Hello mini maniacs! I've still got a year to go for my next ride...I'm pretty much down to an MCS or a WRX. I've totally fallen for the Mini, the style, the whole deal. However i do live in New England and have to deal with snow. The rex is all-wheel drive, more power, and cheaper with better quality..
(My configured MCS's all run about 26-27k versus 23-24k for the rex). I realize that all in all, the rex is the more common sense pick, but what the hell....i REALLY want a Mini!
Please help me! Convince me to stay true and follow the way of the Mini faithful!
Thanks.

 

Just look at the two cars...very intently...for a short while. The right asnwer will come to you!:smile:

 

tpetro33,

Aloha and welcome to NAM.

For daily driving the MCS is very nice. If you are going to drive alot on a long track then the WRX would be faster.

For the MCS I'd recommend the LSD and the stock 16" wheels for low weight and less $$$. Also leatherette or cloth seats over leather seats- save more $$$.

The MCS is much more unique and highly modifiable. Check out all the forums.

 

Welcome to NAM.

If you hang around awhile you'll find we have people all over the US that have MINIs. Even where you live. They seem to have no problems getting around and neither will you.

 

I'll agree with everything you said up to that point, I dunno if you have driven or ridden in a WRX or maybe they have better ones in england. I would say the quality is certainly less than stelar quality wise. The interior is especially bad. I've driven them a little drove one back with my buddy when he got his from out of state aswell which was my longest continuos time in the car (a couple hours) and bleh. However that's just me

 

WRX: hate the boy-racer wing, mundane looks, cheapish (from what I've read - I've not driven one) interior.

There's no decision to be made here. The MINI is the obvious pick.

I doubt you'd have any problem with a MINI and snow tires. I'll let you know next year - after my first winter with my new MINI.

 

GET THE WRX if you want off the line power. Just don't get the MINI IT RATTLES, its slow and FAT and expensive to buy after-market parts. ITS JUST A PIECE of junk. I can't find anything good to say about it . Oh and did I say for 25,000 dollars you get a car that does 0-60 in 6.8...HELL a souped up YUGO can do that for that matter my grandma's Buick can pull better off the line. But I considered cars twice the price and knew all of this going into it and I still bought her and I love her .

 

Twisties+snow+MINI,,,,,,,,priceless

 

Hello Miniacs. Does anybody know what size the JCW Cooper S pulley size is? I have heard 13 - 14% smaller than stock. Any body know for sure. JCW will not tell me. Highly secret.

 

I second this. A set of snow tires and the MINI is a fantastic performer in the snow, particularly if you DSC. And you can turn it off to have even more fun in the snow.

 

Snow belt of NE Ohio here. The MINI went better in the snow (and we had A LOT of it) than my Honda Civic did. I had no problems. In fact, other cars were getting stuck, and thanks to the DSC on the MCS, I pulled right around them. From a dead stop on a hill no less.

I was SHOCKED how well the car went in the snow...

 

Mini is 10x's more fun to drive, and you get a better community of people. 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 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 MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI. im done!
liljack and matchbox

 

just decide and buy. Sheesh! Maybe I can convince you to send me some cash??? Sounds more like you want the Subaru to me.

 

I'm suffering through my first Michigan winter with mine and I can't imagine anything being that much better in the snow. I've never seen a WRX as cheap as you say, is it used? A friend of mine came over in his 30,000 mile WRX and it felt cheap and rattly compared to my MINI. I like the WRX, but I wouldn't be willing to pay more for one than the 24K that bought my MINI.

 

C'mon now Fred - Let's not be too hard on the newbie-to-be...

I can also second the 'thumbs-up' for the MINI as a great snow car. I live in New Jersey and we've had a TON of snow this winter. I also have an 80 mile commute to work each day (15 miles of that on twisty, hilly country roads where I live, that are always plowed as well as one would like), and I never had a problem. I have a 2003 MCS with DSC and I also put on dedicated snow tires for the winter (Pirelli snowsports)

Anyway - the MINI is the way to go...and get the DSC if possible.

Cheers - - michael

 

I cant comment on how good the Mini is in the snow cause I dont pick mine up till Monday, YAAAAAA!!! I to am a big fan of the WRX and seriously considered one before buying the Mini. The big thing for me was the WRX seemed like a cheap car with a really good drive train, and at 39 years old, the WRX was just to boy racer for me. The MCS i'm getting has all 3 packages, with the Cordoba beige leather. Its more a small car for adults in my opinion. If you can live with the overall cheap feeling, and racer boy persona of the WRX though, it is a great car and worth owning.


Paul B

 

thanks to all who responded...I do appreciate the input....FitzMall.com has the rex's delivered for 22+23k.....happy motoring!

 

try using the search function, enter JCW pulley or something of the like. you'll have better luck in the Drivetrain or Under the bonnet sections. don't hijack someone elses thread

 

i've got an '03 WRX wagon that i paid right around $23k for. the car is great, though i definitely recommnend 17" wheels over the standard 16's.

pros:
this is one of the best all around cars for the money. it is fast, has a decent stereo (not great, but does the job), handling is pretty good and the wagon is so functional.
i find the front seats in the wrx to be supportive and comfortable. i've driving 46k miles in it in abuot 2.5 years.
a ton of aftermarket support. there are staged turbo kits and brake kits as well as a bunch of incrementals.

cons:
stock tires are terrible. they tried to go for a balance of performance and all weather and came up with a tire that isn't all that great for either.
the stock brakes could be better. the ABS is way too aggressive. it kicks on if you are braking and hit a bump.
the interior isn't great. you can tell that the cost of the car goes into the AWD and not into a shmancy interior.
they are easy to steal. if you are in a not-so-great area, you definitely want an aftermarket alarm.


the WRX is not a premium car. it is a fast, middle of the road car that has AWD which is otherwise non-existent in that market.
the MCS is a premium car. you are paying for the styling as well as for being part of the BMW family.

both cars are great in their own right, but you have to know what you are looking for. are you looking for handling, style and luxury or are you looking for speed, utility and price?

 

[QUOTE=Wraith1416]try using the search function, enter JCW pulley or something of the like. you'll have better luck in the Drivetrain or Under the bonnet sections. don't hijack someone elses thread

[Apologies. I was just looking for some help. Sorry to intrude in your thread. ]

 

no worries hangman