Well, my dad placed a deposit for me on a 2005 Saab 9-3 today. They're holding it for me until Thursday, so I have to make a decision quick.

It's laser red with charcoal leather, a sunroof, heated seats, a rear spoiler, and a few other goodies.

So anyway, I'm going on Wednesday to test drive a MCS. It's going to be my last impression of the car. If I fall in love with the MINI all over again, I'm cancelling the Saab immediately. As of right now, I'm thinking I'm gonna stick with the 9-3.

I'll continue to keep you all updated.

 

Huh? What about the cool blue MINI Cooper Convertible?

 

Good luck, Kyle. Enjoy the test-drive and whichever car you FINALLY do choose!


Clover

 

Kyle,

We MINI thought MINI you MINI would MINI be MINI the MINI Blue MINI MCSC MINI driver MINI? say MINI it MINI ain't MINI so MINI.... don't MINI go MINI chevyaaaab MINI on MINI us MINI....

You MINI have MINI a MINI cold MINI, a MINI fever MINI or MINI some MINI ailment MINI that MINI cannot MINI be MINI described MINI other MINI than MINI...' are you nuts?'

seriously MINI though MINI, I MINI think MINI you MINI should MINI drive MINI the MINI MCS MINI, then MINI immediatley MINI drive MINI the MINI slob MINI (oh MINI, sorry MINI I MINI mean MINI saab MINI) then MINI go MINI back MINI and MINI drive MINI the MINI MCS MINI to MINI make MINI the MINI right MINI decision. MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI



sorry couldn't help myself!

 

Are you trying to give a -small- hint there on which one the select?

Best of luck on whatever you select. I hope you don't regret either decison, but will also throw in my nudge to the MINI side of the tracks. :smile:

 

Hint? what are you talking about. I was just making my small, insignificant statement of opinion on the matter

 

Kyle:

I'm glad you posted -- I was about to start a "Where's Kyle?" thread, and I suspect I'm not the only one!

Anyhow, this "last" test drive will also be your first behind the wheel of a Cooper, right? So... please be sure you take your time, and test drive each model that you might be interested in. Especially be sure to check out the cabriolet, since I KNOW you've been picturing yourself in that blue droptop!

For me, one of the most important aspects of my MINI purchase was the fact that I took my time and did my homework. I made sure that I got the car that I wanted, NOT the car that my friends or co-workers or family or Consumer Reports or some salesman wanted me to have. It's still part of what makes me smile when I drive my MINI (and especially when I offer the keys to one of my friends!).

I've been real impressed that you've researched and carefully checked out your options--don't drop the ball now! Give the MINI a fair shake and a good test drive! And then, whatever you decide, enjoy your new car!

 

SAABS are for old people.....


and the 9-3 is a chick car....


i think you know the right thing to do!

 

Kyle,

You may want the MINI but the Saab is probably the best choice for you at this stage of your young life. A friend just bought his 16 year old daughter a 2003 Saab because of it's durability & safety record. If it was your choice to make instead of your parents, I'd say go for the MINI. Perhaps in a few years, you'll be able to buy your own MINI

Lois:smile:

 

Yeah, Dude, my mom has a 9-3. That's a "mom's" convertible. Not a fun, young person convertible. BUT, drive whichever one puts the bigger smile on your face...

 

MINI MINI MINI MINI But of course we are all bias in here as you already know. We're all sitting on pins and needles waiting to hear the final choice....:smile: :smile:

Donna
02' CR/W MCS (gone to MINI heaven)
05' Cool Blue MCSC

 

[QUOTE=rednwhitecooper]SAABS are for old people.....
QUOTE]

Please....

 

The saab doesn't have the resale value of the MINI and it will not bring smiles like the MINI will.

 

Do you know why there called Saab?


Because after you own one thats what you do, Sob...

Go for the mini!! Much better than the older man stuck in a midlife crisis car. I can say that because I used to own a lexus, but traded it in for the mini!! Best choice I've ever made!!

