the lower torque, more shift changes and terrific fun in traffic....plus the value is terrific compared to the Z, but the MCS JCW at over 30K just doesn't make sense to me, more hp but the torque is only improved modestly from the specs I've seen..I'd get an Infinity G35 Coupe for the same price, a terrific car with better looks and more practical than the Z IMO or possibly 330 CSI.....a slightly used M3....damn so many cars in that price range...WRX STI....damn ugly but 330 hp and 0 to 60 in mid 4's...now theres a rocket...lol

 

Ryephile said it! The interior of the 350Z is definitely sub par. So is the G35's interior in my opinion (almost the same car). Infiniti and Nissan have a lot to learn about designing interiors.

 

I think that the Z is cool, fast, and would be a fun car, but I am very glad I went with my Chili Red w/white MCS

 

I find it very hard to compare a car with base price about 20K to a car with base price of 35K.

15K gives you lots of room for changes or improvements. Because of its size, MINI’s are not for everyone, but in my opinion there is no car on the road with more bang for the buck.

 

I had a 1982 280ZX and for sure those Z cars rock! but I have to agree with Ryan and sndwave! The Z really can't be compared head to head with the MINI. They have totally different appeal and very different prices.

If you level the playing field and allow BMW / MINI the $35,000 for their MINI ...
they'll show you a car that beats the pants off the Z on every level.
Interior and Exterior and Performance!

Z car does make people look.
But the MINI makes people smile! :smile: and for a lot less money! :smile: :smile:

Less money = more money for gas!

 

Bang for buck?
2004 Mazda RX8 with automatic transmission and 210 Hp starts from $25,700 and the RX8 with 6 speed transmission and 240 Hp starts at $27,400. Option packages run from $1200 to $3400. It has 4 doors although two face backwards- go see the X men 2 movie to see it in action.
The 2003 Infinity G35 coupe (has a back seat that the 350Z lacks) sells for about $31,500- it's better than the 4 door sedan that preceeded it.
The MCS decked out is about $23,000 (you get two big option packages) to $25,000 easily and either the John Cooper works package ($5500+ installed) or your own set of mods (about $3000-4000) would bring it up into the same range.
The MCS definitely has superior handling. The good driving visibility helps- either to avoid trouble or enjoy the motoring.

 

Yeah the Z is nice, but it is in an totally different class...small 4-bangers for me all the way!!!

 

my bro has the 350z and i have the MINI, the best of both worlds!

 

>>Bang for buck?
>>2004 Mazda RX8 with automatic transmission and 210 Hp starts from $25,700 and the RX8 with 6 speed transmission and 240 Hp starts at $27,400. Option packages run from $1200 to $3400. It has 4 doors although two face backwards- go see the X men 2 movie to see it in action.

If your idea of bang for the buck is HP then you may have missed my point. MINI is an absolute performance car in the handling department. May not have the entire HP others do, but they couldn’t touch it through a tight and twisty road.

As for seeing a car in a movie that does not impress me. I drove my MCS at the Dragon Tail last week. No graphics, no computers and no stunt drivers. Four of us drove the road ***** to the wall and I’m sure they all would agree with my opinion of the MCS.

 

uh oh...please don't tell me NOLAN is going to join this thread! PLEASE!!!

 

I second that!

 

Sndwave-
Look at my title- bang for buck ? Maybe I should have added many ????? As in uncertainty!
No disagreement about the strengths of the MCS-thats why I have one and not a G35 or RX8.I figure by the time I get done with my MCS the cost of these would be roughly the same or at least close. Plus the MCS can give quite good gas mileage numbers unlike other sports cars.

Here's a mini secret- Shhh. I am going to give up on the overpriced John Cooper Works kit and wait for the
Dinan upgrade kit. Supposed to be worth the wait and not that far off. ECU+Pulley+ more. Not sure of the details.
Plus as a member of the BMW car club of america I can get discounts on dinan upgrades through my dealership. Maybe a 15% discount? Depends on the arrangements between your BMW club and your dealership. But of course you already knew about Dinan upgrades so it wasn't anything much.

 

I like the looks of the 350 Z a lot, very cool car, and based on the reviews I have read I would expect exceptional handling and performance.
However, I simply don't have that much money to spend, and I do belive the MINI offers far more bang for the buck than any other car out there right now. Bar none. Period. In addition, you get the benefit of being able to haul 4 pax when needed.
I love my MINI!

 

I absolutely love the new Z as well. But it had to grow on me. At first I didn't like the way it looked....but now I find it very attractive. I have never had the opportunity to take one out for a test drive, but I certainly would like to. Maybe if I ever hit the lottery and I could afford TWO cars, I would want to consider it as an addition to my MINI. But I love my Cooper so much that I wouldn't give it up for it! :smile:

 

I rarely fall in love w/ a car just seeing it. The first car that has happened with in the last 5 years is the Audi TT. I'd have one in a heartbeat if I had the scratch. The MINI was the next car I swooned over the first time I saw it. The 350Z falls into that category. So does the Infinity G35. They absolutely rock. Difference in each case is bucks. The MINI is the first car I've loved from the start which I could sensibly buy. I'd have them all if I could afford them. The point which I feel is most important here is the bang for the buck, as minihune states. All things considered, MINI beats them hands down. Thank you, BMW, for engineering a car which causes such a response and not charging the moon for it.

 

I think the 350Z is a hot car, and I actually own an 85 3Z--I think one of my coworkers summed it up pretty well a couple months ago when he said that he would go out and buy a 350Z immediatly if it weren't rear wheel drive. He said, "could you imagine driving something rear wheel drive in this weather? (I just laughed, and then he did too...lol)

Here in the Chicago land area, that rear wheel drive thing is fun if you are careful with it, but I promise you that if you drive any more aggresive than my granny, you will have the back wheels out in front of you a few times. Rear wheel drive with power is awesome when its dry out, and IMO the only way to go....until the MINI came forth...I have never, ever liked small cars, and was all about the old school muscle cars, but the MINI is simply the best.

Put the little MINI with the buck-sixty-three under the hood against a new, big, bad Z with a splash of rain on the ground, and you watch that Z driver get a bit apprehensive with the gas pedal if they know whats good for 'em....and the MINI zips on by, lookin way sexier in the process.lol..Z's are great, and one of the only decent power cars around today, but I think that with the adverse weather of Chicago, the MINI will handle the slickness, pretty slickly, and is just a total experiance to experiance....MINI, all the way!!! Let's Motor!

 

A competent driver in a 350 will smoke a great driver in a MCS in the twisties, straight line, autocross, road course, wet or dry- you name it. I love my MINI and everything about it, but it is not in the same performance league as a 350, it is an apples to oranges comparison. For the price of a 350 I'll take a MCS and a early Land Rover Disco II.

 

A competent driver in a 350 will smoke a great driver in a MCS in the twisties, straight line, autocross, road course, wet or dry- you name it. I love my MINI and everything about it, but it is not in the same performance league as a 350, it is an apples to oranges comparison.

Have to agre with you there.....the slalom speeds of unmodified Z at 70-71 mph beat the MCS at 68-69, it's coming out of the turns where the MCS gets smoked by the Z...saw one Poster here said he could easily beat a 911 Turbo on the track and another said his MCS would take a modified M3...lol..I have driven a M3 on a closed track...it's not even close, but again apples to oranges...but some posters do get carried away :smile:

 

[saw one Poster here said he could easily beat a 911 Turbo on the track and another said his MCS would take a modified M3...lol..I have driven a M3 on a closed track...it's not even close, but again apples to oranges...but some posters do get carried away..]

I'll let the videos do the talking, these are from a Minicooperonline member. He also has a modded M3.
http://www.hpaownersclub.com/insect/...%2010%2003.wmv
http://www.hpaownersclub.com/insect/...%2024%2003.wmv
http://www.hpaownersclub.com/insect/...%2007%2003.wmv


Here's a post talking about track testing his MCS

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...amp;topic=7037


Here's an interesting post from VWVortex comparingan Evo Viii and a modded MCS

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=842066





_________________
Bustov,
EB/B MCS arrived 5/3/03!
99 GTI GLX for sale.

 

"A car is only as fast as a driver can make it" evolution Dirving School motto. It all comes down to driver ability. I have beaten C5 'vettes at the autocross and have been beaten by a 1990 Accord.
Think of the comfort factor of pushing a $25k car that will understeer if you go in too hot into a corner to a $163k car that will swap ends if you roll out of the throttle.
A check of the SCCA Nationals results showed the fastest MCS with a time of 104.278 (DS), the fastest MINI was 104.072 (HS). The next slowest class winning car was 102.137 (GS), over two seconds faster, these are the best autocrossers in the country. The fastest stock car, a Z06 ripped through in 94.973 almost a 10 second advantage. An autocross is tighter than any track, which should help the MINI's strength which is cornering, so on a track where the 350 can put its 285 hp to use the MINI will get smoked.

 

A check of the SCCA Nationals results showed the fastest MCS with a time of 104.278 (DS), the fastest MINI was 104.072 (HS).

hmmmm....is that correct...not that much difference in the MC & MCS ?? What do you attribute that to, the weight advantage of the MC ??

 

>>I find it very hard to compare a car with base price about 20K to a car with base price of 35K.
>>
well thats not quite true. The Z track model base is 34K, the bottom of the line starts at 26K. same drivetrain less options. so you see the MCS can be considered in the same ball park. I too started out looking at the Z, like, loved the drivetrain 287 hp V6, but the styling doesnt really cap it for me. I also like the 03 Vette, Z06 or less, that styling kicks ***, but I think the Mini handles as good or better, and that's what I;m after.

To each its own, I like the Mini, cause its cool, the Z is just another car,
I think an integra type R would be as cool as a mini.
>>
:smile: