I promise I will get to a question / point at the end of this, but I figured for the sheer hell of it I would share my story with the awesome community here. I have a hard time figuring out what I want in life sometimes, and I am about at my wits end. I've made several mistakes in finding what I want, it is starting to get expensive, and I figured maybe an outside perspective on the entire story might help. If you just want the question, skip to the line of asterisks.

A few years back when I was barely scraping by making around 15k a year at Best Buy, owning a MINI was an unobtainable dream. Something to work hard and strive for, as I was certain it was the only car I would ever want. Fast forward a few years and a new job where I was making considerably more, and that goal came closer in sight. So much so that I almost signed on one, but was talked out of it at the last minute by my wife and my father. (In some ways that was a good thing, as it was not really the model and trim I wanted). Instead, I ended up purchasing a blue Mazda 3i touring. Honestly, it was the more practical car, a cheaper car...but not the car I really wanted.

It was 2 weeks later when my dad showed up in his blue Mazda 3i touring that I realized I had bought the car he wanted, but with cheaper seats. Still, it has been a decent, reliable car with a great set of tech features and an above average sound system. However, it just didn't do much for me in the FUN department. I have always wanted something small, sporty, and maybe a little unique.

So what did I do? I bought a motorcycle (09 HD Nightster). This immediately pissed off my wife. My rationale was I could get the small, fast, fun experience that I was longing for in the bike (and the payments were cheap!) and the car would remain the practical tool of necessity.

Now by this time my poor wife, who had been driving a 2001 Toyota Echo hand me down, was starting to question the fairness in our relationship. This came to a peak when I started to consider trading in both my Mazda AND the Harley for the car that I wanted to begin with: a MINI. After a thorough (and rightfully deserved) thrashing, I decided it was best to satisfy her desires and take her car shopping. After 2 months of test driving, careful balancing of our finances, and a promotion to full time for my wife, she drove home in a reasonably priced Certified pre-owned VW GTI (2011, 15k miles, 22995 4 door with sunroof and convenience).

I am now at the threshold. I have found a buyer for the motorcycle. According to both Nada and Kelly blue book I am not upside down on the Mazda 3i either. The wife is in love with her GTI. The iron is slowly rising in temperature....and now..............I am uncertain of what I truly want.

It was so much easier a few years ago....no other car had interested nearly as much as the Mini Cooper S (I lied, I was going to settle for a base Cooper). It was the one car to rule them all, a fanciful mix of personality, spunk, and good gas mileage. It was the equivalent of owning my own unicorn with a flaming chainsaw instead of a horn! (I actually went back and added flaming later on, because it was THAT awesome to me)

Now, however, I have started to look at more and more cars. Part of that was due to all of the test driving with the wife (alas as a passenger). I have also grown accustom to some of the nicer creature comforts of my Mazda 3i touring in gunmetal blue with cloth seats....(mainly bose audio and bluetooth streaming). Half of my coworkers are into cars, and all of them seem to push and pull me to different directions. On top of it all, I am still working within a budget.

So now I see a wonderful 2010 MINI Cooper S with only 2000 miles on it in a price range I can afford (around 21k). However, it is lacking some of the things I've really really wanted, or already have (upgraded sound, xenon headlamps, and i've actually been wanting a convertible). I have also found similar cars for cheaper or around the same price that appear to have it all too......the Mazda MX-5, the Fiata 500 Abarth, and (if i could find one cheap enough) the Nissan 370Z. The Suburu BRZ (and it's Scion counterpart) are both equally tempting as well, but might be a tad more than I wanted to spend at 25k MSRP.

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BRZ / FR-S, MX-5, MINI Cooper S, Fiat Abarth, a ridiculously good deal on a used 370z that may never happen, or maybe even another GTI.

So given my whole mess of a life story, here are some of my questions.

1. I highly doubt I will take my car on a track, which every review in the world seems to be based on. I will drive my car to work and back, I will take it to play D&D at my friend's house, I will use it for everything. I want to have fun with the car, but Florida isn't really known for it's "twisties" either. I want something that will be a fun, zippy kick in the pants for the daily commute.

Are any of the cars listed above going to be completely pointless to buy because of this?

