Ever since I joined NAM, I've waited on this little fellow to show up. I thought these things were the greatest thing since sliced bread back in the 80's. As I remember they had exotic car performance with the exotic car pricetag to match. I looked them up on the web about the time I ordered my MINI and the performance numbers I saw weren't nearly as impressive as I remembered. Still, it's a toy I'd like to add to the fleet.

Rawhyde

 

Yes, I'm serious.

 

Cool. I was partial to the ES though. Awesome looking wagon! Really!

My final decision was between a 1956 Mercedes 190SL and a new MINI S convert. Since I'm still a bit short on time I put off the 190SL for a bit longer.

 

Nope. Purebread.

 

You mean that there are other alternatives to the MINI????

If price was not a limiting factor (within reason) then put me down for the Alfa Brera. That's one HOT Italian... Truly sensuous!
Or maybe a Porsche 997, Ferrari F40, Ford GT or Corvette Z06 .

Realistically though:
(High End Pricing) - Porsche Cayman, BMW M Coupe, Cadillac CTS-V.
(Low End Pricing) - Ford Mustang GT, Mazdaspeed 6, Volvo S40.

Seriously though... There's nothing like a MINI... No other car delivers so much FUN! Just marking time waiting for my 2008 R56!

 

No, son. This is the new Alfa you want.

 

I looked at the inside pic and noticed a strange resemblance to my mini ....


yeah that is a hot car. wicked front end. and the windows sloping so perfectly, dang.

I also want one day a Delorean (spelling?) as well. Yes, I always did and will get one and pay some mechanic to live with me and fly him or her around the country picking up parts from people to make it mint

 

"Speculation is that the new 8C will follow the carbon fiber body/spaceframe chassis construction of the concept car, with a 440 hp V8 powerplant based on the current Ferrari-Maserati unit."

dang^2

 

Hey I was going to say that.

 

id get a MazdaSpeed 3 the only other really really fast hatckback out there, but im gettin the best of both worlds because my sisters gettin her Mazda next month

 

Actually I probably would have gotten a sedan. There really are no other little cars that I would rather want. I probably would have paid the extra bucks and pick up a 330i or something.

 

Amen to that, but make mine a 335! (6 speed manual only please)

Rawhyde

 

at this point in my life, either a new v6 rav4 or the RDX.

 

since I'm headed for Costa Rica in the next year or so, I'll be looking at some kind of high ground clearance turbo diesel 4x4 sedan. Toyota FJ, land Rover, or the like. There are pot holes down there that would swallow a MINI whole.
Jock

 

4 door MkV GTI in Candy White and a manual tranny

 

If it would have been available when I was on the market for a new car, I woulda probably given the Audi A3 a shot. Nice mod friendly engine, still compact but more family friendly (just slightly), similar price range for what I was looking for, etc...

I'm glad I got my MINI though, wouldn't trade it for anything unless I had a third child .

 

Oh my God! Now that is truly sensuous! Lovely Alfa... Just lovely!
Still, it's not a MINI...

 

If money was no problem, only one, Ford GT-40. Or since it always is, probably another VW, maybe the newest GTI, but the New Mazda Speed6 sounds good too, 265HP or something and only about 3100 lbs, I think.

Excuse me, Mazda is AWD, 3600 lbs, 275 HP @5K RPM and 280 lbs of TQ @ 3000 RPM with a 200 watt Bose-badged stereo as standard equipment, starting at 28K, it STILL could be my next car.

 

Interesting question that happens to have multiple different answers.

If I wasn't married probably a Used Tacoma pickup and a "fun" car. The car would probably be either early 70s MG, a TR6, or if I wanted newer a early 90s MR2 turbo.

Since I am married, the car had to have back seats so the MINI was the natural choice. I did look at an Audi TT ALMS and I also thought about a G35. However, when I came down to it, it was either a 2003 BMW 3-series or the MINI

 

i like the GTO too! I could have gotten a brand new 2005 for 24k.

 

Loaded Mk5 VW GTi

 

Zzzz.

 

Very cool. As it happens, my g/f (JerseyGirl to those that know her) and I have three of those cars between us. Her nicely restored car and my two... umm...project/parts cars...

Link to her car's site and all of the stuff we've done to it: http://www.millpondminis.com/volvo_1800es.htm

If not for the MCS, I'm not sure what she would have bought... or if she would have just kept her '97 M3 and '93 Passat GLX wagon. In which case the Volvo might have never been bought as $ from the the M3 sale paid for it. I recently drove it on a run that had some twisties in it. No, it's not MINI, but in some ways it's more fun. The MINI is so easy to drive through corners. The ES (even with an IPD sway bar) takes work.

Me... well, I actually did buy the "instead" car... my current '03 Jetta TDI wagon... With the amount of miles I drive, I simply couldn't make a case for the MINI's lack-luster gas mileage... In some ways I'm thankful. My Jetta has been uncharacteristically rock-solid-reliable whereas the MCS has spent a good deal of time at the dealer for warranty work... The other choice would have been an RSX-Type-S as I loved the '91 Integra I had.

I'm currently looking to unload my two Volvos and pick up a classic Mini.

 

I'd have probably kept my '73 Volvo P1800 and finished the restoration project... I's not nearly as much fun as the MINI in the twisties,

WARNING: THE ABOVE IS A SEVERE UNDERSTATEMENT

but it's a delightful fast touring machine, and *very* unique...

WARNING: THE ABOVE IS A SEVERE OVERTSTATEMENT

 

I was assuming that the question implied keeping it in the same price range as a MINI AND be otainable in the US. Sure, we'd all love an 8c, but it ain't ever happening for under $30k. For the same amount of cash, the Mk5 GTi was the only other vehicle I test drove that I considered buying.

My MCS is simply my DD. My vehicle of choice isn't available yet.