So when will there be a MazdaSpeed 3 hatch? It wouldn't be a MINI, but it'd be fun to drive and versatile.

 

Surprised no one mentioned the Honda Civic as an alternative. Room for 4 or 5, 160 Hp., about the same $ or less, regular gas, all kinds of after market stuff. For the difference of the price of some of the cars mentioned you could have a real sleeper.:smile:

 

Honda USA; you need to import the 200 hp Civic Type-R...This car is awesome and bulletproof! This car, if available here, would make me sell my MCS in a heartbeat! (sorry BMW)




"The exciting and iconic Civic Type-R doesn’t go unchanged and new for 2004 are a lighter flywheel and clutch assembly. Reducing inertia makes the engine more responsive and coincidentally shaves 0.2 secs off the 0-62 mph time (now 6.6 sec). There are also new brake callipers that incorporate the Type-R logo for added exclusivity.

Door mirror-mounted indicators, a front spoiler similar to that on Sport models, a front grille unique to Type-R, and three light blue projector style headlamps complete the picture. Inside, there are now red seat inserts and door panels, as well as red headrest aperture, to further emphasise the car’s out and out sporty nature.

The Type R benefits considerably from the NVH (noise vibration and harshness) tuning applied to the whole range.

Sales of the 2004 Civic Type-R begin in February 2004 - it will not be available in the US." I knew it was too good to be true...Maybe 2006?

 

Looking for the car for my wife,
others getting too old.
Like the scion Xa, but too small, than I got ride in Xb - fun and some space, good mileage
also like Honda Element, which would at least some sense to replace also dying 93 grand caravan, not so great mileage, better than Caravan and 4x drive for Vermont winters and our long driveway.
too many variables. Would not mind another mini except the dealer is over 2 hr away - don't like it that way for every day driver.
Also thinking about Focus ZX5 and Mazda Protege 5 or 3 5 door
So don't know ....
any ideas??

2003 MCS fun car 3780 miles
1966 Ford Cortina fun car
1990 WV Corrado ready to be rebuild after last year rear end demolition (60k,no winters)
2x 1995 for Aspire daily drivers
1993 Dobde grand caravan 115 k, just for carying big stuff for the house around
1988 ford Festiva - no brakes, just in the yard

 

Speltzer: YOU NEED HELP!

 

I also forgot to add that the Civic Si hatchback is BUTT UGLY, looks like a freakin' Minivan (Just look at the bus inspired shifter position high in the dashboard) and can never outhandle not even a Cooper with the standard suspension.

The Civic Si has been a total sales flop and quite possible one of the worst Si samples built in recent years.

The best Civic Si hatchbacks were built from 1988-91. The current car is just another BORE.

 

Since I need a 4 seater that handles and is quick, but cheap, I'd go a nice E36 M3. Roughly $20,000, but same performance or better than MINI, with potention to beat the WRX

 

a friend of mine has one.. and i must defend that dam shifer... it looks so out of place but i swear it works, and it works very well

but after a short stint im already bored of it.. steering is SO freaking academic and has absolutely no feel... the body rolls (and she's got lowering springs on her car).. power is ok, but unlike the mini there seems to be alot less even tho on paper they are about the same horsepower

2 things why i'd like the si is this: their bucket seats are alot more supportive than ours; and the dam shifter is just so dam sweet.. maybe it's cuze of the gearbox being alot less clunky than ours but it works!

i would not trade my S for the si... not even if they gave it to me!

 

A 1997 or 1998 Porsche C4S wide body. However that R32 Golf is very nice too!

 

How about the new VW GTI.....Anybody?

 

I don't see a whole lot of Civic Si here in import car country so it makes sense they aren't importing it. Now, STI and EVOS are a dime a dozen. I saw an EVO advertised in the paper for 25k. Now, that's a good deal.

 

GRMotorsports had a project Civic SI like the R. They tried to make it handle and had a very difficult time of it. I drove an SI and it was nice but the handling was nowhere near the mini. Granted it's not a type R. Anyway, the R does not come with a/c, which is necessity in SoCal. It would be nice if MINI had an engine like the Honda, though since I'm sure it gets much better mileage. The MCS runs so rich and has such a low compression ratio that the economy is very bad, relative to other engines.

 

Excerpt from grmotorsports..too long to read all of article in 5 minutes.

"We've gotten a lot of work done on our Civic Si, and it's starting to handle like a race car. We converted the springs to a coil over system from Ground Control with some pretty aggressive rates. How does 550 lbs./in in the front and 900 lbs./in in the rear grab you? We also raised the car approximately 7/8" in an effort to gain back some suspension travel lost when the car was lowered "to look good" The combination of the raised ride height and Ground Control camber plates has effectively doubled our available suspension travel. This, my friends, is noticeable."

 

The new GTI looks a bit like the Civic.

I read somewhere that the R32 gets about 12 mpg.

 

Decisions, decisions......but I think I would have ended up with a Acura RSX Type S. 200 HP, easily upgraded to 250 or more. Looks cool. And the price is about the same as a MINI.

 

I have been kinda turned off by anything Acura that is Civic based. Not that the Civic is a bad car but I just don't want one. Plus, I am not in the correct age group to be a RSX owner. But then again, I am probably not in correct age group for mini owners...so nevermind!

 

If there were no MINI, I would definately have a VW GTI. :smile:

I really like the R32, but I just don't see myself spending that much $$$ on a car.

 

I know I am in the total minority here, but I think the new 7, 5, Z4 and 1 are all major improvements for BMW. Yes, the trunk lids are poorly conceived, I grant you that. However, they are the first BMWs since what the 320i (?) that didn't look out-of-date as soon as they were released. From the front, the new Z4 and 5 have very modern, aggressive look that was sorely lacking from past BMWs.

I don't think we need to worry about the Mini's style being compromised by Bangle or anyone else - that's what's selling the car!

 

if you look at owner stats, I don't think there is a correct age group!

Personally, when I first got my car, I would have gotten a vr6 GTI if there were no MINI, but now since I got the bug for a convertible, I'd probably go for a MAzdaspeed Miata. I drove one at Rev It Up on their "it's not an autocross but it sure looks like one" drive center and I liked it a lot. But I think I like the MINI so much i'm going to see if I can trade up to an S Cabrio this January when the LSD becomes available.

 

How about the European VW Polo GT?




Alfa Romeo 147? (Sorry USA)

 

I would own a Nissan 350Z track model....beatiful....ummmmm!....thinking of trading my 04' pure silver on silver JCW cooper S for one of these...

 

It's late for this forum, but I have to contribute.

Dodge Hornet. Looks HOT




TT



Alfa Romeo Brera

 

I was looking at the 1 serise BMW, but they aren't going to be in the US for 2007.

 

I sold my 04' JCW and bought an '06 350Z PPW grand Touring....I love that car...

 

I sold my '04 MCS with pulley for a Saab 9-2x Aero. More room and AWD were the factors. The MCS is still the best driving car i've ever owned, though the Saab 9-2x Aero has a lot of mid-range grunt.