Been lurking here for a while now and have enjoyed seeing the comraderie and the great information available on this forum. Similar to the Miata.net forum and I see a few familiar faces (names) here also. Been looking at the Mini for quite some time now and specifically the MCC and I think it might be time to pull the trigger. So here goes.....

I currently drive a 99 Miata and have enjoyed every minute of it. They are GREAT little roadsters as most of you know. I recently test drove a MC Convertible and was VERY impressed and am thinking about trading up because of the better comfort, back seats (occasional use) and the superb handling (though different from a Miata). The Mini Convertible seems to be the only fun to drive, affordable 4 seater out there. However, I am a little concerned about giving up that much horsepower (115 HP vs 142 HP Miata) and some of the initial quality issues experienced by some here. I don't need the extra punch or cost of an S but don't want a "dog" either. Who else gave up their Miata for a non-S Convertible and what has been your experience? Thanks for your observations.

 

ohhh i had to chime in with my many miata talks... but i traded my 91 miata up for a Cooper hard top. (and i miss my miata soooo much)

Maybe the convertible will be a better trade off, but if i could go back in time, i wouldn't have sold the miata at all. Both great handling fun cars, but they're different in so many ways, too.

 

Yes, I agree. The two cars seem to appeal to the same sorts of people but are still quite different. We have an '04 Mazdaspeed Miata as well as the '05 MCS (not a convertible) and I'd be hard-pressed to say which I prefer. A rear-wheel drive two-seater is a lot different than a front-wheel drive four-seater. Both are really great fun. I can say, though, that if we didn't have the Miata the MCS convertible would have been very tempting though, if I got a non-S, I know I'd miss the power.

Mark

 

Well, I have a Miata in addition to my soon to arrive MCS, but I'm probably not a good comparison. The Miata has a 302 V8 with a 100 shot of nitrous in it. So, yes, the MINI I test drove felt a bit slow in comparison!

But I did have some similar concerns, because I'm selling my '99 Firehawk for the MCS. I was pleasantly surprised with the MCS when I test drove it, and I think after about 6 months or so, I'll go with the common bolt ons and it should satisfy my power cravings just fine.

 

If you drove it and it didn't feel like a dog, then it's not. :smile:

I've got a '91 w/SC, and a '92 (stock), drive an MCS and have a good friend with a Cooper (and have driven it at Thill.) In comparison, the '91 pulls much like the MCS (similar HP, less weight), and the MC pulls much better than the '92. They both handle great, but feel very different.
With the MCc, you add a few pounds, and the boot is about the same size as the Miata, but vertical. Spec shows MCc about a second slower than a '99 0-60.
Did you drive the MCc with the top up? Rear visibility is supposedly terrible. (I haven't driven one.)
My advice - keep the miata, get a hardtop MC and you'll have it all. Funny, that's what I did. :smile:

 

I had a 5 minute test drive in a Cooper convertible and it drove me crazy, I couldn't see anything behind me.

 

The weird part is that the acceleration was so much smoother in the MCC compared to the Miata that it was hard to tell how much oomph it had. I think the solidness of the car masked the acceleration (you can HEAR and FEEL it in a Miata). Plus the test drive was on suburban streets and some freeway. Not really in the element I am used to (curvey country zoom zoom roads). I probably should take another test drive and focus on that. Too bad the nearest dealer is 80 miles away.

 

Have you driven the latest Miata? It has a 170 hp now and is suppose to be bigger inside. Some of the packages sound good too and the price is right..at least msrp.

 

when I bought my S I laughed at what the dealer offered in trade on my 95 Miata. Glad that I kept it. A true roadster....2 seat top down joy will never be duplicated by a MINI rag top. Sorry....but no, not the same. In the same way that the MINI doesn't compare to a drive in the Mini.

95 Miata - red of course
02 S
79 Austin

some days it is just damn hard to decide which one to drive, even if they are all poor man's rides.

 

i'd hump a velocity red NC.

 

that about says it all....

Darth maulata from miata.net here. Owned my 95 miata since 98, put a DIY turbo kit on it in 2002. Right about 110K miles on it.

the miata is a fantastic roadster. I have loved it for a long time, and I know I will miss it when i sell it for my MCS. Days like today make it hard, partly sunny, 80-ish, no humidity,...perfect miata weather. And the power with the turbo is great. 2nd and third gear just fly...a bit faster than a stock MCS, but my butt dyno.

That being said, the miata has it's faults, esp after one adds a turbo. Power goes up, but so does maintenance. You really do have to look after it more, no matter what ANYONE tells you. Plus, the MCS has that "milled from billet" feel that a NA miata can't match, even with a rollbar. Also, the miata trans just wasn't built to take the beating a turbo can put on it. Just a fact. The Getrag in the MCS feels so solid...like it just won't break. I guess that part of that is that is over-designed for it's intended purpose, as opposed to being "just enough"

with all this being said, I wish that i had not turboed my miata. While the power has been great, there is a sense of balance that the miata was born with that is a little disrupted by that extra power. If you don't believe me, find an early, bone stock miata on 14" tires & beat the snot out of it. It is one of the best rides....just enough power to do everything well, not enough that it will bite. very controlled through turns, on break aways, etc. Mazda did it's homework.

So, yes, I will miss the miata. But i know that the MCS will make up for it in many ways.

Also, on the MC/S Convertible....not for me. Nice with the top down, but NO visibility out the back. And with the top up, forget it. Much worse than the miata. I prefer the Coupe & sunroof myself.

Good luck with your decision...i know it is a hard one!

-jac

 

I had a '93 MX-5 (Miata/Eunos) when I lived abroad. Great car, I still miss it and it's been nearly 12 years. However, a MINI is a much more practical vehicle. Neither the Miata nor the MC are pavement burners, relying upon their handling rather than hp to impress. I'd try to go for the MCSC rather than the MCC if hp is a major concern. As far as handling at the limits, both MC and MCS are very competent. In fact, a well driven MC can keep up with an MCS in all but a few situations.

 

I have a MCS tin top and had a '96 Miata. For everyday use the MCS is as much fun as the Miata was and on a long trip there's no comparison. The Miata was horrible (really noisy) on the interstate (and sometimes you have to use them.)

For pure pleasure my SO and I ride our Triumph Speed Triples. The Miata is not missed.

 

My '94 Miata, my first new car and first love, was sold for my S convertible. Ultimately the Miata was a more satisfying drive - the perfect shifter, the low seating position, the wide open expanse behind you. You know, "roadster" stuff. The MINI is great, top up or down (down especially, of course), but doesn't feel as open or as sporty.

BUT...my MINI kicks my old Miata around the block for amenities - power auto cloth top, glass window, nice stereo, cruise, power windows, xenons, seat heaters, and perhaps most importantly for me as a father of two, four seats. Now I can actually take the entire family for some top-down joy. And putting the hammer down in the S feels like riding a rocket ship compared to the Miata. I never thought the Miata felt fast. The S feels like a bullet when you romp on it. Not to mention the cheesy interior quality of my Miata, the tinny sounding doors, the lack of any creature comforts whatsoever... The MINI also feels much safer, and much less claustrophobic.

Oh, and while the Miata garnered a second glance every once in awhile, driving the bright red Cooper S with the top down makes you feel like a rock star. People wave, people honk, yell compliments, point, stop and talk to you wherever you go... If you're into that kind of thing. I'm typically not, but it can be a bit smile-inducing.

Another biggie for me: I can throw a set of snow tires on the MINI and drive it all winter. The Miata stayed parked once the white stuff started falling. Now instead of a summer car and a winter car, I can have a year-round car.

Wish I could have had both. They're both fantastic cars. But with only a two-car garage, and not being able to bear having the Miata outside (the wife's Pilot takes bay #2), she had to go. I'll always love her...

P.S. Spend the extra $$$ for the S if you can - you won't be sorry.

 

I'm Tod, and I'm a reformed miataholic...

I had a '90 that I had modified every square inch of. As Jac mentioned, things become different with a modified car. I fell out of love with the car because of the constant fiddling to get that last whp (221 to the wheels @ 13psi). I also needed more than 2 seats (my daughter was born 2.5 years ago).

