Exactly, drive it the way you want...I think they expect that. All my MA said was watch out for cops in areas that he knew they hung out.

 

My MA encouraged pushing it to its limit, after all, thats why they have specific test drive cars. When I finally realized he wasn't being sarcastic about it, it was awesome! This is just another shining example of why MINI stands apart from everyone else.

 

We also thought we were going to get the drop top (she had a cabrio, i have a miata), but for us, the MINI convertible was just not "it". Very little rear visibility due to the roll hoops. We test drove that first, and then a Coupe. As soon as we got in the coupe, we both just knew.

Not to say that we don't love seeing drop-tops all over, they are great! Just not the MCS that we needed.

AS for test drive loops, the one Ottos in PA has is amazing. My MA is one of the better local auto-crossers, i would enjoy being a passenger on a run of that!

-jac

 

and i bought a courtesy car

i can imagine someone's gotten down hard on this car before i purchased it... but it still runs beautifully. and i tend to drive like a grandma

I've only driven one (slightly modified) S. I LOVED IT. And i rode shotgun in a JCW MCS... i didn't want to get back in my little stock cooper afterwards

 

I live in NY. The sunroof is so big that I think of it as a convertible with better visibility out back and more sensible in the winter.

 

that makes me so happy! That's where I'm going to order mine next month... gonna go try that test drive loop. I tried Main Line Mini first and that test drive loop wasn't bad, but I've heard a lot of positive things from everyone I've seen with a mini in my area about ottos. ML wanted to add a lot of those convenience/dealer charges too! Who was your MA?

 

I have an MCS cabrio, and just love it. But rear visability is terrible, and it's even hard to see streetlights out the front due to the angle of the front window frame. However, it is really fun to drive if, like me, you like the wind and openness. Having a frame around you for the roof is not the same, IMO. But it's a matter of taste and preferences. There are certainly advantages to the hard top over the cabrio. Life is about tradeoffs.

 

I had a wonderful experience with Main Line Mini...worked with Darron who was excellent with responding to questions and was willing to find answers for you when in doubt. No dealer mark-ups either....MSRP is MSRP without dealer charges. Just thought I'd want to share a different experience. By the way, their loop was a lot of fun too.

 

I did enjoy their loop... especially the one sweeping righthand turn... but I just got a somewhat 'off' feeling from them... particularly when it came to financing info. I did have a fairly new MA, so it shouldn't have bothered me as much, but when he went off to talk to a 'finance' guy and come back with higher numbers than expected... then when I asked to talk to the 'finance' guy and he was no longer there I just got nervous. Maybe unneccesarily, but this is my first brand new car and considering that ottos, princeton and ML are all approx 30-35 miles away for me I will see if Ottos is a little different. I wasn't trying to slam ML, but the financing stuff definately seemed a bit off to me. I was also looking at a lease at the time, but am no longer so I'll probably have an easier time understanding all of the factors of regular financing than all that goes into calculating a lease. I guess we'll find out in a few weeks when I go see them

 

Hmmmm... plenty of $100K cars and you find the mini to be more "fun"...
Where did you drive them.... on the showroom floor?

 

The convertible weighs a good 200 pounds more than the coupe with sunroof does, if that matters.

 

No, on the road

A friend of my parents has a 2004 Mercedes SL55...I got to drive it.

I also drove a Mercedes S600 and G-class while I was working at my old job. (Acura dealership)

I drove a brand new Porsche 911 last year, but I honestly don't remember it. I was too paranoid to think.

I guess that's not "plenty"...but it's still more than most people. I liked the MCS better than them all.

 

I could not be more happy with ottos. The whole process was easy, and the parts that weren't they really went to bat for the customer. I also love how involded they are in motorsports....

My MA Is Joe McCormik and he was great. Also, Julie Hoffman there is very helpful as well (and runs the Philly MINI stuff...ask her about her classic minis)

-jac

 

great to know, thanks!

oh, and sorry for hijacking the thread!