2. Power....obviously a 370z is going to have the most, but I doubt I will be able to afford one...so write that off... MINI S - 181hp, MX-5 167 hp, BRZ - 200hp, GTI -200hp. I don't remember the torque, but for people who have driven these more, and maybe a bit more aggressively then I've been allowed to during test drives....which FEELS like it has more oomph, or at least gives you the most satisfaction? I've been able to put my foot on the pedal of my wife's GTI, and it's nice. I would be satisfied if the MINI has that same oomph, along with the MX-5.

You know, maybe what I should say is, I want a car that feels like my motorcycle did. lol. Nimble, zipping around, small, compact, fast, light. Relatively torquey. Under 23k would be ideal.

Now.. I know many of you will simply say "go drive them more" I intend to. My problem is, when i go to test drive, I feel like the minute I put my foot down the dealer shoots icy daggers from his eyes right into the side of my head. So, more outside feedback would be fantastic. I want to hear from people who have lived with some of these cars if possible. (Obviously nobody has lived with a BRZ or FRS for very long.) What are the major advantages and disadvantages? I've read and watched almost everything the interwebs has to offer, and have even test driven a mx-5 (barely) and a MCS. Fiat Abarths are almost impossible to test drive...none of the dealers will let me.

Anwyho, thank you to anybody who has stuck through and read most of this. I know it was all over the place, and probably poorly written (it's around 2am here).

Any feedback to help me make up my mind even a little bit would be an immense help!

 

If I were you, I'd definitely go for something:
1.I truly want, regardless of practicality.
2.I won't get bored w/ for the longest time.
3.I could maintain myself.
4.w/ good resale or even appreciating collector's value.
5.w/in the range of the R56 you were looking at.
6.I won't really need to mod & yet remain happy w/.

All these would point me towards 1 direction: a good 06 GP.
Think about it!

 

+1 what min said. Also - take a deep breath. There's a solid reason for the '06 suggestion: Solid 'lump' engine and Getrag gear box. Both dang near bullet proof. A few of the '06 drivers in the local group are convinced by anecdotal evidence and the casting of bones that eventually the '06es will be the only MINIs left standing...except for a few well maintained classics...oh yea, and a little old lady's from Pasedena who only drives her CM to church 3 blocks away.

 

Don't settle. By your story, hold out untill you get exactly what you want.

 

Best advice be patient. I knew more then 2 years ago I would be getting a MINI by October of last year. I would randomly go to MINI USA and configure the car that I wanted. Last October roles around and I happen to be driving down the rode and see a used Mini sitting on the lot. Same color that 90% of my builds where and ALMOST all the options i would have gotten. I Jumped in feet 1st and drove the car off the lot 2 days later. Cheaper then a new one, only bad thing its an automatic and I would have went with a stick, that is the only thing I dislike about it.

So one more time Be patient above everything else, test drive when you can. And one more thing. A lot of MINI dealers will have events that they hold on occasion to really feel drive the MINI how it should be. So contact a MINI dealer and try to be put on a mailing list for these events.

 

Thanks for the advice and feedback guys! I will continue to be patient.

 

Hope you stay in the forums through the patience.

 

Tmelsh, from my experience, when I've been "dreaming" about something for a very long time and "settle" for something else - no matter how good....something inside is still unsatisfied and yearns for my original dream.

That feeling of dissatisfaction is not worth it! If I were making this decision, (and believe me, I just did... I've been dreaming of a Cooper for several years. My current car is still in great shape (surprisingly!) it's a 2001 Mercedes ML320 with 339,000 miles...but I started doing the research on fast, fun, fuel efficient cars: fiat 500, Hyundai Veloster, Honda Crz, and of course the Mini! I am going with a 2013 Mini (decided my compromise was not to get the S)standard 6-speed in the color and trim I want.)
I think you should do whatever your HEART tells you to. Our heads have to work too hard... Feel this decision, don't over think it and I believe you'll be happy! Good luck!!!

 

Take your time and test drive them all you will know when it is the right car for you. At then you may end up with a Mini because that is that you wanted.

I wanted a Mini from the first moment I saw it and after five years the right opportunity came and I got my Clubman.