It drives like a sports car, sounds like a sports car (esp. the '05 exhaust on the MCS - love that burbbble). Oh , it does have 4 seats but, if I remove or even fold the rear 2 down...

Heck, if those big sloppy 'vetts of the mid-'80s, with automatic transmissions, can be called sports cars, the MINI surely is.

Its a subjective thing. When I think of a proto-typical 'sports car,' I think of the MG's and Triumphs of the 50's and 60's. The MINI is closer to that image than a Corvette or even the large Itialian sports cars. I personaly think of those cars as muscle cars that handle well. They're great cars! They're fast cars, and if anyone wants to give me one, feel free. But, to me they're not exactly 'sports cars.'

 

To me, "sports car" is a general term. One that my MCS definetly falls under. Go to any SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) event and see what is racing, especially in the slower classes. Not what most people would consider a sports car. If a Civic beats a Corvette, is the Civic a sports car? It is in my book. I think it's more about how the vehicle performs. That being said, fast trucks don't count, they are "sport trucks." :smile:

 

Uh, I distinctly remember riding in the BACK seat of an MGB. Not much of a seat but it was fun on a date. Does that mean the MGB was not a "Sports Car" either?

Geo.

 

Whenever anyone says the "C" word about my car, I always say "Yeah, it's cute..... but it's a badass kind of cute".

I think this would make a great window sticker or t-shirt.

 

If you had asked me that question 40 years ago as I drove my dads MG-TD around I would have said no, a sports car is a drop top 2 seater. Over the years cars have evolved so that the 'sporting' experience can be had from other types of cars. There is some line that is drawn in the sand that some cars cross, no matter what the configuration, into the realm of 'Sports Car'. I would loosely describe the line as having the elements of wind in the hair, mechanical and exhaust sounds, nimbleness, and driver sensory feedback. You will notice that being the fastest car on the road is in no way a factor.

There are some 2 seaters that, I feel, never get across that subjective line. My MINI is on order, soon to arrive, and on my test drives I had the driving experience that I have missed for 40 years. As a package, the MINI is a sports car in my book... and I've driven some very interesting cars in my years of driving. When driving the MINI you are 'one with the vehicle' ... only a supercharged wheelchair delivers more connection to the driving experience. There are other vehicles that also deliver this experience... and they, no matter what they look like, are also 'Sports Cars'.

Well done BMW, you needed this car in your lineup... just to show it could be done.

 

The MINI is technically "not a sports car". When we get a lower slung aero efficient body with 2 seats then you CAN pay higher insurance rates AND drive the same way we drive now!
AKA MINI-"Z roadster"

Meanwhile we can all treat our MINIs like a sports car because once you are driving it, they sure do perform just as well as many sports cars and for a fraction of the price. Since superior handling is the hallmark of a sports car (and small size) you can have the pleasure of having a dual personality vehicle when owning a MINI. That's the most fun.

You can have a utilitarian econo MINI for hauling stuff using the useful hatchback and seats down or you can burn up the track on weekends and holidays. All that can be done with the stock MINI.

I'd call the MINI a "sports coupe".

 

Why try to pigeon-hole a vehicle as esoteric as the Mini? To borrow some tag lines that fit the Mini like a glove:

Mini - there is no substitute.

Mini - like nothing else on earth

Mini - 'nuff said.

 

Given the MINI's British heritage I'd have to call it a "sports saloon". It has the convenience and utility of a sedan, eh saloon, but has the sports genes to raise the driving experience from mundane to magical. I've owned a number of traditional sports cars and I'd say that with the exception of a notable lack of low end torque (which was also the case of my 1980 RX-7) the MCS would perform as well as some and certainly out handle most.

When the RX-8 was introduced I remember many auto mags discussing whether the 4 doors and 4 seats disqualified it as a real spors car. However, all you have to do is drive it and you know immediately it IS a real sports car.

