R50/53 WRX Versus a MINI (cont.)
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2nd Gear
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 108
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From: North Kingstown RI, USA
Well I started a post last week about minis and WRX. I drive a WRX and the wife wants a mini and I asked what everyone here though about the 2 cars. I got great responses and thanks for that. Now for the update. We went to 2 dealers here in our area (RI), Herb chambers and Peabody Mini. Herb blew our appointment off and the guy who was supposed to meet us wasn't there, and the test drive car was "unavaliable". Turns out one of the salesmen took it to a wedding?!?
We then went to peabody, who had warned us they had a rally that day and that we might not be able to test drive a car, but that they would be open so we could see some cars and some owners, and check out the dealer. We figured since we were in the area we might as well head up and hoepfully get a test drive. We go there and met the legendary Hrach Chekijian. Turns out he is now our salesman. There test drive cars were a cooper s and a cooper with a cvt. Since he knew we were only interested in sticks so he suggested we go out in the cooper S, although we were hesitant because we were afraid to then be dissapointed by the cooper. Well we went on one of Hrachs awesome test drives, and I have to say the S is an amaizing car. I was driving it about 20 minutes after my WRX, and if I didn't know it was slower, I wouln't have been able to tell. The sensation of speed is amaizing. The thing handles like no bodies business. He "showed us what the car can do" (read worlds best rollercoaster ride) and then turned her over to me. This car is to be for my wife, but she doesn't drive stick on a regular basis so she was a bit tenative after seeing Hrach in action. I drove next, and was very impressed with the car. Out handles the wrx easily, but I think I would get a slightly faster lap time if both cars were driven like they were stolen if you know what I mean. Any way long story short we ordered a standard cooper red with white roof and the sports package and Crusie. It's scheduled to come in in August so I guess I can sign up for that club. But they have a truck coming in with cars avaliable Tomorrow (tuesday) and our second color choice (blue) might be comming in with only the sports package so we might be getting the car this week! The downside is they won't take her honda in as a trade. They will take it off our hands, but he said with blue book being $2000 we should do a private sale.
Now this is where is gets interesting. I don't know if he just liked me or if he is the ultimate saleman, but he took us to his mini museum (and boy was if fun "following" him down the interstate! I could keep up with the speed, but he would put that thing in spaces way to small for my car and then they would close up quickly...). We hung out with him there from 5:30 until 9:45 and that included a ride in his vintage 1963 woody cooper. He also took us out to dinner!!!! This man is amaizing! I couldn't beleive the help he gave us, and I am very excited to go back Tuesday night to test drive a standard cooper to see how it does.
Any way Cooper S vs. WRX comparison:
Acceleration:
The feeling you get in the cooper is that it is every bit as fast as my wrx. Granted I own my car and don't beat on it, but the S feels faster. After driving behind the S on the interstate and on onramps I can say I have an advantage and can go faster, but it feels faster in the S. Basically the S is more fun to drive fast, but the WRX does it without your wife telling you to slow down.
Handling:
The S outhandles my WRX, but I could beat it around a course I think. S handles better but the WRX is not too far behind.
6'4" driver fit:
I am 6'4" and 210 lbs.. I actually fit in the cooper better than the wrx. I had to pull the seat forward in the cooper to get the clutch to the firwall. This is because the seat rails in the cooper go all the way back and in my wrx they end before the seats touch each other. The S is a great car for 2~3 people and fits them about the same as my wrx, but you have no room for lugage when the seats are full. For daily driving the cooper ties for comfort, but trips with stuff or friend the wrx wins.
Overall fun:
I think the S wins here, and beleive me this is very tough to say out loud. The is is the most fun car I have driven. I still love my wrx, and although the though of traded my wrx in on a S did cross my mind, that won't happen. I am very excited to get the cooper for my wife, and I just hope I get to drive it to work once in a while. If not there will be a lot of "errands" that need to get run when I get home from work!
Well anyway... sorry for the LONG post, but I wanted to thank everyone for their help, and share my excitment for the car you all love already. I am a convert! I can't wait to get my car... I mean my wifes car....
We then went to peabody, who had warned us they had a rally that day and that we might not be able to test drive a car, but that they would be open so we could see some cars and some owners, and check out the dealer. We figured since we were in the area we might as well head up and hoepfully get a test drive. We go there and met the legendary Hrach Chekijian. Turns out he is now our salesman. There test drive cars were a cooper s and a cooper with a cvt. Since he knew we were only interested in sticks so he suggested we go out in the cooper S, although we were hesitant because we were afraid to then be dissapointed by the cooper. Well we went on one of Hrachs awesome test drives, and I have to say the S is an amaizing car. I was driving it about 20 minutes after my WRX, and if I didn't know it was slower, I wouln't have been able to tell. The sensation of speed is amaizing. The thing handles like no bodies business. He "showed us what the car can do" (read worlds best rollercoaster ride) and then turned her over to me. This car is to be for my wife, but she doesn't drive stick on a regular basis so she was a bit tenative after seeing Hrach in action. I drove next, and was very impressed with the car. Out handles the wrx easily, but I think I would get a slightly faster lap time if both cars were driven like they were stolen if you know what I mean. Any way long story short we ordered a standard cooper red with white roof and the sports package and Crusie. It's scheduled to come in in August so I guess I can sign up for that club. But they have a truck coming in with cars avaliable Tomorrow (tuesday) and our second color choice (blue) might be comming in with only the sports package so we might be getting the car this week! The downside is they won't take her honda in as a trade. They will take it off our hands, but he said with blue book being $2000 we should do a private sale.
Now this is where is gets interesting. I don't know if he just liked me or if he is the ultimate saleman, but he took us to his mini museum (and boy was if fun "following" him down the interstate! I could keep up with the speed, but he would put that thing in spaces way to small for my car and then they would close up quickly...). We hung out with him there from 5:30 until 9:45 and that included a ride in his vintage 1963 woody cooper. He also took us out to dinner!!!! This man is amaizing! I couldn't beleive the help he gave us, and I am very excited to go back Tuesday night to test drive a standard cooper to see how it does.
Any way Cooper S vs. WRX comparison:
Acceleration:
The feeling you get in the cooper is that it is every bit as fast as my wrx. Granted I own my car and don't beat on it, but the S feels faster. After driving behind the S on the interstate and on onramps I can say I have an advantage and can go faster, but it feels faster in the S. Basically the S is more fun to drive fast, but the WRX does it without your wife telling you to slow down.
Handling:
The S outhandles my WRX, but I could beat it around a course I think. S handles better but the WRX is not too far behind.
6'4" driver fit:
I am 6'4" and 210 lbs.. I actually fit in the cooper better than the wrx. I had to pull the seat forward in the cooper to get the clutch to the firwall. This is because the seat rails in the cooper go all the way back and in my wrx they end before the seats touch each other. The S is a great car for 2~3 people and fits them about the same as my wrx, but you have no room for lugage when the seats are full. For daily driving the cooper ties for comfort, but trips with stuff or friend the wrx wins.
Overall fun:
I think the S wins here, and beleive me this is very tough to say out loud. The is is the most fun car I have driven. I still love my wrx, and although the though of traded my wrx in on a S did cross my mind, that won't happen. I am very excited to get the cooper for my wife, and I just hope I get to drive it to work once in a while. If not there will be a lot of "errands" that need to get run when I get home from work!
Well anyway... sorry for the LONG post, but I wanted to thank everyone for their help, and share my excitment for the car you all love already. I am a convert! I can't wait to get my car... I mean my wifes car....
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