Possibly a Saturn Redline coupe, 350Z, VW, Scion Coupe but thank goodness the MINI is available and I LOVE my MCS.

 

I'm a big VW fan - I have 3, but the R32 is a big engine in a ten year old chassis. The last thing they always do before going to an improved chassis is put a big engine in it and act like its a great car. If the R32 was available in 1998, when the chassis was acceptable, maybe it would have been a good option.

The only other car that packs the aura is an AUDI TT convertible with Quatro all wheel drive. Not a speed demon, due to its weight, but oh the feeling of driving around inside a Swiss Watch......

 

Plain and simple answer for me...

The Lotus "Exige"

Yfoiler

 

I like luxury cars so I probably would have replaced our Lexus GS300 with a used GS400 and modified it and have only one car.

 

The new Mazdaspeed Miata is a nice substitute for the MCS. On the upside, it's as fast as the MCS but with rear drive and a convertible top, all at an out-the-door price that's comparable if not lower. On the downside, the Miata won't do for anyone who truly needs a back seat.

 

I like all the cars mentioned, but since my first car (and 2,3, 6, and 8th) was a Mustang, I would buy the new 2005 Mustang that is due out anytime. Or I would look to restore another Mustang like the '69-'70 Boss 429.

 

Dodge Magnum
or
Scion xA (with supercharger)

 

90 percent of all cars mentioned in this thread costs way more than a stock MCS.

 

I would of gotten a S2000. In fact I am planning on getting a used one in the very near future to accompany my MCS in the stable. Used ones are finally in the MCS range, and you can't beat Honda for reliability.

Ryan

 

Not a used GS400.

 

I totally agree. The Miata is both an incredible drivers car and and incredible value. It would have been my first choice had I not needed a rear seat and decent safety (2 kids). The Mini's not a bad alternative, though.

 

Unlike a lot of people, I bought my MCS because it's the best car I could afford. The other cars I considered were the Mazda 3 five-door and GTI 1.8T.

If I had a bigger budget, a WRX, Acura TSX or a 3-series BMW would interest me.

 

I'd get a Hyundai Accent...at least its cheap. Nothing else is even worth the $$$s to me. If I'm going to be bored at least I won't be paying an arm and a leg for the privilege.

Now if I didn't need a back seat I'd look at an S2000 or a Miata...but I do.

 

G35

TSX

 

Depending on how optioned your mini is, Lancer Evolution.

--
Cheese

 

A friend of mine always talks about the WRX STI, and the EVO and EVO RS. We've concluded that for the money either one of them is a great buy. But the EVO RS is a really good buy at 27k because of what it offers. With that said, while I admire them I don't want to own either one.

 

i test drove a lot of more expensive cars and none of them de-throned the MINI in terms of pure fun for the buck.

RX-8 was close but RWD-not good for Maine winters.
WRX and EVO were a lot of fun, but 30K base price for a lot of plastic
Audi S4 - 40k and a lot of fun. but about 15k more than my mini and not much more room. AWD though.
almost got my 5th Saab - 9-5 Aero. -- but i still have 2 Saabs in the driveway.

 

I dunno, but I wish the MCS had been out before I bought my A4. Still, all things considered, I'm glad I have the A4.

Other consideration would have been a used E36 M3 with low miles.

 

Dude, I mentioned the SVT but I got totally poopooed by an utter lack of acknowledgement. I mean I am not a fan of American stuff generally, but you have to give credit where credit is due. The SVT is a solid car and certainly has great potential as a tuner. You can even tune the crap out of the regular focus and get some good results for cheap.

 

You can get a SVT at a pretty good price. My friend bought one with leather, sr, etc. and the price was under 20k. I think he paid 18k for it. Resale value wise, they don't just have it. It's not as bad as a neon or taurus but it's not great either. It had good room inside too. But it's not something I desired to own.

 

Hello!! Considering this is our first new car purchased in twenty years I can think of no other vehicle that I would purchase. Tootles is the wife's daily driver and I get the pleasure of driving weekends and days when she has a slacker day. My daily driver is a late '88 Silverado 4x4 built to run and don't take much to encourage me to race ya light to light. All other vehicles be it Nissan,Honda,Toyota etc are all cookie cutters. No style and you can't tell one from the other without looking for a badge. One only gets lost in the crowd with anything other than a Mini.

 

Mazda 3 baby! Small, cheap, reliable Zoom-zoom

 

Huh? Lets go over some of the cars listed in this thread, none of them are "way more than a stock MCS" which has an MSRP of $19,899 with no options. Consider that a lot of the cars listed come STANDARD with things that are options on the MINI, like a sunroof, Xenons, foglights and larger wheels with hi-perf. tires. Some even come with leather standard.

The cars listed so far:

Subaru WRX / STi
Saabaru WRX (whatever you want to call it, it's a WRX with a Saab front end and shift ****)
VW Golf R32
VW Golf 1.8T/VR6 (I came extremely close to buying a VR6 in Jazz blue, glad I didn't)
350Z/G35 coupe
RX-8 (can be had these days in So Cal. almost as cheap as an S)
Scion (nearly all of 'em are cheaper than the MCS)
Dodge Magnum
'05 Mustang (can be had cheaper than MCS depending on motor/options)
Lotus Exige/Elise (fair enough, you got me on this one, way more than an MCS)
Saturn Redline
Ford Focus SVT
Pontiac GTO (collecting dust on dealer lots, you can them under MSRP easily these days)
Dodge Neon SRT-4
Volvo S40
Miata
MR2 Spyder
BMW M coupe (this ones got a hefty MSRP too)
Acura TSX
Mitsu Evo
Audi S4 (got me on this one too)
Audi A4
Audi TT
Mazda 3
battered, bruised, used and abused GS400 for meanboy

All the cars mentioned, minus the Audi, Bimmer and the Lotus's (Loti??) can be had around $30,000 + tax/license of course. Not bad. It shows that MINI owners are content with their cars even though they could've stepped up and bought something a bit more expensive. I wouldn't consider $10,000 way more expensive though, maybe $15-17,000, but $10,000 to most people who financed is just $100-150 more a month payment. Not bad.

 

What happened to the used GS400 I listed?

 

A Tricked-out, cherried-out '49 Merc...