I now drive an '04 MC. Could it stand more power? Absolutely! I test drove the MC and MCS back to back, as I had intended to buy a lightly optioned MCS. After the test drives, I was left unimpressed by the slight difference in acceleration (from stop to legal speeds), and bought a nearly loaded MC. I have added some suspension components that vastly improve the already excellent roadholding of the car. I have conjured up my own cold air system, and will likely buy the MTH software in the near future. That will do it for mods...I know what my limits are, and respect what can happen if I go pst them.

As it stands now, the cooper handles better than the miata did. It accelerates slower than the turbo, but better than the naturally aspirated setup, and I am quite happy all around. I also don't miss the lack of a convertible roof (well not too much!). I still call the MC a 'miata with 4 seats' when people ask about it. The miata is a great car, but the Cooper suits my family/lifestyle better.

 

I have both a 91 Miata, and a 03 MCS. I bought the Miata after I had the MINI because I always wanted a convertable. My biggest problem is deciding which car I want to drive that day. The way the cars handle is the biggest difference for me. Front wheel drive vs. rear wheel drive. Top speed, and 0-60 times are not everything that a car is about. A nice twisty road, and either of these cars is a blast.

 

my '90 miata was probably the best fun car I've ever owned .. wanted more punch and bought a '95 vette convert. .. drove both .. but sold the miata because of non-use. sold the '95 and bought an '01 Z06 - very fast but fun factor low. sold Z06 when I order an '05 MCS convertible -- fun factor very high ... higher than a vette .. people driving them nicer ... and autocrosses great ! compared the MCS and Mazdasport ... the miata ms's gearing was horrible - no fun for autocrossing .. you're shifting all the time ... could've had the Miata for about 10 grand less than the MCS .. but glad I went the route I did ...
quality of the mini is terrific ... the vette's fitment and quality was poor ... I'd buy another miata (maybe) and definitely will buy another MCS if I live long enough ...

 

I bought my first MINI a 03 MC in January of 03 I had driven my 97 Miata for 6 years. The MINI was everything I wanted & then some. 1 year ago I decided I could not live without a convertible. So I bought my 05 MC BRG Cabrio. I still own my Miata but only drive it occasionally. The MINI Cabrio has everything I could possibly want. It's quick(quicker than my 03). I really notice no HP difference between the 2 but then my Miata is a '97. It has a back seat, front wheel drive for snow, & much more boot or trunk room. The roof mechanism is great. No getting soaked while doing the Chinese fire drill thing that I did in the Miata. Probably the best thing is no more cold sweats when driving in a St Louis snow/ice storm. I like doing donuts but not in the middle of an interstate Do I love my MINI Convertible? YES

Lois

 

Well, it sounds to me like the MCC is exactly what I'm looking for. The best combination for a weekend flyer and a daily driver. It will also be nice to be able to drive it year round (except salty, slushy, crappy days) versus having to put the Miata up all winter. Guess it's time to place my order. Thanks for everyone's input.

 

Still own two Miatas since new (have owned 3)...

'92B with 177,000 miles
'93C with 118,000 miles

Added an '04 MCS last year to my stable of 5 cars.

I've been wanting to pass on my comments about comparing both cars for awhile on here. The MINI is Sooo much easier to live with and drive every day and is much better on long trips with a full size Coleman cooler fitting in the back. I love all the new modern gadgets in my MCS. The useable back seat in a two-door car is great too.

The only areas the Miata shines better than a MINI is...
1.The shifter. That short throw is hard to beat with any car.
2. For Autocrossing I still like the Miata better, but I have converted my '92 into a CSP car with 4 point rollbar, harness and a supertrap exhaust.
3. Pulling into a gas station you can gas up on either side since the filler is on top of the left rear fender. This is great now with the gas lines, I can pull into the shortest line as the hose will fit over the trunk of the car to the driver's side if I pull in with the pump on my right.

I must say I'll always keep my 1st gen Miatas, but my next new car in a few years will be another MINI for sure. Hopefully they'll have that two-seater Speedster MINI out by then! :smile:



The one in the back was a '91 I picked up for $500. I parted it out.

