It's been awhile since we've discussed this, and there are many new members...

Whether you have a Cooper, Cooper S, Cabrio, Works, whether yours is stock or juiced up... sure it's small, it's fast, it's stylish... but does that make it a sports car?

 

It's a cute car.

 

I just had this debate with someone. No, I don't think the MINI is a sports car.

 

Oh no, you sound like all the females here at work. "What a cute car!"
I think of my car as sporty, but is it a sports car? Probably not. Four seaters usually don't strike me as a sports car. Just like the WRX is not a sports car to me. It is a sports sedan. Same with the EVO. But, the exception may be the RX-8. That is a sports car, and it has four seats. Now I'm beginning to doubt my own theory....

 

sports car, no doubt in my mind. any car that accels at some form of motorsports straight from the factory (i.e. autox) is a sports car

 

I think it is a sporting car. A sporty car. ...but not really a sports car.

That is part of it's charm - it doesn't carry the pretensions of a sports car, but can perform when it needs to and generally provides the perma-grin we all know and love.

 

Very well put!

 

The MINI is definitely a sports car because of its incredible handling even if it is not the fastest thing out there, it is one of the fastest ever through the slalom. . .

And its about the only sports car out there that could easily carry my St. Bernard!

 

That is a VW GTI concept. I think new MINI is just an upgrade redesign on the old version. It's the same concept as the very first MINI in the 70's...small and fun..that's all.

 

Heck, the RX-8 is a sedan if you want to be technical (the suicide doors for the rear passenger compartment). That has to do wonders for insurance premiums.

 

Let's explore this idea. What is a sports car? Is a vintage MG a sports car? How about a Triumph? Miata? Corvette? Is it the number of seats? Porche had that upholstered package shelf that qualified as rear seats in Germany for, I suppose, tax purposes. Is a Porche a sedan?

Attitude and performance abound in the Mini Cooper so I would say ... yes it is a sports car.

 

GT. In the old ORIGNAL meaning. Not the 70's and since definition where GT equals a normal sedan with stickers.

GT - Grand Turismo - Grand Touring. I FELT this meant a performance car with more balance to amenities than a strictly sports car had.

...And if you followed sports car racing, it'd be a GTU class (GT under 2 liters) vs GTO (GT over 2 liters)

 

Ahhhh, yes - it certainly is a performance car!

I still don't think it fits my personal idea of a "sports" car.

 

Webster's II: sports car, noun, A car equipped for racing, esp. an aerodynamically shaped one - or two-passenger vehicle having a low center of gravity, and steering and suspension designed for precise control at high speeds on curving roads.


The biggest technical 'flaw' if you will is the 4 seats. Sports cars have 2 seats.

MGB = sports car
MGB GT = a GT......

 

I'd agree with GTU, sports cars are like vettes, ferraris, lambos, so on (non exotics... cuz that's a class in itself) I think since the mini can do MORE than perform it isn't a sports car where as the only reason to get the previously mentioned is performance... well in theory. but in all fairness the S is tuned to perform, cooper base model maybe not so much... so what is a sports car is the real question

 

It's debatable whether or not a stock Mini would be considered to be a sports car. But there is no doubt in my mind that one with significant performance upgrades like a reduced supercharger pulley, ECU upgrade, short shifter, non-runflats, sway bar, JCW, etc........would definitely qualify.

 

How about "Cute Car with Sport Suspension"?

 

Yea, it's cute. And so are Pit-bulls and Snub-Nose 38s.

Is a MINI a sportscar? If you are like me and have never owned a 2-seat roadster than it is a "Sportscar".

Or, at least, it may qualify as new "crossover" type of car...A crossover between a small ecomomy car and a "Sportcar".

 

It's easy to remove the rear seats bottoms and backs. I've seen many a MINI at the racetrack, and on the road, with them removed. Typically people think of 4 seats = four doors. I think even Mr Webster was thinking that when he added the condition of 4 seats.

 

In 1971 when I was into MGs, Triumphs, Jags and Vetts. I met a guy in Buffalo who owned a "race" shop and in fact did a fair amount of formula racing (can't remember his name). I visited his shop one day to look at a MGB he had for sale. In the shop was a Porsche. I had never cared for the looks of Porsches (then) and asked him, "what this car was doing here it's not a sports car?" (4 seats and all). He looked at me like I was nuts. He said, "get in and I'll take an off ramp at 90 for you and then let's talk about sports cars." As soon as I had the cash I bought my first Porsche in 1978.

 

Nearly everyone in my group has theirs removed(me included) It certainly fress up a lot of weight, and now i have as much trunk space as my mom with an audi avant

 

Mine is

 

I say it's a sports coupe, as is the M3. Neither are sports cars although many sports cars could take a lesson from them.
I used to own a Porsche 911 (1983). It WAS a sports car but the MCS, if not faster, is definately easier to drive fast.

 

Oh, OKeefe, have you looked at the MINI's profile lately? I think the 'aerodynamically shaped' part would be far more difficult to overcome than the seats!!

This discussion comes up reguarly in the Miata world. Some claim power anything disqualifies, others say the same about roll up windows!
In my definition, the MINI is a great car, but not a sports car.

 

IMO, there's no such thing as a FWD sports car.