In the era of crossover vehicles (cross dressing for trucks?) the traditional definitions get a bit vague. I think you have to look at the purpose of the vehicle. If it's primary job is to maximize the sensation of driving -- the oneness of driver and machine -- it's a sports car; regardless of the number of seats or whether it's a roadster or hardtop, or even a hatchback.

 

My MINI is sporty. It is what I'm not. Small, nimble and fast

 

To me the Mini is sporty but not a sports car. To me a "sports car" has to look and perform a certain way. I think the Mini performs but doesn't look like a sports car.

Just my 2 cents...

 

Technically, the MINI is probably not a "sports car". But it certainly is MY sports car.... and that's all that matters....:smile: Yippeee....it's fun..

Donna
02' CR/W MCS (gone to MINI heaven - burned up)
05' Cool Blue MCSC "Ariel"

 

Great to see the NAM community tackling new subjects that have not been beaten to a bloody pulp multiple times in the past.

I don't consider the Mini to be either a "saloon" or a "sedan." In my mind those terms refer to four-door passenger cars. Current variations of the Mini could be described as: coupe, hatchback, cabriolet or convertible.

And if you consider driving a sport (which I do), then the Mini is most definitely a "sports" car.

 

To me, it's all a question of balance...

All the truly great "sports cars" of the past have had that magical combination of things that add up to a great driving experience - in a well balanced package. All the aspects of the MINI are in balance: Power, handling, personality and design. In my book the MINI is most definately a sports car... It's obvious that's what it was designed to be. :smile:

IMHO, the MINI is more of a 'sports car', than say, the Ford Mustang or Nissan 350Z.... for the reason I've stated above.

- - m

 

I think the mini is its own type of car. It not a sports car not a sedan not a luxury car its just a cooper. And you dont have to pay as high of insurance as you would a sports car.

 

I don't much care what its called.All I know is it puts a big grin on my face

 

I never think of my mini as a sports car but then I do not plan on racing it either. I do think it is a cute as any sports car. ski

 

I had a loaner MINI, not an S, it was NOT ... Almost got me killed pulling out into traffic


BUT, my MCS "RED FURY" is certainly a Sports Car

 

Sporty?...yes. Sports Car?...No

In my book if you can get the car in an economy version it has no chance of ever being written down as a sports car. Thats just how I look at things.

 

Sitting there in front of your computer, sure it's not a sports car. Can you say the same thing when you're behind the wheel?

 

My first car, a '65 Triumph TR4, was definitely a sports car. However, I often drove around with two friends in the back "seat" though I would not say they were riding in comfort.

A friend at the time had a Ford Mustang II. We got in an argument one day about whether or not that was a sports car. He proved it was by showing me that the owner's manual said it was. Well that proved it.

I consider myself a bit of a traditionalist when it comes to sport cars and though my MCSc is better in everyway than my Triumph was I still would not call it a sports car. Heck, my Subaru wagon is better in everyway than the Triumph was except for the fixed top and a general lack of character. But we are talking 40 years of improved technology and character loss.

In my opinion the convertible top on the MCSc certainly moves it closer to being a sports car but I still think of it as a very sporty car.

 

But the added weight, more flexible chassis and plushy suspension move it much farther in the opposite direction. If the Mini coupe is not a sports car, then the convertible definitely isn't.

 

Yes.

 

My MCS handles like a dream through the turns and twisties.
my best medication from stress.

 

I think the MCS JCW should qualify--or a fairly modded S. But the normally aspirated Coop is still a blast to drive hard.

 

While it actually matters little, just for fun I'll go ahead and vote "no." MINIs, I believe, have traditionally been referred to as saloons (2-4 doors, 4 or more passengers, hard top) and so (to me) the revised car remains similar enough to the original (even as a cabrio) to retain this classification to a large extent. "Sports saloon" is fine. My Cooper definitely would fall in this category.

At the same time, I do not expect (and would be shocked to hear) any MINI owner actually refer to their MINI as a saloon. That'd be silly.