The reason why the Mini is dissed is because it is relevant. Way cheaper than BMW, it's still a blast. And the bimmer buddies don't want to say BMW would be part of something unworthy, so Mini represents a thorn in their eletist sides. If it wasn't relevant, it wouldn't be discussed.

 

It is ingrained in our culture that big horsepower, big displacement engines and RWD make a car truly worth it. And this is regardless of it being American vs imports. A lot of people diss the MINI because they think is another FWD, low displacement, so-so handling econobox. not until they drive it, see it and feel it that these critics gain a renewed sense of respect for the car. I have heard die-hard Porsche guys praise the handling of the MINI. Handling after all is what makes our cars especial. Straight line performance gives you many choices, but given the cost of gas these days, I'll take a small cut in 0-60 times and have a car that is more enjoyable to drive while saving fuel!

 

Very true. And this is one aspect that I truly like about owning a MINI: It is a class-less non-ellitist car. It is a car owned by the regular 9-5 joe and the hollywood celebrity alike. To me BMWs (and generally most pseudo luxury cars) have an ugly stigma attached to them. Not really the car's fault but the communities built around them really do not do that much for me.

 

The BMW's are great, sporty sedans. The MINI is a great, sporty hatchback. Yes, many BMW's will beat a stock MCS in a straight line, but anything other than an M will have a tough time staying with a MINI in the twisties.

As to thought's of the S2000, it's a good car, but the engine is flaccid below 6000 rpm, feeling more like a civic, then the power comes on strong. Also, it feels quite claustrophobic with the top up.

 

thanks guys! I appreciate all your opinions. I very much love all cars. I've always been a fan of BMW's and I don't slam any of their cars. I really enjoy driving them, but the back roads around where I live just have me wanting more. I have driven numerous Cooper's, and I am sold on them. It just hard to find the right one. I think I will miss the power of the 540i in the straight line, but the car is so heavy, that I won't miss not being able to toss it around. I mean, the Cooper is going to nearly 800-1000 lbs less. That's a lot of weight to move around. Once again thanks, and I must say that I have enjoyed reading posts on NAM, great bunch of guys (and gals).

Andy

 

And the fuel bill coming down from a 540 is going to be substantially lower as well!

 

I spend a lot of time on Bimmerforums too.

I currently own a '99 M Roadster, and I recently bought my first MINI; a 2005 MCS.

The MINI is a blast to drive; so much so, that I'm seriously considering selling my Roadster after it comes out of storage next week.

 

Doug's a Miniman!!!! Lest we forget, when you open the hood or look under a Mini almost every part on it is stamped BMW......

 

Sometimes people get pretty protective of their marque, and bash every other one. There is far too much tunnel vision and snobery. I find this all too often with Ferrari people.

I am at the point where many marques offer differing experiences. They are all good. But they are very distinct and seperate. Almost like fine wine.

 

I am (and always have been) a dyed in the wool car fanatic. Several years ago, my college buddy's wife was having a conniption fit for a MINI. One day, the three of us were messing around Atlanta, and she wanted to look at MINIs. I was all for it because I could look at the BMWs next door when she got tired of looking at the "toys".

As we were browsing, a good looking saleschick started asking me which one I liked best, and I told her that these things just weren't my type of car. I wanted a 330Ci (this was early 2004), and wasn't about to settle for a slow, bad handling FWD car no matter how cute it looked or how trendy it was. I told her that I liked the looks, but I couldn't believe that BMW actually built a cutesy econo-box with no performance... This didn't faze her a bit, she just said that she thought I needed to ride in a Cooper S.

She fetched the keys and told me to hop into the yellow one. She drove. Apparantly, she'd been to some driving schools...she launched out of the dealership and took me on a real rollercoaster ride in that little car, then whipped into a local parking lot and did a handbrake slide into a parking spot. She tossed the keys into my lap and asked if I was ready to try....

Stunned and dazed as I was, I managed to drive around some twisty but unfamiliar roads enough to fall completely in love before we made it back to the dealership. When I got home, I started reading everything I could find about MINIs. I found out about the various JCW upgrades, all the aftermarket parts, and the upcoming for 2005 improvements. When the 2005's hit the roads, I went back to experience the better gearing and found out about the upcoming LSD (Jan 05 intro). When Jan 05 rolled up, I went back down to Atlanta, plopped down a $21K deposit, and ordered a loaded up JCW'd MCS. 3 years and 91K miles later, I just bought a new Honda Civic just to keep the MINI from racking up any more commuter miles.

