i've been a bmw fanatic since i was a little kid. i have to thank my father for owning several 5 series and 7 series cars. so naturally i wanted the first car i bought to be a bmw, something that i would be content with for years and years to come ( we all know bmw's age well in comparison to many other cars). so my mom got a 2001 330i as a gift from my father. i love the solid feel of the car, handles great, has enough power. so i had been set for almost a year on getting one as my first car. however in the last couple months i've become more and more attraced to the mini. theres also the fact that 3 series bmw's are becoming so common on the streets (theyre like the german counterpart to the honda civic) i plan on becoming an avid autocrosser. so the mini would be perfect. do you guys think i would enjoy the mini more than the 330i. i know their not in the same clas. has anyone had a bmw and gone to a mini? thanks for any input.

 

MINI COOPER S! NUF SAID.

Earl

And welcome!! (sorry missed the post number).

My MCS is in the shop for a CV boot (got a hole pocket in it some how ) and they gave me a loaner of a 325i and I would much rather be driving my MCS.

 

A first car? Whew, a Cooper would be any young person's dream come true, a Cooper S a virtual wet-dream!

I had an E36 325i, which I very much liked. It was my favorite car until getting the MINI. Beyond the financial aspect, which it sounds isn't as big a concern (good for you!), you may be over simplifying that the two cars are in different classes; really the question is more along: do you want a sports car (MINI) or a sporty car (3-er). Unfortunately for the heritage of the 3-series, it has become bloated and "sport touring" over the years. Honestly, even my E36 was a grotesque pig compared to the E30 and E21's.

The MINI is going to yield more individuality both aesthetically and aurally, all at a lower price point than the 3-er. On the other hand, the 3-er will give more social cache' at "da club" and most likely with your peers. Whether impressing the others with the 3-er, or impressing your senses with the MINI; each car will sufficiently satisfy very different goals.

Best of luck,
Ryan

 

i'd much rather be winding through some twisties than be cruising down the club strip...i'm not one of those kids who is into the bling bling aspect of cars. like the rest of my belongings, i'd prefer my car to be clean (no stickers or park bench wings) and devishly quick.

 

i forgot to add that i am 6' 2". so that was another think that i am worried about with the mini. i need to go test drive one already.

 

The 330i or any BMW still has great handling and power. Course the 330i will have more room. But the MINI will have even more styling pluses, and better handling and such. It's a lot better looking and lot more fun to drive. It's a street legal gokart. And if you have asperations to get involved with autocross this is the perfect car. But I think you have your mind made up now. Right? MINI all the way!!
And welcome to the MINI gang.
Cheers,

 

2004 330ci
Curb Weight: 3285 lbs
Wheel Base: 107.3 in.
Horsepower: 225
MSRP: $36,800

2004 Mini Cooper S Works
Curb Weight: 2678
Wheel Base: 97.1 in.
Horsepower: 200
MSRP: $25,399

Boy, that's a tough one.

 

If you put all $36,800 into an MCS, imagine what you'd come out with...

 

The MINI is large inside so no problem for a tall driver

I would think that the BMW would be more costly to maintain (2001) and insure. The MCS would be more fun to drive and more unique. In my town and on the west coast BMW get no attention. Any stock MINI driving around attracts looks and interest from all sorts of people.

Go for a test drive and compare. You decide. We'll be here driving round and round in our MINIs. In our BMW CCA club we go for car rallys and about half the group are MINIs and the other half BMW M3s or roadsters or 3 series and the MINIs keep up and close the gaps easily.

 

Please show me where there is a Works MCS for $25,399.

 

I really like my Mini, but I'd be seriously tempted to get the 330. Our other car actually is a Honda Civic, and I actually don't like the attention that the Mini gets. I'd rather be ignored

The Mini is really solid for a "cheaper" car, but it's not a BMW. The switchgear and most of the interior all feel pretty cheap compared to our Civic - let alone a 3 series... Of course, the Civic doesn't handle or brake like the Mini, and the Civic seats simply suck in comparison to the Mini, so it's not like I care too much about those little things like blinker switches

 

Actually, as far as interior room goes, I'd say the MINI has more than a 3-series. I'm not saying overall, but as far as headroom goes the MINI is taller. I know when I get back in my E36 after driving the MCS for a while it feels almost claustrophobic. The roof is definitely closer to my head and the windshield is right on top of me.

And as far as legroom in the MINI... I'm 5'-10" with really long legs (around 34" inseam) and I have no problems with leg room in the MINI. I've read about guys much taller than 6'-2" who own MINIs and have no problems getting comfortable in them. :smile:

As far as which car to get, that's something YOU have to decide yourself. Personally, I haven't driven my M3 much since I got the MINI. It's kind of a let down on the days when I have to take the M instead of the MCS. I've been driving the M3 for the last few days this week because I'm getting Nittany all shined up for a car show next week. I miss the MCS's responsiveness and the short throws on the shifter (the M3 has surprisingly looong throws). Don't get me wrong, any 3-series is a great car, though with each new generation they seem to become more bloated and less driver-oriented. It's just that the MCS makes me feel more connected to the road.

 

Well said. I went from a E46 325ci to my MINI. I could go on and on about this subject or I could just sum it up with - the 3er coupe was/is a great car but it's just not as much sheer fun as the MINI.

 

don't know what interior u got in ur civic, but i don't feel the interior of my mini is cheap comparing to a honda. (got a 2004 honda accord euro, and used to have a 1996 civic)
as for comparing the interior to a 3series, well its really comparing apples to orange.. they both got different style... (ok lets not talk about the interior rattle that i get from my 02 MCS here ) also got a E46 328i .. now comparing the interior of them i don't find the interior of a mini being cheap either, just different looking IMO, maybe i am biased here
and i myself never really bought the mini becuase its owned by BMW, but becuase its a MINI.
but at the end of the day.. different people got different taste :smile:

 

Another tantalizing possibility is this:






If you're looking at a 330i, check out the M Coupe as well. Yes, it's a 2 seater....but it lacks the cookie cutter commonality of the 330i. Just another thought!

 

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thanks dan..

 

I'm not saying my mini feels like " '88 Ford Escort Cheap " or anything, just not as all-around "nice" as the Civic. My perception may be a bit skewed, as my last 6 cars have been Hondas, so maybe that's just how I think a car should feel.

I do like the Mini a lot, in my mind, the handling makes up for any shortcomings it may have. But I'm not dillusional, the car isn't perfect :smile:

 

yea i get what u mean :D
i too know that mini isn't the perfect car, and i do get pissed off at it when the interior rattles on a smooth freeway (for my car only dash board!!) which makes me wanted to get rid of it sometimes, however as soon as i go thru some corners i immediately forget about the bad of the mini :D
but to be honest, i still reckon overall the mini interior does look nicer than my honda accord, but then i've only owned 2honda :smile:

 

Yeah, paint the M Coupe black and it will look like the kid's car in the movie Harrold and Maude. I guess that reference proves that I'm an old man now.

Cheers,

 

:smile: I can't believe clo hasn't said this. Your name says it all! Get the mini 'cause you don't need to compensate for anything!

Just remember the BMW logo will not appear anywhere on the car. It's a mini, accept no substitutes! MCS all the way! :smile: :smile: