hmm... somehow I always thought they were Korean... OOPS!

 

It's interesting to me that really no one has touched upon the fact that this is a new car a young driver. When my brother in law got his first car, a fully loaded $26,000 Honda Accord, I'd say he's been in around 5 or 6 accidents---one that cost $10,000 in repairs for body damage. I've ridden with him, and he claims to be a good driver, but that everyone else is bad. What I find is more about impaired judgement. He assumes people will take certain action on the road, and instead of driving defensively when approaching something questionable, he goes on the offensive, only to have that car do the "unexpected" and bam, he's in an accident again. This is really the result of lack of road experience.

MINI's are not inexpensive to repair for even minor bumper damage. I'd really suggest that your son buy a "normal car" and once he's logged maybe 60 or 100,000 miles with little or no accidents, then encourage or help him buy the MINI--where you can really appreciate it.

Also the outstanding performance fools many drivers that they are more skilled than they really are. IMO, that's not a good combination for a young, inexperienced, and highly "influencable" kid among his peers.

Just my 2cents.

Very lucky kid.

 

Well if your son is between 16 and 18 Scion could be the right brand for him, at least in terms of the the marketing idea behind Scion. I briefly considered Scion as a possible choice, but realized tather quickly that Scion is merely a brand to gain younger consumers and drive the a few years later to buy Toyotas. As stupid as it sounds, Scion (Toyota) is unhappy about the popularity of the Scions, not of course because of the sales numbers, but because too many old people ( average buyer late 30's) buy Scions instead of Toyotas.
As for Mini, it is for everybody, including your son.
:-)
H

 

There we go ... the MINI trump card ....put me in the twisties ... they ought to make a record out of that

Uhh NO dude. Suburu is owned by FUJI. They are Japanase

 

Thank you.

No, I dont work for toyota. NO, I would not call them objects of "desire"

I never called you an idiot so there is no need to be sarcastic,

Your safety concerns were obviously wrong so you choose to ignore that. ... fine

Credibility???? I tell you what ... Ill take a 10 ton truck and u your MINI and when they hit, I think the truck will survive and the MINI will be ... well "mini". If you can't get the laws of physics ... sad.

to each their own ...

 

All I'm saying is that the supercharger doesn't make the whole car "super".

Oh, and the truck may survive, but how about its passengers? Physics...

 

Actually GM has a large interest in FUJI Heavy Industries, LTD.

 

OK, I give up. You can C4 can with this argument because I dont care.

I was trying to point out that all of C4s safety concerns and how wonderfully safe the car was isn't all that true compared to a Scion. As one poster commented who owned both cars, no contest.

The NHSTA statistics backed that up. What more can I say.

If your concern is safety, it "appears" to me the MINI is safer.

If anyone wants to bash "toyotas and hondas and whatever" I dont really care. Everyone has their own needs. Different cars serve different purposes. I know they are lots of SUV haters here too. So what? I'm sure those SUV owners hate MINIs.

I dunno...I do know Toyota and Honda sell lots of cars...

 

So then , you should be behind the wheel of a H1 Hummer, but wait... That will likely get crushed by an 18 wheeler Semi!

Don't have to explain the laws of physics..been there done that

Your keen defense of all things Toyota is suspicious to say the least, but hey we all have our bananas in life and that is perfectly OK.:smile:

If you hate your beautiful MC40 so much and you think is the most unsafe and unreliable car on the road, then why not dump it?

Maybe a Toyota Land Cruiser is more up your alley.

 

Actually, the 400 HP club is becoming quite common in the US market as there are now more than 10 cars selling claiming at least 400 of the showroom floor. The trend is to more power like the new shelby cobras ... pushing 500.

You need to ask that question to the American auto makers ...

I can guess because most likely the American masses love BIG muscle cars. they love HP. It was only those Oil scares of the 1973 (and insurance rates) that killed muscle cars but the "dream" is still there.

 

Yet you chose to ignore the high femur load readings in the Scion tC. Broken leg guaranteed.

This is the actual front impact test result for the MINI:

http://www.iihs.org/vehicle_ratings/ce/html/0222.htm

I actually find the IIHS tests more accurate than the government tests. IIHS tests the vehicles at 40MPH vs 35MPH by NHTSA.

Scions have not yet been tested by IIHS.

I helped my brother in law get a brand new '05 Honda Accord last week. Nice family and commuter car. Nothing else.

The sales/delivery experience of a Honda is dry as a toast compared to that of the MINI. Then again MINIs are not for the "heards". The Japanese already have that market covered.

 

actually this is the whole idea behind BMW acquiring the MINI name ... it is to turn the initial MINI buyer into a BMW buyer down the line.

 

Today I paid $2.85 per gallon to fill up my MCS tank. Bill came out to $29.

I guess the "muscle" car and SUV guys are up for a rude awakening come next week

And yes, I am an SUV hater of the first kind.

 

OK, go ahead and be suspicious but no, I don't work for ANY car company nore would I want to

NO, I never said my car is the most unsafe nor most unreliable. I have no idea why your using such hyperbole but whatever.

In fact, I NEVER said I didn't like, enjoy, use, whatever my car. Your just inferring things for your own use. Try not to infer ...

I love my little car. Yep, I said that. Just like many here, I find it a passion. But, I can also see the other side ....

I'm not sure if you understand what I am saying, so to say it more clearly ... I can totally enjoy Everything MINI has to offer and then some ... at the some time I can appreciate vehicles made by other manufacturers and use them for their purpose. For example, I'd love to get a Boxster or maybe a Lotus Elise. Then again, couldnt afford them. On the other hand with gas prices so high, a hybrid but be a good thing. I've love to get 60 mph to the gallon on regular to commute rather than 25 or whatever using premium

do you see now?

 

OK your right ...

 

In case you haven't followed the news, SUV sales have been on a constant decline since early 2004. $5K-$10K manufacturer rebates are becoming commonplace with these thirsty V8 behemoths (No one wants them). Lots of people are dumping their Urban Assault Vehicles because they have finally fallen from the "cloud" and come to see these things for what they are: Bulky vehicles with poor handling, poor performance, poor gas mileage and questionable safety.

1973 is repeating itself all over again. Recalcitrant SUV owners will continue to feed these beasts until their bank accounts run dry, but most concious people are dumping them left and right.

The death of the full size american car took place in the early '70s. Right now we are witnessing the death of the SUV as we know it and I am enjoying every bit of it!

 

Ahh thank you ... you just made my point. Each car has a different purpose. Some people need a "nice family and commuter car".

Others need a Mini Van Others live nowhere need a paved road and might need a 4 x 4.

Everyone has different needs. Thank you

 

Yeah that Accord has a nice ride for a family car. But after owning 6 of them over the years, MINI has proven to be a refreshing alternative that has recaptured the joy of driving for me.

 

Ahhh, very nice!

Earlier on you appeared to be engaged on a vendetta against MINI, but since you seem to have given up fairly quickly.

Regarding Hybrids....don't even get me started on that topic! Hybrids are the biggest LIE bestowed on the American public in recent memory. Truth is... Hybrid vehicles can not deliver the "promised" gas mileage figures because the technology is not capable to achieve in the real world. EPA tests have been found to be fairly inconsistent as well because the original test methodology was not originally developed for Hybrids, but regular combustion cars/trucks... Ooops back to the drawing board

I'll take a VW Turbo Diesel TDI or a MINI ONE "D" over any frickin' Hybrid in the market today.

I enjoy good debate. Hit me up next time!

 

I'm starting to feel some real love here...:smile:


rrattol- I say, if you're willing to buy your teen a new car, and you're OK with either of these, then let him make the final choice. He doesn't care how many airbags there are, or if the front crash test ratings are four or five stars. Good stereo and sunroof, right?

Lucky kid.

 

. Not sure which has been resale value because Scion xB, xA, and Tc made the same Forbes top ten list as the MINI.

Fun yes, resale maybe..

http://www.forbes.com/vehicles/2005/..._0718feat.html

click on the slide show to see the Tc. Its' right after the MINI.

If I were in the market for a practical and stylish car and I needed or wanted lots of room, I would buy the xB.

 

rrattol,

I'm sure you will tell your son how great the MCS is. You may want to encourage him to get the MCS if he can afford it. I'm thinking he's considering the difference in hp between the MC and the Scion tC. More hp being better. My buddy has a tC 5 speed and it is a good car and I drove it and it is fast. It handles well and has good brakes too. The MC handles better of course and overall I like my MC better. MINI has a great following with this website and such and local clubs with club events to go on, i.e., yearly Dragon run, etc. Years from now, the MINI will be a classic, but I doubt the tC will be. Also, the style of the MINI is unique whereas the style of the tC, although good now, will be dated in a few years and not really look fresh anymore. That happens with most cars, and it is the exception that won't, and I think the MINI will be that exception. I also like what someone said earlier in this thread that girls are more attracted to the MINI -- yes that is true as people are always complimenting the MINI. Your son will like that. However, in the end it sounds like it is mostly your son's money, so he needs to pick the car he will be happy with. Get him to a MINI dealer so he can take an MC for a test drive. It's really fun to see a group of MINIs together, so going to the dealer should be a real treat for him. He can see the BMW connection too, which is always exciting. BMW engineered steering and handling on the MINI are awesome! Yes, there's a lot to love about this car.

 

And thats OK. I can't argue that.

But I CAN understand the needs of other people. and that is my point:smile:

 

Arggh...

One more time and then I really quit.

I do NOT have a vendetta against MINI. Actions speak more than words and I have SUNK thousands into my car because .... I enjoy it. I gave up because it didn't seem you understand my point that EVERYONE has different NEEDS.

Some people need Vans. Some people need family cars. Not EVERY needs a MINI. Get it?

OH yeah, you mentinoned MINI delivery. Whats with that? My "MA" took like 20 mins showing my wife the controls. Here is what we got ...

• The car wasn't washed. Lots of dust. Wife was furious and made them wash it correctly

• Little parts they "promised" to be there weren't ... like wheel locks and touchup paint yet we didnt pick up the car for like a week after buying it

• No MINI mints .... Bad impression there

• We did get a lecture on the non-working MINI bluetooth for what that was worth

• A heavy sales pitch for extra warrenties ... then we get home and ....

1. NO valve stem covers on any tire... Whats with that?
2. My extra key (a third key) does not work. Why? So Now I got to drive another hour back to the dealer for them to program the key????

No, my "delivery" was not smooth at all. But who cares? Lifes annoying little things like "unprogrammed keys".

No, not bashing MINI, I'm sure Toyota doesnt always program its keys too

Peace be with you and good motoring :smile:

 

Just found this and made me laugh. Take it with a grain of salt .

Arguing on the internet...

I think you're both on the same page now. You both love your MINIs, and both recognize that other people may prefer different cars for their own reasons.