 

Well, I bought a 1992 Miata about a year ago and fitted a Sebring supercharger (about 127 RWHP dyno'd, so approx. 160 hp at the crank). for a 2200lb car, a great package. Otherwise a stock car, and a great handling car. My wife was driving a MINI Cooper (non-S, standard suspension) and one thing that I immediately noticed was that her car simply handled better than mine. I'm not gonna debate front vs rear wheel drive superiority, but most of my driving experience is front drive, so I didn't have a lot of experiece with controlling the rear with the throttle. But for daily driving, the MINI just felt better. When it snowed, I always drove the MINI to work, it never had a problem in snow and icy conditions. The Miata was fun, but there were a few times when my inexperience showed and I wound up spinning out.
I just recently sold the Miata and we're trading in her MINI for a new '06 S convertible. I can say that the MINI S felt just as quick as my old Miata. I was really leaning towards the new Miata, which is a great car, but the Cooper just has so much more room (my wife is 6'2" so she never felt comfortable in the Miata). Bottom line, the MINi seems to do everything the Miata did, insurance on both cars was cheap, both cars were totally reliable, so it's a tough call. But in the real world of getting to work and going to the grocery store, we simply used the MINI more and had fun doing it. Before I put the supercharger on the Miata, I think both cars were pretty evenly matched in the 0-60 department. But if you're going to upgrade, I'd take a close look at the S model. it may ultimately be what you want...

 

I have owned a 1991 and a 1994 and I loved them both. They just do not break and they are a real kick in the pants to drive. However, I sold my '94 so that I could get my 2005 MCS. I do not have any regrets. I have had the MCS since Aug 6th and I love it more than I even know how to express in words. It is as much fun as a car could be.

 

I have both a 95 Miata and a 2005 MCSC. I think that if I would have had to part with the Miata to get the MINI it would have been a very tough choice. Others have made the main point. They are both a lot of fun but they are different. For me, the Miata is more of a bare-bones sports car. The MINI (at least the one I went for) has a lot more amenities. For example, to lower the top/hood of the MINI you simply push a button. In the Miata you do it by hand. I bought the MINI because I sometimes needed a little more room than the Miata offered. We just took a couple of trips in the MINI that amounted to about 2,000 miles. Although the Miata would certainly have provided enough comfort, it would have been difficult to haul all the stuff we wanted to take on a trip like that. I think the only way I will ever part with the Miata is if I can someday replace it with an NC MX-5. If you can, however, I would suggest that you reconsider getting the MCSC instead of the MCC. YMMV, of course, but I don't think you would ever regret going with the S. By the way, I completely agree with your evaluation of both Miata.net and this forum.

 

My 95 Miata is being replaced with a 2006 Cooper S. In my mind they are very different cars. Both are fun, but the Miata is very limited as a foul weather driver. As far as power goes your 99 has more power than my 95, but even it never felt underpowered to me. The Miata has a wonderful balance between power & handling. So does the Cooper, but I believe the extra power of the Cooper S is needed because of it's extra weight. My Cooper S is a tin top because for me rag tops are fair weather cars. I want to use my toy & a roadster with a top up is no fun for me. Good luck with your decision.

Chuck

 

I have a '91 Miata base model, and a '04 MCS. Both are great cars and it's a toss up as far as which one is more fun to drive. I would highly recommend the MCS if you're planning on switching to a MINI. I think you might regret getting the heavier convertible with the lower powered engine since you are coming out of a '99 Miata.

My comparison of the two cars is a bit skewed because both of my cars are slightly modified. The Miata is normally aspirated and puts 120 hp to the wheels. I agree with the previous comments about not getting too carried away with the horsepower numbers. I'll keep mine n/a, but when it needs rebuilding, I'll probably go for a few extra ponies. The MINI weighs in at 2525 lbs on CompScales and the hp output should be slightly over JCW spec, but since I haven't dynoed it I can't give you a comparison there.

I don't think you can go wrong with either car, but if you can keep both that would be excellent. I currently have a two car garage with three cars in it since I can't seem to part with either one.

BTW, there is a new MINI book titled "Motoring" that gives some advice on what options to get on your new MINI: http://tinyurl.com/ctt4cOthers may disagree with what the book says, but it's pretty much exactly how I configured mine.

Have fun!
John