So I've had the extremely good fortune (or misfortune depending on how you look at it) to drive an R53 for the past 12 years and I've loved every minute of it! The problem I have now is that I have a kiddo now and will have another one before too long and I don't think the MINI is going to work with 2 kids and car seats. So I need a new daily driver, but I want one that is as much fun (or almost as much fun) to drive as my MINI, but with space and doors for the kiddos.

I'm thinking probably a used car with less than 60,000 miles and I'd like to keep the price under $25,000 but I might be able to swing up to $30,000 for the right car. And I prefer FWD or 4WD/AWD because I deal with snow pretty often.

The cars I'm looking at right now are the 2009-2011 BMW 328 xdrive or maybe the 335. The subaru WRX, or maybe the new MINI 4 door?

What else should I look into?

I started racing karts when I was 12 and raced karts and formula fords into my mid 20's (I'm in my mid 30's now) My MINI is lightly modded to make a little over 200hp and while it's quick, what I really love about it is the super responsive handling and the amount of feedback that the driver gets through the seat and the steering wheel. (and I love the supercharger whine ) I get to drive on windy mountain roads fairly often and hit the track once or twice a year, but the emphasis is definitely on being a solid fun daily driver.

 

You could tune engine and suspension of a Countryman and be pretty happy.

 

hmmm, that's an idea I hadn't considered, would it work you think? they look so big and heavy and tall! and all the suspension parts I see for them are lift kits (not that I have looked much)

 

If you have questions in regards to going to Subaru, shoot me a message as I'll gladly go over my input on that (Subaru owner for 9 years now). I agree, a Countryman S All4 might suit your needs if you're wanting to stick with MINI. You could go with a good set of springs for lowering (or coil overs) and there are a decent amount of other upgrades you can go with. There is the F55 too, which looks to fit your needs for size and another alternative.

 

328xi

 

Keep the MINI and get a used Subaru.

 

Ford Focus ST or Ford Fiesta ST???

 

Keep the mini, you will regret loosing it. Look into a focus ST or a WRX, i think you can find a 4 door M3 for less than 30g. The EVO X is a great little car. Im not sure about a 4 door GTI but its worth a shot EDIT: The civic Si gets good reviews Along with the mazdaspeed3

 

Try a Mazda 3 Hatchback or Mazda CX5

 

My son drives a four door Golf GTI as he has two little ones....I have driven it a fair bit when visiting and the power and handling are excellent, the interior is a bit severe for my tastes but I have to say that it's a seriously fun way to tote a couple kids around.

Having four grandkids now I amfinding your observation about car seats and the R53 is very prescient.It is a major pain.

I will not let my R53 go, but might look at a STI or a EVO X to get a four door fun machine.You really need to drive the EVO X...what a fun bucket!

Anyway, Try to hang on to the R53 and find something else if you can, we will not see a car like that again.

Mad Gepetto

 

Thanks for the input! I will definitely give some of those a look. And I will do all that I can to keep my R53 because I agree that it's irreplaceable, my wife is very uncompromising that we don't need 3 cars though so it may be a long hard fight. My backup plan is to sell the car to my dad (who also used to have one) so I know it will be taken care of and at the very least I can still visit it every now and then.