Before that one fateful test ride, I'd have sworn loudly and publicly that FWD cars were nothing more than transportation appliances and didn't even deserve to be called cars. Before that ride, I even sorta resented the MINI because it just looked so damn cool, but HAD to be gutless because it was wrong wheel drive and didn't have nearly enough spark plugs. Well, I was WRONG with a capital W. I've enjoyed my MINI far more than I have any car I've ever owned.

I think the negative thoughts on MINIs are the result of ignorance. It certainly was in my case. I have learned better, and since then, I have driven about every factory variant of the MINI, and ALL of them are fun to drive. You don't need the whole JCW catalog installed on the car to make it cool (but it doesn't hurt). Even a stock MINI is fantastic!

All in all, it's better to be ignorant than stupid. Stupidity is terminal, ignorance is easy to cure...

Rawhyde

PS Don't pay attention to snobs, MINIs are the most fun per dollar you can buy with wheels on it!

 

AMEN!

The next closest car in the fun scale that I've owned was a Audi TT with quattro, it was a bit stickier than the MINI, but overall just not the same constant "smile factor" that I get in my MCSc

 

to be honest, those BMW pep hates everything thats FWD... thats why I need the Rotrex.... i can't imagine the look on their faces..

 

So ...did you buy her some flowers ...ask her out ...marry her ?

Dean.

 

Double post ...Sorry.

Is there a "delete" function?

 

Yea...OK, try telling that to the 10 or so S's I've beaten in my STS justacoop.

 

I have an 05 MCS and an 02 540ia Sport, both GREAT cars, yet very different machines and for the $ the MCS cant be beat... Personally, I love my MCS and my 540, while the 540 is a better daily driver, I would try to keep your 540 and pick up an MCS too (best of both worlds).

 

When my buddies make fun of my Mini I ask them one question.

For 15 minutes of fun would they rather ride a Roller Coaster or drive Go-Carts? Honest, no peer pressured answers.

The Go-Cart guys are usually "general car enthusiast." The Roller Coaster guys are usually "model/brand enthusiasts."

I ask that question often to my buds that give me crap. The true "car guys" understand and are intrigued. I could care less, but it's a fun way to get a discussion started in the driveway.

 

I hear alot of crap myself, I came from that forum back in the day. I owned an old *** 325e. It was in great shape, and fun to drive but not even close to the Mini. I sold it and bought a Mitsu Eclipse. Did the whole up-grade thing, say a net of 20 horse.... mabey ( non-turbo) Great in the twisties. But she dissed me in my own drive way. Got back at her by buying Mojo. She still sits in the garage crying. Actually I sat in her the other day messing around and man was it uncomfortable. I love that car but I lust for the Mini

 

i have an s2ooo and a mini cooper non S ..

top down the s2ooo is fun.. but all around.. yea.. call it a girlie car or whatever crap i hear every now and then.. i love driving the mini..

its perfect !!!

 

i bet my mini's faster than a 540i in a straight line

 

I think they are a little bit insecure because the MCS gets more attention. People notice first and talks about more about my MCS than my BMW 330i when I show them my garage. Both cars are very well kept, shiny & clean. MCS sex appeal is hotter.

 

is that you can't really get base BMWs here. So there are no "stripper" BMWs, and even a cheap one is a challenging price/performance proposition. Maybe that will change. But what can you get for $25k with the Rondel on it? Nothing new, that's for sure.

With all that money going into the car, people tend to be defensive on thier purchase.

They need to drive a Mini.

I have other performance cars that excel in one or two areas, but the Mini is really a blast, and at the price, it should be a crime! Maybe there will be some good combinations of utility, fun, performance and cost, but so far there aren't any really good contenders out there. Everyone that has been compared to the Mini really falls short in one area or another.

But true car people really start to appreciate the car when they learn what it can do. In the Nor-Cal Shelby club there are two or threee new Minis that show up. Tons of cars spank them in the straights, but in the corners and sloloms, they surprise a lot of cars that never thought they'd see a Mini in the rear view....

Matt

 

I know that if I owned a 5 series, I'd be bored already!

 

Bingo! Rawhyde, I wasn't going to read your post because it was so long, glad I did. Loved it. You "get it", for sure.

Roller coaster vs. bumper cars? Real car guys head out to the parking lot for some bench racing. THEN they hit the go-karts - and get thrown out for bypassing the speed limiters.

Most fun per dollar = Mini
Most interesting owners per car sold = Mini
Fastest? Get a track-day car (Atom?). While the Mini feels fast and takes a fair bit of smoothness to drive "well", for the same money you can buy something faster. You give up a lot of personality to get it, but recognize also that personality preferences are not standardized.