 

After all this time, why would you put a deposit down on the Chevy Malibu (AKA "Saab" 9-3), and give yourself less than 24 hours between driving the MINI and making up your mind? Sounds like you've already decided on the 9-3.

 

But wait, I have a lexus too!

 

The 9-3 is a nice car, but I can't see it having the same driving enjoyment of a MINI. It all depends on what you're looking for. If I needed to get a family sedan, I would definitely consider the 9-3 aero. I really like the look of this generation Saab 9-3. The MINI is a fun car, guaranteed to put a smile on your face for years to come. The Saab is a little more upscale (regardless of whatever GM platform it's based on), but I see it being just another run-of-the-mill sedan in a couple of years.

 

the only thing the saab has going for it is trunk space, rear-seat legroom and u can pick it up today...

MINI wins in fun, handling, resale, customizability, user groups/clubs, fun, handling, price, fun, coolness factor, handling, resale, fun

if that's not enough to put u over the edge, then remember that the HU plays MP3s

 

DON'T GIVE IN TO THE DARK SIDE!!!! honestly, the 9-3c is nice and all, but here are the problems:
1) turbo lag, the MINI doesn't have that problem
2) it's a GM. do you know what GM means? Good Mechanic, cuz you'll need one before too long
3) your basically driving a Chevy Malibu with it's top chopped off
4) cruising down Main St. USA in a MCSc is wayyyyyyyy cooler than in a 9-3c

but in all honesty, pick whichever you enjoy the most, and good luck to you:smile:

 

Wow, that was a quick change of direction.

I used to like Saabs - until GM bought them. Anything GM touches turns to poo...

Must be nice to have pops plunking some cash down on a $30k car. Ahh, I remember fondly when I was a young pup and daddy bought me a shiny new car. Oh wait, it was a crap $1,600 10-year old Camaro, and I had to pay for it myself...

And parents these days wonder why they can't get their kids to move out of the house until they're 30.

 

I think ray ramano lived at home until he was 29.

 

We used to have a Saab 900 Turbo before the GM days. Just saw the new 9-3 convertible at the suto show and was dismayed that the top and side edges of the taillight assemblies were razor sharp to the touch like they couldn't even flush fit them properly or at least mould them smooth. I know it's a minor point, but if they can't sweat the details on the obvious stuff that shows, how about the parts that are hidden?

Used to be a big Saab fan but no longer. Despite the niggles, the MINI still says quality on every piece you see, touch and feel.

Good luck though on whatever you choose.:smile:

 

Heh, when GM took over they must have brought in some of their designers to clean up the Saab design staff.

GM designer looking at Saab studio prototypes: "Nope, those gaps between the body panels are way too small. That's not going to fly now that we're in charge. And what's with all the flush-fitting pieces and expensive-feeling plastics? No, no, no, this won't do at all. Boys, we have some serious work to do around here..."

 

Seems like KRGMini05 may have gone for the Saab and is now affraid to show his face around here. I surely hope that is not the case.

Where are you, man? We are waiting to hear about your new MINI.

Kris

 

I'm here...with news you all don't want to hear. I got the Saab, but not the convertible version. It wasn't worth the extra $8k imo. And as for the GM comments, this car is not a GM car. That's like calling a Mercedes a Dodge-Chrysler product.

The 9-3 was designed by the Saab team in Sweden, AND it's built in Trollhattan, Sweden. Yeah, it rides on a platform designed by GM Europe, but other than that it's still very "Saab."

Also, the car looks/feels/drives nothing like the Malibu. I've driven both and it's almost hard to believe they are on the same platform. The Malibu is quite a bit bigger than my Saab as well.

http://www.cardomain.com/member_page...5&val=1&page=1

The car is a lot more luxurious than the MINI, and definitely has more of a presence. It doesn't have the same "fun factor" the MINI has though, and I am still confident that I will own a MINI sometime in the coming years.

I'll stick around NAM, but won't be quite as active as I used to be.