When I looked at the RX8, the dealer offered it to me an invoice. I was looking at a base model 6 speed, with no options, and invoice was right around $25k. With the manual, the sport package for the RX8 is mostly fluff. The base manual already has the stiff suspension and an LSD, so all the sport package adds is stuff like HID headlights, if I recall.

The fuel economy does suck for the RX8, though.

_________________
Roger B - slow but happy autocrosser
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'04 Cooper (HS)

 

See I would say the S. B/c there are a few (don't kill me - I only said A FEW) people on here that bought Coopers and became disappointed with the lack of power. They then looked for performance mods to add say 10-20hp and were once again disappointed with the lack of powerful mods available. Do yourself a favor and get the S. If your FIRST instinct told you the Cooper was sluggish - then that's how you truly felt - that feeling won't magically go away. That'll be your biggest complaint about the MINI for years to come. Just get the S.

 

greatgro is right - in the end, I wanted more power out of my Cooper after all was said an done. I did alot of modding to it - suspension, exhaust, intake, wheels, tires. After doing an auto-x, and hitting the rev-limiter a number of times on highway merges & such, I wanted more. Don't get me wrong - you can really wind up the engine on the Cooper and fly. But I realized after almost 2 years of ownership, I wanted more ooomph....and I wasn't about to bolt a turbo on there.

 

I went to the dealership last weekend intending to order an MCS. After test driving both models back to back (MCS first), I decided to buy an MC. The acceleration difference was not THAT great, and the probable price increase/long wait for an '05 order turned me off.

I am the type who would build a turbo system down the road! In fact, I just sold my turbo miata (221 whp from an internally stock 1.6) that I built a custom system with full standalone management for. Right now, the loaded MC I am buying (below MSRP by the way) suits me fine...it is "the miata with 4 seats" that I have been looking for since my daughter was born a year ago.

 

minniedryver, were you not concerned about the mc transmission? the number of posts i've read about it worry me. into waiting or getting a mcs.

i think i'd lose my patience waiting for the 05 if there was a chance of getting an 04 below sticker, but the last time i checked, my dealer wasn't doing that.

 

>>minniedryver, were you not concerned about the mc transmission? the number of posts i've read about it worry me. into waiting or getting a mcs.
>>
>>i think i'd lose my patience waiting for the 05 if there was a chance of getting an 04 below sticker, but the last time i checked, my dealer wasn't doing that.


No, I'm not worried! Remember that once something gets 'labelled' on the internet, it is doomed forever (whether the info is accurate or not) . I've been doing some reading, and it seems as though most (if not all) cases are related to fluid loss. I spend a lot of time under my cars, and will notice the seal if it decides to leak. Knowing about the problem will also make me check the fluid periodically (something that 99.9% of owners don't do). If I do end up in the small minority of those with failed Midlands boxes...well...then the dealer will be installing a new Getrag box under warranty!

As to the waiting...I'm having a tough time with the 1 week wait (picking the car up tomorrow). I couldn't have made it to late August or early September, no way, no how! I drove 3 hours to the dealership (3 others are closer). I have a personal tie to the people who own the dealership, and while I didn't ask for a discount, I will surely get the owners involved if a major service issue comes up.

 

Count me as one of the very happy MC owners. For the record, I have no worries about the 5-speed Midlands box. I liked the way it felt/worked from day one....then I put in a B&M short shifter and now I love the way it feels.

As far as power is concerned, once in a while I feel like I'd like a little more, but the feeling always passes quickly. I guess I don't get as much of a kick from being pressed straight back in the seat as some others....I prefer lateral Gs. My MC is a daily driver and I have fun with it every day....I suppose I might be disappointed if I raced, but I don't. There's more to performance than hp/torque and the MC (properly optioned of course) is as capable as an MCS in all the other areas. But once you learn to stir the gearbox well and, like Jimbo said, "once you learn to harness the engine's power band" this car is great fun.

 

Any MINI is a great choice....hell, even the diesel job they sell in europe is cool. I tried beating Avis out of one this morning at Gatwick with my "cheapest" rate but they said they are considered "premier" class. Note even the double upgrade got me one. Done good though...driving a Peugeot 307 diesel.....has a 5500 RPM red line BTW......we are missing good tings in the US without diesel cars....

Back to the choice.....particularly for AutoX or even showroom Stock racing...I wish I'd gotten an MC as well. Highly competitive!!
Of course my S is a stone on account of its color...BRG aaaaargh!!!!!