Well, not really, I do own it afterall...

I just broke out the MINI and had a rousing drive through the mountains with the sunroof open and listening to some really great music. It was a REAL BLAST! Supercharger whine! Razor, no make that scalpel sharp handling! RIGHT NOW brakes! Precise shifting! Bright headlights! Good stereo! Actual acceleration!! One of the roads I was on is very similar to the famous Dragon, but only about 4 miles long, and about 5 miles from my house.

Why is this psycho so excited about a simple little bit of Motoring? Good question! Back in March, I bought a leftover 2007 Honda Civic LX for a beater work car. (I put on about 125 miles per day) Now, I've heard how fantastically and phenomenally great Hondas are. I bought one, and it certainly is economical to drive and operate; but it's not the most grin inducing car ever made. I have modded it some. On Day 2, I ordered some Si swaybars and installed them the first weekend. Last week, I upgraded to Si springs and shocks. It was a very drastic improvement in the Honda's driving dynamics. I was thinking that it was close to the MINI in handling, so I decided to take the MINI for a spin and find out.....not even in the same ballpark...

Now, I know that a Civic LX is just a commuter car (Si suspension notwithstanding), and it's not fair to compare it to a MCS with JCW upgrades to the engine, brakes, and suspension. But driving the the Honda for 3 months and 11K miles REALLY makes me appreciate having a MINI!

There's not much point to this post, just venting some excitement from a fun drive.... If you want to renew your appreciation for how just how much fun a MINI is, put 11K miles on an "ordinary car", then hop back in a MINI!

Rawhyde

 

Great story rawhyde! I had a condensed version of your experience today... borrowed a PICKUP TRUCK (yuck) to haul stuff for a couple of hours, then hopped back in my miata. Now there's a huge jump in handling prowess and steering feel! Then later in the evening jumped in my JCW mini... different handling yet again (fantastic, but not quite as track-worthy as the RWD modified roadster) and with a huge jump in powertrain, that amazing SC whine, and overall refinement and styling.

I know what you mean about the hondas. Much of their current reputation is based on earlier gen cars that truly were satisfying to drive... honda has been resting on their laurels as far as fun-to-drive goes for nearly a decade of civic models. As for me, I'll look at hondas again only when they make a CRX successor.

 

I certainly agree. I have an '05 JCW and EVERY time I drive it, I appreciate what a great car it is. Its just plane FUN to drive... I have driven the R 56 and while there seems to be a higher 'comfort' level, I just love the visceral feel of the R53 JCW. Nice post Rawhyde.